Halloween has come and gone, but it should not be the only day of the year when we get to see dark and moody themes. Tymothy Shortell would agree, having built castle ruins that look perfect for the season yet apropriate throughout the year. All the colours, or lack thereof, make for a great atmosphere, mostly facilitated by the dark gray of the castle wall. While the castle is my favourite part, the landscape is very important too. The whole scene is a round shape, with natural flowing transitions between rocks and grass. The editing and photography are what takes the build to a higher level though, especially a dim orange light shining through a window. The post Who stokes the fire in the long-forgotten castle? appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Luka

A good microscale model can be defined by innovative use of new LEGO elements re-purposed to create unexpected new forms. A great microscale model combines this with traditional parts and colors to form a symphony that sets the model apart. This roadside chapel by Jens Ohrndorf is a perfect example of this mix. Take the entry roof, made from this modified plate with a small raised tab. Or the windows, made from the underside of 1×1 plates. Lining the foundation is a row of light gray ingots. I also enjoy the trees, which are just the right size for the scene (a design inspired by the trees in 10253 Big Ben). The post Modest microscale church appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Daniel

Today at BlizzCon, LEGO not only revealed the entire lineup of Overwatch sets (available for pre-order now), but also showed off this towering 9-foot tall model of D.Va and her mech made from nearly 150,000 pieces. D.Va and her mech weigh a combined 1,256 pounds, took LEGO master builders 731 hours to build, and contains more than 43,000 pink bricks. The model is based off of the upcoming LEGO Overwatch set 75973 D.Va and Reinhardt. The model will be on display to attendees of Blizzcon from November 2-3 at the in Anaheim Convention Center. Check out this timelapse of it being built: Also, take a look at the gallery below for close-ups and a view of the back of the model. The post 9-foot tall LEGO Overwatch D.Va and her mech tower over BlizzCon [News] appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Dave Schefcik

Today at BlizzCon, the LEGO Overwatch line was officially unveiled with the surprise announcement that all six sets are available for pre-orders immediately. The sets will be available January 1st and range in prices from $14.99 to $89.99 USD. The LEGO Overwatch line (unintentionally previewed by Target last week) was announced by LEGO Designer Woon Tze Chee. Check out our first impressions of the sets here, our review of the Blizzard Exclusive Omnic Bastion, or keep reading for the official photos and descriptions. LEGO Overwatch 75970 – Tracer vs. Widowmaker 129 pieces | Age 8+ | $14.99 (USD) | Pre-order today | Available January 1st Build your very own Overwatch® payload from the Watchpoint: Gibraltar map! Immerse your favorite Overwatch® fan in epic missions with this LEGO® Overwatch 75970 Tracer vs. Widowmaker set. Based on the internationally acclaimed team-based action game, this set recreates the drone satellite from the Watchpoint: Gibraltar...

Elemental LEGO’s micro build of Otoh Gunga is a superb example of micro building. How can any of us forget seeing the shot of Jar Jar and the Jedi swimming under water revealing the glowing city of golden spheres with John William’s score a swelling maelstrom of choral voices filling out the soundscape. The builder has made an effective use of Submersible Bubble, Canopy Dome, Glass Dome, Minifigure Globe, Crystal Ball, and Minifigure Helmet as the hydrostatic spheres encapsulating the city. Notice the small Bonga Submersible made from Ninjago Throwing Star, and Mifigure Claw. Using the Infinity Stone this must be the smallest school of fish made with LEGO elements. Elemental LEGO is on Instagram and Flickr. The post Meeesa built a micro Gungan City! appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Carl Uhte-Strohbehn

Jordanian builder Firas Abu-Jaber has built an international reputation on making authentic-looking LEGO cars. You might remember us featuring Firas’ cars before, such as his Bugatti Chiron. This time he’s back with a sleek and powerful 2017 Porsche 911 GT3 RS. His model’s body is orange, just like the official LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS but is distinct enough to stand on its own. Automotive enthusiasts are sure to appreciate Firas’ attention to detail, which includes working doors and a detailed interior. Every curve and angle appears to have been carefully thought out, capturing the look and feel of the real car. The doors even include details representing the interior trim. The interior is inviting with seating that is about as ergonomic as you can achieve with plastic bricks. I’d love to hop inside and take this 911 out for a spin! The post Pull over for this pleasantly posh...

Optimus Prime is someone full of wise words of leadership, and he dishes them out frequently to his team of Autobots. It’s something that I’ve always liked about him besides his general cool factor. This excellent build of the Generation 1 series by Marco De Bon triggers some of those memories. I like how the ingot bars are used to create a very mechanical feeling at just the rights spots in the build. The post There’s a thin line between being a hero and being a memory appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Edwinder

All true spiders have eight legs, my friends. Unless, of course, they lose a couple to predators, which is fairly common, but I digress. Fortunately for those in the creative LEGO world, arachnids can have as many legs as they darn well please! And so a contest has been born. BBC contest №76 is dedicated to building spiders without eight legs, and this is an entry by Leonid An. This cyber-esque build caught our eye with its neat parts usage and great color scheme. The turquoise and purple pieces were popular in Technic and Bionicle sets from the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Leonid is a great builder who we’ve featured before. Check out his Horus and Set, as well as his eerie-looking “Sleuth” from a couple months ago. The post Not your average arachnid appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Bre Burns

If you’re a Ninjago fan, this vehicle may look familiar. After all, it was inspired by the official set 70654 Dieselnaut, which we covered in our news roundup of summer wave Ninjago sets. But there is a lot more to this steampunk behemoth by Mishima than a black paint job. Every detail from the official set has been re-built to fit the steampunk aesthetic, from brass and steel pipes throughout the tank, to the side and top mounted turrets. Even the crew have been custom fitted to the steampunk theme. Two smokestacks in front of the top turret look like they might have come straight off an old steam locomotive, along with the curved side panels that lift up to reveal more guns. The post Steampunk behemoth appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Daniel

A little over a year ago, Hurricane Maria devastated the island of Puerto Rico, killing thousands of residents and leaving many more without power, water, and basic necessities for many months afterward. Contrary to the words and actions of some American politicians, Puerto Rico is no less a part of the United States than Washington, D.C. itself is, but recovery efforts have been hampered by racism, callous politics, and name-calling. LEGO builder Nathan C. lived through Hurrican Maria, and recently created a LEGO model that illustrates the fear, terror, and destruction he experienced as the storm passed over him. Not only does his detailed LEGO diorama capture the destruction that Hurricane Maria caused on the island, Nathan has animated his model with LEGO Power Functions — the tree and satellite TV dish sway in the wind, roof boards flap, and more. Also be sure to click through to the photo above...