Tag Archives: James Bond

The brick that loved me

The Q-Branch of MI6 in the James Bond series has a real fondness for outfitting flashy cars with even flashier upgrades. One of the flashiest has been captured here by László Torma in their outstanding LEGO model of the famous Lotus Espirit featured in The Spy Who Loved Me. 007 drives his souped-up sports car off the end of a dock and transforms it into a slick two-seater submarine. László has captured the clean lines of both versions of the Espirit. The slim black stripe across the side of the car is created by using a variety of brackets built on their sides. I want to give a special shout-out to the 2×4 bow above the rear wheel; this part has been around for a while, but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen it used this smoothly! I’m also sure László was happy by the release in 2003 of the 1×6 slope which used to make the clean lines of the car’s hood. All this fantastic comes together to capture the classic silhouette the Bond’s Espirit in the 8-wide form factor of a Speed Champions style model. Maybe one day we’ll get a Jaws minifigure to go with it!

Lotus Esprit S1 - James Bond - Instructions 12

The spy who loved a submersible. And also me.

James Bond is known for several things: looking great in a tux, being suave with the ladies, and enjoying his drinks shaken, not stirred. Oh, and also awesome cars. Take a gander at this LEGO 1976 Lotus Esprit built by Paul Nicholson. It’s from The Spy Who Loved Me and clearly Paul is a builder with no shortage of suave moves. It captures the iconic vehicle nicely and the undersea stand is a great touch. Now why is it that we never got any official James Bond LEGO sets? Oh right, we did and most of us were less-than-thrilled. Perhaps now is the time to improve on that? In the meantime check out some other James Bond stuff built by our friends around the globe. I try to be as suave as 007 but when I order my beer shaken, not stirred it’s usually met with a quizzical look and a disapproving shake of the head. Maybe it’s because I’m just too short and paunchy for a tux.

1976 Lotus Esprit from "The Spy Who Loved Me"

No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die.

This fun LEGO creation by Fedde Barendrecht reminds me why I love James Bond movies. There’s always a certain formula to it involving an eccentric baddie with a sweet lair and a massive ego. Instead of just covertly shooting Mr.Bond any maybe ending the series twenty-some-odd movies ago, they possess a flair for theatrics. Usually, they strap the suave not-so-secret agent to some buzzsaw-crotch contraption while methodically telling him in full detail how he’s going to die. This gives 007 plenty of time to not only escape the predicament but also have a martini and a romp in the sack with some pretty lass or another. Total classic Bond stuff! If you like this, then check out how Fedde Barendrecht tickles our funny bones as well as makes us a bit concerned for his well-being on occasion. Also James Bond stuff!

No Mr Bond

Build James Bond’s Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me [Instructions]

Looking back at the action scenes from the 1977 James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me make them seem downright cheesy today. Having said that, the reason why the Lotus Esprit is still remembered and loved is just how realistic the way the car submerged and reappeared on the sandy beach. Simple designs are sometimes the key to making things rememberable. Hachiroku24’s take on this vehicle not only looks great from the sides, but also has great detailing on the rear using simple 1×1 plates for its rear tail lights.

Lego 007's Lotus Esprit

Click for full instructions to build your own

Bonding over Modulex

When taking a deep dive into LEGO history, you’re bound to run into Modulex – a spin-off line from LEGO started in 1963. Designed for architectural planning, these tiny bricks can be hard to come by–but they certainly do work well to create images of the workplace. Elspeth De Montes noticed two of the human figures in this classic line were also very reminiscent of another classic series. Naming this image Good Morning Moneypenny transforms this well-built office into a tiny slice of life from a James Bond film.

Good Morning Moneypenny.

My favorite detail is Moneypenny’s computer. I’m certain the Modulex team didn’t have a desktop workstation in mind when they made those parts!

Here’s a cool CAT everyone can dig.

When it comes to earthmoving equipment, the Caterpillar brand stands out as a time-honored tradition. The company’s 320 Hydraulic Excavator packs some serious digging power, and looks amazing as this 1:30 scale LEGO model built by Sheo. It looks accurate to the original, right down to the tracks and hydraulic digging system. The driver’s cab is particularly impressive, expertly formed with rigid tubing, clip, hinge, and bar elements. Other inspired details include black whips for handrails and studs-not-on-top building to form the shape of the CAT logos on the vehicle’s body.

Caterpillar 320 Excavator

Sheo. even used his tractor to recreate an action-packed scene from the 2012 James Bond film Skyfall.

