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.

What is the Mayo-trix?

If you’ve noticed a lot of ribbed flex-tubing in some of the builds we’ve featured this week, it’s because of this year’s first Iron Builder contest, featuring yet another mind bogglingly difficult-to-use seed part. In the current battle, Sean and Steph Mayo are up against Tyler Clites and our very own Nannan Zhang (…ah well, there goes any hope of impartiality!).

In their latest salvo, the Mayo’s have recreated a scene from the classic Matrix trilogy, which seems like the perfect companion to Tyler’s Zion Dock Defense from a few years back. We wait with bated breath to see how the two lads will respond!

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A cold nose and a warm heart

This adorable little scene by Tyler Clites (Legohaulic) is one of the cutest LEGO models I’ve seen in a very long time. Tyler’s making great use of those Mixels eyes, and the forced-perspective igloo is genius. That little husky gets me the most, though. So cute!

These are probably the worst pies in London.

There’s no denying that Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a dark, dark musical and it covers dark, dark material as only Stephen Sondheim can do.

James Pegrum (peggyjdb), who is no stranger to TBB, has done a lovely rendition of Mrs. Lovett’s meat pie shop. The build is inspired by Tim Burton’s 2007 film.

No cats were harmed in the writing of this post. They were only mildly annoyed.

A peaceful setting for an epic adventure

Master castler David Frank has turned out this beautiful diorama. I absolutely love the scale of it; so often LEGO creations are—by necessity, no doubt—scaled down, so that houses are shed-sized and castles are the size of houses. Not so here, with this lovely dwelling sprawling across a delightful garden scene. David built the model to celebrate the publishing of his wife, Clair’s, fantasy novel, “To Whatever End (Echoes of Imara Book 1), and this house is that of the story’s protagonists.

Merry Christmas from London, 1941

I have a personal tradition of watching a depressing movie on Christmas Eve; I find it has a nice effect of tempering the holiday festivities with some sobering reality.

Apparently Gabe Umland is similarly inclined. This depiction of London during the Blitz has some gorgeously detailed rubble, with just the right touch of Christmas spirit.

It’s all child’s play

There are so many things I adore about this little scene. You’ve got the nostalgia factor, because I absoultely played hopscotch at recess as a little girl. Then you look at the detailing on the pavement, and your eye should wander to the absolutely brilliant bicycles for the kids.

That bunny is just adorable. Michael Jasper, well done.

Road Rage in Old Ōzaka

Running afoul of angry vehicle drivers is as old as time, as an unfortunate peasant discovers in this wonderfully detailed scene of medieval Japan by Disco86.

He’s going to need a bigger hole

This poor, little fisherman has caught more than he can reel in, thanks to not cutting a big enough hole in the ice. He’d better watch out. Sweating profusely, while out in the winter weather, can lead to hypothermia! Anyway, I really enjoyed this small scene by Jonas Wide and his lovely wife. I’m rather partial to scenes that show above and below the water, but scenes that show below the ice are pretty rare. It’s very nicely done. They also did a great of hiding the supports for the ice and you have to love those footprints in the snow. Perfect touch!

Etheldreed Windmill – A Pile of Texture

César Soares has created a rustic windmill, built in the round and composed of some really nice textured masonry and woodwork. It gives it a nice sense of age without being too distracting. The rest of the build works nicely to give the tower context. Not to say that there isn’t some nice technique going on there but the tower of the mill is star of this show.

Honshū Rice Terrace

Disco86 has built a unique bit of medieval history here. This scene depicts how the Japanse began to build rice terraces on the northern mountains of Honshū in order to cultivate rice there. The build is very striking. I can set aside my normal disgust for borders on this one because the flowing lines of the terraces are nicely accentuated by the rigidness of the border. The brightness of the blue also contrasts nicely with the black of the border and is complemented by the green vegetation. All that makes for a build that is really nice to look at.

Mayhem in the mines

This Lord of the Rings themed creation by Grant Davis (Takkata1) features a battle between the orcs and Uruk-hai inside an underground mine. I admire the complex rock work that uses both studs up and SNOT orientations for finer texture.

Black Hollow

César Soares is the mastermind behind this lovely medieval village. I really like how each of the houses is distinct but fit together so well. Also, while I normally don’t like borders, it actually works really well her, as it highlights the absence of straight lines elsewhere in the build. I like it. I really do.