From the depths of the imagination of LEGO builder Olle Moquist comes an aquatic ambulatory ecosystem that includes LEGO elements as diverse and obscure as the sea life itself.
Olle shares that some of their favourite creative corals “ended up being scrapped as they didn’t quite fit the palette”. I find this very relatable. I know from personal experience that sometimes during the creative process it can be hard to let go of a component (character, scene, phrase, LEGO part usage…?) that is precious to you as the creator but is no longer serving the creation itself.
Olle adds being “quite happy with the bioluminescent coral and the one with the mohawk hair”, both of which you can see in this view, but those who want to take a deeper dive will find dinosaur heads, “giant sausages“, and those janky little fender parts introduced in the short-lived Tiny Turbos theme all put to excellent use.
If this lovely build and all its clever parts usage is the result of creative compromise, I look forward to seeing what Olle has in store for us next!
Tag Archives: NPU
This robot is the bee’s knees
If you haven’t been following Shannon Sproule, you’ve been missing out on a plethora of delightfully quirky robot builds. Case in point, this Hadal Wanderer minibot that trudges a vast, endless abyss for signs of life. But we don’t have to look too hard for signs of Shannon’s personality, as this build is full of them. From the horse rein eyebrows to the bee hive legs, Shannon always finds unique ways to incorporate the kinds of pieces you might not immediately associate with robotics. For more of Shannon’s special take on sci-fi, check out our archives.
Everyone loves a building kit
To anyone who has built a model kit of the non-ABS type of plastic, you can probably feel the texture of the these plastic frames. I love every ounce of detail that Oshi has included, down to the last sprue. As someone who has built both plastic models and LEGO, it is a great combination of worlds. In looking at the details of the “model parts,” don’t miss a wonderful start to the actual car model. It looks like Oshi has selected “green forest” for the model’s final color. I don’t believe that is an official LEGO color, but I trust the builder that it will look incredible.
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.
MOCs of the LEGO Masters: Summers siblings get on the LEGO Masters diet
Ian Summers is a wizard transforming LEGO elements into tiny objects that barely look like bricks at all. His miniature food is especially magical, like this sushi tray with translucent tuna wrapped gently in skirts of rice and rubber-wrapped maki aligned ever so neatly. Ian made these micro meals a couple of years back, and now a steady diet of LEGO ingenuity has landed the bricktacular builder and his sister Sage a spot on LEGO Masters season 5.
Is sushi not to your taste? Ian has you covered with this amazing diner food that looks a whole lot more wholesome than what they’re selling over at Krusty Burger.
We can’t wait to see what the Summers siblings cook up on the new season!
This is part of our series on MOCs of the Masters where we preview the work of the newest batch of LEGO Master contestants. Have a look at creations from other builders in the lineup.
Paranoid android disappears completely into exit music
AI “doomers” worry about the devastating impact artificial superintelligence could have on humanity, but what if the real doom is the crushing sadness felt by the machines? Builder Kat calls this LEGO creation the e-motion engine, and just going by those eyes (created from the negative space in a Bionicle Phantoka torso), this little guy could be the slightly more adjusted sibling of Marvin the Android. Kat draws on a wild mix of parts, from a Vidyo strap for the headphones to inverted tire knees to a stylish Scala jacket. Kat doesn’t post often, but each of her builds is a treat, especially her entries into the 2023 BioCup (like this incredible Cyberpunk scene). Which reminds me, the competition is returning soon!
Start your day the LEGO way
As any experienced LEGO builder will tell you, the inspiration for an original creation can come from just about anywhere… Looking at LEGO element in a new way. Seeing a LEGO part in the shape of an everyday object. Or perhaps just from the imagery suggested by a single word. Built as an entry to the 2025 Rogue Olympics, this creation, titled Charred, is Marion Weintraut’s answer to the theme “Temperature.” Just looking at this creation, I can practically smell the burnt toast. Or maybe I’m just having a seizure.
Feast your eyes on the Minifigure shovel used as the toaster’s control lever, or better yet the Baggage Tag lending its unmistakable shape to those delicious-looking cutting boards… A delicious part (usage) of this complete breakfast!
