It’s good versus evil in this LEGO ninja encounter by prolific builder Andreas Lenander. The rock work and attached vegetation has so much of that craggily goodness, setting an excellent scene for this showdown. The spindly trees, shaped primarily by flexible brown tubing is quite excellent! I appreciate the structural similarities of the large and small saplings; not an easy feat with these plastic bricks. But the star of this build is that awesome bridge technique. Relying heavily on connections not sanctioned by LEGO, the clips and bars forming this simple arch provide an even, repeatable texture that feels unique and yet still at home with the torii and the shrine at opposite ends.
Category Archives: LEGO
Got your goat right here
LEGO has released a lot of great minifigure-scaled animals over the years, but one of the rarest is the humble goat. Released in only one set, 2011’s 7189 Mill Village Raid, it currently commands an aftermarket price that is frankly kind of silly. Richard Young (IamKritch) has a suggestion – why pay high prices for a single piece when you can make a giant brick-built version for a fraction of the cost? Built for the “Going Big” category of the Summer Joust competition, this oversized darling makes great use of curved slopes to accurately mimic shaping of its smaller counterparts. We just hope it’s friendly.
Want more goats? Sure, we all do. No kidding, go check our archives. Or maybe opt for a recently released set with slightly smaller brick-built alternatives.
Preparations for an adventure across the ocean waves
The talented Faëbricks has created this intriguing build which shows a young boat builder who dreams of one day traveling out to sea in search of fortune. The frame of a boat is embedded into the sand, as the adventurer carries wooden planks over to the construction. One of the most eye-catching features of the model has to be the waves; teeth pieces form part of the white foam which is surrounded by clear wedges providing this section with a realistic look.
Faëbricks has even created a video, demonstrating the intricate details of the diorama.
The USS Goldsmith is ready for some boldly going
When you’re looking to join the Federation, be sure to ask for Tim Goddard‘s USS Goldsmith by name. This Overture class starship’s crew specializes in first contact and related negotiations. It also specializes in some high-grade LEGO building techniques to create the seamless front saucer section and iconic nacelles. One of my favorite details are the Technic gears just barely visible under the transparent neon orange domes, a nice nod to the classic Enterprise model’s visual effects.
Multiple viewscreens active after the jump
A grand ballroom for the elegant entertainer
Victor van den Berg has a penchant for crafting ornate rooms with fantastic flooring. Victor’s latest creation is this ballroom with a stately swagger that makes us feel like dancing. The ivory columns framing the back wall are full of flashy style. The grand piano makes for a perfect centerpiece, with keys built from a combination of regular and jumper plates. And, of course, Victor’s talent for tile makes for a wonderful waltzing venue.
I’m sensing a theme here. Like...eight of them.
Mechs are a common focus for builders, but Djokson takes things a step further with CORE.seeker. Loaded with unusual parts from all over the LEGO universe, this one really satisfies. There are yellow box straps from Vidiyo, a black DOTS bracelet, a wheel from the Chima theme, a teal ball from the classic Technic 8269 Cyber Stinger set, and chest armor from a BigFig Tie Fighter pilot. Plus great sticker usage and some great macaroni fingers. There’s nice part usage…and then there’s CORE.seeker, my candidate for RNPU (Really nice part usage.)
Does this inspire you to create your own unusually-outfitted mech? Need more ideas? Check our archives for more fantastic builds.
The spaceship that (hopefully) comes with fries
Maybe it’s the color scheme or its simplistic blocky shape but this LEGO spaceship built by David Roberts reminds me of a delicious carton of McDonald’s fries. Other commenters on his Flickr stream state that they are reminded of Buck Rogers while others claim this is reminisant of a Viper from Battlestar Galactica. What does this remind you of? No matter what the answer is, we can all agree that this spaceship looks pretty tasty.
The city on a floating rock that’s off the chain!
We here at TBB generally try not to cover LEGO builds that are still works-in-progress. But that can be hard when the WIP pictures look as good as this one taken by First Order Lego back in May. As we round the corner into August, we’re at last able to see FOL’s build in its entirety. And Rory can finally figure out what those chains are connected to: a big honkin’ sky rock!
More on this city in the sky below.
A great day for Grendizer
Classic mecha fans rejoice! Marco De Bon has created this stunning version of the anime mech, Grendizer. The build has a clean and smooth look to it, with hardly any studs in sight. This has been achieved through the use of a variety of curved slope pieces which also assist in recreating the humanoid appearance of the mech. At the top of the head small pyramid pieces represent short spikes of the helmet. The model even includes hooked bladed weapons which can be attached together or used individually. With the ability to strike some awesome poses, there’s not much more you could ask for in a LEGO mech model.
A ghostly greeting in a green garden.
A black knight encounters a white ghost in this garden scene, but the only color you’ll see is green. ABrickDreamer took on the gradient challenge for Summer Joust, and this wonderful little vignette is the result. Eight shades of green are used to give life to this delightful little garden. And the limited color palette forced some excellent parts usage, like those Hulk bigfig arms making up the little hill.
Cats are royalty, no matter where you are
This LEGO build by Vohdoff of a laborer ferrying a whimsical feline beast shows that even in a fantasy realm, cats are still royalty. I suspect the cat in question here may draw some of its inspiration from Japanese Kitsune with their many tails. Whatever its origins, though, this creature is gorgeously sculpted from mostly Bionicle elements. Meanwhile, the servant also has an otherworldly visage, and a magnificent gold collar to match the cat’s eyes.
A staggering ghostly presence comes to visit
Inspired by a friend’s work, the spectral stag leaps from Andreas Lenander‘s mind into this lovely LEGO build. An ethereal presence in nature with delicate and flowing features, the deer stands unflinchingly with strength about it. One of the defining elements of the stag is the end of the tail piece. Its use is versatile, from the antlers to the flowing of the neck, to the extended ghostly tail trailing behind. Being a smooth and curved part, it gives a sinewy and organic look to the deer. The greenery of the scene makes good use of minifig whips for the twists and turns of vines and the tree’s trunk. The tree and flowers bring a calming sense of peace to mind, pairing nicely with the rich details of the ghostly visitor. It’s easy to get lost in admiring the sculpting present in the build.