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).

All aboard the Boo Boo Bus

Were it not for the sirens and lights on the roof, I would have assumed this LEGO Ford Econoline van by Isaac Wilder was just a regular van with a cool stripe on it (you know, for speed). In fact, this is a model of a conversion from van to ambulance (Vanbulance?), dubbed the Collins Crusader or, more affectionately, the ‘Boo Boo Bus’ – which is a name I will start using more often now I’ve heard it!

1972 Collins “Crusader” Type-II Ambulance

Isaac is no stranger when it comes to the superb shaping of vehicles, and while one would think a van’s boxy shape would lend itself easily to a rendition in LEGO bricks, the various pieces pointing in different directions here show it can be deceptively complex. So much so that a few cut decals have been used to pull off some of the more minute details such as the red stripe and A-pillars. There’s no doubt that the effect is well worth the effort though!

This is not the first 1972 Econoline he’s built, either – the first one having been modified from a LEGO Avengers set. It’s always nice to see builders revisit their previous models, especially when the result is this good!

Putting a new spin on the word “limestone”

My, oh, my, isn’t it crazy how good LEGO renders are getting these days? You’d never guess that this “agile planetary tricycle” by Ivan Martynov is actually computer-generated. But while some of the parts don’t exist in those colors, it’s still a thing of beauty. I love the colorful, large “lime-stone” front wheel, but it’s equally impressive on the back end.

Limestone

While you’re here, check out more builds by Ivan, as well and many other interesting vehicles.

LEGO Technic 42139 All Terrain Vehicle – A vehicle that really does have it all [Review]

The LEGO Technic theme is all about the fun of engineering, and what’s more fun and filled with mechanisms than a utility vehicle? But not another tow truck or crane or piece of construction equipment. No, we’re talking about the LEGO Technic 42139 All-Terrain Vehicle! It’s about time we’ve had a solid-sized ATV in the Technic lineup! So let’s not beat around the bush. Instead, let’s hit that throttle and get in the thick of it! Come along with us as we build and test this 764pc model’s many features. It just became available today, and retails for US $79.99 | CAN $99.99 | UK £64.99.

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

Click to read our in-depth review of the rad ATV

Star racing across the universe

Cast your mind back to 2006 and you might remember the obscure anime, Oban Star Racers. Charlie Mann has recreated the Whizzing Arrow from the show, which served as the main character’s racer. The large engines have smooth rounded forms with the ability to splay out in sections for when the boost function is engaged. The orange dome on the side acts as a gunner turret to fight off aggressive opponents. I tried to build this vehicle when I was young but gave up, so it’s great to see that Charlie has succeeded in constructing a model accurate to the original design.

Whizzing Arrow Collage

LEGO Creator 40517 Vespa Scooter – “Sembra una vespa!” [Review]

On April 23rd, 1946, Enrico Piaggio filed the patent for the first Vespa. Now, over 75 years later, LEGO is celebrating this iconic scooter with a pair of brick-built tributes. The Creator Expert 10298 Vespa set we reviewed yesterday features a powder-blue Vespa 125, while the LEGO Creator 40517 – Vespa Scooter showcases a smaller, more modern version in red. Like its larger cousin, this 117-piece set will be available March 1st from the LEGO Shop Online for US $9.99 | CAN $12.99 | UK  TBD . Let’s take a ride together and see what this set has to offer!

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

Click to read the full hands-on review

LEGO Creator Expert 10298 Vespa 125 – On the road again [Review]

On April 23rd, 1946, Enrico Piaggio filed the patent for the first Vespa. Now, over 75 years later, LEGO is celebrating this iconic scooter with a pair of brick-built tributes. LEGO Creator 40517 – Vespa Scooter features a modern version in Red, while the LEGO Creator Expert 10298 Vespa 125 is a larger-scale model in classic pastel pale blue. The 1106 piece set will be available March 1st from the LEGO Shop Online for US $99.99 | CAN $129.99 | UK £89.99. Hop on as we take a spin on this Italian classic and see how well it survived the transition to LEGO brick!

