I am an absolute sucker for LEGO photography where all that meets the eye is LEGO. Hardly no backdrop visible. Just bricks. For me this helps me stay in the scene a lot better versus seeing it as a creation made of bricks against a nice backdrop. A good example of this is Benjamin Stenlund’s latest creation. It depicts a druid in a sacred shrine. For the druid Benjamin used the sorting hat, which to me always looks like the sorting hat. Therefor it always looks kinda out of place in non Harry Potter creations. However in this case it works perfectly fine thanks to the shadow cast on the druid figure. Benjamin made a rocky landscape covered in foliage. The rock work looks really intricate and I would have no idea where to start when making them. The trees give a nice pop of colour to this creation. There even is a waterfall that lights up in the dark. My guess is this is where the secret treasure is hidden. Somehow this creation gives me strong Lord of the Rings vibes, but this is not the case. You can read the backstory to this creation in Benjamins caption.
Category Archives: LEGO
TBB cover photo for May 2021: Domino Rally Diorama
Watching dominoes fall is fun. It’s mesmerising. In addition to the time and concentration spent setting them up for that sole purpose, it’s satisfying watching the art form of them tumble into each other. It’s better when the layouts are intricate and imaginative, full of varying levels and moving gizmos that further demonstrate reactions. As a part of the RogueOlympics 101 parts challenge, builder Ben Tritschler built a small layout resembling wooden building blocks that every small child seems to have had. And it functions too! Ben also uploaded a video where he topples the dominoes and it’s oh so satisfying! Fun fact: That’s Stretchy from Little Robots, and he is genuine LEGO, as he comes from an old Duplo set.
Check out more builds from the RogueOlympics contest here!
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Turning a classic Porsche into a modern marvel
Recently LEGO has come out with the 10295 Porsche 911 Turbo & 911 Targa set. Most builders would buy the set and display it on their shelf as is. But Firas Abu-Jaber isn’t like most builders. Not by a long shot! He has used the same parts exclusively from that set and built the stunning new 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S. It features functional elements including working steering connected to the steering wheel, opening doors, hood and engine cover, and many other amazing details we’ve come to expect from Firas.
Here is another image detailing the many working features of this model.
I’ve initially thought I’d give the set a pass for its “boring” white color but one builder had me rethinking that strategy by using the parts on a sleek futuristic Porsche and now Firas has me reconsidering as well. Even our reviewer liked it. What do you think of the set? While you’re mulling that over, check out why Firas is the automotive LEGO master.
A miniature modernist maze
Monochrome geometric shapes descending into infinity – this is the only way to describe Simon Liu’s amazing “Hexahedral” LEGO model which can also be referred to as “Cube City”. Surely it is an interesting architectural concept, the model itself reminds me of drawings done by M.C. Escher, with all of its interesting perspectives, spaces, nooks and crannies.
The visible city portion of the build is divided into cubicle-like zones each containing various buildings and houses, these are mostly rendered using 1×1 modified headlight bricks topped with either a double or pyramid 1×1 slope – all in light grey. Various other small pieces including a ton of 1×1 tiles, ingots, 1×2 grilles, levers, and other modified 1×1 pieces are included to create intricate designs and spaces within the cubicle zones. Any area that has not been carved into this slab of stone-colored brick is plated with 1×1 tiles in a minesweeper-like grid. This build is just wonderful to look at especially with the visual contrast Simon creates between empty space and grey plastic.
The city of Midgar…before the Mako disaster
As dystopias go, Midgar from the cult-classic game Final Fantasy VII has to be as dystopian as it gets – a Pangea of slums surrounding a giant reactor sucking out the planet’s lifeblood and to top that off, it always seems to be night in this location. Fletcher Floyd conjures up an amazing micro-scale LEGO build of the most iconic setting in the widely loved game.
In a circular pattern, Floyd assembles a menagerie of smaller light grey elements to construct the metropolis. Literally any grey LEGO piece you can think of is included in this build – from 1×1 cones and cylinders, to lightsaber hilts and binoculars, even chalices and steering wheels help render the industrial mess that is Midgar. The area surrounding the city is rendered with some tiles and mostly 1×1 plates in earth tones such as tan, reddish brown, and light brown. Overall this build perfectly recreates the look and feel of Midgar in miniature.
Hornworm
I could write a whole feature about this hornworm by Moko to tell you all about how magnificently they used the Crane Grab Jaw with Axle and Pin Hole. That the axle looks just like little caterpillar legs. I could tell you that the use of the sport helmet for a little nose is cute as a button. Hedwig’s eyes work perfectly for this little fellow as well. And that it is really nice to see the binoculars and the horn in orange make an excellent mouth while continuing the colour pattern. I could do all that, but I am not going to. I am just here to point out that Moko used not one, not two but three types animals on in the twig the caterpillar is walking on. It is a frog, a rat and a dog. And to me that is just golden.
