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...

It’s been a few days since our last LEGO Ideas update and a few more projects have reached the 10,000 supporter goal for the Third 2025 Review Stage. This update is more Japanese related and purely a coincidence in themes. For the Naruto one, it’s reached the 10k a few times before in the past so fans are still wanting a Naruto set. Ramen Noodles – Gummybrickss Naruto: Ichiraku Ramen Shop – DadiTwins The post LEGO Ideas September 8 Update – Japanese Themed Projects Reaches Goal appeared first on The Brick Fan. Original linkOriginal author: Allen "Tormentalous" Tran

Avast maties! What are those black sails ye see on the horizon? It’s the most feared, beloved, and probably the most frequently stolen, wrecked, and otherwise iconic pirate ship to ever sail the seas—the Black Pearl um, Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Ship!!! be it shrunken? OR has it grown?! LEGO Icons 10365 Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Ship (though from now on we’ll be calling it the Black Pearl) is a feast for the eyes, but there is so much more to it than what’s on the surface—and I’m not even including the full hull when I say that! So to kick off SHIPtember, let’s dive right on in to the nerdiest Pirates of the Caribbean article you probably didn’t know you needed. Pieces of Eight (and Then Some) Before we hoist the sails and take her out to sea, let’s have a look in the cargo hold. This build is packed...