Tag Archives: NPU

How did the jaguar get its spots? For this incredible LEGO model, from tires and more

Automaker Jaguar’s mottos are “delete ordinary” and “copy nothing,” and those mottos could just as well apply to builder Sakiya Watanabe, who, over just one year of building characters and creatures, has constantly pushed boundaries with LEGO parts use. Take a close look at the builder’s latest model and you’ll find surprises throughout. The face is dense with clever solutions, like a turkey nose, fabric tongue, and minifig arms. The rock base hides a Scout Trooper helmet, Power Miners monster mold, and what I think is a DUPLO baby hippo.

But the most exciting technique is the Jaguar’s spots, created by inverting tires and using minifig hair or brick configurations inside to create organic shapes. Perhaps there’s a bit of homage with Sakiya’s jaguar to DeRa’s incredible tiger, current on display in the Masterpiece Gallery in Billund.

Click to learn more about how the model was created

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A tale of two LEGO trees

There are few subjects I enjoy seeing in LEGO as much as trees, from the single-mold pine trees in vintage sets to the enormous redwoods of Sequoia Tree Trail. I never cease to be amazed by the creative ways that AFOLs find to make decidedly organic branches and bark out of plastic bricks. At Skærbæk fan weekend, a pair of builds from Finnish builder Niina L show just how evocative a LEGO tree can be. First up is this incredible iron tree with a greeble trunk sitting atop a pile of tires and surrounded by blood-red water. It’s a glimpse of a dystopian world where green has been all but forgotten. A lone sprouting branch offers hope in this dead world.

A second build also showcases Niina’s incredible talent for creating organic forms from irregular parts. This time the trunk incorporates incorporates a mix of Bionicle, constraction, and System parts in brown. The berry-like foliage, made from red helmets, adds a dose of whimsy to this scene where the tree’s resident is greeted by a friend or suitor.

Two amazing trees, each evoking a story of hope and connection.

How do you say ‘brilliant build’ in Spanish?

One of my favorite places to eat is a nearby Spanish restaurant that serves things tapas style – that is to say, small plates that are full of complex and interesting flavors. And “tapas” might be the perfect way to describe this tiny build of a hillside in Spain by seb71. It’s definitely not very large, but it’s full of creative and complex parts use that I want to spend plenty of time savoring.

Brilliant brick beagles are barking bad to the bone

Creating a compelling LEGO model with just 30 bricks is tougher than it sounds. Gregory Coquelz is a wiz at making every brick count. There’s so much personality packed into these micro-build dogs hawking black-market bones. Their faces come courtesy of Dots, but it’s the ears and the black bands for eyes/sunglasses that make them come alive.

Gregory has been on a roll with cartoony characters of late, including this M-rated tribute that hopefully won’t get the builder cancelled.

NPU galore in this stunning fantasy scene

There’s nothing finer than nice part use and unique building techniques in a fantasy LEGO model, and the latest creation from yr_bricks is a sight to behold. From the skateboarding helmet in the rocks to the Ninjago dragon head and Belville saddle that make up a portion of the tree stump, there are incredible parts and build techniques all over this scene.

The shaping and color contrast of the door comes together beautifully, as seen in the close-up shot below. We especially love the framing and almost spiral descent of the path, as nearly every portion of this build has a rounded or angular aspect that brings the viewer’s focus back to the center to fully appreciate this build.

We’re shell-ebrating some NPU

Over the years, we’ve seen builders use all kinds of non-standard LEGO products; brick separators, the sprues that various minifigure accessories come attached to, even empty stick sheets. But Trevor Pearson-Jones is breaking new ground by using this actual LEGO box to create a, well…a box turtle. Trevor has captured the spirit of the LEGO Freestyle sets by crafting a delightfully mismatched creature that still retains plenty of detailed anatomy that calls to mind the real thing. And, just like a real turtle, we’re pretty sure this one can hide in its shell. We just wonder how much disassembly is required to get him in there.

DeRa struts like a peacock showing off its tail feathers

Japanese LEGO builder DeRa has been absolutely killing it lately. We’ve barely just stopped waxing lyrical about that tiger, and the brick-built menagerie is already expanding. And in some style! The proud peacock couldn’t be more different to an apex predator like the tiger, but this one is still built to the same sky-high standard.

