We recently highlighted a selection of LEGO audio gear, including a Moog Sub Phatty. Quy’s LEGO version of this synthesizer is a really fantastic creation and proved very popular. Quy Chau has kindly shared breakdown instructions for his build, should you wish to build and play your own LEGO Moog Sub Phatty.
Click here for breakdown instructions
Inspired by Australia’s new icebreaker and armed with plans and blueprints of the actual ship, Ryan McNaught assembled a team of builders who brought this monstrosity to life in a month of hard work.
Learn more about this massive LEGO icebreaker ship
LEGO creations often begin with the completed appearance in mind, but sometimes a particular part can stimulate the creative process. In the case of this microscale scene by David Zambito, it was the dark tan leg parts (either from the luggabeast in 75148 Encounter on Jakku or from Rhino in 76099 Rhino Face-Off by the Mine) that were the starting point for his build. The desert temple has a futuristic, ‘other world’ feel. The use of the legs to give shape to the terrain and temple structure is inspired, but I love the entrance made with a minifigure open backpack part.
What is the most important part of a military mech? A massive ion gun? A heavily armored cockpit? MiniGray! always has a different take on the most popular building concepts, and mechs are no exception. This time he puts emphasis on the vehicle’s legs making them look very complex. However, the secret of this winning design isn’t the complexity, but rather a stunning contrast between colors and shapes. Round yellow Technic half bushes, which are almost useless in Technic builds, steal all the show here.
Growing up, my brother and I used to pull out all our gray and blue LEGO and build sprawling space bases on our bedroom floor. We couldn’t imagine more than thirty years ago how much bigger and better future LEGO creations would be, like this amazing diorama by ZCerberus. The base has landing pads for ten ships and incorporates over a hundred lights.
The ships and vehicles are also excellent, and the builder spares no detail — just take a look at that gorgeous brick-built Classic Space logo on the side of the main building! My favorite vehicle is the large gray vehicle on the right, pumping some kind of mineral from a great big hole in the planet’s surface.
Consider, for a moment, if you will, the not-so-humble hot rod chassis. Builder Green Gecko Lego Technic Workshop certainly did with their “Lego Technic Pneumatic HOT ROD Chassis.” This Technic model features independent front suspension, precision pneumatic steering, solid axle rear suspension, and even a working V8 engine with realistic sound and revving.
Green Gecko has posted a video of the complete hot rod that includes body panels, a mean-looking front grille, opening doors, and chromed pipes. This video also shows the custom controller for the full remote control car, which includes a pair of cylinders that control the steering and a pneumatic switch to control the engine.
Take a look at Green Gecko’s YouTube channel for more detailed custom Technic models.
Dutch builder Vladimir van Hoek has created a fully functional pinball machine from LEGO, inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The table includes scenes from all three books and movies, from Hobbiton above the ball shooter to Mount Doom in the opposite corner. Every element of the pinball machine is built from LEGO, including the targets, lanes, and flippers. Official minifigures from the Lord of the Rings sets add character to the scenes, but the microscale buildings and landscaping are excellent in their own right.
See more photos and the LEGO Lord of the Rings pinball machine in action
The stag is a majestic creature, possibly even the European equivalent of the lion as the “animal king”. The majesty of its magnitude is hard to capture, but Joe Perez has managed to recreate it very well in LEGO form. The original intent was to give an impression of motion, but the builder was still quite happy with how the stag turned out static, but proud – and I believe no motion suits a stag better than pride.
Joe has created a great mix of textures by using studs only around the neck and breast, while hiding them nearly everywhere else – the result of which is a dynamic impression of fur. The horns are realistic and legs look just about perfect (possibly even with some room for poseability!). Simply inspired!
Some of our younger readers will not remember the experience of scrolling the camera film forward after taking a photograph. Indeed, before the automatic whirring that signalled the end of the film, cameras had little turning levers to manually winding the film back into its protective housing. This LEGO version of an old camera in 1:1 scale was built by Andreas Lenander as a gift for his dad. While it is not a specific model, I did think it was reminiscent of the old Leica cameras with their black and silver bodies, and a selection of turning knobs and switches on top.
The king of awesome little LEGO camera’s must be Chris McVeigh, who also generously shares instructions for his builds on his own website. If you like the camera we highlighted above, you will definitely enjoy Chris’ LEGO Polaroid camera.
Over the past several months, the LEGO Review Board has been reviewing the 6 projects that reached 10,000 supporters between May and September 2017, the second review qualification period of 2017.
The second 2017 review included six builds : Luke’s Diner from the television series Gilmour Girls, The Wonders of Peru, NASA Saturn-V Launch Umbilical Tower, NASA Space Shuttle, NF-15B Research aircraft and Star Wars I am Your Father scene.
Unfortunately, LEGO Ideas have just announced that none of the 6 projects in review have been selected as the next LEGO Ideas set.
Click here to read more about the next review where at least one set will be announced
It was love at first type when I looked at this. Niklas Rosén built a nostalgic machine that’s almost extinct now with the advent of the new era of computers. You now get to build this right at home because it is just the type of build where you probably could find the parts for if you search hard enough in your stash of parts. And to make it fun, don’t stereotype the choice of colours to just black or red. Be adventurous and perhaps you’d want to make some modifications to your own prototype!
Click to get the instructions and start building
Human imagination can create both incredible and terrifying things. And the latest creation by Japanese builder Moko perfectly illustrates this thesis. This absolutely bizarre creature from Mars is odd in so many ways. Not only does its overall design gives me shivers, but also the choice of pieces and their combinations are simply outlandish. Can you guess what piece is used for the martian’s snout?
