Tag Archives: Dioramas

There’s nothing like a massive LEGO diorama to prove that you’ve arrived as a LEGO builder. The LEGO dioramas we feature here span everything from realistic medieval castles to scenes from World War II, and more than a few post-apocalyptic wastelands.

Take a trip to Kyoto for a postcard perfect build of the Golden Pavilion in LEGO

Kinkaku-ji, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, is a jewel of Kyoto with a storied history. It burned down several times since the site became a Zen Buddhist temple in 1399, most recently in 1950, but it was always rebuilt with its top stories covered in gold leaf. Now it’s been rebuilt in LEGO as well, courtesy of Lasse Vestergård. Unlike the original, Lasse’s version isn’t just gilded but uses pearl gold bricks. With a limited range of elements in that color, the builder had to find creative solutions and work with small 1×1 and 1×2 plates to build the large structure. (Lasse has some experience with golden temples!) The temple looks incredible as it sits at an angle on a placid lake surrounded by gardens. I appreciate the brick-built hills in the distance, keeping every element on screen made from LEGO.

This isn’t the first time we’ve featured a MOC of Kinkaku-ji. 18 years ago we presented a version by Japanese LEGO legend Jumpei Mitsui.

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Bridge the gap between original and sequel trilogies with this detailed Star Wars diorama

I said it in my review of LEGO’s microscale Home One, and I’ll say it again: one of my favourite Star Wars sets is 7754 Home One Mon Calamari Star Cruiser. Every now and then I’m reminded of it, and this time it’s swbuilds‘ turn to do so. As you might have guessed, this builder specialises in highly detailed Star Wars builds, with a bridge of one of the Mon Cala species’ flagship cruisers. But not (necessarily) Home One! Even though we can spot Admiral Ackbar, Leia, Nien Nunb and Lando Calrissian all gathered around the table, swbuilds states that this is layout draws more from the sequel trilogy than their original appearance in Return of the Jedi. Either way: we love it!

Johnny Thunder’s biggest tomb raid ever

Adventurers was such an amazing theme for any kid (or grown-up) who ever dreamed of seeing far-off lands and solving the mysteries of the ancient past. LEGO Masters champion Mark Erickson is certainly a fan of the theme and picked it for one of his latest 24-hour build challenges. Mark had a blast incorporating as many original parts from the theme as possible, like the printed hieroglyphs, sarcophagus, and of course, the army of minifigures, while also incorporating newer elements and build techniques. The dark orange and dark azure combo definitely wouldn’t have been possible back in 1998, but it’s the perfect color combo for a pharaoh’s haunted tomb and matches the old printings.

The diorama is packed with action from a tomb raid gone horribly wrong as Johnny Thunder and friends unleash a mummy’s curse. All the familiar characters are there, but Mark supplements the crew with minifig companions who look right at home.

If Mark said this was a labor of love built over months, it would still be impressive, but somehow the Master Builder erected this epic wonder in just 24 hours. It must be ancient magic.

Gayle Spiller’s enchanting LEGO box dioramas [Interview]

Gayle Spiller turns whimsical ideas into inspiring LEGO models packed with detail. Her builds, like the Butterfly Collector, are so dense with imaginative use of parts, you can get lost in them. In 2023, Gayle joined the exclusive group of builders to be featured at the LEGO House Masterpiece Gallery. In recent months, Gayle has been playing with a new, cozier build format – one that, like minifig habitats, could inspire builders looking to make their own MOCs from their favorite pieces who might be intimidated by larger constructions. We checked in with Gayle to talk about her latest series and life with LEGO since her invitation to Billund.

TBB: First of all, congratulations on being chosen as one of the latest builders invited to display your creations at the Masterpiece Gallery at LEGO House. What was it like to learn that your works would be displayed in Billund? What was it like meeting the other amazing builders and the LEGO team? Has anything changed in your relationship with LEGO building since your works were spotlighted?

Gayle: Thank you. Being asked to exhibit at the Lego Masterpiece Gallery 2023/24 was a complete surprise and I definitely had imposter syndrome. It was a fantastic experience and I loved meeting the other builders who I had admired online for so long. It was interesting to learn about their building methods, how for instance Zach produces some of his spectacular pieces in only 3 hours. That was a revelation and definitely inspired me to scale down and create something that would take a weekend to finish rather than some of my larger projects which have taken months.

Click to see more of Gayle’s immersive box dioramas

We’re gonna need a bigger truck

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, the movie that ushered in the era of the summer blockbuster and villainized sharks forever. While the back half of the film focuses on the heroes at sea on the Orca, for most of the film, Chief Brody is driving around the seaside village of Amity in his Chevy Blazer. Builder Robson pays tribute to the film’s other iconic vehicle in a fun diorama of Brody and Hooper confronting Mayor Vaughn about the wisdom of re-opening the beach. Robson’s custom billboard is modeled on the one in the LEGO-made short film “Jaws in a Jiffy” made in support of the LEGO Ideas Jaws set. Robson deftly captures the square-body look of the Blazer featuring the removable back canopy of that era, with custom decals to match the on-screen props.

No stranger to tackling Spielberg blockbusters, Robson also made these excellent Jurassic Park vehicles.

