Longtime readers of the blog will be aware that the Mercedes Unimog is one of my favorite vehicles. While rare here in the US, they’re ubiquitous across Europe. Polish builder Damian Z. doesn’t disappoint with his Unimog crane truck in high-visibility orange.
Tag Archives: Vehicles
This tin can is aces!
Last month’s TBB header photo winner Andrea Lattanzio has been posting images of awesome LEGO models in awesome LEGO garages for a while, and his latest is a beautiful 1932 Ford roadster with a really excellent engine hoist. Andrea has used this backdrop before, but if you haven’t spent time yet poring over all the accessories and other details, you owe it to yourself to do so now.
Here’s to your good ‘elf
This month’s building challenge over at LUGNuts has an elvish theme that I won’t pretend to comprehend. But apparently Lino Martins gets it, and here’s his submission: a recreation of the Tom Daniel Monogram model kit that started it all, the Beer Wagon.
Like the original, Lino’s version is finished in “Pilsner Yellow”, features a beer stein shifter, chrome stacks, chain driven fat rear slicks, chrome keg fuel tanks and a totally illegal in-cabin personal beer keg. And while this beauty may seem all above-board, remember this is a Lino creation. Which explains the following scene of drunken elvish debauchery. CHUG! CHUG! CHUG!
Get your Rock on with Mad Max’s Doof Wagon
Anyone who saw this year’s Mad Max: Fury Road will instantly recognize this model by Matt De Lanoy as the most metal truck ever to appear on screen. The Doof Wagon, as it’s known in the Mad Max universe, carries the hortator for Immortan Joe’s crazed army of raiders, blasting out an insane rock ballad while the truck screams across the desert in the middle of pitched combat.
LEGO 2015 Land Rover Defender
An iconic landmark in the automotive world, the Land Rover Defender launched in 1948 and has been in production continuously throughout the next 67 years. Sadly, this classic 4×4 model is coming to an end, as Land Rover have announced that 2015 will be its final production year. To commemorate it, Nick Barrett built this magnificent fiery-red model, complete with its recognizable white roof and a loaded interior. It also includes fully opening doors and hood, as well as working steering, suspension and pistons.
Bring in the artillery, boys!
When you absolutely, positively need covering artillery, you can’t do better than Stud Systems’ War Weasel Advanced Howitzer 9. Fully packable, the Howitzer is ready to be towed to a new position at a moment’s notice by the accompanying heavy duty cargo truck.
Mecha plus Countach equals coolness
A long time ago, not long after I joined the online community, I upset a number of people by openly declaring that I don’t care much for mecha. While I can appreciate quality when I see it, mecha still aren’t my cup of tea. However, make one that can transform into a cool car, like Andrew Lee‘s Lamborghini Countach, and you’ve definitely caught my attention.
This is Andrew’s first working Transformer and he describes it as total pain in the ass and quite the learning experience. I can sympathise. He is no stranger to building mecha, though, as many of you will know, and his experience shows, because the articulation on his model is truly exceptional.
He talks about this and about LEGO transformers in general in the latest episode of his video podcast, aptly titled Bricks and Beers. Cheers man!
Mastering the minifig-scale big rig
Polish builder Jakeof has been building minifig-scale big rigs and construction equipment for a while now, and has gotten rather good at it. We’ve highlighted one of his builds once before, but it’s high time for our readers to see what other excellent models he’s been churning out in the meantime. It takes a great eye and even better building skills to create this sort of detail and realism at minifig scale. At a glance these don’t even look like LEGO models. The front-end loader in particular is one of the finest brick-built examples I’ve ever seen.
Adding a little sleek to Classic Space
Chris Perron modeled this swept-back Classic Space-inspired planetary truck on his microscale version from earlier this year, and it looks wicked. The long, low windscreen on the back is a fantastic design element, and gives this rover a very futuristic feel. The brick-built wheels are a great touch, as well. Chris says it features working steering and suspension.
Surveyor of a lost world
Shannon Sproule takes us to the rubble left behind on a crumbling planet, as we are safely ensconced within an all-terrain surveying vehicle, capable of plowing over even the largest piece of scrap. I love how the arms on the front give the vehicle a submarine aesthetic, perfect for the caustic environs of a ruined world.
His Cadillac is vulgar, but that’s how he likes it
There are many similarities between Europe and the United States, but yet I never feel quite as European as when I’m on the other side of the Atlantic. US car culture, for instance, is completely different from what I’m used to. Even a fairly standard American tow truck, full of little lights and chrome, can look pretty garish to me. Fellow Dutchman Dennis Glaasker (bricksonwheels), however, is totally down with US car culture. His latest creation, a pimped-out lowrider Cadillac, is downright vulgar.
I mean, just look at it! The are chromed parts all over it, it has custom printed parts, horrible gold-coloured rims and a totally chintzy white interior. The ride height is completely messed up too. Even the name is cheesy: the Fleetwood Le Cabriolet, as though using some French can save it from being tacky as hell. In other words: it’s perfect!
If scale models of real-world vehicles (from gaudy to utilitarian) interest you, the upcoming book Dennis has written for No Starch Press, together with Dennis Bosman (Legotrucks), may be just your thing. It is titled The Art of LEGO Scale Modeling and highlights models built by some of the best LEGO scale modellers from all over the world. It will be released in September and we will be reviewing it then, but you can pre-order it now.
Classy Cars for Classy Gents
This might be an older model, but this adorable early design from Jordan Schwartz just has to be shared. The car’s got such an elegant design, with those lovely lines and most excellent grill.
And should you be interested, Jordan’s also got some delightful older vehicles for you to enjoy. Or in which to avoid government officials. Depends on your needs.