Tag Archives: Motorized

Many motors make this massive LEGO MAZ mobile!

Earlier this year, Nathan Hake debuted this huge LEGO model at a convention, and we have finally been graced with pictures! This behemoth is a MAZ-537, a former Soviet vehicle used for carrying… Well, pretty much whatever you want, from armaments to heavy machinery. It’s typical of vehicles of its ilk and era, with great big tyres and utilitarian styling. In LEGO form, Nathan has combined Technic and System pieces to pull off the MAZ in terrific detail. And of course, there are plenty of play functions: it’s got working suspension alongside motorised steering and propulsion!

MAZ-537 Display

But how do you level up such a huge undertaking? With an equally huge diorama, of course! This makes for a very nice display piece, with the colours of the river, grass and appropriately autumnal birch trees providing some pleasing contrast to the grey hulk of the truck.

MAZ-537 Display

I recommend heading over to Nathan’s Flickr to check out some of the videos of this creation in action – even in the real wilderness!

Wondrous music box castle spins right ’round, baby

As just an example of medieval architecture in LEGO, this castle model from builder Feanor001 would be worth heralding, but the creation is so much more. The round diorama tells a story in four acts, brought to life with motor functions and music. Here you can see the music box come alive, spinning on an ornate turntable as motorized minifigs tell the story of King’s fall and a kingdom’s rebirth.

Take a spin below for a closer look at this mechanical marvel.!

15,000 piece LEGO Space Mountain is a motorized E-Ticket wonder

Cinderella’s Castle and fantasy may have become the face of Disney Parks, but founder Walt Disney’s heart was always in Tomorrowland. Space Mountain, first built in 1975 at the Magic Kingdom, has endured as the crowning achievement of Tomorrowland and cemented itself as one of the most beloved roller coasters in the world. One of Space Mountain’s most enthusiastic fans is builder and LEGO Masters Japan contestant Kon, who has spent much of the past year focused on a incredible and functional recreation of the attraction built at minifig scale from 15,000 bricks.

Space Mountain

Hop on the FastTrack and see more of Kon’s creation!

Chinese lake in LEGO brings memories to life

Earlier this summer, our old friend Nannan Zhang recreated a the quintessential American playground of the sort he’s experienced as a new father. For his latest LEGO achievement, Nannan draws on his childhood memories of growing up in China in the 90s to create “A park from yesteryear.” Even though it’s an amalgam and not a recreation of a specific park, the traditional architecture, weeping willows, lotus plants on jade water, and swan boats make Nannan’s memories so specific and tangible.

A park from yesteryear

Nannan pulls his usual magic trick of making clever technique look effortless. The hexagonal pavilion, where older residents share snacks and gossip, is a lovely build on its own. The balls stacked on rollers skates make for excellent decorative elements, and the heart tiles in the eaves are a great detail. One of my favorite techniques is seen along the bottom of the railing where curved slopes fit neatly under window arches, adding a subtle texture to the stonework. The cotton candy machine is a very clever and instantly recognizable mini build. I also admire the attention paid to the lotus plants, with leaves popping from the water at angles, and some flowers and leaves aloft on long stems, differentiating them from lilly pads. But the stars of the show are the swan boats, which hold a secret…

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See the swan boats in action!

This Bavarian beauty goes full steam ahead

Should you find yourself in the 1920s and need to get from Munich to Nuremberg in record time, then you’ll want an express ticket to ride behind the Bavarian S3/6. This majestic steam locomotive is meticulously recreated in LEGO by Bricks_n_Trucks. At 10 studs wide, the engine is comparable in scale to the Hogwarts Express Collector’s Edition, but unlike LEGO’s largest steam engine model, this train is fully motorized with a BuWizz engine (see the video below the fold!). The version you see here is an update to the builder’s first iteration, and spotting the differences highlights how much thought went into the smallest details.

Bavarian S3-6 (BR18.4)_(Update)

But what’s a Bavarian steam engine without luxurious cars to pull?

Click to see the train cars and video!

This Star Wars AT-ST was made for walking. That’s because it’s motorized!

LEGO builder xelabricks tells us that this is their first time posting on Flickr, and yet already they’ve dialed in on the formula for success. Anything Star Wars will pretty much become a blip on our radar but it’s great detail like this that will perk our senses. I love the trees and the forested base, but the real star of the show is the highly-detailed AT-ST, or “chicken walker” seen on the forest moon of Endor in films such as Return of the Jedi.

