Tag Archives: alex_mocs

A roundup of the most frightening LEGO Lovecraftian horrors on the internet [Feature]

If you are not into Lovecraftian horrors beyond description, then congratulations, you are likely a fine, well-adjusted, upstanding individual. Here’s a puppy for you! Seriously, you’re probably better off for it. But, if you’re like me (and you know who you are), you are attuned to an entirely different wavelength. One that resides in the shadows. So, for you, with it being spooky season and all, I took it upon myself to bring the mood down and showcase some of the creepiest LEGO Lovecraftian horrors we’ve had the displeasure of summoning. So dim the lights, pour yourself a Moscow Ghoul, and settle in for some existential dread and unspeakable terrors.

We’ll let Shannon Sproule set the mood here with a rather atmospheric piece he calls Meeting by the statue, slurp, slurp, slurp. Already we have more questions than answers and we’ve just gotten started. Esoteric cultists, weird monsters and cosmic horror is going to be a recurring theme here. Shannon surely embodies all of the above with this creation.

Lovecraftian mythos is chock full of hideous malevolent deities called Outer Gods; later renamed as The Great Old Ones by August Derleth and other literary scholars after Lovecraft’s death in 1937. They are generally located in deep space outside of our solar system or even from beyond our known dimensions. Some are specific to the Cthulhu Mythos but others, such as this offering by one of our favorite monster builders Nathan Don sort of fits the description for what an Outer God should be. With four arms, four eyes not necessarily on the face and the ubiquitous tentacles, you have yourselves the makings of true Outer God nightmare fuel.

You know I’ve saved the biggest and scariest for last so be sure to click if you dare!

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Silverpuke Collab redeems Metalheart Y2K aesthetic in LEGO

If you’re a fan of the post-Bionicle LEGO character scene, you might have noticed a spike in monochrome silver creations that look like liquid metal exiles from a Cyberspace graveyard vibing to Nine Inch Nails as they hack the planet.

They’re rad. I poked the building beast who started the trend, Djokson, to find out more about this collab called “Silverpuke.”

Originally, this started with a few of my builds: Psychopomp Alloy, Sinew and Silver Fog. In an attempt to revisit the aesthetic of metallic Y2K renders (metalheart stuff in particular) I used the often maligned palette of silver pieces from Bionicle to achieve that feeling.

The term silverpuke itself used to be a derogatory phrase thrown around on certain fan forums to refer to builds utilizing an overabundance of such parts. The aim with the collab title was to reclaim it. For the longest time, Bionicle builders bemoaned the excessive usage of silver blade pieces in sets, and many called them unusable outside of weapons. So it also serves as a fun challenge when building.

From there, some of my friends were inspired to make their own, and it sorta snowballed into a recurring collab. The builds tend to come together very quickly when inspiration strikes.

A selection of models from of the growing collab follows:

The Silverpuke MOCS go Halcyon and on and on

Don’t lose your head over this elegant mantis

The praying mantis female will sometimes consume the head of the male while mating. What’s this self-made widow’s secret? alex_mocs knows that there’s nothing more alluring than Bionicle and Constraction elements, seamlessly integrated into organic LEGO builds. This model of the
Viridis Mantidae is the pinnacle of elegance with a touch of menace. Like a master sculptor, alex manages to coax disparate LEGO elements together in ways that suggest that this was the role they were destined to play, from the green whip antennae to the Ninjago sail wings to the Bionicle chest.

alex_mocs is one of the organizers of the Bio-Cup. The first round, with the theme “Dreams,” closes on June 9th. If you’re interested in building MOCs that play with non-system elements like alex’s model here, it’s not too late to enter. Don’t worry – they won’t bite!

Virtual pop star Hatsune Miku gets idolized by LEGO character stars

March 10th is MAR10 Day, and by now, we all know what May the 4th signifies, but did you know that March 9th is Miku Day? It’s the day when fans celebrate Hatsune Miku, the vocaloid virtual diva who has taken the world by storm since her debut in 2007, spawning concerts, anime, manga, games, and especially fan works. To celebrate the day, big names in the LEGO Bionicle and character building community came together for a synchronized drop of Miku tributes. Aside from the signature blue hair, the builds couldn’t be more different in style. Each model is inspired by a song featuring Miku’s vocaloid singing. Together they show why Miku has endured as a chameleon-like idol, open to interpretation by fans.

First up is “World is Mine” Miku from alex_mocs. For Miku’s azure hair, Alex blends curvy tubes with ninjago swords. What sets this build apart is the incredible staging on that impressive stack of speakers, evoking a futuristic platform on which the holographic singer can shine.

