Tag Archives: Space

From giant space carriers to starfighters, moon bases to moon buggies, whether you love LEGO models inspired by real-world space programs or science-fiction, you’re in the right place.

Vic Viper by .Jake

This early in the game, there has been no shortage of fabulous Vic Vipers posted for this year’s NnoVVember, but seeing Jake’s this morning had me saying “WOW”!

The top view is particularly impressive…it has such a brilliant balance of fragility and deadliness to it’s look. (perhaps a bit more on the fragility side).

Be sure to check out the full set for all the details.

After my failure of participation to Ma.Ktoberfest, I wasn’t really feeling NnoVVember…but seeing everyone’s awesome submissions these first few days has totally put me in the mood!! :D

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Novvember 2012 is upon us – prepare for Vic Vipers!

Just a quick reminder that NoVVember 2012 is now upon is. Help celebrate the late nnenn’s love of the Gradius Vic Viper by building your own (or more!). Post your entries here and Pascal (pasukaru76) will perform his magic at the end of the month.

Keep an eye out for further updates once the East Coast of the US recovers a little.

World-class Sci-Fi from Adrian Florea

In my opinion, Adrian Florea is one of the best Space (which in LEGO terms means Science Fiction) builders around. He’s no stranger to this blog, but his latest two creations are absolutely top notch. Adrian achieves fantastically coherent shapes in his models which belie his abundant use of unusual parts and complex connections. The Vendret Interceptor (below) is built around a core of four tricycle bodies integrated so seamlessly as to be nearly indistinguishable.

And the Dropshell mech shows the impact that careful use of color blocking can have. Look closely at this model also, and you’ll spot oddities such as suitcases and Star Wars headresses, among other things.

Now that is a whole lotta Ma.K!

Ok, last post I promise…

Pascal just posted the final poster of all the Ma.Ktoberfest entries. Huge thanks to him for the amount of effort doing all that editting!

So what is my opinion on this past month? One word, “WOW!”

When I first planned on organizing the build challenge, I figured there would be a decent amount of participation, but the sheer number of builds and the quality thereof absolutely exceeded all expectations. It really was neat to sit back and watch so many builders get in on the fun. So gigantic thank you to all that participated, it was an absolute blast!

176 BUILDS BY 64 BUILDERS

Ma.Ktoberfest Chancellor Pascal

Well Ma.Ktoberfest wraps up today, what a month it has been. Stay tuned for my final announcement, but in the meantime I want to make mention of one builder in particular who most certainly stepped up to the plate. Keep in mind he has done all of this while at the same time editing everyone else’s contributions for the final poster…

Not since Nnenn’s epic Novvember performance, have I seen a contribution to a monthly build challenge on par with what Pascal (paukaru76) did this Ma.Ktoberfest. Each day of the month he posted a different model, and his ability to capture the aesthetic with his unique minimalist style is just beyond awesome. The creativity just makes me so happy :)

So a HUGE thanks to you buddy! You kept producing brilliant stuff the entire month, and kept us all entertained!

Please be sure to click through his photostream if you haven’t already, there is some absolutely glorious stuff in there. Here are a few of my favourites:

Happy Ma.Ktoberfest & Hallowe’en to all!

Making Ma.K while the sun still shines

A new super-ship by Pierre is a tough act to follow, but here goes anyway!

I find it incredibly challenging both to build on a deadline and to build within someone else’s aesthetic — I’ve managed to avoid both over the years. I’d admired LEGO creations inspired by Maschinen Krieger for a long time, and I’m reasonably sure I ran across the original Kow Yokoyama kits in hobby shops back in Japan in the 80’s, but I’d never tried my hand at the theme.

At the end of September, I decided it was time to seek my fortune in greener pastures (yup, I’m available!), taking a few weeks off to look for a new gig. Thus, with more “LEGO time” than I normally have, the Ma.Ktoberfest build challenge organized by TR and Pascal seemed like the perfect opportunity to participate.

Faced with a big pile of curvy bricks, I got into the Ma.K spirit by pumping out a few variations on TR’s wonderful SAFS (Super Armored Fighting Suit) design. As much as I love all the hyper-detailed suits at larger scales, I think TR’s design is absolutely perfect for minifig-scale.

This “Wolverine” anti-air unit is based on an original design by B. Kreuger of Maschinen Krueger, where I found quite a lot of inspiration and reference.

But building a few small hardsuits wasn’t what I set out to do; reproducing one of Maschinen Krieger originator Kow Yokoyama’s designs was high on my list of Ma.Ktoberfest priorities. Perhaps a big curvy hovertank might’ve been simpler than the fiddly bits in this automated reconnaissance robot, but I’m fairly pleased with my “Neuspotter”.

Ultimately though, I wanted to create an original design of my own that still felt like it could be from the Maschinen Krieger universe. My “Kookaburra” incorporates pneumatic tanks underneath a sand-green cowling. Oddly, I’m proudest of the detailed base and crew…

Here’s the Kookaburra on patrol with another variation on TR’s SAFS design, a space-based electronic warfare version I’m calling the Growler.

