Here’s a theory: animals and sci-fi make for a perfect mix. Don’t believe me? Check out this trio of LEGO vehicles courtesy of Devid VII! They are all named after animals, all feature relatively limited colour palettes, and all look amazing. First up is the Froggy, whose ball-jointed feet remind of the Tachikoma that have inspired so many brilliant LEGO creations:
Maybe it’s just the booze talking but the 70s and 80s were the best time to be a kid. I mean, you’ve got Star Wars, Micronauts, Shogun Warriors, and of course LEGO coming out with some freaking awesome themes like Castle and Classic Space. Shannon Sproule knows what I’m talking about. This fabulously retro Metorogādo: City Protector Robo combines the awesomeness of Shogun Warriors, the playability of Micronauts, and maybe even some of the awe of Star Wars. This hits all the nostalgic childhood sweet spots for me. And of course, it’s all LEGO…or mostly LEGO—those shoulder fins are some other brand of brick.
Shannon says it was a miracle to find both a left and a right fin in the loose brick bargain bin. And that’s another cool thing about being a kid; while we likely preferred LEGO, we didn’t care too much if some sweet off-brand parts snuck into our collections now and then. It’s the adults who fret over such things. With childhood wonder intact, (booze references notwithstanding) be sure to check out why Shannon consistently hits all our sweet spots.
We put on flippers to go swimming in the sea, so I guess it isn’t so weird that a denizen of the ocean would put on a pair of robot legs. But Moko has made sure this dolphin is ready for more than just a sight-seeing tour on the surface world. This mech is providing its Cetacean operator with legs, a giant cannon, an energy sword, a targeting computer, and even a prehensile tail that ends in a claw. It might feel like overkill, but when you realize what the sharks have been up to, you see that there’s an underwater arms race going on. Literally, they all have arms now.
One of the trademarks of a great mech is the creative use of a certain part. In this case, it’s about a Bionicle-inspired build by Johann Dakitsch, and the part is the gently curving balloon segment, which puts this model head and shoulders above the competition. Get it? Yeah, I’m a dad. And speaking of Bionicle, this model was built as part of a challenge to build Bionicle without the use of the specific parts common with that theme. Johann did a fantastic job creating the signature look using more traditional parts.
Inspired by Eva Unit 01 from the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, Derrick Li has built this fantastic-looking miniature LEGO mech. Although the mech has a bright, playful colour scheme, be warned, it is a savage fighter. The thin build captures the humanoid style of the mechs featured in the show with their tall, athletic proportions. There are some inventive techniques applied at the head, such as the use of what appears to be a quarter circular tile representing the glowing yellow eyes. The spindly fingers are formed of wands, from the Harry Potter sets.
There is also a great arch in the back which creates the mech’s odd hunch. It is incredible how accurately Derrick has managed to portray the intricate details of Eva Unit 01, especially in this miniature scale.
You can check out many more awesome LEGO mecha builds right here on The Brothers Brick!
LEGO builder Anders Martin Hulth has combined at least 5 separate Winter Village sets into the most terrifyingly festive Winter Village Mech that is ready to kick in your doors for merely thinking of throwing out that Christmas tree before Three Kings Day. Nobody is done with Christmas! His 4-barreled rotating reindeer Gatling gun repurposed from Santa’s Workshop will make you take back your cliched joke about how early the mall starts playing Christmas music. You better hope that is just tree sap when his evergreen fist comes smashing through your kitchen window after hearing you say eggnog tastes like toothpaste. This Jingle bell Juggernaut is a Voltroned together Winter Village Station, Santa’s Workshop, Elf Club House, Gingerbread house, Winter Village Cottage and does not suffer fools gladly who deny Die Hard is a Christmas movie.
I wonder if there is a beekeeper equivalent to Captain Ahab, forever obsessing over one special white honeybee. Whoever that beekeeping Ahab is, they should look no further than this LEGO creation by Christian Lintan. My hunch says once discovered, this monochrome mech will put up a good fight. It might even make Beekeeper Ahab wish they would have pursued something less dangerous, like stamp collecting. I’m loving those Bionicle transparent wings though. If you enjoy LEGO builds with a monochrome palette, be sure to click the little blue link to see what others have done, including at least one entry by Christian.
LEGO builder Andrej Ramires has built the Tallgeese based on one of the versions shown in Mobile Suit Gundam Wing Endless Waltz. Andrej has perfectly captured the look of the original mobile suit, from the rounded shapes of the armor to the smaller details such as the beam sabers hidden on the underside of the shield. The mech has a similar aesthetic to that of a centurion, with the red head tail and circular shield. The large gun has some nice details, including the use of a lamp piece portraying the tip of the gun. Those boosters on the back allow the Tallgeese to travel at high speeds and charge through its opponents with the powerful lance.
I’ve been following the progress of this build as it has slowly came together over the past few weeks, so it is very exciting to share the completed work with you all. Moko has built one of his largest and most expensive looking models to date, the build being based on the RMS-108 MARASAI from Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. There’s so much to look at, even smaller details become interesting, such as the inner panels of the arm shield and the wide design of the head. Just making sure that this model can support its own weight must have been half of the challenge of constructing this goliath.
Read on to see more views of this mech marvel!
I love mechs that combine sharp edges and organic curves. Vorpal, a creation from builder Iggs, integrates those two styles with…well….style. The dark blue armor plating extensively uses wedges and Bionicle elements to create an overlapping texture that reminds me of samurai armor. The other prominent color is sliver – filled out with more Bionicle elements and a wealth of macaroni brick to create the curving tubing in the torso. Add on a giant gun on one arm, and you’ve got a mech that’s ready to rock.
The Bionicle theme gave LEGO builders a great range of interesting parts to enhance almost any creation. Check out our Bionicle tag for more great examples!
The end-of-year holidays are upon us. Some find gift giving a slog or a source of anxiety, but Patrick Biggs rose to the challenge with The Karrax’ Fang. This Secret Santa build is both a gift for and inspired by the works of TolerantAxe97. This insectoid mech has great articulation, a really slick hand design, and the ever-creepy Technic-gears-for-teeth technique. I also like the Technic spacers used for the eyes and the impressive horns. I think I’d be thrilled to see this under my tree…as long as it wasn’t moving on its own or something.
Looking for more mechanical goodness? Browse our other featured mech builds!
Sometimes you see a few interesting LEGO pieces want want to build something from them. We do it all the time. So do official LEGO designers like Chris Perron. While the old big basketball hoops may be the standout pieces on this mech titled L-00-P5, Chris based his build around the triangular vehicle tipper end.
The tipper end parts are at the top of the mech, and those allow the front and rear paneling to be attached at an angle. This gives this brightly coloured mech an aggressive feel that its armaments – a big gun and a small knife – enhance. But it is really the legs that drew me in. The orange and white colour scheme become scarce as the dark grey mechanical bits are exposed. Chris assembled the feet with subtle greebling which allow full articulation.
Check out more of Chris Perron’s! builds here.