Pull up a seat and apprecaite this next-level LEGO furniture [Building Techniques]
LEGO modular interior decor can be pretty cozy, but this next-level furniture setup by Oshi Builds could be straight out of a high-end design catalog. The builder employs a mix of familiar and new techniques while drawing on a very on-trend color palette to make a move-in-ready living room ensemble. Just look at those bowl chairs, formed from flower petals, and that console with bucket handles tucked away and slim legs held in place by rubber band. The only drawback to the room is there’s not much space for displaying one’s LEGO collection. We’re going to need a few more of those wonderful bookshelves.
We’re howling with praise for this LEGO model of Studio Ghibli’s iconic Moving Castle
Studio Ghibli films are known for unusual and fanciful vehicles like the floating castle of Laputa from Castle in the Sky, or the glider from Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, but few vehicles are more iconic than the walking, and at the end of the film, flying, castle belonging to the enigmatic magician Howl. The enchanted structure made from buildings, round cannon turrets, fishlike fins, and a large rusty face complete with riveted tongue, all walking along on four spindly chicken legs, poses many challenges to any builder, but Sakiya Watanabe works magic and brings it to life in bricks like never before.
When building something so iconic, choosing the right parts can be challenging, as there is nothing conventional about the outer surface of the castle. How do you form a cohesive model out of such a chaotic inspiration? (I’ve tried myself once before – it wasn’t easy!)
Read on to learn how Sakiya Watanabe weaved his LEGO magic and tamed Howl’s famous castle
Duel of the Fates: Tim Goddard and Bousker face off in latest Iron Builder battle
The Iron Builder competition pits two creators from the LEGO community against each other to make amazing models that must incorporate a surprise “seed part.” Like in the show Iron Chef, creators are judged both on their overall creativity and on how they showcase the signature “ingredient.” For Season 7 round 5, which starts this week, the contenders for the Iron Builder crown are Bousker and Tim Goddard. The seed part is Airplane Door in White, a tricky part indeed.
Tim is a TBB legend whose stellar Star Wars creations have made him one of our most featured builders for well over a decade (not that we’re taking sides!). The first builder to create a model, Tim kicks off the competition with a sporty little spacecraft that wouldn’t seem out of place in the expanded Star Wars universe, with the seed part used four times to house the engines.
Bousker is also a Star Wars builder and has been quite active in LEGO competitions in recent years, continually impressing us with innovative parts usage and incredible use of perspective and immerisve photography. Bousker steps into the game with a perfectly staged shoe store scene that features at least 30 uses of the door by my count. There are so many clever techniques on display, from high heels and sandles where the seed piece makes up the majority of the model, to the ingenious pair of Converse All Stars with the doors sunken into the brown shelf so that only a strip appears for the rubber sole.
We’ll be back to cover the results of this latest battle, but for now be sure to follow the Iron Builders instagram to see the builds as they come in, complete with the playful and pun-filled trash-talking that the event is known for.
Lose yourself in this immersive tribute to Attack on Titan made from just 100 LEGO pieces
Anime doesn’t get more visceral than Attack on Titan, where all that stands in the way of annihilation at the hands of fleshy giants is the brave Survey Corps, zipping around on wires like steampunk Spider-men. Builder nu_montag thrusts you right into the action with this immersive LEGO scene. You can feel the weight of the Colossal Titan’s sinewy gaze thanks to the dynamic perspective. Even more amazing, this shot contains just 100 LEGO elements!
Read on to survey how the scene was done with just 100 pieces
LEGO Mid-century modern house is the definition of design
I am pretty sure this mid-century modern LEGO house by Sarah Beyer may be my entire personality right now. The attention to mid-mod detail doesn’t stop with the house’s design, or with the great exterior features and landscaping. The interior is filled with period-appropriate furniture, all assembled with great building techniques. Sarah calls the house Endeavour, in honor of the British TV series of the same name, which inspired her with insights into 1960s interior design. (If you haven’t watched Endeavour, put it on your watchlist, along with it’s in-universe friends Inspector Morse and Inspector Lewis.)