Keep reading for more vocaloid visions in LEGO

LEGO Elesh Norn is here to convert your bricks to the Machine Orthodoxy

I’m a lapsed Magic the Gathering player, but anytime the Phyrixians are around, you can count me in for a draft. Elesh Norn, the Mother of Machines, is easily one of the venerable card game’s most iconic and beloved characters, fusing Cenobite horror with the sanctity of a white deck. Canadian builder alex_mocs creates a stunning LEGO take on the Phyrexian Praetor that looks like she just stepped out of a legendary Magic card. A face/mask made from Technic fins and constraction armor pieces gorgeously contrast with the sinewy red organic body beneath. The flowing red cloth is a supple contrast to the snaking machinework behind made from an unholy number of Toa Luwa feet. It’s brilliant work from one of the best LEGO character artists around.

Killer Zodiac collaboration from a constellation of AFOL stars

What’s better than seeing your star sign in LEGO? How about all twelve zodiac signs stunningly assembled by some of the brightest stars in the building community?

Two years ago, builder Woomy World created a zodiac-themed “Libra Dragon” for the BioCup competition. Fellow builder Ezreel was inspired and pitched a collaboration for all 12 Zodiac signs to the community. Those invited to participate could claim their own star sign or swap if they had a strong idea, and soon the list was full. But with so many builds to coordinate and busy lives and creative blocks complicating things, some folk dropped out, others came on board, and time was ticking by. Finally, a deadline was set, and the final lineup of builders set to work on their chosen sign. To maintain thematic cohesion, the group agreed that every Zodiac sign would be depicted as a creature, which for some signs meant some creative interpretations were necessary.

Now, nearly two years in the making, the Zodiac Collaboration makes its debut!

Read on to see all 12 Zodiac signs in LEGO!

A boatload of gluttony

Meet Gourmand; he’s a demon so gluttonous, he needs a throne made of the front half of a boat. He’s also the newest LEGO creation by alex_mocs built for Biocup and their Nine Circles of Hell competition. Just in case you didn’t read the fine print because you’re too busy winning the Nathan’s Hotdog Competitive Eating Contest for the sixteenth time, Joey Chestnut, this demon represents the deadly sin of Gluttony. If you like what you see, then open a pint of ice cream, toss out the lid, and hunker down to feast on our Alex_mocs archives.

The Tarakava and its rider

Originally depicted by LEGO as a “Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robot”-esque Bionicle creature, the Tarakava gets a serious overhaul here by alex_mocs. Losing the treads and bopping arms, the creature now sports a raptor-like design, while maintaining the startling lizard visage. I love how the builder leaned into some of the printed parts and stickers from the Jungle Dragon Ninjago set, as well as the seamless integration of Technic and System LEGO parts, both in the mount and rider. But the details in the reins and saddle are what really set this build apart.

If two saws are better than one, what about four

At first glance, it might be easy to miss the scale of this cutting edge bot by alex_ mocs, but take a closer look, and you’ll notice the large Technic panels used for shielding on the arms. While the saw-hands are certainly the most dangerous part of this bot, The ball-grabbing parts used for the upper legs are one of the coolest parts used, in my opinion. Heck, pretty much every part used on the legs of this beast contributes to a very practical structure, like the various small connectors used to create pistons along the back of each leg.

Take a trip to this peaceful floating platform

In this mystical scene by Alex_mocs, a tree wraps around an elevated structure. The shadowy figure of a deer stands next to a wide chalice with a wing piece sprouting from the bowl. The smooth shape of the deer’s body is formed of rubber bands, closely slotted together. A stud shooter represents the creature’s neck and the head is actually a droid torso piece. The stairs also have an interesting build with a staggered construction created by placing plates sideways.

We all live in a yellow...well, you know the rest.

This Subnautic™ Research Drone by Alex_Mocs finds new uses for Galidor, DUPLO, and Scala elements in a brilliant underwater vessel. The Galidor upper legs (and sweet looking Technic and System-built lower legs) slot through the portholes of a DUPLO submarine hull. On the underside is a collection pot that made from (I think) a Scala water cooler. Add to that with a seabed full of twisting organic shapes and a wealth of aquatic life, and you have the makings of a very grim and gritty “Finding Nemo” reboot.

Is everything better under the sea? Is that a joke that we’ve relied on once too often? Check out our submarine tag and start counting the callbacks!

Play that funky music, squid-frog

Sometimes y’all are a bit messed up. It’s unsettling and maybe someone ought to check in on your well-being. But as I’m jibing to the same dissonant tune, I’m right there with you and could probably also use a wellness check from time to time. Take this high-flutin’ LEGO creature built by Alex_mocs, for example. You can only imagine what hellish deities that this thing might summon. He calls this piece, The Call of Uūl but maybe you ought to send Uūl back to whatever unfathomable realm from which it came. Just say you butt-dialed it. Wrong number. However, since it’s here I like all the dinosaur parts used and the creative way those dark red tree leaves are stacked in such a way to denote alien coral or maybe some of that non-Euclidian geometry we’ve heard so much about.

While Alex doesn’t cite his inspiration per se I believe it may come from this and if that is the case then I’m totally jibing to your crazy tune and you seem to be just the kind of person I’d love to have a beer with. But let me pick the soundtrack though, OK?