Skyfall: Catching the Train

Build your own mini LEGO Aston Martin DB5 with working features [Instructions]

No, not the 10262 James Bond Aston Martin DB5 LEGO set from earlier this year. As remarkable as the working features on the official LEGO set are, hachiroku24 has scaled the iconic vehicle down while — rather miraculously — retaining many of the car’s functions.

Lego 007's Aston Martin DB5 with working gadgets

Learn how to build your own LEGO Aston Martin DB5

LEGO version of James Bond’s submersible Lotus Esprit

Considered by many to be the best Bond movie of the Roger Moore era, The Spy Who Loved Me features an undoubted highlight — Bond’s Lotus Esprit sportscar transforming into a submarine. Nicknamed “Wet Nellie” (in homage to Little Nellie, Bond’s famous gyrocopter) the car’s stylish lines and aquatic abilities immediately earned it pride-of-place on most 70s fantasy car wishlists. If you always wanted one, why not follow Luis Peña‘s lead and build your own LEGO version? It’s unlikely you can afford the real thing — in 2013 Elon Musk bought the prop vehicle from the original movie for a cool £550,000!

Wet Nellie - Lotus Esprit S1 Submarine

Despite its tight dimensions, Luis’ model includes all the details you’d expect, including the wheel arch fins and the iconic slatted windows. It also features a smart interior…

Wet Nellie - Lotus Esprit S1 Submarine

The only thing that seems to be missing is a compartment for dumping Alka Seltzer tablets into the water behind the vehicle. That’s how the moviemakers created the streams of bubbles trailing from the sub during the film’s underwater sequences!

LEGO James Bond Aston Martin DB5 set designer reveals what piece set the scale for the super spy car [Video]

The newest LEGO Creator vehicle, the 10262 James Bond Aston Martin DB5, was revealed in London today with surprise instant availability worldwide. The iconic car is packed with hidden features, gadgets and includes an ingenious way of making the LEGO car’s doors open and close like a real car.

We learned an interesting fact from the designer video included below, that scale of the vehicles in the Creator Expert line is determined by the size of the LEGO wheel that best fits the car. LEGO senior set designer Mike Psiaki said that since there are only a few set wheel sizes, the rest of the LEGO car is then sized accordingly by comparing it with reference photos of the real vehicle. He also talks about the hardest part of creating the set, and how working on a James Bond car was a childhood dream of his.

The LEGO James Bond Aston Martin DB5 is now available for LEGO VIPs with general availability August 1st for $149.99 USD.

Exclusive interviews with LEGO designer and Aston Martin Creative Director at London LEGO Creator Expert 10262 James Bond DB5 set launch event [News]

Earlier this morning, The Brothers Brick attended what was supposed to be a top-secret launch event at LEGO’s flagship UK store in Leicester Square, London. The silver Aston Martin DB5 parked outside the main entrance was a bit of a giveaway that today was all about the new Creator Expert 10262 James Bond DB5 set.

Continue reading…

TOP SECRET: LEGO 10262 James Bond Aston Martin DB5 [Review]

Despite a long sequence of cars from Lotus, BMW, Ford, and others, no other car maker featured in the James Bond movies can come close to the iconic status of Aston Martin, starting with the 1963 Aston Martin DB5 first featured in Goldfinger. Long rumored and officially announced at a special event in London earlier today (see our complete coverage here on The Brothers Brick), the latest vehicle in the LEGO Creator Expert series is 10262 James Bond Aston Martin DB5, which includes 1,290 pieces and is available now for LEGO VIPs and will be available worldwide August 1st (USD $149.99, CDN $179.99, 149.99€, £129.99, 1399DK, etc.).

Open this mission briefing to reveal CLASSIFIED information

Comes the morning, and the headlights fade away

LEGO bricks are forever. They are all I need to please me…and I am very pleased with Victor’s 1985 Aston Martin V8 Vantage, as driven by James Bond in The Living Daylights (1987). Victor has done an excellent job of sculpting out the body to replicate the look of 007’s famous ride. The use of ratchet minifigure accessories as windshield pillars works really well here, and they are angled in such a way that matches the profile of the Aston Martin. Bond’s bells and whistles are also present, including a side-mounted skis and a giant flame for a speedy getaway through the snow. If you peek inside, you will even notice the interior upholstery is textured! It’s a design that is best shaken, not stirred…

Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante - The Living Daylights