Artist and graphic designer Arran Hearn makes real world objects modelled in LEGO. His latest model is an L44-7 Stylus & Headshell modelled after Shure’s M44-7. Notice the clever use of arches to model the holes in the structure. Also use of the crowbar as the needle is quite brilliant. Unfortunately, Shure has discontinued this particular stylus, but it is an impressive, scaled-up version. Now if only there was a vinyl record to go with it…
If there was ever a “Master of Microscale” it would be Jeff Friesen. As the author of LEGO Micro Cities and builder of our 2017 Creation of the Year, he knows how to pack a big punch in a small space. It’s incredible how he is able to create a whole world on a 20 x 20 stud baseplate. I love this latest piece, a medieval village and castle, for its levels, layout, and lovely parts usage. This time around, Jeff used several flick missiles to help form the lower towers.
I’m also a big fan of Jeff’s consistently perfect color palette. While this one is more simple in terms of colors, it holds true to form in the fact that there is zero monotony. The two-tone base gives it dimension and a slight complexity. If you love this build as much as I do, stay tuned for our review of the book, LEGO Micro Cities. Also, check out our interview with Jeff Friesen about his “Cityscapes” series.
Clever uses of standard LEGO elements are a mark of a great builder. This elegant interior, of what looks to be an Edwardian-era hallway by Heikkei M, is a case in point. For example, the twin uses of the grooved 2 x 1 bricks create both zigzagged and vertical bevels on the staircase. Another simple design solution hides the diagonal joins of the banisters behind its pillars. The Art Nouveau lamps made from islander hair elements are superb too. This combined with the careful colour choice of dark green walls and a rather wonderful geometric patterned carpet, results in an exceptionally stylish build.
If you are a fan of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, you are probably familiar with Titania, queen of the fairies. Loosely influenced by the bard’s play, Ben Cossy whipped up this lovely LEGO fairy stretching out on the curled leaf of a flowering plant. Ben’s fairy is well-built, with a calm-looking pose and skirt flowing to the side. While the fairy herself is visually stunning, she is made all the more impressive thanks to some detailed landscaping. The sculpting of the flower is breathtaking, including an excellent use of the natural flex of 1×2 plates and 1×1 round plates to form curves in the leaves. It completes the scene in such a way that feels bright and magical.
Catawiki is an auction website that focuses on rare and interesting items, and they’ve been featuring unique LEGO lots for several years. Unlike eBay, Catawiki’s lots are curated, with LEGO experts on staff who work with sellers to ensure the lots are interesting and have detailed information.
One of the most unique LEGO auctions I’ve seen in a while is happening this week, with a custom LEGO version of the Bell Tower of Florence built from over a hundred thousand bricks! Built by Luca Petraglia over the course of more than three years, the tower stands 3 meters (nearly 10 feet) tall.
Luca has displayed his tower at LEGO conventions such as the LEGO Fan Weekend in Skærbæk, Denmark. You can get a better sense of the tower’s massive scale with the builder standing next to it.
Catawiki also has a number of other interesting LEGO-related auctions this week, including some 1950’s vintage LEGO.
See more rare and unusual LEGO auctions on Catawiki
Change is inevitable within any community, and the online LEGO fan community has certainly weathered its share of major disruptions over the past 20 years.
Ever since the future of LEGO photo sharing website Brickshelf.com became unclear in July 2007, the majority of the LEGO building community has made its home on Flickr. But with Yahoo! failing to keep up with the times, the venerable web company has begun shedding its online properties, leading to the acquisition of Flickr by SmugMug earlier this year. Unlike the hysteria back in 2007, the reaction to the SmugMug acquisition among LEGO builders has been fairly muted, and generally positive given the sense that Yahoo! had effectively abandoned Flickr several years ago. This changed recently when SmugMug announced changes it would be making to Flickr’s Pro and free accounts at the beginning of 2019.
Learn more about the changes and how they affect the LEGO community
This skillfully built pod by Anthony Wilson combines Technic panels with system elements to create a stylish vehicle that would look equally at home deep underwater, as it would in space. One of my favorite details is the gently curving collection of steering handlebars peeking out behind the cockpit. Bright colored trim and tubes also lend a Tron vibe to this single pilot pod. And speaking of pilots, I tip my hat to Anthony for the excellent condition of his Technic figure which is 20 years old, but looks like he’s fresh off the assembly line.
LEGO Harry Potter has a new microscale set out today. 40289 Diagon Alley is now available as a gift with purchase from LEGO with orders more than $99 USD until Nov. 21 (or until supplies run out). The sizeable set (read our review here) includes 374 pieces (with a few cobblestone prints) and one minifigure of wand-maker Ollivander.
In addition, LEGO VIPs can get double points on two specific sets this month. The first is 71043 Hogwarts Castle, a perfect accompaniment to this month’s gift with purchase. Our review goes into detail about this massive magical set.
The second is this year’s seasonal 10263 Winter Village Fire Station just in time for the holidays. Again, check out our review to see all the fun details in this festive set.
2018 has been a big year for the LEGO Technic Bugatti Chiron. While the Chiron represents modern elegance, the Bugatti name has been associated with opulent luxury since 1909. One of the most coveted Bugatti automobiles is the Type 41 Royale, with only seven examples having been built between 1927 and 1933. ER0L has taken the Royale, shrinking it down into an adorable LEGO model. Erol has successfully captured the incredible length of the real vehicle, along with the iconic two-tone Bugatti color scheme. This particular version is the Coupe Deville with coachwork by Binder. During World War II, it was hidden in the sewers of Paris to escape confiscation by Nazi Germany.
Described as the “biggest, baddest, most bulbous speeder bike”, by builder David Roberts, the Turbinia certainly lives up to its name. I’ve admired David’s work for a long time now, especially the way he mixes his humorous narratives with the knowledge of an engineering graduate. In this case the turbine element creates both the quirky nautilus-like shape of the vehicle, as well as hinting at the real-life mechanics of a centrifugal processor. Whichever way you look at it, this colourful model is a whole heap of gyroscopic fun.
We’ve seen our fair share of LEGO Transformers models (notably the collection of brick-built robots by Alex Jones and Joachim Klang). But here’s a smart little version of Bumblebee in his Camaro iteration by Jerry Builds Bricks. The model is a neat design — not only does the car look sleek and smooth, it transforms into the robot without the addition of any more parts. I particularly like the use of the textured Technic part for Bumblebee’s face — it adds a level of detail beyond what you might expect at this scale.
The Volgograd Tractor Plant, previously known as the Stalingrad Tractor plant, produced the workhorses for the Soviet era Russian farming industry. Short, snub-nosed and chunky, the DT-75 is an exemplar of sturdy utilitarian design. Builder Jakeof has created two LEGO versions of these unique looking vehicles, a DT-75 and a DT-75M.
Although small, they pack in the detail, especially in the case of the neat tread design and exposed engines. Together they stand as an iconic reminder of Soviet innovation.
