LEGO announced a new theme for this year’s FIRST LEGO League: Cargo Connect. The theme focuses on modern transportation and aims to teach children about how cargo is transported, sorted and delivered. Similar to previous years, there are three divisions: Discover (ages 4-6), Explore (ages 6-10), and Challenge (ages 9-16). The Discover division will work with LEGO Education DUPLO bricks, the Explore division will work with WeDo 2.0 kits and the Challenge division will work with the SPIKE Prime kits to solve real-world problems with creative thinking. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a Manchester based public charity that organizes innovative programs to work with children and teenagers to pursue education and career opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math). They were founded in 1998 and have been working with the LEGO Group since 1999 on various themes like City Shaper and RePlay. 45818 Cargo Connect Discover...

The blackness of space. Drums that become louder. Pan down, a massive angular spaceship hovers above a planet covered in city lights. These images and sounds make a very strong first impression of a movie. It sets the tone of Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith, and many of us associate that opening shot to the angular Venator-class Star Destroyer. Martin Latta spent two years building a massive and accurate LEGO model of this beautiful ship. He painstakingly recreated every small detail he could find on the original studio miniature model, bringing his build to be over a meter long and consisting of 11103 pieces. Not only did Martin nail the complex angles of this ship with clever layers of tiles and panels, he also threw used the shapes of LEGO pieces to create textures on an otherwise smooth hull. Dark red highlights break up the typical grey of...

This LEGO creation from Brickleas is deceptively simple and colorful, to say the least. The bright colors play off each other beautifully without taking over the scene, and the variety of underwater vegetation is well done, especially with the implied, yet peaceful, movement. This build was a submission for an Iron Builder contest, where the builder had to use this odd shield holder part, and Brickleas did a great job incorporating it into a well-textured fish. The post Just keep swimming with this LEGO fish creation appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Joseph Demme

I have a soft spot for Tudor-style buildings, brick-built trees, crumbling brick walls and interesting colour choices. This little medieval bakery by Danthefan ticks all the boxes for me. The Tudor style looks nice and simple. It even is used for the round tower, which isn’t an easy thing to do. The building has a little stone porch complete with stairs, and the stonework around the base of the house looks as if it has been there for a long time and has passed the test of time. You might notice that while the roof is bright green, the top of the roof of the tower is medium green. I had a hard time identifying the LEGO piece used for the top of the tower. Turns out, it is not LEGO System, it’s DUPLO! and it is brilliant. I currently do not have any DUPLO at hand but it appears the...

Sometimes I am too fast when it comes to labeling LEGO pieces as useless or at least single use pieces. When I first saw the Disney Storybook Adventure sets I liked the small parts that came with it and the Micro Dolls. I couldn’t care less, however, for the book covers or the big 6 x 8 oval plates that came with it. Keith Reed has proven me wrong by using these pieces in a lovely way. In their latest creation the oval plates have been used as paintings. Displayed in a very lovely and well lit hallway. I may be reading too much into it, but my guess is that even the foliage outside matches the paintings. I see red roses in front of Belle and a shell in front of the Ariel painting. In front of Mulan we have the azalea and the magnolia. And last but not least,...

If you have a pet cat or if you’re like me and watch cat videos in your spare time you’ve definitely seen the well-documented phenomena of the “cat zoomies” – basically when indoor cats release pent-up energy and zoom around. Aido’s LEGO zoid-like cat mech also appears to be experiencing the zoomies and wow look at that powerful gait. Aido constructs this cat mech using a sleek black and red color scheme and overall the build makes use of a number of interesting elements including a black baseball diamond tile, an armor piece used above for the shoulder area – this looks like it is from a buildable figure model, and then the tail is interestingly constructed out of pneumatic T pieces clipped together using 1×1 modified plates. This robotic creature also is displayed running through a mystical patch of grass with bioluminescent-looking plants or creatures utilizing trans-clear green elements. Ultimately,...

Some images need no further introduction. This goes for Calin’s latest LEGO creation. The scene of Mr. Bean in his armchair on top of his little mini is just iconic and it would truly surprise me if there was a soul on the internet who had never seen it or wouldn’t recognize it. Or maybe this will just be a not so gentle reminder to me, that I am getting old. And that there is an entire younger generation who does not have the same frame of reference. Rowan Atkinson reveals that he actually did the stunt himself. There however was a second person in the car doing the actual driving. As Calin mentions in the description they are currently out shopping for parts for the armchair to complete this model. I can not wait to see this one topped off with an armchair and a mop/broom contraption to put the...

When it comes to mixed-media LEGO creations, we can all take a page from takamichi irie.The papercraft body of this amphibian draws the eye, while the friendly smile and cherry-based toes  showcase just what plastic can do.  Inspired by a calendar page, this model brings joy to even the most dreary day. The underside shows off more of the traditional “LEGO construction” in play. Clever use of  minifigure posing stands attach the rear legs at an unusual angle, and rounded 1×2 modified plate gives the front legs articulation, too. If you find this frog as adorable as I do, you’ll want to check out some of Takamichi’s other paper-LEGO hybrids, a crab and a bull. Or maybe explore the full range of his creations we’ve featured previously. The post This frog is a (paper) cut above the rest appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Chris Doyle

Life in space sounds fun, but there’s still work to be done. Tino Poutiainen shows us a slice of orbital life in Starboard drydock, complete with a complex clump of technology and a cleverly constructed astronaut. Standout details include the layered helmets, flex tube arms, and astromech head incorporated into the backpack. The satellite is super swanky, too, with an interesting hinged cover for the electronics. The organic curves from the string elements add just a touch of weightlessness to the scene as well. Tino is no stranger to sharing cool space-themed builds, but my favorite creation of theirs is the  more fantastic Glass Cerebus. What’s your pick? The post If you care to step outside, there’s work to do appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Chris Doyle

Well, this story has clearly taken a dark turn. If you had the choice, would you replace that troublesome organ capable of causing so much pain? In this stark model by Revan New sinister-looking drone resents a cyborg with that very choice, as his intestines slither away (see what I did there? cuz its a red snake?). I’m not sure which is more disturbing, the heart, still pumping in a mechanical shell, or the fact that the blood on the floor seems to be flowing in the wrong direction. The post The heart of the matter appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Daniel