Tag Archives: Vignettes

Vignettes are like the haiku of the LEGO world. Usually built on a base 8 studs wide by 8 studs deep, vignettes show a little scene or a moment in time. But like written poetry, there’s plenty of variation on the basic theme.

Calming tea to go from this adorable shop

When you look at this cute corner shop with a cherry tree in full blossom by JakobKaiserMOCs the attention to detail stands out, from the scattering of pink flower elements as fallen blossoms to the balcony on the second floor with a small bird perched on the railing. I think my favorite detail is the roof pattern, made using baseplates from the Dungeons and Dragons collectible minifigure series.

Jakob built this model live on camera, which you can go back and watch to learn about the techniques or find zen.

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A workshop worthy of a collectible Steampunk Inventor

Steampunk fandom has been well represented in LEGO fan creations over the years, but it wasn’t until the latest line of Collectible Minifigs that the Victorian fantasy genre got its due with an official set. Builder Ciamosław Ciamek gives the Steampunk Inventor figure a fitting place to work his mechanical magic with this wonderful workshop where a “Hedgehog” Steambot Walker is under construction. The walker itself is a fun build, incorporating Bionicle spines, buildable character armor, and chunky mech legs over the traditional Steampunk colors of brass and wood. I also like the mix of visiting minifigs, here to appraise this autonomous steam-powered machine.

Drawing on Italian architecture for a LEGO fantasy vignette

The Free City of Andérida is entirely fictional, but depicted here in LEGO, there’s such a rich sense of history that you’d be forgiven for mistaking it for a real town. Builder Vertaro takes inspiration from Venice and Lombard architecture, with classical columns and decorated stone walls. The terra cotta rooftops and sun-bleached stone strongly evoke old Italy. Arches in low relief lend the walls a sense of heightened craftsmanship. My favorite technique is the roof decorations made from clipping heart-shaped tiles in an undulating row, but the marble fountain decorated with frogs and minifig hands is also a showstopper.

Vertaro built this scene of Aurelio’s reunion for the Age of the Unseated LEGO role-playing game, a collaborative storytelling experience told through LEGO creations. The builder tells the story of this scene here. This low-magic fantasy setting isn’t the only role-playing sandbox Vertaro builds in – we also highlighted the builder’s contribution to Star Wars Factions RPG.

Star Wars by way of IKEA makes for cozy living

Season 2 of Andor is fast approaching and I couldn’t be more excited. For the thrills of a rebellion blazing into action, yes, but also for more scenes of Syril Karn’s home life with mom. TBB alum Mansur Soeleman is also a fan of Syril’s dining nook and used it as an inspiration for a cozy apartment vignette for his Star Wars Factions character Jani Pryce. Mansur describes the aesthetic as “Space IKEA,” and I’m here for it.

Mansur built the three room apartment for the Star Wars Faction role-playing game, where participants were challenged to create a scene of civilian life. (I just love the idea of getting XP from building beds instead of blasters!) Mansur went above and beyond, presenting both Jani’s ~~Scandinavian~~ New Republic modern abode as well as a towering slice of the exterior, complete with a motorized elevator. With its clean lines and minimal greebling, Mansur’s apartment perfectly cpatures the look of an Inner Rim world sheltered from scum and villainy.

Cozy up for a closer look at Mansur’s Star Wars apartment

A bad day fishing still beats a good day working

LEGO builder Mike Sinclair tells us that at least a couple of men in his family enjoy fishing. As a result, be built this neat little diorama called Grandpa’s Favorite Spot. But where’s grandpa? I see his fishing rod, his favorite chair that, if taken apart, could look right at home at a ski resort. I also see a beverage can as well as a glass bottle in the drink with a message inside. All of his favorite elements are here but grandpa is off galavanting somewhere else. I get the hunch that with grandpa his enjoyment for fishing isn’t always in the fish he can catch but rather the feeling of just being in a favorite place. I can relate; I love being in certain spaces even if I don’t achieve my stated purpose for getting there. It’s probably for the best, anyway. From the looks of it, the fish aren’t even biting.

Neverending childhood trauma recreated in LEGO

There’s something special about ’80s kids’ films: their practical effects, a spirit of adventure, and a willingness to scar audiences for life with nightmare fodder. Perhaps no scene broke so many young hearts as Atreyu losing his horse Artax in the Swamps of Sadness. Jack McKeen recreates this iconic scene from The Neverending Story with a LEGO tribute that has me both awed by the technique and fighting back tears. I’m impressed by the brown tiles transitioning to slopes around the sinking horse; you can almost feel the horse being sucked into the swamp. The base, built from writhing vines and dinosaur tails, is eye-catching. And Jack’s minifig Atreyu couldn’t be more perfect.

