“The Conversation Piece” is a monthly BrickNerd series about creativity and building with LEGO authored by our friends over at the Builder Improvement Initiative (BII), a Discord-based community that helps LEGO builders of all levels get better at their craft through knowledge-sharing and constructive feedback. Have a question you would like us to consider for a future article? You can submit it here. Enjoy! Developing Style FS Leinad asks: “How does a builder's style develop? How does style develop? Is it better to strive for a consistent style or to branch out?” Do you have a favorite movie you throw on when you need to turn off your brain for a bit? An album or musician you listen to on loop? A video game or series of games you often find yourself returning to? Chances are, if you got a friend hooked on the same obsession, you have a shortlist of...

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror by CoasterZoom is the latest project to achieve 10,000 supporters on LEGO Ideas. The build features a miniature Hollywood Tower Hotel that is still at Disneyland Paris. Although it doesn’t seem to open up, it still has lots of the details including a hall, a heating room, two libraries and three elevator shafts. The post LEGO Ideas The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Achieves 10,000 Supporters appeared first on The Brick Fan. Original linkOriginal author: Allen "Tormentalous" Tran

A new month is upon us which means more competitive building! Are you ready? Here’s the latest bunch of LEGO contests and challenges from all around the AFOL community for September 2025 to help you find some inspiration and motivation to build! There’s nothing quite like a theme or a prompt to take you out of your comfort zone and give you something new to try. Besides, contests are the perfect place to interact with other contestants and judges and get to know your fellow builders. And if you’re like me, a deadline helps make sure you actually finish! We’ve listed them in order of deadline so you can plan your building time to the best advantage. Make sure to check the LEGO activity calendar for local challenges and events near you. Here at BrickNerd, some of our fondest memories, greatest building achievements, coolest trophies, and best friendships came from LEGO...

Sometime during the pandemic, I started noticing pictures of gorgeous modular MOCs posted on my local LEGO Facebook groups. Kim Plata, a Filipino AFOL, was making modular MOCs from LEGO’s modular models. It was so interesting to see him turn the parts from a LEGO set into something new, and yet, somehow familiar. As pandemic restraints lifted in Manila, I was able to meet Kim and even collaborate with him on an exhibit for the iMake History Fortress. In recent years, I’ve seen Kim’s work evolve and become even more elaborate, true masterpieces that reflect the skill, passion, and precision of a true artisan—fittingly living up to the name of Brick Artisan. Kim’s builds from Left to right: tudor and apothecary, corner castle, and modular malfor manor. I was finally able to spend time with Kim and chat with him about his work at the recently held BrickCon.PH. I loved his...

Today’s guest article comes from Richard Dryden, a builder, DJ and sneakerhead who has competed on LEGO Masters and helped create the Awesome Black Creativity project. LEGO Sports and Basketball According to author of Brick by Brick David C. Robertson, 2003 was a time that the LEGO Group pledged never to return to, fiscally speaking. Yet this is the year that also launched LEGO Sports, which continues its influence more than two decades later through the 2025 LEGO x Nike partnership, specifically with the release of 43010 Nike Slam Dunk and 43021 Nike Dunk Trickshot. Mini-hoop trickshot, with some inspiration from Dereck Lively II. The Trickshot is a throwback to 3427 Slam Dunk in its use of a lever to launch the player towards the cup. The latest design is more expansive with the minifigure mounted to a module in the sole of a brick-built Nike Dunk Low. Once engaged, the...