Tag Archives: Ted Andes

Dragonfly in the sky, you can go twice as high!

If you’re an elf in need of transit options, you should check out this LEGO build by Ted Andes! Do you ever have one of those projects where its entire reason for being is just a tiny part of the whole? This huge Dragonfly Outpost diorama was built by Ted as a display to show off the dragonfly craft in the top left corner! Let’s take a look at some details! the gold water pump to the right of the main pillar has a faucet made from an inverted genie’s lamp. All of those lovely wings used on the bug-thopter and the roof of the main area are from a single ant-man set from 2015. Those safety rails on the upper deck are actually a relatively common tube (though it does seem like the elves could use a few more of them!) An up-and-coming part is the leaf used for some of the bird’s tails. Since its introduction in 2023, it’s been used in a variety of sets and colors and I expect we’ll see more of it in the future! And speaking of those birds, I wonder if they make good omelets too?

Dragonfly Outpost

Dragonfly in the sky, I can go twice as high

Let me guess: you watched the recent Dune movies and thought, “Man, those ornithopters were cool-looking and all, but what if they were a little more steampunk? And flown by elves?” Don’t worry, LEGO builder Ted Andes has your back. For Brickworld Chicago 2024, he imagined that elves would build a ‘thopter inspired by their natural surroundings, giving the craft its smooth, organic lines. And where the Dune version definitely had a little dragonfly in it, this little marvel seems to take its cues from the wider insect world: Aside from the dragonfly wings, there’s a bit of grasshopper leg in the fuselage and something a little more wicked in that stinger at the back.

Dragonfly Ornithopter

What if HR Giger designed LEGO starfighters?

Space Jam contestants, beware. Ted Andes is done with being a judge as of this year, and he’s getting involved in the LEGO building competition instead! It’s not just Ted you need to be wary of, though. His “Ravager” looks as deadly as it sounds. It has a touch of the “HR Giger”s about it – which is appropriate, given it’s entered in the Bio-Mechanical Fusion category (Giger was a pioneer of the biomechanical art style). But it’s even more apt that this look is achieved using a host of Bionicle parts. Bio-Mechanical, indeed!

Ravagerf

The Maestro is ready to drop some ‘bows

While I haven’t been plotting any LEGO villainy in the opening round of this year’s Bio-Cup, I have been working with brown Bionicle bits as of late for my own malicious machinations. So let me tell you, Ted Andes was employing quite the limited part palette when he took on a violin-themed evil-doer, Il Maestro Di Violino. The shape he’s managed here is excellent, and the incorporation of the Kakama Kanohi mask is perfect. For a “last minute entry,” this feels like a well-planned symphony of parts. It immediately conveys “violin” and “villain” with just one glance.

Il Maestro Di Violino

The tree of knowledge

LEGO builder Ted Andes brings us a more upbeat take on the dystopian cyberpunk future with a gorgeous sculpture he calls the Shrine of the Cyber Tree. The tree is made of stacked Vahki head elements from Bionicle, and their angular lines and matte finish creates a striking use for that rarely used piece. The sculpture is surrounded by a simple but elegant stone garden wall, which has great details like one broken egg post cap. 

Shrine of the Cyber Tree

Something cyberpunk this way comes

Collaborative displays allow builders to create something bigger and more spectacular than one person might achieve on their own. All it takes is a standard that others can build on independently and come together at a LEGO convention to watch the magic happen. The wonderfully detailed cyberpunk module by Ted Andes is going to be part of a collaborative display in Chicago next year. The speeder bike charging station features some sweet rides built using motorcycle chassis, along with an upstairs noodle shop. Colored wedge plates create angled parking spots, with one of the charging stations on the fritz, which is a nice touch. The noodle sign made with Technic plates and stacks of 1×2 rounded plates is positively delicious.

Octan Charging Station / Konbini / Roof Top Noodle Shop

But the fun doesn’t stop there. Ted has another cube for the lower levels of the collaborative city display for folks with a bit more to spend on their transportation. The Tachikoma garage for upgrading your AI-powered four-legged companion looks right out of Ghost in the Shell. The garage includes a smaller speeder bike repair shop around the back.

Tachikoma Garage / Speeder Bike Repair Platform

Vend your way to happiness

If you’re looking for love, or looking for great part usage, Ted Andes  has you covered – provided you can cut through those plastic clam shells. The concept of using window panes for packaging been kicking around the LEGO community for a while, but the inclusion of DOTS printed tiles gives the whole idea a bit of a boost. Emmet sure seems to think so, anyway.

"♪♫ I'm just a love machine ♪♫ ..."

