Tag Archives: Map

LEGO Ideas 21332 The Globe: Cartography done right [Review]

The last time that LEGO crossed paths with cartography was with Art 31203: World Map. That huge set (11,695 pieces, the highest part count to date) met with a lot of divided reviews from the fan community. While it was clearly “art” was it really a “map”? Well, fans of geography can rest a little easier now, as 21332 The Globe has arrived. Or rather, it will arrive on February 1st for US $199.99 | CAN $269.99 | UK £174.99 | €199.99. This 2585 piece set is the latest in the LEGO Ideas theme, based on the concept submitted by fan designer Guillaume Roussel. All the necessary details are  there to call it a map…but the retro styling has us asking “but is this also art?” Read along as we take an early look at this set and see what you think!

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

Click to read the full hands-on review

LEGO Art reveals 31203 World Map mosaic as biggest LEGO set of all time with 11,695 pieces [News]

With 11,695 pieces, the newest LEGO Art set 31203 World Map breaks the record once more with the highest piece count in a set in the company’s history, nudging out last year’s 10276 Colosseum by several thousand pieces. Like the Art sets released before, World Map consists mainly of 1×1 round tiles which create the continents and the oceans. The set is built on 40 interconnecting baseplates which can be arranged in 3 different ways to display different portions of the world in the center. However you arrange it, the set is 25.5 in. (65 cm) high and 40.5 in. (104 cm) wide. The World Map will be available from LEGO.com and LEGO Stores globally from June 1, 2021, priced at US $249.99 | CAN $349.99 | UK £229.99, and from other retailers globally starting August 1, 2021.

Be sure to also read our full, hands-on review of the LEGO Art 31203 World Map mosaic, and check out the full press release and images below.

Continue reading

LEGO Art 31203: World Map – The biggest LEGO set ever [Review]

There are large LEGO sets, and there are really large LEGO sets. And then there are the ones that take things to an entirely different level. Say hello to the biggest LEGO set everLEGO Art 31203 World Map.  At 11,695 pieces, this new LEGO Art mosaic is the largest set ever released, beating out the 10276 Colosseum by 2659 elements and the Star Wars 75192 UCS Millennium Falcon by more than 4000. But quantity doesn’t always match up with quality. Come along as we explore the highs and lows of this new set, which will be available June 1st from the LEGO Shop Online for US $249.99 | CAN $349.99 | UK £229.99 and will become available from other retailers globally from August 1st.

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

Click to read the full hands-on review

This map took a lot of control to build

Let’s see. I should start this off with something topical, right? Hrm. Well, for a change how about I try something topographical instead? Something like this amazing map from Eli Willsea, perhaps. Sure, it’s not particularly practical if you want to fold it up and take it with you; some of the pieces are just sitting on the surface of the build. But who cares about that. Look at those mountains, trees, and tents made from 1×1 triangle tile! The little bridge made from a curved slope! The “North” indicator made from rods and tile. Oh yeah, and let’s not overlook that compass and map calipers. They make use of a really unusual part: The 9V Track Switch.

The Map

As that control switch is the seed part in the latest round of Iron Builder, I think it’s a safe bet we’ll see a lot more from this part in the future. Personally, I’m looking forward to whatever Eli builds next.

Plot your course to Leviathan

I love to see LEGO parts used in innovative ways, as well as LEGO creations that are just a bit different from what you normally see. This map by alego alego hits the target for both of those things for me. While the 1-to-1 map and accessories aren’t huge by LEGO model standards, they’re all jam-packed with detail and nice parts usage. The map itself is a simple mosaic, including a well-integrated circular compass rose, as well as appropriate printed tiles. The perfectly sized black compass case is very simply represented by the Vader pod piece. My favourite details are the hilts of chrome knives used as pins on the map, and the subtle use of these rock/claw pieces as wax piling up at the bottom of the candle. What creative part usage can you spot?

Unarmed Conquest #2 Armless

LEGO map of Middle Earth gets you from the Shire to Mordor

J.R.R. Tolkien was as obsessed by the geography of his Middle Earth as he was by the languages of its peoples, drawing and redrawing its regions and landscapes in relation to the places his characters visit in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

Adam Dodge has built a LEGO map of Middle Earth, complete with the Anduin running between the Misty Mountains and Mirkwood Forest, the inland Sea of Rhûn, and the Ered Lithui encircling Mordor.

Middle Earth

Adam’s map is partly three-dimensional, with mountains that rise from the map’s surface and a great crevice for the passage of the Loudwater leading downstream from Rivendell.

With this handy map in your travel satchel, I suspect it might be easy enough to just walk right into Mordor…

Pixel-by-pixel map of Zelda’s Hyrule built from LEGO

No, we’re not done yet featuring all the great LEGO creations debuted at BrickCon 2012 last month! Michael Kuroda (madoruk) just posted his massive map of Hyrule from the original Legend of Zelda.

The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule

Each LEGO stud represents 16×16 pixels on the in-game map, and the overall LEGO map is 256 studs wide by 88 studs tall!

One of the things I really like about Michael’s work is that he builds in a lot of different genres, so be sure to check out his photostream for lots more good stuff.

This LEGO Hobbiton even has a brick-built map

Legopard recently exhibited his LEGO Hobbiton at SteineWahn 2012 in Berlin, where it took 3rd place for “Best MOC”. While many LEGO builders are content to build a single hobbit hole, Legopard built three, each with its uniquely colored front door, all surrounded by lush landscaping.

Hobbiton - a long expected Party

Bag End has an interior to satisfy the poshest (and hungriest) of hobbits:

Hobbiton

And I love that Hobbiton even gets its own LEGO map!

the Shire - map

Check out MOCpages for the full gallery, with descriptions of how Legopard built and transported this large diorama, and watch a slideshow on YouTube.