Iteration is the name of the game here: what better way to create intricate feathered patterns than with multiples of interesting parts? Crocodile jaws on the neck; a superb combination of Technic gears and ‘boat’ tiles for the tail feathers; and – my personal favourite – an abundance of buildable figure heads from the much-maligned Rise of Domo Eternals set to add some really tiny details at the base of the tail.

DeRa already made onto our Creation of the Year shortlist in 2024; can they go one better in 2025? Have a look through their other featured builds and see for yourself!

An icy dragon puts a wintry chill on a summer build

Upon first examination of the colors of this frosty LEGO castle by Olle Moquist, I spotted something buried under the snow and ice…a raised baseplate! Olle does a great job of seamlessly incorporating this raised baseplate in the build. From there, I climbed the steps to a beautiful brick-built, wooden door under the watchful eye of the wyrm.

The raised baseplate has become a piece of the past. These vacuum-formed bases peaked in the ’90s with 31 different raised baseplates being used across many sets, but we haven’t seen a raised baseplate in over a decade. Olle’s brings this chilly baseplate from 2002 and 2006’s Belville sets, warming our hearts with nostalgia for the old ways.

A beauty and a beast – N.A.B.E._Mocs makes magic with bricks

When a LEGO sculpture can capture emotion, dynamism, and organic shapes without exposing how the pieces hold together, it’s nothing short of magic. Sakiya Watanabe (N.A.B.E_mocs) is truly a sorcerer of bricks, as demonstrated by his latest sculpture of the storm god Fujin. There are so many inspired parts in the head alone – raptor jaws for ears, bigfig fists for cheeks, Balin’s hairpiece for the chin. I can’t even begin to figure out how that hair holds together.

Sakiya based his design on the famous Fujin and Raijin painted screen by Tawaraya Sōtatsu, a national treasure from the Edo period, displayed in Kyoto.

Sakiya Watanabe’s other recent character creation follows

A golden LEGO field is ready for harvest

Today’s moment of peace and tranquility comes from the Golden Vallé vignette by Rémy (Rilbist). By Rémy’s own description, this family has lived in peace for quite a while at their windmill. I won’t ask Rémy how many plant stems were used, but they provide the most amazing texture for the field of wheat to frame this windmill.

By adding varied height in the vignette, Rémy creates a natural flow to the field while also hiding the base of build itself, leaving the viewer with the texture of the dried wheat field.

This spectacular model came in second place in its category in the Summer Joust. For a full list of winners, catch up with our Summer Joust 2025 roundup.

Remarkable bird, id’nit, squire? Beautiful LEGO plumage

We’ve seen some incredible LEGO bird creations in recent years thanks to the explosion of molds and colors that can be interpreted as feathers, like this magnificent owl from TBB alum Nannan to this soaring eagle from Sakiya Watanabe. Now Sakiya (aka N.A.B.E._mocs) takes wing again with a brilliant scarlet macaw. The starring LEGO element for this feathered friend is the blue thruster blast from the Dreamzzz line, but the NPU doesn’t stop there. Sakiya makes excellent use of shells and feathers for the parrot’s face, with rubber bands on the cheeks and around the eyes for detail. As with the builder’s eagle, the bird is captured in a lifelike, dramatic pose. It’s a beautiful model from a builder with an impeccable eye for shape and form.

To learn more about the young builder and his passion for excellence, check out our interview with talented LEGO creator Sakiya Watanabe.

Mind the gaps in this glorious, shambling LEGO medieval market

A medieval market will always be the busiest at harvest, and Jesse van den Oetelaar has built a scene to make you feel the commotion. While the castle walls are built straight, everything else shows its age and wear, or as Jesse says, “worn down by carts, feet, and time.” I particularly enjoy the low camera angle as it brings us right into the market.

Upon closer inspection, the nice part usage can really be seen. Technic pins with a bar inside create a gathered bundle of grain. The precariously stacked harvest looks ready to topple.

And a mix of hammers and ingots cause an uneven surface for people to travel, as this aging minifig found out the hard way.

Jesse’s diorama marks a welcome return to posting after a two year absence. It’s great to see that the builder has lost none of his talent for half-timbered houses and depictions of bustling medieval life!