Maybe it’s the choice of dark orange and nougat that made me think of Mars when I saw this microscale build by Jake Hansen, and maybe the tall chunky shape reminded me of termites, but whatever the inspiration behind this model, the part usage is off the charts. One of my favorites is the older wheel axle holder attached to the upside-down steering wheel. The chrome cylinders, as well as the many stacked gears, create interesting textures when combined with multiple sizes of wheel rims.
You’ll feel like you’re floating on air as you traverse the harshest alien landscapes in this bubble-based rover by Andreas Lenander. With Febrovery upon us, your social media feed is probably filled with new builds that pay tribute to classic space rovers. One way for a rover creation to stand out from the pack is an unconventional wheel. These giant trans-clear half spheres are a perfect candidate for that. Not only do they give the rover a lift up, but they let us see through, so we can admire the detail of the cracked landscape, made from slopes laid on their sides. One has to wonder though, with such a bubbly ride in such a fascinating landscape, what’s got that spaceman looking so angry?
The LEGO builder who is apparently a cat, Koosya the Cat has rendered a space rover that ranks A+ for having no blind spots. At least when you look out from the sides. Results may vary if looking out the front or rear. But who needs driver safety when exploring another planet? The probability of a Toyota Carolla cutting you off is pretty minimal out there in space so I’d say go nuts with whatever wild and crazy rover design you want. If it turns out other planets are full of pedestrians, at least you can see them down below once you run them over. Which could happen for that one astronaut who apparently has to hoof it all the way back to the base. I guess he lost that Rochambeau. Better luck next time, buddy!
As much as I like a more fantastical spaceship design, like those seen in Star Wars or the Foundation series, the practical, near-future designs found in The Expanse, Interstellar, and Alien really thrill me, as they seem to offer a glimpse of what humanity might use to journey beyond our little spinning world. When I saw this spacecraft by Tom Loftus (Inthert) I was reminded of the command module and lunar landing craft used in many Apollo missions. There is something intimately believable about the construction of the main module, as well as the small detachable tug that would not look at all out of place in a museum of Space vehicles from some not-too-distant future.
Take a closer look at this spectacular spacecraft
“Hydrothermal”, “acid”, and “pool” are three words that give me the willies. I don’t love them singularly but when combined it invokes a unique feeling of “oh, hell no”! For not the first time, The Brothers Brick alumn and world-renowned LEGO builder Nannan Zhang has me in awe and just a bit unsettled with this new creation. He doesn’t tell us much other than “Running errands on My’laar pays well if you don’t fall in a hydrothermal acid pool”. Nope, too much risk for me! I’d rather be an armchair adventurer with menial pay, thank you very much! Still, though, the bubbling marsh and that unnatural color are admittedly quite striking. I can only imagine the molecular makeup of any plant life that can exist there without withering away. Check out why Nannan Zhang is among the most interesting LEGO builders on this planet or otherwise.
Decades ago Spyrius and Blacktron’s attempts to steal rocket technology from Ice Planet 2002 were thwarted by the combined efforts of the civilian crew and the Space Police. The scientists tunneled deeper into the caverns to continue their work in greater safety and isolation. Now the crew of Ice Planet 2022 is emerging from Krysto’s caves. The Skimmer Scout is first out of the base to begin recon work on the surface.
I built this model in December of 2020 and briefly teased it on social media. Fast forward a year and we’ve had a couple more good dumps of the frosty stuff providing for a better photo backdrop, and now that we’re in 2022 I couldn’t resist further embracing the twenty-year thematic time jump.
Come explore the evolution of this model design with me!
This motorized intergalactic pizza factory by BetaNotus is making me hungry. It’s cranking out perfect pies in record time, with a team of cybernetic chefs watching over things. These mathematically precise pizzas go from raw, to cooked, to boxed in mere seconds. Then, it’s off to the nearest Pizza Tron kiosk so that beings from all across the universe can grab a quick bite between planets. The detailed, believable factory assembly line is wonderful, but our favorite detail is definitely the brick-built “Pizza Tron” signs up above.
Every once in a while we get a build that is out of this world. Not only because of techniques or parts usage, but because it is a work of art made with LEGO pieces. Ring-Rise by Tom Loftus (Inthert) is exactly that. A colourful painting. A cinematic shot with perfect framing. Just an astronaut and his cat, all alone on a monochrome alien world, looking out on the colourful rings of a planet. A simple idea, flawless execution.
Tom knew he wanted to incorporate the famous basalt columns of Iceland into a build. The Alien Landscape category of the yearly Space Jam contest was the perfect opportunity. Layering them in shades of grey (black to dark grey to light grey) give the impression of light coming in from the space-scape beyond. The planetary ring uses Simon Pickard’s intricate curving surface technique that few have mastered. Tom spiced it up by making it as colourful as he could, evoking the psychedelic hues of nebulae and other heavenly bodies.
Check out more builds by Tom here!
Looking like one of those miniature models used in Star Wars, this space base is full of clever parts usage. Builder Andreas Lenander was challenged to use the tap piece as much as possible and inspiration launched him right into space. It’s hard to tell exactly what he imagined for each piece of hardware. Nonetheless, the part lends itself well to pipes and supports. The domes use halves of the Christmas baubles (with their telltale white dots) to hold in all that bright green foliage. As for that craggy landscape, Andreas achieved it by laying bricks on their side as closely together as possible within the limits of the round border he created. It all comes together in a lovely sci-fi scene, complete with a tiny rover.
Although this year’s shortlist of the best LEGO creations didn’t include a record-breaking number of models, the variety of genres, scales, and building techniques made it particularly hard for The Brothers Brick to pick just one creation. We had to ask ourselves which creation made 2021 remarkable and memorable. The answer is Jan Woznica‘s Tales of the Space Age, which we are pleased to announce as our LEGO Creation of the Year 2021.
Click to see more photos of the LEGO Creation of the Year 2021
Inspired by the new wheel fork elements from 76179 Batman & Selina Kyle Motorcycle Pursuit, builder Carrier Lost has repurposed them into a something a little more out of this world. The Gamma Scanner is rover is dripping with Classic Space styling combined with more recent offerings like silver ingots and that all-important driver – Lenny from Benny’s Space Squad. The chassis is indeed pretty sweet, but my favorite part of this rover is that array of transparent-green sensors along the leading edge. Will Lenny find the gamma-powered Hulk in a crossover with the MCU? One can only hope.
If rovers are your thing, then be sure to peruse our Rover Tag for more grounded goodness.
Smooth triangular shape. Two-pronged front. Complex building techniques that form immaculate angles. The perfect balance of smooth surfaces and just enough greebling. And really big guns. This Wondering Peacock must be the work of LEGO space expert Tim Goddard. And it certainly is the centre of attention.
The co-author of LEGO Space: Building the Future once again delivers a spaceship that is a feast for the eyes both aesthetically and technically. The white, blue, and medium azure colour combination makes an icy look for this sleek racing craft, but at the same time its shaping exudes a certain tropical warmth. The combination of angled and round section bring a balance that is integral to really good spaceship designs. Tim takes that balance further with sleek hull and exposed greebling of the internals and other mechanical sections. The big grey cannons are the icing on the cake, and despite standing out, they do not look out of place.
A look on the underside reveals these elements in more details. We can just stare in awe at the masterful build.
Check out more of Tim’s creations here!