Tag Archives: Vehicles

LEGO planes, trains, and automobiles! Well, maybe not trains, since they don’t like to play with the other LEGO themes, but here you’ll find all our favorite cars, buses, boats, ships, helicopters, and anything else with an engine (and some without).

A Schwimmwagen The Central Scrutinizer would approve of

LEGO builder Martin Spunkt presents a satisfying amphibious Volkswagen Schwimmwagen. It’s rugged features, heightened stance and oars assures us that this little beast can do some serious off-off-off roading right into the water. It’s a far better ride to haul band equipment around than the ’54 with a mashed-up door. He situates the vehicle in a grungy garage setting; a white zone, so to speak, which I presume is for loading and unloading only. My question: Is Martin even aware of the Frank Zappa reference staring us right in the face? Sound off in the comments if you’re in the know.

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

LEGO motorization from an era of steam mechanisation

I love seeing old ideas for things that never got beyond the prototype stage. That’s particularly true from the early age of mechanisation – crazy ideas like steam cars or balloon ships look more like steampunk fiction than reality. Take this steam tractor, built by LEGO builder Nikolaus Löwe. Nikolaus is no stranger to sci-fi creations, and indeed that’s what I figured this was. It looks very functional, and yet like nothing I’ve ever really seen… And yet, it was real! This is a model of an early Hornsby steam tractor, of which only one was ever made. The model itself was not a commercial success, by all accounts, but early prototypes did result in the tracks being dubbed ‘caterpillar’ tracks on account of their caterpillar-like motion. Indeed, the Hornsby firm would eventually morph into the company we know as Caterpillar today.

Oh, and speaking of motion – see all those functional-looking gears and Technic axles? They’re not just for show, you know! There’s a great video showing off all the tractor’s functions, including an impressive differential steering mechanism – check it out!

Warning: speed hump ahead

Camel crossing ahead. One hump means we’re in dromedary country, specifically a dustry stretch of desert highway en route to Pakistan. Dessis Bosman has built a LEGO truck that’s up for this rigorous road — a Scania LB141 in the livery of Dutch hauler Rynart. Bult at 1:13 scale, the truck is a beast. And at ~160 studs long, it also qualifies as a SHIP. Around 1000 2×4 tiles went into the tarpaulin alone.

Dennis had previously built a Scania LB141 in the yellow livery of British shipper Astran, and used the chasis as hte foundation for this new build. The truck takes advantage of an incrased range of parts in dark azure to match the Rynart livery.

Drive on for more pics of Dennis’ desert-ready truck

With great trucks come little vans

In many countries, trucks with oversize loads, like the transformer transport I built several weeks ago, are commonly accompanied by escort vehicles. They warn other road users and their drivers can help the trucks’ drivers to navigate tight curves or narrow streets.

In the UK, such escort vehicles are usually vans. Obviously, these tend to have high-visibility markings, which, to me, makes them attractive as Lego builds. My latest two models represent two rather different examples: a Ford Transit and a Mercedes Sprinter.
Continue reading →

A slithering throwback to a simpler time

This LEGO creation by Djokson is called Mamba Marauder Snake; three words I’d love to get on my resumé but alas my job experience is mostly Excel spreadsheet related. I’m seeing a lot of tasty parts from the DreamZzz Action Race Car set. I’m particularly loving the watchband and green canopy. The builder’s inspiration though comes from this little racer from back when Donnie Darko was seeing creepy bunnies. Darko, creepy, and bunnies are three more words I’d love to see on my resumé but my work mostly involves boring meetings.

Versteinert’s LEGO Campervan is packed with cozy comfort and clever LEGO tricks

Every new classic car design from Genman builder Versteinert is a masterclass in NPU (“Nice Parts Usage”), and this 7-stud wide Ford Transit Mk1 Campervan is no exception. Fitting for a vehicle ready for a summer beach picnic, hot dogs, forks, and a sizzling grille feature prominently in the build, but not where you might think. Using rollerskates for door handles is a tried-and-true technique, but I’ve never seen them used like Versteinert does on the grille, where stacks of skates wrapped in a rubber band fit so perfectly you won’t believe it’s not a pre-molded part.

This vacation wagon follows two utilitarian versions of the Transit Mk1 that Versteinert built last year, this repair service truck and a firetruck version.