The Neverending Story is one of my favorite films, but the book it’s based on is even better. If you haven’t read it yet, it’s a treat at any age. And you can relive Artax’s tragic end, only in the original version he talks as he drowns!

Knight bricks and chill

This crisp mountain scene by LEGO builder Nicholas Goodman is a lesson in atmosphere. The visuals are engaging – strong and clean, conveying depth and detail with terrific balance in both color and texture (studded and smooth) – but also evoke the other senses. As my eye is drawn in, I can practically smell the frozen air and hear the slushy hoof-thumps. The scene itself is deceptively simple, leaving much room for imaginative interpretation. Will the “Guardian of the Pass” and his faithful companion warmly welcome this traveler? Has he come with the thaw to relieve their solitary duty? Or is this chilling moment a prelude to mounting conflict between two nations…

A minimalist LEGO camper packs some nostalgia

True minifigure scale in a detailed LEGO vehicle can be hard to pull off, but this Volkswagon camper by Nick Kleinfelder comes close. At just 6 studs wide, with some clever use of brackets to shape the wheel wells and studs not on top side panels, this camper packs a lot of unusual building techniques into a small package. One of my favorite parts used is the black roller skate element for the door handle.

For some insight into how this compact camper came together, check out this view of the interior construction!

Bricking the micro-waves

Sometimes it’s the tiniest LEGO builds that stop you in your tracks. That was definitely the case with this vignette of two pixie-sized ships fleeing a wave of mutilation from builder Louis of Nutwood. Take a moment to appreciate Louis’ brilliant ship design, with croissant sails and frog bows. The gradient of water, from inky black to white sea foam, as well as the irregularly shaped base, add to the drama.

The Christmas good, the bad, and the ...huh?

LEGO builder Kristel Whitaker presents a sweet little Christmas vignette of a reindeer barn. First we have the good, thich is getting to pet a baby reindeer. Very nice! Next is the bad, which is having to scoop the poopy. I wonder what that elf did to get on the naughty list. Finally we have the…ugly? The funny? The weird? We’re not too sure how to categorize this one but Santa is napping on the roof with what appears to be a liquor bottle and a pizza. There’s no judgements here. We’ve all been there, right?

This is sort of tangentially Christmas-related but here is another vignette that we noticed earlier this month of Mrs.Gingerbread baking some delicious heart cookies. Perhaps they’re laced with a little something extra, which could explain why Santa is napping on the roof.

Michael Jasper’s li’l choppers

The gearhead kid in Michael Jasper‘s latest vignette might not be ready for their first tattoo, but in every other way, they’re a chip off the old motor block. Dad’s ride is a masterpiece of minifig scale engineering, combining tools, droid arms, and precious chrome details to form a motorcycle of uncanny detail. Junior’s RC chopper, with its beanie propeller handlebars, is a six-element wonder. Of course, Michael’s minifig designs and expressions bring the scene to life.

While Michael Jasper hasn’t been as prolific of late, he was one of the most featured builders during the early years of this site and his skill at recreating furniture and objects at minifig scale continues to inspire builders to this day. He impressed us long ago with his mini motorcycles, like this sidecar duo from 2007 and this blinged-out chopper from 2009. A new Michael Jasper motorcycle build is a wonderful holiday gift indeed!

Placid plastic (brick) duck simulator

One of the weirder gaming experiences I had this year was playing Placid Plastic Duck Simulator. If you haven’t played it – and I use the word ‘played’ loosely – it’s an idle game where you watch a bunch of rubber ducks floating around. Why am I telling you this? Because Eli Willsea has created an equally tranquil rubber duck simulator, but this one made of LEGO bricks. In truth, the ducks are probably the most conventional part of this build. There’s some clever parts use, including artists’ boards for lilypads and green katanas for reeds. And the most eye-catching is the use of clear 1x2x5 bricks with some lighting behind them to create the water. Is it realistic? Well, no, probably not. But is it pretty? You bet!

We love Eli’s builds at TBB. I’m going to watch more rubber duckies float around on my screen, but you should go and see what else we’ve featured from Eli over the years.