Tag Archives: Microscale

Some say “Go big or go home!” but it takes real talent to compress something down to just a few studs and still keep it recognizable. Of course, many of the micro models we feature here aren’t so small after all, whether it’s a vast cityscape or starship.

A perfect LEGO microscale japanese city block in spring

The Micropolis standard enables big cities to come together at LEGO conventions, but more than that, building at microscale also presents a challenge to builders, encouraging them to push their creativity by working with parts largely designed for minifigures. Take this charming Japanese micropolis block by Ids de Jong, which makes clever use of minifigure accessories as foliage. A roller skate element works well as a roof-mounted utility, and the red part, commonly used as a fire extinguisher handle, is used to create a traditional arch. The choice of building, including a convenience store, colorful vehicles, and cherry blossoms, completes the scene very nicely.

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

Nintendo DS case finds new life in a LEGO sci-fi tower

There are so many LEGO-compatible products and accessories out there, so it makes sense that builders would find fun and interesting ways to use them in their own creations. Kevin H has done just that using a Nintendo DS case that includes some attachment points to decorate as the central element in this fun, sci-fi tower. The use of some stickers to add more detail was a great choice, as well as using a largely monochromatic palette of blue to match the case with some light green and transparent parts thrown in. Another fun detail is a pair of spring-loaded shooter bricks with dual-colored sides at the base, and those gray pyramid pieces add to the brutalist look at the base of the tower.

Feeling book nook sticker shock? Take a page from Joe Lam’s itty bitty Balrog

LEGO’s Balrog Book Nook set has many Lord of the Rings fans (including our reviewer) feeling as conflicted as Smeagol, simultaneously coveting the brick-built Bane of Durin while gagging (*GOL-LUM!*) at the price. Joe Lam solved this riddle by building a Book Nook small enough for a Took, and readers, we are shook. The itty bitty Balrog’s grimspawn body towers over trophy Gandalf. Joe’s version even folds up like the real deal and is sized perfectly to rest between your matchbooks. If you like Joe’s “The one I can afford” take on the Balrog, his spin on the Luxo Jr. lamp is even more budget-friendly.

A magical microscale castle among the gray clifs

Inspired by the stump of a felled tree in the forest, cimddwc created a mysterious Elven castle nestled among the trees and surrounded by tall jagged cliffs. This seemingly inaccessible locale reminds me of the colorful Rivendell hidden in the foothills of the Misty Mountains. The limited palette of the white castle with sand green domes lets the castle stand out among the many trees and plants, while the arid landscape around the base is a stark contrast. The castle features some very clever parts usage, such as the wands left in their sprue forming the main gate.

An overhead view reveals more details, like the sheltered lake behind the castle fed by the river flowing from the waterfall to the right. Also, a spooky red glow can be seen below the water.

No beating around the bush, this LEGO microscale hedge garden is stunning

When it comes to colorful and highly detailed microscale builds, Jeff Friesen stands out as a true master. He wrote the book (several, actually) on creating clean builds that capture cities, castles, and fantastic worlds in miniature. Jeff’s latest build started as a study of hedge gardens, like the one seen in the foreground. However, once he started adding a building to the background, his imagination took over, and it grew to become an amazing sprawling castle structure that reminds me of campuses like Harvard and Cambridge.

One of my favorite tree builds is the upside-down eggshell used for what looks like a willow tree, and, of course, a green minifigure hairpiece makes the perfect shrub. A few tall pine trees provide a nice contrast to all of the much shorter trees and plants.

Rainbow squadron, standing by!

It’s getting harder and harder to keep track of the squadron colours in Star Wars. First it was just Red and Gold, then Green came along in Return of the Jedi, Blue appeared – and disappeared – in Rogue One… And that’s before we even get to LEGO-specific ones like Teal Squadron. Let’s just get them all out of the way at once, shall we? Over on Instagram, Mark (lego_coffee) has brought together as many colours as he can to craft some miniature monochrome x-wings. And by LEGO’s official colours naming scheme, we have Mid-Stone Gray Squadron, Flame Yellowish Orange Squadron, Reddish Brown Squadron, Bright Purple Squadron… The only criticism I can make is that such names don’t exactly roll off the tongue!

How to train your micro dragon [Building Technique]

With LEGO clips for back spines, a tail of mismatched 1x2x2/3 slopes, and a video game controller for a head, Ian Summers shows us an awesome Toothless creation from the How to Train Your Dragon franchise. How long until we have the parts in white to make a Light Fury version of this microscale marvel?

Andromeda Asteroid Mining Rig – I’ve expanded my microscale space frontier

I’m continuing to expand my microscale space universe. Last time I checked in with a lunar launch diorama, as my home-brew theme shot into deep space from the moon. Now the Interplanetary Expedition Alliance, or I.E.A., has set up a large mining facility out in the asteroid belt.

The facility consists of a large space station as the hub, and two captured asteroids being mined for their mineral wealth.

Click to read the rest of the article

How to step up your stair game in microscale [Building Techniques]

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is famous for dropping players into a world and letting them walk anywhere the eye can see. To help players navigate, the designers use landmarks that can be seen from far away like Markarth Guard Tower, recreated here in LEGO microscale by Isaac Snyder. Fans of the game will recognize it thanks to the orange dome, but microscale builders might want to cast their gaze lower at the steps where Isaac finds a clever means of adding 5 risers at just over a stud’s width using nested panels. The configuration only allows for the top panel to have a SNOT connection, but by boxing in the stairs, friction gets the job done.

Microscale Miyazaki (Or how to be inspired by Studio Ghibli without letting generative AI do all the work)

Lately, every social feed has been clogged with AI slop pillaging the surface-level aesthetics of Studio Ghibli films. Here’s a palate cleanser from Joe Lam – a microscale LEGO Catbus and Totoro. Celebrating Totoro, it’s instantly recognizable from just 9 or 10 elements, and the Catbus is packed with personality. The eyes are especially inspired, using Batman logos for the wild pupils.

Joe designed the Catbus back in 2023, but what better time to celebrate the joy that comes from human creativity? And maybe have a look at other Totoro builds that have inspired us over the years.

It’s turtles all the way down – until you reach the elephants

“Through the fathomless deeps of space swims this LEGO star turtle Great A’Tuin, bearing on its back the four single-mould elephants who carry on their shoulders the mass of a microscale Discworld. A tiny sun and moon spin around them, on a complicated orbit to induce seasons, so probably nowhere else in the multiverse is it sometimes necessary for an elephant to cock a leg to allow the sun to go past. Exactly why this should be may never be known. Possibly the Creator – that being Jan Woźnica – of this build got bored with all the usual business of nice parts use, AFOLs and studs-not-on-top building, and decided to have a bit of fun for once.”

Of course, the above is paraphrased from the late, great Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novel Wyrd Sisters. If you like Discworld as much as I do, be sure to take a look at more related builds in our archives!

This microscale LEGO Notre Dame is much easier to display than the oifficial set

Whenever a new large LEGO Architecture set comes out, it is only a matter of time until someone builds a microscale version. This miniature version of the Notre Dame cathedral by -Brixe is truly a masterpiece worthy of display, capturing iconic details while at the same time conveying the scale and majesty of this famous landmark. The builder uses many newer bar elements and versatile “espresso handles” (a round plate with a bar sticking out the side) to represent the repetitive structures along the side and curving front of the cathedral.