Forest Skirmish

But what pushes this creation into the stratosphere is the Power Functions that make this walker appear to…well, walk. Check out the video below to see what I mean. With LEGO creations this good, we’ll surely look forward to whatever else this builder comes up with.

This enormous LEGO dragline excavator model is nearly 6 feet long and includes 9 motors

With small LEGO builds, it often takes ingenuity to make for an impressive creation. We are of course partial to these builds, but sometimes nothing beats the brute force of a gigantic, multi-thousand (if not tens of thousands) piece build. It’s hard to tell, but I think Beat Felber‘s colossus falls into the latter category. Just. Don’t you think?

P&H 2355

This isn’t a new build: Beat first uploaded a video of its operation a couple of years ago, which we’ll get to in a moment. But he has now uploaded a host of pictures of every nook and cranny on this P&H 2355 dragline excavator. Which is the perfect excuse for us to cover it in some more detail!

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The future is now for hubless LEGO wheels!

Nothing says “futuristic ride” like hubless wheels, does it? I’m a real sucker for them, and Dicky Laban has sucked me in with this neat motorcycle. Despite its futuristic rims and stance, it does have some retro charm with the minimalist design and the light and handlebar setup. It looks ready to ride off into the sunset…

The Impossible

… Well, it can! This is the product of much tinkering with motors, gears and lights. Not only does it drive, the lights are functional, and it can even steer! Colour me impressed. Where can I buy one?!

This LEGO Casa Madrigal from Disney’s Encanto really dances along

At this point, nothing from LEGO builder extraordinaire Paul Hetherington should really surprise me, and yet I was still blown away when I saw this recreation of Casa Madrigal from Disney’s Encanto. But not because it’s wonderfully detailed—although it is—but because unlike any of the other beautiful LEGO versions that I’ve seen, this one really dances along, just like the magical house in the movie.

LEGO Encanto Casa Madrigal Magical Poster

Paul has packed the interior of the house with motors and mechanisms that cause the roof tiles to pulse in rhythm, the shutters and doors to open and close, and even the rain cloud to rock back and forth.

Be sure to check out more of Paul’s amazing work that we’ve featured: Paul Hetherington on TBB

LEGO Ideas 21335 Motorized Lighthouse – a beacon of brick-built class... and cost [Review]

During the COVID lockdown, thousands of people all over the globe found themselves with a significant amount of extra free time and the ability to create wonderful builds. The LEGO Ideas page was overwhelmed with submissions, with an unprecedented number of builds being approved for production. Many of these have been officially licensed products like the Fender Stratocaster, Home Alone, and Sonic the Hedgehog.

While licensed LEGO sets can be very cool, it is always nice to see the LEGO Ideas team approve projects that are wholly original and appeal to a wider range of people. Often these sets don’t have the extra cost associated with licensing, but sometimes they do – as is the case for the newest addition: LEGO Ideas 21335 Motorized Lighthouse. This 2065 piece set will be available September 1st and retail for US $299.99 | CAN $379.99 | UK £259.99. Join us as we take a closer look and see if that high price tag is worth it.

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.

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A motorized microscale LEGO castle fit for the gods

LEGO builder Bart De Dobbelaer has left the details of the backstory sparse for this microscale castle beyond the fact that it is a home for gods, but it certainly captures my imagination. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t remind me just a touch of Laputa: Castle in the Sky, but this massive structure has some features that not even Laputa could claim. Surrounded by a ring of guardians, there’s a huge maze weaving through the entire castle grounds.

Gods of Time

Additionally, the turrets spin and rotate thanks to some clever gearing and motorization, surely making the maze even more challenging.

BMO busts a move

From those that joined Finn and Jake for Adventure Time back in the day to those that are just discovering the magic memories of the distant lands of Ooo, the characters will always hold a special place in our hearts. Builder H.Y. Leung perfectly captured the look of the duo’s iconic companion, BMO. This little, imaginative robot blends contemplative, emotional moments with the reckless abandon of a child. This model captures BMO’s character design almost exactly, built at a scale that allows the proper proportions for practically every element.

BMO goes Skateboarding

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