You can see all of my Ma.Ktoberfest contributions in my photoset on Flickr.

So, having overcome two of my building blocks — deadlines & others’ aesthetics — I think it’s time to treat myself to that Ma.Ktoberfest T-shirt that TR designed!

AFOLs <3 Pierre E Fieschi

I think the first comment on Pierre E Fieschi’s latest photo sums up how most of us feel about him. I can honestly say that I am absolutely blown away by every build that he posts. His ability to create incredibly complex, yet truly fun, spacey creations is second to none.

There are a lot of builders out there I would love to meet; Pierre is most certainly one of them. Maybe one day I will get the chance to sit down with him, eat some Haribo candies, and just talk LEGO…but in the mean time I will be happy in just basking in the glory that is the ‘TESSERACT’ SUPER CAPITAL SHIPYARD.

I also think it is worth noting that Pierre has been featured and/or mentioned in, going on 18 posts now, here on The Brothers Brick. He should be an honourary Brother at this point I am thinkin’…or at least win a t-shirt or something :D

Nothing like a bespoke suit...

As Ma.Ktober has progressed, the most wonderous thing has happened…builders from all over have been creating Maschinen Krieger hardsuits of all shapes, sizes and colours. Considering that the hardsuits are the most prominent piece of hardware within the universe, it really isn’t surprising that there have been so many this month. But the quality and creative twists taken is certainly a nice surprise. Here are some of my favourites.

Will Page uses the Rebel Vanguard helmets to brilliant effect on his space-based suit.

_Tiler’s Fatboy is wonderfully adorable, I just want to rub it’s little belly. The fact that it is so shiny helps too :)

Tim Zarki goes to a larger scale to achieve a fantastically accurate representation of the bad to the bone SAFS Snake Eye.

D-Town Cracka also utilizes the Vanguard helmets, as well as, one of my favourite elements (the Bionicle mask/visor thingamajig) to create this AFS Skinhead…wouldn’t want to face this guy in a snowball fight!

Vincent also goes to a larger scale to build one of my favourite Ma.K suits, the Kauz. The slightly odd colourscheme looks fantastic…and I can’t get enough of hearts!!

And last but not least, Nate Decastro produced an awesomely creative design in his SAFS Shogun…and presented it in a very Maschinen Kriegery way…

I really wish I could feature all the fantastic creations being submitted, but that would possibly be the longest blog post ever. So I will instead urge you all to peruse the brilliance in the Ma.K Bricks pool

The beauty of being LEGOLIZED!!!

I sadly have not had the time to neither participate in Ma.Ktoberfest as I had hoped, nor to blog the awesome creations from everyone else. So over the final week of the festivities I will try and make more of an effort to at least rectify the latter by featuring some of my favourites.

First up is LEGOLIZE IT MAN, who has been churning out some absolutely brilliant designs for the build challenge. Both the quality of the models, and the style of presentation have put a huge smile on my face everytime he posts something new.

His latest, the AZ ULF – Moon Bull is wonderfully hulking creation that bristles with a glorious combination of smooth curves and mechanical detail! Delicious stuff!

His Svend Repair Mech is a perfectly haphazard design with some great angles going on.

And lastly, his Moon-Squito has to be one of my favourite models posted this year. It just captures the Maschinen Krieger aesthetic so perfectly!

Please be sure to click through his Ma.Ktoberfest 2012 set to see his other great creations, and alternate views

Ice Planet: A Decade Later

The denizens of the Ice Planet have grown a little more technologically advanced in the past decade, now employing mecha as they patrol their frozen landscapes.

Ice Planet 2002 is probably my favorite Space theme, even though it’s completely outlandish. Can you believe it’s been 10 years since the fictional future in which Ice Planet was set? Although I never had much of it as a kid, its profuse bright neon-orange is forever burned in memory as a unique brand of nostalgic awesomeness.

So for my latest creation I wanted to return to this theme that I haven’t built a model for since I was a kid. Inspired by Brian Kescenovitz’s stunning NAILHEAD mecha, I set about building a cold-blooded mecha fit for the Ice Planet. I’ve also been talking a lot with other fans about how much photography affects a model, so I figured I should put my photos where my mouth was. This was probably one of the more fun builds I’ve done in a while, and I hope you enjoy it.

Teensy NASA Space Shuttle blasts into my heart

Looking over their photostream, I think we’ve blogged everything Sean & Steph Mayo have built over the past several months, so why stop now? This is the smallest NASA Space shuttle built from LEGO that I’ve run across, but it may be my favorite.

The LEGO Castle helmet standing in for the top of the External Tank is pure genius.

If Caterpillar Made Spaceships

I like to think they’d look something like this. Well, that is, if Cat were literally run by caterpillars. In any case, this is an awesomely original take on a space freighter by flickr user Lord Pappadhum. The unique shape is definitely the highlight here, but it’s also worth noting the huge number of colors he’s managed to incorporate without making the ship look unnaturally busy. Also, using those train tracks in that orientation: genius.