Mike Doyle finished his third masterpiece titled Victorian on Mud Heap, depicting yet another decaying Victorian house in a gigantic 5.5′ x 6′ x 3′ creation made entirely out of Lego. There are several ways to enjoy this work such as viewing the detail pictures on MOCpages, reading the builder’s interpretation of his work on Flickr, or learning more about Mike through an earlier interview.
LEGO has just announced an intriguing new set that brings together nearly all of the modular building series, going all the way back to the classic 10182 Cafe Corner — 10230 Mini Modulars. The set is due out in January 2012, and will only be available to LEGO VIP Program members.
The set comes with 1,356 pieces and will retail for $80 in the States. It includes Cafe Corner (of course), Market Street, Green Grocer, Fire Brigade, and Grand Emporium
. I guess we’ll have to wait for the recently released Pet Shop
until later (or build your own!).
We’ve seen LEGO fans create mini/microscale versions of these sets for years (including Matthew Raehl’s mini modular street, mumu’s pre-release micro 10182, and many more), but it’s great to see an official LEGO take on this concept.
See lots more photos in the photoset on Flickr.
Here’s the complete press release from LEGO:
10230 Mini Modulars
Ages 12+. 1,356 pieces.
US $79.99 CA $99.99 DE 69.99 € UK 59.99 £ DK 649.00 DKK AU $119.99Available only to our LEGO® VIP Program Members, this exclusive mini modulars set is an authentic miniature representation of the first 5 buildings in the Modular Building series: Café Corner, Market Street, Green Grocer, Fire Brigade and Grand Emporium. Featuring highly detailed design, each building can be displayed as a stand alone piece or connected to the others buildings in the set. The mini Café Corner includes details like a fan above the doorway and printed hotel signage, while the mini Market Street includes transparent bricks and a unique brick construction. The quaint mini Green Grocer also features transparent bricks and a fire escape at the rear, while the mini Fire Brigade includes a brick bell and white arch wall elements. Finally, the mini Grand Emporium has a rooftop sign, skylight and window washing platform. With fantastic detailing and a huge variety of elements in a range of rich colors, this exclusive mini modulars set is the perfect addition to every VIP Member’s collection.
- Exclusively available to LEGO® VIP Members!
- Authentic miniature representation of first 5 Modular Buildings: Café Corner, Market Street, Green Grocer, Fire Brigade and Grand Emporium!
- Each building can be displayed individually or connected to the other buildings in the set!
- All buildings feature fantastic detailing and a wide variety of elements and colors!
- Completed model measures over 5″ (14.5 cm) tall, 12″ (32 cm) long and 2.5″ (6.5 cm) wide!
- Each individual building measures 2.5″ (6.5 cm) long and 2.5″ (6.5 cm) wide!
Watch this space for a video message from the LEGO designer who created this set.
PhiMa has been applying his prodigious vehicle-building skills to emergency vehicles rather than World War II armor lately, with some really nice results. On of his latest fire engines is this utilitarian beauty.
What’s most impressive, though, is just how much stuff he’s been able to fit inside the truck. Yes, everything in the photo below fits inside the fire engine.
Lasse Vestergård built this in the style of LEGO’s architechture sets and it came out quite nice. I’m really liking the austere look of this build.
I’m fairly sure I’ve never been ten-pin bowling. I’m even more sure that Dave Shaddix has. From the mosaic on the wall, to the hotdogs on the grill, this diorama has everything I imagine a bowling alley should have. And more.
I’m so used to seeing excellent teensy spaceships from Rodney Bistline (Buster) that I had to check twice that I had the name right. I did. This delightful helicopter combines Rodney’s gorgeous use of shape and colour with a more contemporary design. I want to see more near-future stuff from you, Rodney. Got that!
Adam Grabowski goes for a drive with an icon in this Mini. We will forgive him for painting one piece, since it turned out so well. Now he needs to build Teddy.
Ever wonder what would happen if the cityscape turned on the monster sent to destroy it? Monster movies wouldn’t quite ever be the same.
Fortunately, we’ll probably not ever have to go through that kind of movie, and Chris McVeigh (powerpig) gives us a glimpse of what could have–might have–been.
The now closed Eurobricks Spaghetti Western contest has seen a steady drip feed of great wild west creations. When Marshal Banana posted his entry I was struck not so much by the great buildings, but by the absolutely excellent period furniture.
Arjan Kotte (konajra) is no stranger to building big yet highly detailed ‘things’ out of LEGO. His latest is a beam trawler and packs in the little touches that make a model sing. I’m particularly fond of the way he sets up small vignettes around the boat showing the action on deck.
We normally focus on only the most recent LEGO creations, but from time to time I run across a builder whose work I hadn’t taken notice of before (despite Josh posting Dark’s bazaar), and that I have to share regardless of when it was posted. Such is the case with Russian builder Dark-Alamez.
Brick Town Talk recently featured this Chicago scene, complete with a portable compressor and checkered taxi cab.
But I was transfixed by the next photo over, which combines simple details like the bedroll on the horse’s saddle in the foreground with a forced-perspective microscale castle in the background to create a wonderfully layered scene that tells a touching story.
Dark’s more recent ghost town features a collapsing shack and weathered chapel, with exactly the sort of rundown equipment you’d see lying around in parts of Northern California.
Ultimately, what caught my attention about Dark-Alamez is the variety of what he builds — not all in one style or theme. Check out all of Dark-Alamez’s LEGO models in his photostream on Flickr and Brickshelf gallery.
There was a time when LEGO released books of ideas, when trains were a flagship property, when a LEGO license was something you used to drive at LEGOland. That time was the 80s and that time produced 7777. But it was not a perfect time. We now have new parts, new colours, new techniques, and 7777 looks dated. But the idea (pardon the pun) was good. Let’s make it better.
EDIT:NB. Please do not ask questions about the contest here, ask them in the flickr thread. I will not be answering questions here.
In LEGO Train MOCs we run semi-regular contests and challenges. This time we’re inviting all AFOLs to play. The challenge is to create a new version of 7777 ideas book with prizes for those deemed best and most 7777-like. As a twist we won’t be allowing locomotive engines.
This contest differs a little from regular LEGO contests: rather than giving prizes to the best entry we will be assessing entries on how well they would fit in a new version of 7777. This means models should be kept relatively simple, bonus points will be awarded for instructions and scenes, and we won’t be looking for exact replicas of obscure trains.
So if you love trains, if you love town, or if you just love LEGO and a new challenge we’d love to see what you can do. You don’t even need a single train wheel or track to play. Just bricks and a creative mind.
Closing date: All entries must be in by midnight 31st30th November on the east side of the date line. If your clock says Nov 30th you’ll be fine.
Prizes: Three prizes will be given for the three entries judged ‘best’ (no person will win more than one prize). Prizes are: 10219 Maersk train, 7937 Train Station, 7936 Level Crossing
Rules: There are no hard and fast rules (other than the closing date) however there are judging criteria so if you want a chance of winning you should meet as many of them as possible. We also expect no more than three entries (one is fine) per person. Further entries may be allowed with prior arrangement.
Entering: To enter the contest you must join the 7777 Redux group on flickr and post your entry in the entries thread. If you do not wish to join flickr contact me (Tim G) privately and we may come to an arrangement.
Judging criteria:
Judges: Judging will be by me (Tim Gould), Tim David, Peter Norman and special non-trainhead judge Mark Stafford