If this were a LEGO Technic set, I’d see it, think it’s impressive, then probably move on to buy something else. But in the very capable hands of Michał Skorupka, he can use System brick on something that would normally be Technic and make it quite exciting indeed. This rugged Doosan DL420 Wheel Loader is about the most interesting thing I’ve seen all week and I’ve seen a major social media platform pretty much implode. It doesn’t hurt that I’m (ahem) digging the orange and dark gray color scheme. The amount of detail Michał can achieve with his creations is awe-inspiring. See for yourselves in our Michał Skorupka archives. This color-coded overlay illustrates the power functions and inner workings that get this sturdy beast on the move. But don’t just take it from me, check out this video of this creation in action. I’d advise watching until the end. You will...

Just look at this lovely new LEGO creation by Thomas van Urk. The shapes and textures here; I’m almost lost for words. The slopes and tiles along that very interesting red roof are masterfully sculpted. A lesser builder would have just spired the roof and called it good but Thomas taunts us with first a spire, then an onion dome, and back into a spire. I frankly can’t even fathom how he did that! The Tudor-style detailing is not entirely uncommon in LEGO. The medium most certainly works well in that style but there are parts of the Tudor detailing that, like the red spire I can’t fathom. Thomas calls this The Princess Tower and I’d happily be a princess for a day if it means hanging out in this fantastic world for a while. Even the gray stone part of the tower utilizes both new gray and some sun-faded old...

The Saskatchewan LEGO Users Group (or SLUG) enjoyed their annual BRICKSPO this past weekend, and builder Taylor whipped up quite the fortified creation for the show. The Emerald Keep is a citadel of epic proportions, sporting light gray walls and sand green roofs. The builder doesn’t shy away from angled walls either, creating interesting and unique angles throughout the construction. I also like the wooden door to the left side of the structure, no doubt concealing a boat launch of some kind. It’s a great feature, and one that doesn’t make it into every castle creation. But I’m sure you’d like to see some more details, right? Well read on, my friend! The front gate’s shape is an intriguing choice, opting for a wider entryway instead of the typical multi-story portal and portcullis. It absolutely fits well with the model, but differs from the normal LEGO castle construction. The flowerbeds, with...

While normally a red caboose would mark the end of the train, Mike Sinclair is back at the L-gauge, this time with a glorious cattle car. Working with a single color, Mike lets the bricks’ native texture do the work of breaking up the creation. Perfectly positioned tiles mimic the wooden slats on the side of the car, with black trim providing the hardware. And the scene around this heifer hauler is just as spectacular as the main subject. Track ballast dappled with light gray 1×1 round plates and a perfectly-crafted stopblock set the scene admirably. The post A LEGO Boxcar built for Bessie appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Kyle Keller

As an artist, I love a good graphic and bold logo. My close-enough namesake Gino Lohse has built a Jurassic Park logo in LEGO (say that ten times fast!) but with a twist. The dino (strangley not pronounced like Gino or Lino) is chasing down some people who are also in dark silhuette. I love the bold black against red; and the yellow outline is a fabulous touch. Gino makes this look simple but a round logo can’t be easy. One question though; is it wrong that I’m rooting for the T-Rex? While you’re mulling that over check out our Jurassic Park archives to see all the coolest dino-related sets and fan-made creations in the interwebs. The post Chasing shadows at Jurassic Park appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Lino

LEGO builder Pan Noda has a stellar record when it comes to color use. Not too long ago, I raved about this monotonal marvel that spilled forth from their mind. And while this creation goes a bit more subterranean than their previous work, it’s still a powerful bit of art composed of cobbled walls, hanging vines, and still water. Even though the palette here only uses four colors of brick (light gray, green, tan, and transparent light blue), their brilliant use of light transforms the scene into a symphony of shades. The uneven textures on the walls create pockets of shadow and reflective surfaces that bring the whole thing to life! Plus, it’s giving me the sudden urge to hunt for jungle temples in Minecraft…. The post A ruin in four LEGO colors appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Kyle Keller

While it’s no longer available on the site, 75354 Coruscant Guard Gunship made a brief appearance on LEGO’s Shop-at-Home website earlier this morning. Clone Wars fans have been eating well recently, yet the Republic Gunship had only been recently available as a UCS set. However, that’s been changed as of today. Consisting of 1,083 pieces, the craft is in the unusual colour scheme of the Coruscant Guard, which featured in a handful of episodes in season six of the Clone Wars – as did most of the minifigures included, among them Padmé Amidala and Clone Commander Fox. Together with the Ahsoka sets unveiled at SDCC, this set will be available starting from the 1st of September. While pricing in some regions is still unconfirmed, the price according to LEGO.com was US $139.99 | CAN $179.99 | UK £TBD. 75354 Coruscant Guard Gunship | 1,083 pieces | Available September 1st | US...

I’m not going to pretend that I’m an expert on the How to Train Your Dragon-verse. Nor am I able to say that I’ve ever seen one of the movies in the series. But I do know LEGO, and I know a great collaboration when I see one. Builders Josh (lego_monkey), Nick (gecko_builds), and Charlie (choopyjups) have come together to tell the tale of Toothless and Hiccup in this delightful three-part team-up. First we have Fury of the Skies by Josh, showcasing quite the bit of landscaping skill. Smooth rocks lead up to a cliffside shack with a roof of triangular signs. The turquoise door is a beautiful touch. Fir trees large and small dot the scene, and in the foreground is a Viking statue in keeping with the Dreamworks animation style. But Toothless is my favorite bit here, frozen in midair with such a domineering pose, looking down on Hiccup...

When I first moved to the West Coast, I learned about the joys of a charcuterie board. It can be impromptu, served with an array of cheese, crackers, meats, bread, and fruits. Extra awesome kudos points are added if there is also wine involved. This pretty much became my all-time favorite meal and I wondered how I was deprived of this classy goodness for like thirty years. That’s why I was particularly thrilled to see this yummy LEGO cheese platter buit by Cecilie Fritzvold. The grapes look especially tasty. I’ve learned just now that writing a TBB article for such a delicious-looking creation while also on an empty stomach is a bit counterproductive. Time to raid the fridge! While I do that, please check out other mouth-watering food creations by other builders with a pinache for culinary delights. The post Charcuterie is like Lunchables for grownups appeared first on The Brothers...

While I may be a LEGO-building Washingtonian now, there was a time when I lived in northern Indiana, South Bend for those playing the home game. And during my four years there, I made plenty of trips to Chicago and its suburbs. One memorable adventure was attending Brickworld in 2013 (my first LEGO convention). But another was the first big post-graduation meet-up with friends from college to see the sights downtown, including the infamous Navy Pier. So, yes, at one time I was one of those 1×1 round tiles in Jonah Schultz’s microscale build, probably one of the lime green ones. The design here is spot-on, with a better translation to microscale than I thought possible. The half-plate stripe just under the warehouse’s roof is spectacular, as is the use of claws and horns to give the appearance of waves on Lake Michigan. But the bit that’s got my jaw on...