Brothers and LEGO Masters contestants Mark and Steven Erickson are continuing their big building skills with this beautiful leviathan. The scale here is deceptive, as the stand spans several feet, made of transparent bricks with lights embedded. Look closely right in the middle and you’ll spot a tiny Thor battling the mighty Jörmungandr. The sea serpent also has lights in its eyes, as well as a fog machine for real smoke, and the result is astounding.
Here at TBB, we feature all sorts of incredible LEGO builds from all sorts of incredible builders. We’ve seen equally awesome techniques on tiny creations as we have on giant ones. We’ve also seen hundreds of superb towers, pillars, and columns, and in fact, several of them are from this same builder, Ralf Langer. But I particularly appreciate these pillars, at this scale, because Ralf uses simple techniques to produce something awesome. Twisting the internal structure to alternate those pentagonal tiles is truly eye-catching. And the rest just sets it off perfectly.
There are several cool techniques here, but I’m sure plenty of us are making a mental note right now about those columns. I see you over there, trying to consider the reverse engineering so you can borrow it later! Just make sure to give him credit, and while you’re at it, take a moment to appreciate some of Ralf’s other builds.
After a long day walking through the woods, a place of rest is the one thing you’ll need. Perhaps “The Peaceful Shrub” Inn would suit you well, created by LEGO builder Jesse van den Oetelaar. Meanwhile, I’m resting my eyes on one of the most lovely little cottage inns I have ever seen. I admire Jesse’s use of color in the plants, the path leading to the inn, and the inn itself. I can spot four different uses of green, all of which work perfectly in this build. The bricking that makes up the inn is especially detailed, with dark tan and sand tan colors referencing the patchwork style of many fantasy world buildings.
![The Peaceful Shrub [GOH]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51360240800_0517b6cfd4_k.jpg)
I also like the barrels of ale next to the feasting minifigures. I hope the chickens walking about don’t mind that chicken is also what’s on the table!
![The Peaceful Shrub Inn [GOH]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51358482742_9778791766_k.jpg)
The back of the inn is stuffed with plant life. The pine tree and the large leafy tree are some of the best examples of greenery that you can find. The way these tree trunks are designed helps show the unevenness of the bark while pulling your eyes upwards towards the foliage. The mix of flowers and shrubbery is likely what gives “The Peaceful Shrub” Inn its name.
![The Peaceful Shrub Inn [GOH]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51359231366_9876a939da_k.jpg)
Though I’ve never dabbled in the Warhammer universe, I’ve appreciated the art, figurines, and inspiration that it’s provided to its fanbase. This render of a Gyrobomber built by Dwalin Forkbeard was inspired by the Dwarven flying machines in Warhammer Fantasy Battles. Piloted by only one dwarf, the dual-rotor machine features plenty of artillery to lay waste to the battlefield. The curves of the cockpit are wonderfully modeled with brick-built sections and angled plates. Golden and brass details embellish the body and contrast the light and dark bluish-grey pieces of the mechanical sections. The different-sized doors used for rotor blades are an inventive element of the model, as well as the golden crown used as an exhaust port.
The view of the tail reveals the main engine behind the cockpit. I appreciate the variety of pieces that Dwalin used to model this steam-powered design. The attention to detail is fantastic and the form of the model is alluring. The information he provides really shows you how formidable this bomber could be with just one brave pilot.
When this image of a forgotten temple came to my attention, I knew I wanted to feature it here. Nathan Hake has created an immersive scene that ticks a lot of my favorite boxes. There’s lovely organic building in the trees and vines. There’s interesting part usage in the idol made primarily of golden weapons. And I’ve just got a thing for ruined architecture. Add a dollop of the depth of field from the minifigure in the foreground, and you have something pretty special. But when I visited Nathan’s photostream to learn more, I found that this is only a detail shot of a much larger build. Keep reading to find out just how much bigger!
This is one of the best fantasy LEGO builds I have seen all summer. Check out ForlornEmpire‘s recent creation, “Fiona’s Forge.”