And if you prefer your vending machines to dispense candy, well, do I have the build for you…

LEGO Arcana Number Nine

When I first saw this model, I had to do a double-take. It didn’t register as LEGO at first but the second glance proceeded to blow my mind. Builder Ted Andes created this fantastic model for a big competition between builders that happens most summers nowadays. Inspired by the ninth card in the Major Arcana of the Tarot, The Hermit, this model utilizes a slew of old and new pieces from the System and Technic alike. Light nougat hands hold key objects from The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck’s version of the Hermit art. Candlesticks in dark tan make a simplistic staff that fits perfectly with the hands. The other arm lifts up a lantern made with slim black wedge belt wheels linked with bars and studs as the frame while two oppositely oriented triangular clips create a light flare effect to match the card. Spiky Hero Factory armor in white is inverted as a beard that consumes the Hermit’s face while his hood is made of a large Chima Gorilla head. A clever camera angle hides the gold and mouth details of the mask just enough to sell the hood effect. A fabric cloak hides most of the inner structure of the figure which is mounted on a raised mountain baseplate that mostly showed up in Bionicle sets.

IX - The Hermit.

The meaning of this card within the Tarot is somewhat clear. It is a time to look within and identify those things about yourself that may need reexamined. Sometimes the answers to life’s questions lie inside and only through introspection will they be revealed. Similarly, Ted Andes has presented a magical model that hides the secrets to some of its construction behind that dark robe and black Technic panels.

LEGO is soft on space travel

Don’t adjust your screens; that is not a LEGO minifigure someone left in a microwave to see what would happen. You’re looking at a Ted Andes creation of an up-sized remote control space rover built for a plush Lenny. Despite being a seasoned writer for The Brothers Brick, I didn’t know these LEGO plushies were a thing until like two minutes ago. I’m apparently the wrong demographic, but they’ve been all the rage with youngins for a few years now. Look, I never said I was attuned to what the kiddos are into; I don’t even know what kind of bourbon they like. Anyway, while you’re trying to figure out how a TBB volunteer can be given the pink slip, check out these other works by Ted Andes whom, it turns out, is a master at making unusual parts seem pretty cool.

My First RC Rover - Plushie Scale

Don’t tell anyone but if I had a plushie Lenny I’d probably give him an occasional squeeze for good luck.

Master carpentry, realised in Lego

You’d be forgiven for thinking Ted Andes’ latest build looks out of place here on TBB. That is until you study the image further and realise Ted has brought LEGO into the home furnishing arena with this side table and its contents. The table itself is a wonderfully designed build that looks like a realistic Walnut or Mahogany wood with a delicate black finish to the table top. The legs capture a delicate, carved, curve and are then braced to add to the stability of this table with additional subtle detailing along the legs.

End Table Ensemble

I’m in awe of the engineering that has gone into creating the perfect circle of the table’s rim and legs through the use of expertly layered plates and tiles to achieve the correct curvature and strength.

The lamp looks to have found the perfect spot too, placed atop the table, amongst the other items on display. The lamp shade is carefully constructed to capture the round end result too, using a Teepee canopy piece, adding a flourish of Native American detail for decoration on the lampshade. And let’s not ignore the power cord falling over the edge of the table too, constructed from tails and Technic connector pieces.

Prairie Style Table Lamp

You can explore the remaining contents of the table from when we looked at these in an older post here. I’m hoping Ted doesn’t stop here, and that this inspires more builders to come up with ingenious LEGO builds that look perfect in any home.

A bright and shiny sunflower

Sometimes a simple flower can contain clever secrets. Take this sunflower by Ted Andes for example. It’s one of those models that looks great on its own, but has rewards for the LEGO parts junkie as well.  Creative use of Bionicle Vahki eyestalks forms a real sunburst of color for the petals, and those leaves are repurposed pteranodon wings.

Sunflower

There’s a whole lot you can do when creating plants out of LEGO. Our archive is a garden overflowing with sweet techniques.

Parading a parachute in the park

Sometimes, all it takes is one LEGO element to spark an entire creation into life. Ted Andes provides us with a brilliant example of this, with a charming scene of a walk in the park that was borne of a desire to use the orange parachute in a creation. Said parachute finds a new purpose as the dog-walker’s dress, but that is not where the clever parts use stops! Dark red wing pieces are used for her hair, and a slew of minifigure whips are used as a very convincing low fence. Also of note is the butterfly, which is made of, er, a butterfly piece – albeit one intended for use on minifigures. Ted certainly manages to make using such unusual pieces look like a walk in the park!

A Walk in the Park