Merry Christmas, BrickNerd readers! What follows isn’t a traditional set review but more of a holiday experience and story. If it starts to feel familiar, like a certain Dickens story you’ve heard once or twice before, it might be because this author experienced a bit of a “bah humbug” seasonal reckoning along the way. Ghost of Christmas Past: A UCS Christmas Tree BrickNerd has a complicated relationship with Christmas trees. A few years ago—before LEGO ever decided this was a thing—we built our own “UCS Christmas Tree.” It wasn’t a tree in any official sense. It was the 10307 Eiffel Tower, repurposed with lights and ornaments, and it actually served as our family Christmas tree for several years. What began as a joke turned into a tradition, and nothing cements a tradition faster than doing something slightly ridiculous and committing to it publicly. (Foreshadowing?) So when LEGO offered us the actual...

It’s been a few days since our last LEGO Ideas update and it’s been the most lively in a while as 5 more projects have reached the Third 2025 Review Stage. There’s only about a week and a half left to qualify for this review stage as the next one starts on January 5, 2026. We’ll see if there’s a final push for those that are pretty close to the 10,000 goal. Shrimp-Fried Rice – RockRaiderMiner Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Day of Black Sun – BuiltByCalvin Scooby-Doo! And the Carnival of Nightmare – Tobnac Full House Living Room & Kitchen – BuildingFriendships City Skyline Bookends – Farmfarm The post LEGO Ideas December 23 Update appeared first on The Brick Fan. Original linkOriginal author: Allen "Tormentalous" Tran

All aboard for a trip down memory lane! As a kid, my days were filled with Duplo, LEGO, and the occasional BRIO train adventure. Sometimes, I’d even line up minifigs on the tracks and let my brother’s Thomas the Tank Engine barrel through—but that’s another story! So when we at BrickNerd learned that BrickJournal was doing an issue with a giant train on the cover, I knew I had to build something small but mighty. With some expert trackside assistance from our Nerd-in-Chief Dave, I designed this delightful little locomotive. Pretty cool, eh? Thanks to the newer 1×1 round plate with a clip on the bottom, each car couples together just like the real thing, allowing the train to pivot smoothly as it rolls along. Even better? You can make this train as long—or as short—as you like by adding more passenger cars, box cars, or inventing your own custom rolling...

Thorsten Bonsch, known to many as Xenomurphy, is no stranger to Spider-Man. Over the years, he’s built numerous and incredible Spider-themed creations, but like many AFOLs, his LEGO activity had slowed as new interests took hold. View fullsize View fullsize Curious whether that spark was still there, we sent Thorsten the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Collectible Minifigure Series as a bit of creative fuel, with no firm expectations attached. What followed was not a quick vignette or a straightforward CMF review, but a deeply personal, months-long digital build that blends LEGO, film, memory, and experimentation across multiple creative tools. This interview documents that journey, from initial hesitation to a sprawling rooftop scene that captures the spirit of the Spider-Verse: We chatted with Thorsten to hear all about his journey and the project. Returning to Spider-Man BrickNerd: What first sparked this project, and what drew you back to Spider-Man (and LEGO) at...

The fan vote for the LEGO Ideas City Life Creations – Design a Street Vendor building contest is now live and you can influence the LEGO designers on what you want as a future gift with purchase item. There are 15 finalists to choose from and you have until January 6 to cast your vote. Fresh Fruits Vendor by hechoentw Pasteis De Nata Kiosk by E Squared Urban Face Sketcher by ArchGian7 Lemonade Stand by PiotrGierwatowski Fabric Market Stall by Dolle Druif Sweet French Cart by iTavix Container-Based Concession Stand by SlackerBricks Balcony Cafe by HonorableTurkey7 Cupcake Confections by PieceOnEarth Thai Ice Cream Vendor Cart by Didymos Flower Kiosk by RiinaBuilds Tourist Information by Santheg Naan Stop Curry: A Brick Lane Kiosk by ScottySquiggles Hot Chocolate & Churros by King Pato Fish’n’Bricks by MoniBricks The post LEGO Ideas City Life Creations – Design a Street Vendor Fan Vote Live appeared first...