Quechua me if you can

Last year SeigneurFett spent months backpacking throughout South America. Since coming home to his collection of LEGO, he’s been unable to forget the visions of Quechua women determinedly walking the high-altitude trails of Bolivia and Peru. Drawing on photos and memories of Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca, SeigneurFett uses LEGO bricks to depict a Quechua woman walking with her alpaca. In contrast to the sun-bleached terrain, the builder uses a mix of bright colors for the woman’s clothes, with grill plates adding texture to the petticoat fringe. An umbrella makes for a perfect hat on this large-scale character. I like the use of twine for the alapaca’s leash.

SeigneurFett’s model makes me nostalgic for walking those same trails many years ago. I wonder if he also ate pasankalla (bolivian popcorn) from a street vendor after coming back from Isla del Sol?

A trip to Mongolia, via north London

It’s funny what parts of your life LEGO creations can remind you of. Here, we have a Mongolian Ger (or yurt, as we in the Western world might call it), as built by qian yj. Now it’s a fine build: the barren landscape of the steppes contrasts nicely with the colourful tent that these minifigures call home. And yet, rather than being transported to Mongolia, my mind takes me to university accommodation somewhere north of London. For some reason, my flatmates and I had taken to loudly playing Mongolian throat singing outside each other’s doors at inconvenient times. This led to scenarios as hilarious as the music is enchanting. And it puts a smile on my face even now. Thanks for jogging my memory, Qian!

Jonesing for the truth about Area 51

As we all know, Indiana Jones’ final cinematic adventure ended with him riding into the Sunset with his dad, and yet rumors persist of two other films with an aging Indy continuing his globe-trotting adventures into the atomic age. Builder Negipon, perhaps the biggest Indy fan in the LEGO scene, recreates a scene from this supposed “fourth” Indiana Jones film where the good doctor gets into trouble with Russian agents infiltrating Area 51. Okay, I’ll admit, it was a pretty great sequence, and Negipon packs the LEGO version with fun details from the film (and a few easter eggs, like a LEGO Star Wars minikit!). The period vehicles are excellent, and the studless crates and scaffolding look phenomenal. As a bonus, the Area 51 hanger gate is motorized.

A closer look at the scene shows what mysterious contraband the Russian’s are after – a relief of someone who looks a lot like Indy made out of a strange carbon-like substance. Clearly it’s not from this galaxy!

If you’ve forgotten what happens next to good ol’ Indy, Negipon built a tribute to that scene as well.

Red coats make easy targets

At the start of the French and Indian War, the British outnumbered their rivals with 2 million colonists to France’s mere 60 thousand. Through alliances with Indigenous tribes and the use of guerrilla tactics, the French made sure the redcoats paid a heavy price for those “few acres of snow.” Nicholas Goodman brings this chapter of North American history to life in LEGO, depicting the British under attack in 1759. The builder excels at dioramas, mixing scenery and minifig staging to capture the drama of a moment. I love how the trees get darker away from the road, a perfect setting for an ambush. We loved his last take on tricorn hat history: a swashbuckling pirate raid.

This scene was built for an upcoming LEGO history book called Minifigure Monarchs: A History of Great Brits in Little Bricks, by Andrew Redfern.

A LEGO encampment where legends train for battle

As much as we love a colossal castle, a brick-built LEGO encampment can be just as inspiring when depicting life in the Middle Ages (see our thoughts on the latest Bricklink Designer Program Siege Encampment). French builder Gus (Faëbricks) erects a training camp for House Austren in what promises to be the first chapter of a LEGO roleplaying scenario called Féodalis. Duke Galdric, accompanied by his wife Elyanna, trains for a joust against the Duke of House Clawthorne. The scene is packed with details of camp life like serfs unfurling a tarp over an a-frame tent and crossbow training.

I love the colors of House Austren, pairing the Forester stag crest with fur collars and dark green capes.

Click for a video tour of this model!

Taking down the big baddie, brick by brick

What makes for a great RPG boss fight? There’s the boss, preferably huge. You’ll need a party of heroes, their skills honed on the bones of lesser foes. And of course an epic arena with room to maneuver and priceless artifacts to smash. Dan O’Conner doesn’t disappoint with this Boss Fight Arena in LEGO, a scene packed with masterful technique. First, let’s take a moment to appreciate the SNOT mosaics built from hundreds of cheese slopes and other angular elements. The glowing trans blue pentagram under the caster is amazing! Speaking of caster, the brick-built battle effects are quite effective, from the magic shields to the slice of air from the Gith warrior in the background. The heroes seem to have this battle under control. Of course, a truly memorable boss battle will go through at least three phases, so the worst is likely yet to come.

With a home this beautiful, who needs to pillage?

Michał Zapała excels at LEGO dioramas, whether they take you adventuring in the Himalayas or fleeing raiders in the Fallout. This time Michał takes us back to 9th-century Scandinavia where the shieldmaiden Eivor receives an important guest. It’s the first of a promised series of Viking-themed scenes that will take the character across the North Sea in search of plunder. I love the sod roof tucked right into the land, a typical style of the era. The mix of stately trees perfectly captures the last days of summer before winter roars in (Vikings didn’t have time for extra seasons like fall and spring). But it’s in the human-scale details where Michał’s diorama comes alive. The cloud-shaped plate strung up as a sheep’s skin is brilliant.

Michał also shares close-ups of his Viking-era mystics in all their pagan glory. The trio are an excellent bit of figbashing, repurposing headpieces from D&D, Creator 3-1, and The Lone Ranger. Will these characters make a return in the next Vikings diorama? Hopefully Michał will return with the next installment soon.

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