Category Archives: LEGO

You’d probably expect a lot of the posts on a LEGO website like The Brothers Brick to be about LEGO, and you’d be right. If you’re browsing this page, you might want to consider narrowing what you’re looking for by checking out categories like “Space” and “Castle.” We’re sure there’s something here that’ll fascinate and amaze you.

LEGO Annual Results 2017: first annual sales decline in 13 years [News]

This morning in Billund, The LEGO Group has presented its full year financial results for 2017. Unfortunately, not everything is awesome for the Danish toymaker: the company has reported a decline in revenue and operating profit. Revenues declined 7 percent; global consumer sales remain flat.

Here are the highlights of the presentation:

Revenue for the full year decreased by 8 percent to DKK 35.0 billion compared with DKK 37.9 billion in 2016. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange, revenue for the full year declined 7 percent compared with 2016.
Operating profit (profit before financial items and tax) for 2017 was DKK 10.4 billion compared with DKK 12.4 billion for 2016, a decrease of 17 percent year on year.
Net profit for the full year was DKK 7.8 billion compared with DKK 9.4 billion in 2016.
Cash flow from operating activities for the year was DKK 10.7 billion compared with DKK 9.1 billion in 2016.
Decline in revenue was driven in part by clean-up of inventories across the value chain. Global consumer sales were flat and trended upwards in the final months of 2017.

Living room design ideas for minifigures

If I were a minifigure living in a LEGO world, I’d hire Finnish builder Heikki M. right off the bat! He has a knack for building realistic-looking indoor scenes that could fool you if you didn’t look close enough, and this is yet another of his amazing constructs. The trick seems to be to keep the lines clean and void of studs (except as intentional texturing) and to include everyday things to make it look as homely as possible. I think I even spotted an Eames Lounge chair with an ottoman with a slightly altered base!

Microscale multi-purpose cargo shuttle

LEGO dropships are a favorite subject for many sci-fi fans of both movies and video games. While this particular model by Oscar Cederwall is original, it does seem to take some inspiration from the dropship featured in Aliens, which also includes a deployable vehicle.

The craft features some heavy-duty thrusters, along with great color accents like the orange stripes. A mini-drone, cargo, and a vehicle with some nice details like steering, round out the scene. Some Modulex pieces make great stand-ins for cargo pods.

Poseable Micro Millennium Falcon [Instructions]

One can never have too many versions of the Millennium Falcon be it official LEGO sets or fan-made ones. Here’s another one to add to your collection made together with a poseable stand designed by elemental_lego. This tiny Falcon build requires 57 parts in total and captures the essential details. We pretty much would guess Chewbacca’s approval on this tiny piece of junk. In his own words, we’re pretty sure he’d give us a “Rawrrr Rawrrrrrrrr” and two furry thumbs up.

Millennium Falcon Build

Parts and Finished build

Click here for the instructions

LEGO monorail returns...in microscale

LEGO’s infamous monorail system has been the source of many questions about it’s potential return over the years. In fact, when I spoke with ex-CEO Bali Padda last year he said one of the most common questions he faced from fans was “when will LEGO bring back the monorail?“. While the monorail system is increasingly expensive to buy on the secondary market, Julius von Brunk has created a microscale version that is both easier on the wallet and adorable. The introduction of curved tiles has made this type of build cleaner and perhaps a little easier, but there’s a lot to admire in this instantly recognisable mini version.

This is an illegal exit, you must return to the grid!

While we so anxiously wait for the official Ideas release of the Tron Legacy Light Cycle later this year, this might be the next best thing to hold us over. Even though Grantmasters makes this tiny creation with only about 10 elements (not counting the base), the transparent orange and blue ‘jetwall’ makes this classic instantly recognisable. While it may look simple, Grantmasters says that it took over 100 photo shots to get the right lighting and effect he wanted. Talk about dedication to the art!

TBB Weekly Brick Report: LEGO news roundup for March 4, 2018 [News]

In addition to the amazing LEGO models created by builders all over the world, The Brothers Brick brings you the best of LEGO news and reviews. This is our weekly Brick Report for the first week of March 2018.

TBB SET NEWS & REVIEWS: The beginning of the month means new LEGO sets! We have all the new sets and a few reviews just for you.

