The cube is one of the most common shapes and one that is particularly well suited to LEGO models. But this clever construction by Didier Burtin takes cubic LEGO construction to a whole new level. The structure of 5 plates matching the width of 2 studs is the most basic form of LEGO math at the core of this model, but the use of sideways facing stud bricks, jumper plates, and brackets, as well as plates and tiles in alternate shades of gray, add up to way more than the sum of its parts.
In Greek mythology, Medusa is a slithering monster with a stone-cold gaze. The tables have now turned for the Greek gorgon, with Koen Zwanenburg having transformed her into a static LEGO BrickHeadz character. Though often portrayed as a hideous monster, Koen’s version is adorable. The sculpting of the body is particularly nice, with the tail from Jabba the Hutt being used to great effect. Her hair is comprised of several snake head elements, which look practically made for the character. It would be great to see other mythological creatures receive a BrickHeadz treatment this nice!
The iconic landscape of Hobbiton is a stark contrast to the majority of other locations presented in the stories of J. R. R. Tolkien, and its unique style is quite the popular theme for LEGO builders to tackle. Coming off the tail of a large Middle Earth-themed collaboration, Jake Hansen has joined forces with Cole Blood in what I hope is not the “Last Alliance”.
The large scale of the diorama–16 32×32 baseplates, or about 11 square feet–really brings the best out of the rolling hills made of stacked plates. Continue reading
Cats are curious creatures and sometimes like to “help” with LEGO building projects. The results can be devastatingly cute, such as this photograph of a tiny kitten ready to take flight in a LEGO model built by MiniGray. The build itself is a nice example of futuristic aircraft with a large cockpit for special pilots of the furry kind. If you plan on sharing this image with your friends, brace yourself for a barrage of “AWW!”
The first of the month typically means new sets available from LEGO, and this November is no exception. Last month brought Star Wars and holiday sets, and this month brings the LEGO Ideas Pop-Up Book and new Xtra Accessory Bags.
Take a look at the new sets in detail below.
LEGO Ideas: This set is a stand-out of the Ideas line, showcasing the creativity of the fan designers heightened by official LEGO designers. As we mentioned in our review, this set is a good one with decent price per part value, and we are excited to see all the custom pop-up scenes that are just waiting to be made.
21315 Pop-Up Book | 859 pieces | TBB Review
US: $69.99 | Canada: 89.99 CAD | UK: £59.99
LEGO Xtra: These delightful accessory bags have been available off and on in physical LEGO Stores for a few months, but this is the first time they have been listed for purchase online. The bags include a variety of items from food and plants to bikes and lamps, any of which would be a great way to expand your LEGO City.
40312 Food Accessories | 30 pieces
US: $3.99 | Canada: 4.99 CAD | UK: £2.99
40310 Botanical Accessories | 24 pieces
US: $3.99 | Canada: 4.99 CAD | UK: £299
40311 Traffic Lights | 46 pieces
US: $3.99 | Canada: 4.99 CAD | UK: £2.99
40312 Streetlamps | 34 pieces
US: $3.99 | Canada: 4.99 CAD | UK: £2.99
40313 Bicycles | 21 pieces
US: $3.99 | Canada: 4.99 CAD | UK: £2.99
Some guys go through more razor blades than others. Here’s a fun LEGO werewolf portrait by The Knit Knight. The staring eyes give this an appropriately intense feel, but the jagged teeth somehow make the character kind of goofy-looking, too. There’s a nice use of different shades of brown to create the impression of fur, and the textured wedge forehead and curved wedge nose make an effective combination.
Taking on the mantle of the good Doctor Victor Frankenstein, Dogod Brick Designs has stitched together his very own monster. LEGO bricks, as it turns out, are extremely well suited to depicting the square-headed Boris Karloff take on Mary Shelley’s doomed character.
Built in the sallow register of grey and black, the tragic creature’s heavy features are atmospherically lit from above to eerie effect.
It is that time of year when many people around the world embrace the spooky and scary, but more often than not combine it with an element of cute. car_mp has captured this unlikely combination perfectly with these two little ghosts.
The expressive faces (more precisely, holes in the cloth) are done with just a handful of pieces, but somehow this just adds to their charm. The shaping is the star of the show here; the builder uses 1×2 wedge slopes to achieve quite a nice round effect, a technique I expect to become more frequent in the coming years.
If you’re going to hell, you may as well ride in style. At least that’s what Krzysztof Pusz appears to be suggesting with his LEGO hearse–a funeral ride crewed by a sinister band of flame-haired skeletons. The vehicle is simply done, but well put-together with a nice expanse of glazing allowing sight of the coffin within. The use of black paint rollers and golden tassel pieces make for a great set of spooky lamps down the sides.
Krzysztof has also taken regular photos of the vehicle, manned by a more everyday set of undertakers…
Beware this long-faced LEGO Jack O’Lantern man built by Leonid An. The expression on the character’s face is spine-tingly spooky, yet chillingly captivating. His sorrow-filled eyes are convincing–would you believe Leonid achieved this look with an upside down Bionicle mask? Mr. Jack O’Lantern is dressed to kill, complete with a white shirt, midnight-black jacket, top hat, and even a gold belt buckle. What’s more, he and his raven companion are overlooking the grave of…Leonid An!
Celebrate Halloween LEGO style with this BrickHeadz Brick-o’-Lantern designed by stormythos. You’ve got to love the simplicity of it all with the clever usage of the cheese slopes to create that ghastly grin. The best part of it all is that it’s made with parts all from the Go Brick Me BrickHeadz Set. If you don’t already have it, it’s never too late to get one. You can get the instructions over here.
In the online LEGO fan community, Mattila Heikki is well known for his realistic miniland-scale interior designs. While his recent creation is technically still an interior design, it is markedly different from his usual style. Mattila has built in classic styles before, but we’ve never seen a creepy haunted house before.
Mattila’s latest scene is all about perspective, achieved by the stairway and its railing–what would often be a small part of a scene, but is frame to take up nearly half the picture here. The lights on the wall give a sense of the hallway continuing on to the left and right for an unsettlingly long time and the colours set a moody and mysterious tone. If you’re staying here and have to use the toilet at night, it might be a better idea to wait until morning.
