Tag Archives: Summer Joust

A delicious take on LEGO landscapes

With the latest scenic build by The Creators Child, I think it’s time we establish some ground rules for just how appetizing a LEGO creation is allowed to be. Because just look at those layers! The blend of natural tones feels almost illegal in terms of the official LEGO color palette. And yet all the pieces are genuine. When it comes to composition, the scene benefits massively from the beautifully planned beach. Scaled-down debris and splashes are spot-on, and of course, no modern LEGO shoreline would be complete without a strip of wet sand. This coastal scene was built for the Summer Joust contest. Be sure to check out our round-up of the 2025 winners!

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Look past the spook, and you’ll see some terrifyingly good LEGO techniques

The thing about finding great LEGO creations to share on the internet is that sometimes, you do see some really disturbing things. And no, I’m not talking about the price tags in stores. In this instance, it’s Oliver Barrell‘s entry into the Summer Joust building contest. It gives me, frankly, the heebiest of jeebies. I guess that’s rather the point, to be fair. But it does risk distracting me from some rather neat building techniques, be they the forced-perspective house in the back, or the ingenious use of a 1×2 current-carrying brick. Am I grateful I’ve seen this LEGO build? I suppose I have to be. I don’t want that… Thing coming after me if I admit I’m not!

A precarious castle high above the sea

When building microscale LEGO creations, you have to look at common parts a little differently to discover new and interesting uses, like this castle by Geneva Durand perched high above the sea on a rocky cliff. They use a small, rounded element with a hollow stud on one side as the perfect base for turrets mounted to the sides of the tall gray walls. Another part that caught my attention was the white minifigure forks inserted tine-down between grill elements. And several tooth parts attched sideways make perfect arched windows.

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.

Traders on the sea of bricks

When I first saw Andreas Lenander’s Ancient trade I thought the skiff was moving across the sea of tiles. With one look at the skiff’s bound pontoons, you can hear the creaking and feel their texture. But past the boat, there is still a full island to explore…

The open-air structure is not only true to the Polynesian-inspired setting, but it allows us to see more of island life. Like coconuts being harvested, cleverly made from minifig acorn hats. Andreas has long been sharing amazing island builds with a more Mediterranean flavor, so it’s refreshing to see the builder branching out with new palm tree techniques, like these chunkier trees made from stacked barrels.

The footpath down to the beach showcases Andreas’ skill at rockwork. The nested, with SNOT curves makes for an inviting place to gather crabs or conduct trade.

If you like this ocean oasis, be sure to check out Andreas’ other island builds, like the Falcon Chapel.

An inconceivably good LEGO tribute to The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride, the classic film based on the book by ~~S. Morgenstern~~ William Goldman has it all: Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles… It’s a wonder we don’t see more tributes in LEGO. Thankfully, FS Leinad has stepped up with a fabulous build of Westley and Buttercup fleeing through the Fire Swamps. There’s a lot to love in this compact model, from the dense forest of dark grey tree trunks full of odd parts like Bionicle joints and jackhammers, to the evocative flames made of carefully twisted trans-orange chains to the spot-on minifigs. Having escaped the Lightning Sands and figured out how to avoid the Fire Spurts, the only other hazard these true lovers need worry about is the R.O.U.S.es. But the Rodents of Unusual Size? I don’t think they exist.

It’s only fitting that FS Leinad return to The Princess Bride, as the builder’s first shared creation was an Ideas tribute to the film that made it to the 10k club. It’s impressive how far Leinad has grown as a builder in the years since.

This farmer and carabao exceeds our grain expectations

Summer Joust is heating up and this time the category is Farms and Fields. LEGO builder Byldan tackles the challenge in a big way in an exotic locale; The Philippines. Here we see an upscaled shirtless farmer and his trusty carabao ( Filipino water buffalo) plowing a rice paddy field. While our farmer isn’t without his charm, I’m rather smitten by the build techniques comprising the expression of the carabao’s face; and those horns are curved just right. No wonder this hard-working beast of burden is the national animal of the Philippines!

A haunting still life to make you ponder

If you’re like me, you’ve always considered LEGO creations to be works of art, and this build by FS Leinad is a perfect example. This still life is a wonderful visualization of life’s impermanence, with a skull set amongst blooming flowers, and the contrast of the two candles at different stages. And it isn’t just the composition, but the technique that I admire. The melting wax made from a minifigure beard and wisp of black smoke made from droid arms are lovely touches. I hope I live long enough to get this good at building.

No man is an island, but some secret hideouts are

German builder Gerrit Gottschalk’s latest LEGO creation titled Ronin’s Refuge depicts the struggles of a solitary life, in another time and on another continent. In feudal Japan, a “ronin” was a masterless samurai who had either lost their lord through death, disgrace, or had left their service. The term is often literally translated to “drifter”, making Gerrit’s choice of a watery location for this reclusive warrior’s hideout almost poetic. A muted colour palette draws the viewer’s eye, revealing some clever parts usage (minifigure skirt as a dish, and chain links as an architectural element? – “ii desu ne!“)

This is just one of the many 2025 Summer Joust builds featured here on The Brothers Brick. The online contest closes on August 1st and there are some striking entries, so put the final touches on your castle-themed works in progress and join the fray!

Who says LEGO bricks have to connect?

As Melchar the Mage looks deeply into his scrying pool, you’ll want to stare closer at this scene by Joel Short. That’s because the most eye-catching elements of this scene don’t use bricks that connect in the usual way. The floor is made of cheese slopes turned on their sides and crammed together to create a flawless impression of stone. And the srcying pool itself is largely just some arches, likewise sideways and tucked in on each other. A simple, but magical effect.

This LEGO medieval house has a private dock, view of the sea, and a rather alarming angle to it...

Now that we all have cars and bikes, it can be hard to imagine just how important a method of transport boats once were. Sailing was the best way to transport a decent volume of cargo a long way at relative speed (well, unless you were landlocked, of course). Peter (forestArcher) is building up quite the repertoire of rickety LEGO medieval buildings, and for the Summer Joust castle competition, he’s tackled a seaside residence! This one is receiving some vital supplies by boat. And although it’s brilliantly built by Peter – the different angles at work are great, particularly that yellow house – I can’t help but think whoever lives there might need them, lest this precarious pad falls into the sea!

There are plenty of other Summer Joust builds trickling in – take a look at some of the ones we’ve featured in our archives, and be sure to keep checking back for more!

Every little thing they build is magic

An artificer’s work inscribing runes is no easy task, as recreated in this LEGO still life by greenarj. It requires precision tools, enchanted ink, an ancient tome, and a bottle of mysterious liquid… to steady the hand. Creating a scene this convincing from plastic bricks is another kind of magic, one that grenarj wields like a wizard. That bottle in particular, which integrates Spinjitzu Jay’s cyclone, is brilliant. The blade is filled with NPU, like a silver dish nested between wheel arches for the pommel. Consider us entranced.