Spider-Ham had better beware, because Sandro Quattrini has given Wilson Fisk a suitably suidae upgrade. Inspired by the idea of a minifigure basket as a pig snout, this character grew to an immense size during construction. So much so that he can use a Dots bracelet as a belt!
With the Lightyear movie’s release right around the corner, it’s great to see a build of everyone’s favourite spaceman action figure. Choi Dambaek has constructed this adorable model of Buzz Lightyear, complete with wings on the back. The short stocky proportions combined with the oversized head provide the build with a style similar to LEGO’s BrickHeadz sets, however, this creation has more articulation thanks to the use of ball joints. The striking colour scheme of the character is perfectly recreated and also features the assortment of buttons on Buzz’s chest plate. Angled wedges form thick eyebrows which are settled across Mixel eye plates. Let’s hope we see a Woody in the future!
The talented Sandro Quattrini returns with another fascinating creation, this time in the form of a humanoid primate. The mandril is bursting with personality through its eye-catching colour scheme and stocky proportions. Within the face is a fantastic variation of parts; blue flippers are placed along the nose, headdresses represent ears, and a wig (used on the revolutionary soldier minifigure) portrays the white beard at the chin. The binoculars almost look real with a microphone holding the optical instrument together. Buttons of the walkie-talkie are created by placing rollerskates sideways and the stylish boots feature fur lined hood pieces as the main toe sections. But beware, it appears as though this mandrill could be quite the hunter, as the creature comes armed with a deadly-looking rifle.
Ever have that feeling where you’re not sure if you’re awake or dreaming? Well make sure to wake up dear reader, we have an article for you. Rickard Stensby has created this most outstanding build of the charming Keanu Reeves. The model captures the proportions of the actor’s head in a fun, stylized way by extending the overall length of the face. An interesting technique can be found at the nose, where clip pieces are placed side by side to form nostrils. 1×1 curved slopes represent the lips providing the build with a realistic appearance and claw pieces portray the rounded edges of Keanu’s moustache. Even the little strand of hair, hanging over the forehead, is an excellent edition. Party on dudes!
Builder Eero Okkonen taps into something that I think most LEGO fans can relate to: looking for a new way to use an old piece. Where Eero might differ from those of you reading this is in depicting that struggle as a tree. But this wonderful self-portrait turns a few pieces upside down to deliver a wonderful image of an Ent-like being confounded by a gear. It’s no surprise Eero’s self-portrait would be a fantasy creature looking for new parts usage. Check out our Eero Okkonen archives for a look at his past builds, and you’ll know what I mean.
LEGO builder Sandro Quattrini has been knocking it out of the park with their character builds of late (check out our Sandro Quattrini archives). The newest addition to the roster is a heroic-looking black panther, although this one hails from Rome rather than Wakanda. I guess technically that means we should use its Latin name, Panthera Pardus. For a static build, it’s phenomenally dynamic thanks to the aggressive stance, roaring head, and the swaying belt tassels. (Tassels doesn’t feel like the right word for something so militaristic… Reader, answers on a postcard if you know the proper name!) These use microphones and dumbbell weights for the detailing, and this centurion’s equipment features plenty more clever highlights. The shield makes use of a Ninjago hat and — perhaps ironically — swords, while the armour chestplate is broken up with a Speed Champions hubcap and minifigure shields. Armour with shields on it? Nothing is getting through that!
If we’re going to talk about clever parts use, though, we need to talk about that head. The shaping is simply stunning! There’s loads to enjoy here, but I do like the solution for the ears, which involves a tyre squeezed over a headpiece from a Star Wars battle pack. Alongside the mean eyes and those fearsome jaws, it gives this particular panther heaps of personality.
Well not quite a bunny, but actually an evil servant of Makuta! Alex Mertens has created this impressive version of Lariska from the Bionicle lore; a Dark Hunter who never got an official set. Presented in a mainly turquoise colour scheme, the character has a slim, agile looking design, fitting with the descriptions of her acrobatic combat style. A variety of pieces from the Clikits theme have been added to create pink highlights across the build. A panel piece, featured in a classic Rock Raiders set, forms part of the front section of the head. Minifigure helmets are cleverly used to cover connecting joints at the shoulders and upper thighs. Long skis represent the feet, with the implication that Lariska uses these to spring into the air for devastating aerial attacks.
Just on the border of your waking mind, there lies another time, where darkness and light are one. This LEGO computer figure by Sandro Quattrini fits right into 1981 sci-fi. He’s probably got an IQ of 1001. This build is so full of great techniques and part usages and the poses it’s capable of achieving are wonderful! Some of the more interesting techniques used are the handcuffs used to replicate laces on the boots and the dots line bracelet used here as a belt. The star of the show would have to be the amazing zippered jacket using an ice skate as the zipper pull and roller skates for each side. The classic-styled computer head is phenomenal and really provides a ton of character and life to this build.
Check out more facial expressions and poses below!
I’m really digging this LEGO model of the protagonist from the video game Shovel Knight by Dylan Mievis. This is a game that’s been buried on my to-play list for a long time, and is a love letter to classic NES platformers. The eponymous Shovel Knight is instantly recognisable in its bright medium azure armour – the LEGO colour is a remarkably close match to the source material! Dylan’s shaping is excellent, using curved pieces where necessary alongside some sharp angles to mimic the cartoonish video-game proportions of the original character. This is particularly evident in the helmet with its enormous horns.
This guy would look great as a static sculpture, but Dylan has gone the extra mile to make Shovel Knight fully poseable. Here he is standing ready with his weapon of choice (a shovel, naturally). When it comes to character, this creation has it in spades!
I’d choose this Pokémon! Created by Sandro Quattrini, this interpretation of the elusive Cuebone has a mysterious and deadly look to it. The skull helmet is represented by a lower jaw piece, featured in a mosasaurs model from back in 2001. Cubone carries a simple bone club in the original design, however, this version turns the weapon into more of a blade. Holder clips and mechanical arms portray spiked ribs along the blade, leading to a handle formed of flat gears. The stocky rounded proportions of the character are still retained through application of sloped bricks at the main body and the legs. The model has a superb design which is still easily recognizable while having new exaggerated details.
The Toa better be wary of this creature! Ivan Martynov has constructed this fascinating model based on the classic Bionicle hero, Keetongu. However, a parasite now wears the hero’s armour, as it attempts to impersonate the ancient elder. While the model is mostly made up of Bionicle and Hero Factory parts, general LEGO pieces are mixed in with the build, such as the coverings for the feet and angled handles at the upper thighs. Some of the pieces you won’t be able to find in that warm orange colour, as the model is a rendered image. The hints of pink and transparent purple contrast nicely with the rest of the build, providing this creature with an ominous appearance.
Back at it again with another fantastic figure, Builder Eero Okkonen makes use of some interesting parts from Monkie Kid’s new Galactic Explorer. After watching the Moon Knight finale, this seems like an ancient Egyptian hero in the modern era. Just imagine him strutting up to a bad guy, dropping that boom box, hitting play, and kicking butt in step with the power of the gods.
