Of all the locations brought to life in The Lord of the Rings, Meduseld, the Golden Hall of the Horse Lords, is one of the most beloved. Isaiah Kepner recreates the building’s interior as Theoden toasts the victorious dead after the Battle of Helm’s Deep. The centerpiece here is the golden knotwork made from cleverly mixed tubes, window lattices, and other golden elements, framed by printed rune tiles. Isaiah meticulously matches the architectural details seen only in glimpses in the extended cut of Return of the King, including a perfect use of the stickered banners from Helm’s Deep and Isengard. Horses are integrated into the build with their heads used for wooden figureheads atop the columns, but I like to think that the Rohirrim actually have balconies where their horses can observe the festivities from above.
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Stairway into shadows
The Summer Joust building competition challenged builders to create “stairway stories,” and most participants assembled their LEGO stairs upward. Isaiah Kepner takes a different approach with his model “The Shadowed Temple,” in which a wandering wizard approaches an ominous flight of stairs descending into the unknown. The surrounding wall features some impressive brickwork, mixing profile bricks, tiles, and ingots in every direction. For the trunks of the aspen trees, Isaiah borrowed a technique from Markus Rollbühler and incorporated Stormtrooper shin armor. Most impressive is the technique Isaiah devised for the cave itself, with a gradation of ever-darker bricks accentuating the darkness within. It’s an evocative scene and showcase of Isaiah’s growing skills as a castle builder.
Oo-de-lally, oo-de-lally, golly, what a build
Robin Hood and Little John are taking a break from runnin’ through the forest as they hide from the schemin’ sheriff and his posse in this charming LEGO build by Isaiah Kepner. The thing that really makes the vignette fun, aside from the brick-built Little John and the sheriff’s minions, is the variety of textures that make the trees and foliage of Sherwood Forest come to life. It’s like one of those I Spy books you may have read as a kid: I spy a rifle, a broomstick, minifig hands, a whip, a halberd, a battle droid arm, and more. Are you able to track them all down?