If you go to the beach this summer, you had better watch your step. If you don’t, you might just trigger a painful pinch from PaulvilleMOCS’ little hermit crab! If you’re wondering why the shell looks so real it’s because it is. While it may not be a brick-built solution, it works quite well and makes the LEGO hermit crab look delightfully authentic. In addition to this, the sandy scenery makes this little crustacean all the more believable.
The Orca is the largest of the dolphin family, one of the planet’s top predators, and a majestic sight. Ken Ito has put together an excellent LEGO model of one of these amazing creatures breaching the surface. The model is nicely shaped, particularly those fins, and I like the restrained use of a custom sticker for the white facial marking. The upsurge of water around the orca’s flanks is well done, as is the spattering of white and trans-clear pieces — it creates a sense of movement, and of the rest of the creature’s bulk just beneath the surface. I’d love to have this oceanic treat on my desk at work.
In addition to being the grandmother of Prince William and Harry, Queen Elizabeth II is known for her love of Corgis. She has owned several over the years and, if given the chance, would probably adopt this glorious puppy built by BrickinNick. BrickinNick’s chibi-like design is simply adorable, from the dog’s panting mouth and big eyes to the cape on its back and tilted crown. The small arches also make for nice, little, perky ears. I can almost feel the warm and wet puppy kisses!
The Queen recently lost the last of her famous pack of Corgis, a dog named Willow who starred with Daniel Craig in the 2012 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremonies. Our condolences to Her Majesty.
Chungpo Cheng, that’s who! You might remember Chungpo’s work from a few weeks ago when we shared his stunning, super-sized Star Wars battle droids. This time, he chose to make big versions of the classic LEGO owl, rat and “cheese slope” elements. In particular, the owl is packed with lots of personality. Those big eyes and upturned eyebrows make Chungpo’s owl look warm and approachable. I almost want to hand-feed the little guy some birdseed!
Chungpo has sculpted an excellent likeness of the original owl piece. He has even photographed the two side-by-side for comparison. Continue reading
Studio Ghibli’s animated movies are a constant source of inspiration to LEGO builders, and Kiki’s Delivery Service is no exception. Here’s the film’s feline duo, Jiji and Lily, re-created in the brick by car_mp. The curves of the cats’ bodies are nicely done, particularly the studs-out section depicting Lily’s neck fur. But as with other cartoon-themed creations, it’s the addition of the large Mixel eye tiles which injects a bunch of character and fun.
If you’re looking for a cute LEGO desk buddy to keep you smiling during your work day, look no further, because we’ve made a step-by-step video tutorial on how to build this adorable LEGO dog designed by CK HO.
We featured picture instructions for this build back in January, but we loved this guy so much we wanted to give it a full walkthrough. I’ve built mine in gray, but if you have the parts it can be built in many different colors, such as tan, brown, or black.
If you build this cute doggie yourself, be sure to add us on social media and post it with the hashtag #CKHOdogbuild.
What’s the difference between a buffalo and a bison? You can’t wash your hands in a buffalo. Okay, terrible jokes aside, here’s an excellent pair of LEGO bison put-together by Jens Ohrndorf. The shaping is excellent, as is the restrained colour scheme, and the mix of smooth and studded pieces used creates an effective simulation of the bison’s patchy shaggy coat.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen bison models by Jens. Check out this cute pair of tiny LEGO bison and a mammoth we featured a couple of years ago.
If you’ve never seen a red-crowned crane, they are certainly a site to behold. Standing at 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall, with a wingspan of 7-8 feet, and weighing up to 25 Lbs (over 11 Kg), these endangered creatures are among the largest birds in the world. Their mating dance is also incredible! Native to East Asia, the sacred cranes have significant symbolism in Japanese tradition. They represent luck, longevity, and fidelity, and they often show up in art, like this elegant diorama by ggwingx.
The background and base are a perfect tribute to the homeland of these beautiful animals. But what really stands out is the terrific use of those white clamshells, and black and white feather pieces to really give them dimension. The legs, necks, and heads are also clever. Altogether it’s a great use of simple parts to make something that truly embodies the gracefulness of these creatures.
Spring is for the birds. Helping usher in spring for TBB’s cover photo this month is Gregory Coquelz’s excellent rendition of Pixar’s For the Birds that we featured back in February. Each time you visit us on our social pages, you can imagine the endless chatter of birds on an electric cable. Or, it might be the birds outside your window. We’ll leave that up to you to figure out.
Want to see your own LEGO creation featured across TBB social media for a month? Then read the submission guidelines and send us your photo today. Photos that do not meet the submission guidelines will not be considered, and will be removed from the group.
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In the city of Portland, Oregon there’s a giant neon sign of a stag jumping over an outline of the state. The historic landmark currently reads, “Portland Oregon” through the middle. It has had a few variations over the years, including, “Made in Oregon.” But one thing always remains the same: that white stag. The sign holds a special place in the hearts of many Oregonians, including mine, and Patrick Biggs’. He’s another builder we’ve featured several times, and the creator of this LEGO version of the iconic Portland stag. Usually Patrick builds posable figures and critters of fiction. This time he went for something a little different to display at the BricksCascade 2018 convention this weekend.
The body of this animal is beautifully shaped, and the white is clean and regal. Also, it can stand alone just as easily as with the full display stand. You don’t even need the backstory to appreciate it! Altogether, it’s one tribute to be proud of.
Did you know that most frogs do have teeth? They are very tiny and not actually used for chewing. But this frog is on a whole different level. I’m pretty sure you don’t want to make him angry! Nobu_tary, a LEGO builder we’ve featured many times, is the witty creator behind this creature. Usually he makes LEGO food like a banana as well as posable figures, but this is a refreshing new addition to his collection!
The body-shaping here is really terrific, and the use of that head piece brings it to life. You might recognize the part from the retired LEGO Chima Speedorz set, 70103 Boulder Bowling. It’s one of those pieces that are difficult to find another use for, but he’s done it perfectly here! This is one frog I wouldn’t mind dissecting… and putting back together of course!
Organic shapes are surely some of the hardest to capture in LEGO bricks — leaving many builders to concentrate their efforts on structures and vehicles rather than animal forms. However, Joe Perez seems to be up for the challenge — his latest model is a lifelike and intimidating bull on the charge. The shaping is excellent here, with slightly exaggerated proportions that effectively convey a genuine sense of heft and menace.
Joe has been slowly putting together an impressive series of creatures in this style. Don’t miss the excellent brick-built stallion we featured a few years ago, and this wonderful stag…