LEGO reveals 2,048-piece 10292 Friends: The Apartments as part of the Creator Expert lineup [News]
As the follow-up to the tremendously popular 2019 LEGO Ideas 21319 Central Perk set based on the 90s television show Friends, LEGO is today revealing an even larger tie-in set, 10292 Friends: The Apartments. Like the set based on the coffee-shop hangout, The Apartments is designed as a television studio and is filled with references to iconic episodes and moments from the series. The set includes both Rachel and Monica’s apartment and Joey and Chandler’s apartment, along with a small segment of hallway connecting them. Seven minifigures are included, with Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Chandler, Ross, Joey, and Janice. The set is part of the Creator Expert series, and will retail for US $149.99 | CAN $199.99 | UK £134.99. It will be available to LEGO VIP members starting May 19, with general availability June 1.
Every canvas is a journey all its own
Sometimes I am too fast when it comes to labeling LEGO pieces as useless or at least single use pieces. When I first saw the Disney Storybook Adventure sets I liked the small parts that came with it and the Micro Dolls. I couldn’t care less, however, for the book covers or the big 6 x 8 oval plates that came with it. Keith Reed has proven me wrong by using these pieces in a lovely way. In their latest creation the oval plates have been used as paintings. Displayed in a very lovely and well lit hallway. I may be reading too much into it, but my guess is that even the foliage outside matches the paintings. I see red roses in front of Belle and a shell in front of the Ariel painting. In front of Mulan we have the azalea and the magnolia. And last but not least, in front of Elsa and Anna there is… nothing to back my theory up except for two different flowers that might represent the different princesses. As I said, I might be reading to much into it. Whatever the meaning, it’s a beautiful and elegant scene.
A case of the cat mech zoomies
If you have a pet cat or if you’re like me and watch cat videos in your spare time you’ve definitely seen the well-documented phenomena of the “cat zoomies” – basically when indoor cats release pent-up energy and zoom around. Aido’s LEGO zoid-like cat mech also appears to be experiencing the zoomies and wow look at that powerful gait.
Aido constructs this cat mech using a sleek black and red color scheme and overall the build makes use of a number of interesting elements including a black baseball diamond tile, an armor piece used above for the shoulder area – this looks like it is from a buildable figure model, and then the tail is interestingly constructed out of pneumatic T pieces clipped together using 1×1 modified plates. This robotic creature also is displayed running through a mystical patch of grass with bioluminescent-looking plants or creatures utilizing trans-clear green elements. Ultimately, this build is a very captivating and futuristic jungle scene and quite timely for late spring.
All this needs is a chair
Some images need no further introduction. This goes for Calin’s latest LEGO creation. The scene of Mr. Bean in his armchair on top of his little mini is just iconic and it would truly surprise me if there was a soul on the internet who had never seen it or wouldn’t recognize it. Or maybe this will just be a not so gentle reminder to me, that I am getting old. And that there is an entire younger generation who does not have the same frame of reference.
Rowan Atkinson reveals that he actually did the stunt himself. There however was a second person in the car doing the actual driving. As Calin mentions in the description they are currently out shopping for parts for the armchair to complete this model. I can not wait to see this one topped off with an armchair and a mop/broom contraption to put the pedal to the metal.
This frog is a (paper) cut above the rest
When it comes to mixed-media LEGO creations, we can all take a page from takamichi irie.
The papercraft body of this amphibian draws the eye, while the friendly smile and cherry-based toes showcase just what plastic can do. Inspired by a calendar page, this model brings joy to even the most dreary day.
The underside shows off more of the traditional “LEGO construction” in play. Clever use of minifigure posing stands attach the rear legs at an unusual angle, and rounded 1×2 modified plate gives the front legs articulation, too. 
If you find this frog as adorable as I do, you’ll want to check out some of Takamichi’s other paper-LEGO hybrids, a crab and a bull. Or maybe explore the full range of his creations we’ve featured previously.
If you care to step outside, there’s work to do
Life in space sounds fun, but there’s still work to be done. Tino Poutiainen shows us a slice of orbital life in Starboard drydock, complete with a complex clump of technology and a cleverly constructed astronaut. Standout details include the layered helmets, flex tube arms, and astromech head incorporated into the backpack. The satellite is super swanky, too, with an interesting hinged cover for the electronics. The organic curves from the string elements add just a touch of weightlessness to the scene as well.
Tino is no stranger to sharing cool space-themed builds, but my favorite creation of theirs is the more fantastic Glass Cerebus. What’s your pick?