In a Twilight world of Team Jacob or Team Edward, be Team Bella’s Truck

Twihards may already be aware that the official LEGO 21354 Cullen’s Home set is coming out soon. It certainly got onto the radar of Sseven Bricks but not necessarily for reasons of buff, shirtless werewolves or brooding, sparkly vampires. While both factions aren’t without their charms, Sseven took special notice of one feature included in the set: Bella’s 1963 Chevy C10 Pickup. Not only that, but Sseven saw the unmistakable fingerprint of LEGO Designer Adam Grabowski and decided to preemptively build their own version of the pickup before the set came out and without instructions. Being a car guy and a fan of Adam, I would have done the same — all the while reveling in the truck’s classic design and also reveling in the fact that I’m a Jacob Girl all the way. You heard me, glittery vampires; get your sparkly asses the hell off my lawn!

Transformer, roll out!

Having grown up in the eighties, the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of a Transformer is a vehicle that changes into a giant robot. In the real world, though, a transformer is less exciting. It is a device that changes the voltage of an electric current. Transformers can range from small enough to fit on printed circuit boards to massive industrial units weighing hundreds of tons. My latest LEGO model represents a mid-size example, of about 50 tons.

I’ve been building minifigure-scale vehicles lately, and a transformer seemed to be a suitable load for a nice heavy-haulage truck. The Mercedes Arocs truck is a model that I have been planning (and buying parts for) for quite a while. It should pair nicely with a Goldhofer modular trailer.

Let’s shift gears and see how this truck came together!

There’s something fishy about this vehicle

Anyone fancy some fish and ships? This flying craft darts through the air without the aid of feathers or wings thanks to the imagination of filbrick. A striking color palette (love that red webbing between the gold spines for the fins) combines with a streamlined design to create a truly memorable vehicle. I can imagine that golden propeller spinning as the segmented body weaves its way through the clouds. The question is: would this fish out of water handle just as well under the sea?

LEGO Steampunk “Swallow” takes to the skies!

“L’hirondelle,” a mighty LEGO creation by Gus (aka Faëbricks), is the fastest vessel in the Royal Navy. Its name is French for “The Swallow,” a bird known for its ability to feed mid-flight, so what better name for an airship in search of prey? Mighty wind turbines and a streamlined hull (love the hidden rowboats giving it the curved shape) work with the elongated balloon to keep the airship aloft and stalking the skies. Its crew are hard at work, having repurposed Fremen stillsuit masks as breathing apparatuses in the thin air. I also love the cannon on the gear swivel, ready to unleash hell in any lateral direction. There’s also that wicked-looking blade at the prow, ready to poke holes in anybody who comes too close. All in all, it’s not an airship I’d want to mess with.

LEGO pays tribute to Leonardo da Vinci with newly-announced 10363 Leonardo da Vinci’s Flying Machine [News]

After paying homage to Galileo Galilei in a Gift with Purchase set last year, LEGO has turned to another great Renaissance mind for their latest set in the Icons line. 10363 Leonardo da Vinci’s Flying Machine was shown off at the Recognised LEGO Fan Media (RLFM) days back in September, and today has been unveiled to the wider world. With its 493 pieces, this kit recreates one of the Italian polymath’s more outlandish creations, some 300 years before the first crewed flight even took place. The flying machine never actually flew, of course – but regardless, you can still recreate it for US $49.99 | CAN $64.99 | UK £54.99 when it becomes available starting January 1, 2025.

More pictures available after the jump!

The rain in France falls mainly on the track!

It’s said it always rains for Le Mans, and this LEGO build by Sybrin doesn’t disappoint! Each car – with a swoosh and a roar of the engine – kicks up a huge spray of trans-clear plates and 2×2 arches behind it as it tears down the track. My favorite part of this is that the natural shininess of the LEGO tiles in the road makes it look like the raceway is rain-slicked and shiny! Sybrin also did a great job with those custom-made Speed Champions style race cars too; the closest one is a Ferrari AF Corsa #50 , and the far car is Toyota Gazoo’s #7. So of Corsa we were going to make a big hulla-gazoo about this!

The water effects in the diorama are entirely brick-built, from the raindrops splashing onto the pavement to the rooster tails behind the roaring hyper-cars.

Like this article? Tell all your friends!

Like this article? Tell all your friends!

Like this article? Tell all your friends!

Like this article? Tell all your friends!

Like this article? Tell all your friends!

Like this article? Tell all your friends!

Like this article? Tell all your friends!

Like this article? Tell all your friends!

Like this article? Tell all your friends!

Like this article? Tell all your friends!

Like this article? Tell all your friends!

Like this article? Tell all your friends!