LEGO Avengers: Infinity War sets now available with exclusive promotions – Six sets based on the upcoming mega-blockbuster are now available in stores and at LEGO online.
LEGO 76105 The Hulkbuster: Ultron Edition now available – The set includes 1,363 pieces and an exclusive Iron Man minifigure, and is priced at $119.99 USD.
Review of LEGO Speed Champions 75889 Ferrari Ultimate Garage – The largest ever set in the Speed Champions line features three iconic Ferrari racecars from three eras.
Review of LEGO Speed Champions 75888: Porsche 911 RSR and 911 Turbo – Get both a classic and new LEGO Porsche. a car brand that defined luxury for more than half a century.

TBB NEWS & INSTRUCTIONS: From trees to sustainable plants, there were a few other interesting LEGO news updates and instructions this week.

The new 4000026 LEGO House Tree of Creativity available in Billund – The 837-piece set will be available exclusively to the visitors of the LEGO Store in LEGO House in Billund.
First sustainable LEGO bricks will be launched in 2018 – New plant elements will be made from sugarcane and will appear in LEGO sets this year.
Instructions to build a Technic Corvette C1 – JamesJTechnic on YouTube brings us this classy 1961 Corvette C1, powered by a BuWizz motor and remote control.
Build your own mesmerizing LEGO kinetic art sculpture – This video of a LEGO kinetic sculpture by aeh5040 is sure to entrance anyone who dares build it.

OTHER NEWS: There were a few other LEGO news articles from varying places around the web this week. Here are the best of the rest:
Click to read more news about LEGO

All the key locations are present in huge Ninjago diorama

There a lot going on in this huge Ninjago diorama. At 145×95 studs in size and made up of more than 11 separate sections and locations, it’s no suprise it took about six months to complete. The build is a collaboration between brother and sister, Robert4168/Garmadon and Kai NRG/Geneva, with the right and left side being t by each sibling respectively. The diorama stays true to the essence of the Ninjago theme with plenty of character in the buidings that include Temple of Airjitzu, Birchwood Forest, Sensei Wu’s tea shop and Dareth’s Mojo Dojo .

Click to see detailed views of the different buildings

Take up launch positions. Thunderbirds are go!

The form of puppetry used to create Thunderbirds back in 1964 is unique and memorable even by today’s standards, let alone pulling it off with technology back then. This LEGO replica of the launchpad on Tracy Island is detailed and shows what a huge fan monstrophonic must be. Thunderbird 3, as depicted in this scene, is the single-stage-to-orbit spacecraft and one of five vehicles piloted by the Thunderbird brothers.

I kinda think its cute that the sofa from their home is the very same one that gets loaded into the spacecraft. I guess you’ll never miss home in space when you have your favourite couch to keep you company!

Click here to see more views of this great build

An architectural wonder of a sinister looking establishment

I must admit, when I first saw this building, I had chills run down my spine. It really reminded me of the heads of Nazgûl or wraiths from Lord of the Rings. This iconic structure built by Erwin te Kortschot is actually where one of the largest research centres to date in Russia built back in 1968. One can only imagine the kind of dark secrets that may have once filled the dark rooms of this enclave. It does seem to have a sense of an architectural uniqueness that embodies what goes on inside.

Click here to see more…

Sharpen your LEGO bricks with class!

I like to see everyday things recreated in LEGO and this one is no exception. The sound of the crank and the aroma of pencil shavings just takes me back to decades of exams and homework. that really seems a lot easier thinking back now. While it’s a perfect representation by Legobyleaves, the way to make it even more awesome is a little modification can be made. Just imagine if the studs drop out only after the crank turns! Remember kids, stay in school as long as you can! Work ain’t fun as you think it may be!

Click to see the pencil sharpener in action

A chair with a bit of bounce

Despite being official pieces, rubber bands are usually hidden away both in official sets and fan creations. While it may be their frequently bright colours or the fact that some see them as “cheater pieces,” we just don’t see them at the forefront of most builds. Bucking that trend is Victor, who has created this clever little chair using a handful of rubber bands and solid red elements to make them blend in. The use of the ribbed hose pieces makes the bands even less noticeable, and all the Technic connectors are rotated just right for a clean shot, with their gaps facing away.