The summer 2024 LEGO Harry Potter wave was marked by many magical creatures, highlighting the evolution of LEGO design. These plastic creatures have new molds and scales, and the details of their appearance were taken to a new level. Are you ready to study the dangerous and unpredictable Magizoology on Hogwarts grounds? It will be an unforgettable lesson! Aragog: Giant of the Forbidden Forest The giant Acromantula named Aragog is one of the most mysterious creatures living in the heart of the dark Forbidden Forest. This old friend of Rubeus Hagrid has many visualizations in LEGO sets, each of which can tell different stories. The first version appeared in 4727 Aragog in the Dark Forest. This scary monster looks impressive even with the simplest level of details, in contrast with the second spider from 4738 Hagrid’s Hut, which looks more like a 3D computer model than a brick-built creature. "So is this...

If you need a little extra cuteness in your day, look no further than this LEGO art piece by Bert Van Raemdonck! I’d argue the strength of this build is all the subtle details. From the single stud for the cygnet’s nostril, the two tiny feathery tufts on its head, to the adorable little nub tail, all these things add up to be greater than the sum of their LEGO parts! Special mention needs to be given to the cygnet’s eye, as Bert has found the perfect piece for the job; a bicorne hat! Finally let’s talk colors. Bert has used light aqua for the swanling’s highlights, while on its other side the colors transition through gray and tan into yellow and bright light orange. With that, its time to wrap this up. I hope this cygnet signals a certain upswing in your day! The post No such thing as an...

Move over LEGO Voltron, there’s a new combining mecha king in town and the power is on their side. Builder Moko has been impressing us for nearly 20 years with LEGO mechs that mix style with unmatched play function. Moko’s latest masterwork will be instantly familiar to any ’90s kids and sentai fans: the Megazord from Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers (Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger in Japan). Moko recreates each of the five Dinozords that transform and combine with functionality to rival the best mech toys around. Standing 18″ (46cm) tall, the Megazord falls between the heights of Voltron and the Hulkbuster. It’s remarkable how much articulation and detail Moko achieves at this scale while also achieving a studs-free look. The model is also impressively sturdy in all three forms, with joints that allow it to hold dynamic poses. It’s easier to fully appreciate Moko’s craft by seeing the model posed and transformed in...

During the First World War, an explosion in the rate and range of weapons fire made field warfare a last resort. Trenches provided a modicum of safety for soldiers on the Western Front but at the cost of a drawn-out war of attrition. Historical builder The Halls of Montezuma honors the British soldiers who gave their lives in the Great War with a vignette of trench life in LEGO. The scene takes place near Ovillers in northern France, which Montezuma recreates with excellent brick-built terrain that mixes light tan and white bricks to depict the region’s chalky soil. Densely packed carrot tops make for beautiful grass, with snaking foliage in dark green giving extra texture to the scene. Military history buffs will find many models to appreciate in The Halls of Montezuma’s collection, as well as in TBB’s own WWI archive. The post Tommy in the trenches on the Western Front appeared...

As just an example of medieval architecture in LEGO, this castle model from builder Feanor001 would be worth heralding, but the creation is so much more. The round diorama tells a story in four acts, brought to life with motor functions and music. Here you can see the music box come alive, spinning on an ornate turntable as motorized minifigs tell the story of King’s fall and a kingdom’s rebirth. In the first act, the King sets out for glory with his army as crowds cheer them on. The castle is pristine with flowers in full bloom. The tile techniques for the Tudor-style half timbers are especially lovely. But things don’t stay sunny for long… With the King away, the Chancellor’s men pillage the castle and strip power from the queen and her newborn son. We see a transition from light to dark grey as the kingdom inters its shadow era. Years...