Wow. Just, wow. Everything about this is a world unto its own. How did ForlornEmpire cram in so much detail so subtly into such a small space?
Let’s start at the bottom: the molten metal flowing under the steps into the casting racks is just unbelievable. I would have never thought to use window bricks to showcase the flowing metal beneath it.
The chain on the bucket looks like it was painstakingly made, using bucket handles, and… wait a minute, are those headlamps from the 2009 Clone Walker Battle Pack? Who would have thought to use such obscure LEGO pieces as a chain? While we’re talking about obscure bricks, I have to mention the Unikitty tail pieces used as supports for the shelf near the roof in this build. Such creativity! Such inspiration!
My only regret is that there aren’t any other images of this build. You’ve done it again, ForlornEmpire.
Eat your heart out, Papa Smurf. Whimsical mushroom homes don’t come much better than Mushroom Manor by builder valerius_maximus. An artisan stone walkway leads to a front door that’s all charm, thanks in part to its turntable-based decorative window. Go inside and make yourself at home by tending to the windowsill planter, then wind your way up either of the branching towers. It’s the towers that really set this home apart from other mushrooms in the neighborhood. Decorated with a lovely winding vine, these towers say, “this is where you want to get your medicinal elixirs/a new clue about your side quest.” And don’t forget to spend an afternoon in the surrounding gardens with a gorgeous bouquet of wildflowers and…smaller mushrooms? Huh. Is this area zoned for a detached guest house?
This LEGO creation from Joe (jnj_bricks) was created for the Summer Joust 2021 contest, and it’s wonderfully moody. There are plenty of unique parts used here (see if you can spot the shark head), and the lighting is top-notch. The highlight of the build to me is the brickwork on the wall; it helps tell a story about this building and a lot of work clearly went into it. Another aspect that works really well is allowing the viewer to fill in the rest of the room by having it focused on the door and not having everything self-contained.
Your head hits the pillow. Your eyelids grow heavy. It’s the end of another busy day for you. But it’s just the beginning of the workday for those who keep watch in the Citadel of Sweet Dreams. LEGO builder Jaap Bijl has created a location above the clouds that evokes a sense of storybook charm while showing off some impressive construction. There’s some wonderful use of roundness throughout, but I particularly like the way the front door is framed with headlight bricks in an arc. And the choice to render the tree truck in shades of blue is an effective way to create a sense of another world that’s grounded in the familiar.
Ever wanted to drift away into an enchanted world filled with mystery and wonder? There is no need to venture any further with Isaac Snyder microscale build dubbed “the Tyrandal Woodlands”. This is why we are proud to set this amazing build as our Cover Photo for June.
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Without a doubt, the Two Towers is definitely my favorite Lord of the Rings movie. I have fond memories of going to a small town theater with my friend to watch it soon after it had come out. The contrasting story arcs kept my attention in a state of absorbant wonder though I honestly remember the scenes with Treebeard the most. There were plenty of accompanying Lego sets for the movies but in their wake, fans have created intense models of their own to celebrate their favorite scenes. Craig Jansen was clearly inspired by the Last March of the Ents while building this massive model of Treebeard, Merry, and Pippin heading to Isengard.
Just check out the parts Craig used in this model! The first thing I noticed were the eyes. Treebeard’s eyes, almost glowing in the dark of Fangorn forest, have a distinct presence in the film. Craig did really well with them here. I thought those are printed eye studs but upon closer examination, I realized they were black technic bushings with yellow flextubes cut to fit inside. Simple but brilliant, I must say. They give the model Treebeard’s striking glare.
This beast looks ready to pounce! Joss Woodyard has created a cheeky-looking creature that sports an interesting colour scheme. Throughout the design, dark red is contrasted with azure blue providing the model with an eye-catching appearance. Spiky armour parts make up the mane and the protruding jaw has only been used in one Ninjago set so far. Exo force arms form its stomach and also hold unicorn drills, adding to the model’s prickly aesthetic. It is easy to imagine this creature in a fantasy setting, bouncing around and causing mayhem.
