LEGO art sets have inspired a whole new area of custom LEGO builds suitable to hang on the wall, like this creation from LEGO 7, who typically builds more character-focused models, featuring a lion holding a sword in his mouth. Bright colors and gold ornamental details capture the traditional lion dance vibe of the Lunar New Year celebrations. The sculptural aspect brings this creation to life over flatter mosaic styles.
Electric and hybrid vehicles are all the rage at the moment, but frequent TBB builder LEGO 7 has something else in mind. This whimsical crab-boat fuels itself as it wanders the sea and shore. The crab portion of the build is full of great details, and the boat is simple but immediately recognizable. My favorite part, however, is the old fisherman. With so many small details like the hat, beard, and the little pink element used for the mouth. There is even a small rubber duck next to him. He reminds me of Ivar’s character from the restaurant chain where I used to get fish and chips with my family when I was a kid.
LEGO pets don’t shed, smell, or trigger allergies, so its only natural that more and more households will replace living pets with brick-build friends, just as we have with our botanicals. Hot on the heels of the LEGO Tuxedo Cat, builder LEGO 7 offers up a feline pair who purr-fectly capture the housecat’s ability to assume liquid form. While small and stylized these cats punch above their weight in personality.
Meanwhile, Ian Hou (DOGOD Brick Design) makes fetch happen with a a dynamic doggo in motion. I can practically smell the drool on that tennis ball. Ian is a prolific animal builder who again manages to model realistic anatomy while keeping the charm of the LEGO brick front and center.
Whether you’re a dog person or a cat fancier, we’re all winners today!
We see a lot of cyberpunk cityscapes built from LEGO – and they’re all awesome. But Chi Hsin Wei (LEGO 7) has gone big with his vision of the future! There’s a lot going on, so let’s unpack it. You’ve got a rather dapper-looking figure in a suit, who is perhaps on his way to or from work. With those Buzz Lightyear-style wings he’s sure to get to his destination in a flash! And speaking of travelling quickly, there’s a wicked motorbike/dog/horse/speeder, er, thing on the road in the back. It makes use of a series of printed parts from 10330 McLaren MP4/4 & Ayrton Senna, which are perfect in this context. And how about those two adorable little robots on the stairs? One’s in a suit, and the other is… Wearing a traffic cone? Sure, who are we to judge. Perhaps that’s the fashion in the future!
The recent LEGO Icons Botanical 10329 Tiny Plants set has inspired many builders to create their own plants to go along with the tiny pots. LEGO 7 has gone to the world of Harry Potter for inspiration, building an adorable mandrake root at the perfect scale to sit on the pot, dangling it’s tiny root legs over ths side. The long leafy sprouts on the head use the new frond element while the feet and hands are small branches arranged just right… and that poutty face…
Here’s another view of the little mandrake just waking up and stretching out to the sunlight.
I’m a big proponent for the LEGO-built desk ornament. Whether a real set (like LEGO Icons 10331 Kingfisher) or something custom built, a wealth of LEGO encircles me at my workstation as I write this. But none of these assembled curios are as useful as this Easter Island-themed desk caddy by LEGO 7. With one sporting tissues and a second ready to hold your pencil, these monolithic statues are there when you need them! It’s part of a larger collection by LEGO 7 of brick-built creations with real-world applications.
Builder Chi Hsin Wei has been on an absolute roll lately, churning out some truly brilliant LEGO creations over the last few months. But this latest ode to Harry Potter may be my favorite work of the bunch! Improving significantly over the recent 76414 Expecto Patronum set, this glorious stag of light blue brick utilizes an array of curved slopes and clip hinges to bring the translucent beast to life. And the spell’s caster is no slouch either with their flowing black robes. It’s quite the difficult task to replicate loose clothing in the LEGO medium, but Wei handles it like a pro!
Travel beneath the waves in style with this beautiful scene by LEGO 7. It features a pair of humpback whales swimming alongside some dolphins, and carrying an unusual passenger: Low-Fi Girl? She’s just reading a book and riding along with her orange cat while a nearby angler fish provides her some light. There is some amazing rounded shaping used in all the underwater mammals. Drifting along with this unusual group, several notes complete the scene.
I can guarantee a spoiler-free take on this LEGO version of the antagonists from the new Ahsoka series on Disney+, mostly because I haven’t had time to watch it yet. So forgive me if I don’t yet know the significance of Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati yet, built here by Chi Hsin Wei. The capes on these two are brilliant, using curved slopes and technic panels to convey the proper cloth-like “flow.” Add to that their built-in poseability (made possible through tow ball joints, bars, and clips) and this duo is certainly ready for action! Perhaps we’ll be treated to the duo on the other side of this Force in a future build, and hopefully by then I’ll be all caught up on episodes.
LEGO will be launching the The Insect Collection soon and, as a result, some of our favorite builders are a little buggier than usual. Take, for example, this lovely Orchid Mantis built by LEGO 7 that is adorned, like its namesake, in pink and white. The flowers come from 10311 Orchid set from last year.
We’ve highlighted both adorable animals and kinetic sports builds from Chi Hsin Wei in the past. Now, to celebrate the beginning of the new year, Chi has combined both of those talents in a build that celebrates 2023 as the Year of the Rabbit. The dynamic mid-leap pose of the rabbit is undoubtedly the centerpiece of the build. But the crescent moon bike ramp, with its inventive use of tiling and the just the right amount of high-tech greeble detail, is just as impressive.
Sometimes, when the hustle and bustle of city life wears you down, and you can’t bear the stress any longer, a trip to the great outdoors can be the perfect remedy. This scene by LEGO 7 with a father bear and his cub enjoying a camping and fishing trip tells a wonderful story. The jeep is packed with supplies, including a camp stove, lantern, fishing gear, and even a couple of folding chairs.
Oh, and in case you were wondering if they fit inside the vehicle like I was… they do! The stickers on the vehicle are a nice touch, and seeing junior looking out the back passenger window at the wild world going by is super-cute.
