One of the most prestigious contests in the LEGO community, the Iron Builder challenge, is once again underway. Grant Davis kicks off this round with a serene scene featuring a cute little bee and a lotus flower. The leaves are near perfect, but the flower looks more like Leontopodium alpinum than a lotus. Grant has apropriately titled his creation The Calm Before The Storm, and I can not wait to see said storm bringing us more amazing creations to see. The post A bloom opens, as the storm begins appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Luka

The LEGO Minecraft world just got a whole lot bigger. Today LEGO has announced the largest set yet for the minifigure-scale theme, 21137 The Mountain Cave. Coming in at a staggering 2,863 pieces and a retail price of $249.99 when it arrives July 1, young Minecraft fans had better hope Grandma has deep pockets if they put this on the wishlist (though the set does also hit the highest age target in the Minecraft theme at 12+). This is the second large exclusive for the Minecraft theme, following last year’s 21128 The Village. As the name implies, the set features a sizable stone mountain (12in, or 31cm, high at the peak) that’s riddled with caves. The mountain’s footprint is 20x11in (53x29cm), and has minecart tracks, a small home, and a light brick that can be positioned to light a jack o’ lantern, lava, or several other features. The set features lots...

Alien: Covenant hits theaters in the U.S. this week, which is the only thing me and my wife have talked about for weeks (we’d be a tad more excited if Ridley Scott had nothing to do with it, but that’s a whole other discussion). It’s been a long, long time since we’ve had a decent Alien movie. Over here at TBB headquarters we were stoked to see all the recent Alien-themed builds as the release date grew nearer, but absolutely no one could have anticipated this perfectly timed creation by Manufactura Jarema. This is the Alien franchise presented in all its face-hugging, chest-bursting and hole-punching glory, but with the delightfully adorable twist that can only come from a Brickheadz character. Could the violent implantation of a parasitic alien and its gruesome exit from a human body be any cuter? We certainly think not. The post Brickheadz face-hugger is chest-burstingly cute appeared...

Seasoned fans of Japanese television might recognize this tricycling toddler as Kinoko Sarada (lit. “Mushroom Salad”) from the 80’s show Doctor Slump. The show – which I’ve never seen but sounds completely insane – was the brainchild of Akira Toriyama, who later went on to create the more widely known Dragon Ball. In fact many Doctor Slump characters – including Miss Salad – even make cameos in the latter. Taiwanese builder Helen Sham has captured the bratty fashionista’s likeness perfectly, right down to her cool shades and pull-along radio. The post Those were the salad days appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Iain

Check out this brilliant LEGO roadside diner by Kale Frost. This burger n’ fries joint appears to be doing a roaring trade, and rightly so. Not many snack bars have such a vivid evocation of the delights on sale — the giant burger looks juicy and tempting, and the fry box counter is brilliantly done. I love the angled yellow bricks poking from the top — a spot-on recreation of French Fries. And the use of a crystal piece as a smaller portion is a stroke of genius. Nice friendly waiting staff too. I could definitely eat lunch here. The post Well obviously you’d like fries with that appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Rod

Cast your mind back to those pre-digital days and you may remember a time when a movie projector required reels and tape. Carl Merriam decided to build a LEGO version of a vintage 16mm movie projector to keep him company while separated from his beloved camera collection. Carl doesn’t give any specific details but it does look rather like a vintage Bell & Howell Filmo 16mm projector from the 1940s. Carl’s version features a linear actuator to adjust the tilt, working PF pilot light, and a unified chain drive for the reels. The only issue is that it can’t actually project The LEGO Movie due to incompatible technology. The post A LEGO movie player appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Elspeth De Montes

The world created by Bethesda for their Elder Scrolls games continues to provide inspiration for LEGO builders. This fabulous Nord Wayshrine by Thorsten Bonsch is just the latest in his series of lovely models inspired by the game. Don’t miss his Tava’s Beak and Orsinium scenes that we featured previously. The fantastic roof tiling on this fine structure might grab the eye first, but don’t miss the intricate woodwork and the smart use of fence pieces in the walls. I’m also impressed with the surrounding steps and the stonework of the floor — well worth a zoom in for a closer look. The surrounding landscaping is nicely done too; natural looking, but restrained enough to leave the epic architecture as the image’s centerpiece. The post Elder Scrolls wayshrine worth worshipping appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Rod

If this LEGO model doesn’t bring you a little joy then there’s something wrong with you. Oliver Becker says he was trying to capture the feeling of happiness, and his creation certainly brought a smile to my face. The expression on the face of this character is priceless, but also very well built. The tongue and googly eyes are fun, but it’s the glasses and ears which steal the show — spanners as spectacle-legs, heading back to hot-dog-bun ears! Now that’s impressive parts creativity. The post LEGO makes you happy! appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Rod

Manhattan bustles with the edifices of American enterprise, towering symbols of capitalism whose many styles span New York City’s distinct historical periods. Past, present, and future often lie within the same block, Art Deco and Modern architecture mingling to reflect the city’s status as a permanent symbol of capitalism. One building which exemplifies this mix of old and new is the Hearst Tower, painstakingly recreated here in LEGO form by Daniel Stoffler. Built for and named after the famous American publisher William Randolph Hearst, the building claims a spot as the headquarters for one of the world’s largest media corporations, Hearst Communications, with ownership of numerous newspapers and publications including Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar and Cosmopolitan. The builder took on a daunting challenge recreating Hearst Tower, but the effort paid off with this accurate and realistically detailed model – which includes the original six-story base as well as the 40-story glass tower...

Inside the jungle, where few venture, are secrets so hidden they remain forgotten to all but time. Occasionally, through a mix of determination and plain luck, those secrets will reveal themselves. That moment of discovery is caputured brilliantly in this jungle temple scene by master castle builder Jonas Wide. Built for the Brethern of the Brick Seas collaborative role-playing project on Eurobricks, this scene is reminiscent of the discoveries made by conquistadores such as Pedro de Alvarado or Diego Velazquez de Cuellar during those early days of exploration in the New World. One can feel the mix of excitement and trepidation as Jonas’ explorers make their way up the stairs of this forgotten temple. The cautious stance of the lead explorer, musket at the ready, hints that discovery always includes an element of danger. Although the temple’s abandonment is evidenced by its crumbling stonework and jungle overgrowth, there is a sense...