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

Click to read the full hands-on review

Your favourite condiments as speeders

BetaNotus has constructed these rather random speeders. Based on the sauces of barbecue and honey mustard, both vehicles have an open semicircle design at the front, with engines or exhausts protruding from the sides. Sandwiched in between the large quarter circles, tail pieces create the textured details on the inner sections of the machines. The handles are actually built around sausage pieces, which keeps the curved design consistent throughout the models. It does make you wonder what other condiments would look like as flying speeders…

Barbecue & Honey Mustard

I smell a dirty rat

To see a rat rod in real life is quite a unique experience not soon forgotten. People can be left confused, upset, bewildered, awestruck, and amazed in one fell swoop. It is clear that LEGO builder Sérgio Batista understands the rat rod asthetic perfectly. This sick roadster is rusty, chopped, slammed, gutted, and you’ll probably need a tetanus shot just to look at it. I’m smitten, but then again I like ’em a little dirty. Rat rods, that is. I was talking about rat rods. Anyway, check out two other rat rod articles, both penned by me. (Hmmmm, no one else here is into rat rods?) While you’re at it, have a gander at more vehicles constructed by others.

Rat Rod SB35

The original custom van

I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with vans. When you say the word van, imagery of minivans and hideous box shapes spring to mind. But there are some undeniable gems among the chaff, and the original Ford Transit Mk 1, which went into production in 1965, is one of them. This beautiful LEGO rendition by OutBricks is minifigure scale and 7 studs wide, which is an impressive feat. It manages to capture the chunky 1960s stylings well, right down to the gently angled sides. The best part, though, is the sideways half arches used for the wheel wells.

Ford Transit MK1 01

A gangster’s roadster: please admire from a distance

A roadster too sleek for the 1930s. Open top and exposed engine. Is it some vintage Batmobile or a hot-rod noir? Jonathan Elliott presents his latest custom minifig-scale car to add to his portfolio, a roadster that could give the current Vintage Taxi GWP a run for its money. Lacking any other colour, there is just enough and barely enough chrome to break up a predominantly black visage. The owner of this vehicle must be classy and dangerous, and it definitely takes my mind to old gangster movies…

Black Roadster

If you see this parked in front of a speakeasy of your choice, RUN!
See more of Jonathan’s wonderful creations here.

Remember to consult the owner’s manual before off-road driving

But seriously, why else would they give you a copy of the owner’s manual with your new car? I guess Stas Revin has carefully studied his copy of the book, as his latest Ford Bronco R is an outstanding LEGO Technic replica of the future Ford truck. Copying the style and livery of the smaller System build from LEGO Speed Champions 76905 Ford GT Heritage Edition and Bronco R, this beast looks a bit insidious. Only after a closer look did I figure out the actual size and scale of this Technic model. With a scale of 1:10, it is powered with four Control+ motors, which is a lot for this model.

If you liked the body and the exterior, you would surely fall in love with the chassis. Powered by four independent countors of tubes, this Bronco can adapt its suspension however you like. It’s a shame Stass opted for third-party tires, but, you know, they say that the tires are 50% of the car’s look. So…

Whirly purple spiky bikey

LEGO builder Yannick summed up his process for creating this amazing ATV as “I started with the giant purple wheels” and “then covered it in spikes.” Spikes are like lime juice and Yakety Sax – everything you add them to turns out better. Let’s count all the spikes shall we? You have a pair of rad Purple teeth on the amazing brick-built helmet, CLAW 1X4X1 on the back of the ATV, a devilishly clever use of Bionicle 1 x 3 Tooth on the hood and headlights, some dorsal fins that make excellent wheel spikes, and finally a couple of conical horns to really cause some tire damage. Despite everything in this build saying “back off,” I just can’t look away.

Spiky 3