LEGO conventions often offer play-based fun for younger attendees. From Duplo pits to mosaic walls, from free play to building challenges, there’s lots to do for kids. But at a recent visit to Bricks Cascade, the clear winner in our family was the Brick Derby. What’s A Brick Derby? Glad you asked! Similar to a Pinewood Derby, a Brick Derby is a chance for kids to build cars from their own imagination using a standard chassis. They’re then raced down a slope powered entirely by gravity. Beyond having a blast racing, and trying to come in first, it was a great opportunity to teach them about concepts like aerodynamics, drag, and weight.  a happy and engaged three year old Participants were greeted by a huge table of pieces with a decent variety of shapes and colors. Then, they were given an 8x16 plate and two LEGO-compatible metal axles. You could only...

“They’ve heard rumours of strange folk from the east and the west, new words and new gods and bright steel. They hope to be left in peace in their cold northern home but the watchfires have already been lit on the hills.” So begins builder Eero Okkonen‘s description of this amazing LEGO diorama, and those words are already way cooler than anything I managed to write about it. And speaking of cool, the build looks downright freezing. Good thing our lone warrior is properly dressed for the ordeal, with heavy mittens, a fur hat, and a thick beard made out of plant stalks. The star of the show, however, might be all that drifting snow, including probably the best use of a windscreen outside of a cockpit I’ve ever seen. Brrr! The post Stalking in a winter wonderland appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Ryan Kunz

What’s better than seeing your star sign in LEGO? How about all twelve zodiac signs stunningly assembled by some of the brightest stars in the building community? Two years ago, builder Woomy World created a zodiac-themed “Libra Dragon” for the BioCup competition. Fellow builder Ezreel was inspired and pitched a collaboration for all 12 Zodiac signs to the community. Those invited to participate could claim their own star sign or swap if they had a strong idea, and soon the list was full. But with so many builds to coordinate and busy lives and creative blocks complicating things, some folk dropped out, others came on board, and time was ticking by. Finally, a deadline was set, and the final lineup of builders set to work on their chosen sign. To maintain thematic cohesion, the group agreed that every Zodiac sign would be depicted as a creature, which for some signs meant...

Being a Jedi seems swell and all, but all we ever see them do is fight, train, or fly around causing havoc. We never see them doing anything mundane, like the housework or taking the younglings to school. Josh (Sergeant Chipmunk)’s LEGO Jedi is partaking in that favourite pastime of the space-wizard: meditating. But instead of pondering the state of the cosmic Force, he should ponder the state of that floor! Those houseplants have gone completely out of control. You can’t take a step without tripping over one of the roots! Admittedly, the effect is incredibly cool when made out of LEGO bricks. But with this many trip-hazards in the Jedi Temple, OSHA would have a field day. Maybe best we keep the lightsabers hidden on their next visit… The post Who needs garden shears when you have a lightsaber? appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Theo Spencer

The recent LEGO Icons Botanical 10329 Tiny Plants set has inspired many builders to create their own plants to go along with the tiny pots. LEGO 7 has gone to the world of Harry Potter for inspiration, building an adorable mandrake root at the perfect scale to sit on the pot, dangling it’s tiny root legs over ths side. The long leafy sprouts on the head use the new frond element while the feet and hands are small branches arranged just right… and that poutty face… Here’s another view of the little mandrake just waking up and stretching out to the sunlight. The post LEGO mandrake root seeks sunlight and occasional watering appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Daniel