Bionicle somehow passed me by. But every time I see a talented builder pay tribute to it, I get the urge to dig in and emmerse myself in the lore. Case in point, this Son of Makuta by [VB]. This rail-thin monster will be haunting my dreams for some time. The eerie pose, the bone-like spikes, and midsection that reads like a series of exposed organs…I haven’t laid eyes on anything this frightening in a long time. And the most disturbing aspect of it all is that it’s made from bright colors, and yet it still looks so terrifyingly evil. In fact, I think if it had been built in blacks and grays, the evil wouldn’t be as effective. The post This colorful creature rules the shadows appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Norm Harper

Will Kee (@legokee), is the co-founder of the Rocky Mountain TFOL Club for teen builders. Today, Will talks us through the creation of his prize-winning build “The Midnight Knock,” and how he captured a cartoony style through innovative building techniques. Inspired by Boston brownstone architecture and the whimsical feel of Over the Garden Wall, the goal of this build was to create a composition and texture that resemble a cartoon, while incorporating unique parts usage. When considering the composition of this build, I focused primarily on shape and color: i.e., organic vs. geometric and orange vs. gray. Combining these elements creates strong visual contrast between the bright, organic flora and the grayscale architecture. Additionally, I used a primarily warm color palette, except for the two minifigs, which utilize cooler colors to create a subtle focal point. Another major factor I considered when trying to make this build feel cartoony was texture....

Whether you’re rewatching the show, still coming to terms with the finale, or fully convinced that there’s a secret episode on the way (Conformity Gate, anyone?), there’s a good chance that you’re still thinking about Stranger Things. We are too, and the LEGO community has apparently been feverishly building MOCs like the fate of Hawkins depends on it. While 11370 The Creel House has been in high demand and mostly out of stock, that hasn’t stopped these builders from finding other ways to capture these characters for their builds. Join us as we journey back to The Upside Down once more! Dustin is a fan favorite, and Rickard Stensby‘s character build does him justice. There are some wonderful shaping techniques here, from the various parts used to texture his hair to the way his hands perfectly grip the straps of his backpack. Over the years, we watched Dustin deal with endless...

Every year, the Iron Forge sees new contestants vying for a chance to take on the Iron Builders, but many of the participants have entered the ring before. Erin Dempsy has made the top 20 for three years running, and this is her second time in the final 8. For this year’s final round, across 9 entries, Erin plays with a range of scales – micro, minifig, minilander, and 1:1 props – with builds that playfully utilize every facet of the engine top seed part.  Her joyfully bright gumball machine uses the engine intake as a coin slot, while a pair of engines make a perfect dial. What does this competition need? Clearly, more cowbell! And Erin obliges with this flower-crowned Holstein. What an iconic way to let the seed part shine. Erin shows her “moc-xie” with this bank facade that uses engine intakes for flower pots and stacked engines as...

Bart De Dobbelaer is no stranger to occasionally unsettling builds, and the Brood of Kha’thra is no exception. Still, there’s plenty of beauty to admire here as well. The intentional color usage all over this build is a delight. We’re particularly fond of the carvings and etchings on the stone pillars, each feeling ancient but also somehow modernly sophisticated. The bugs themselves are both unsettling and impressive, and the trans green usage feels reminiscent of the old Insectoids or UFO themes. A closer look at the mass of eggs in the center is not for the faint of heart. The post Beware The Brood of Kha’thra appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Jarrett Gercken

The 1-on-1 duels that we see between LEGO builders in the Iron Builder contest are the stuff of legend; titanic tussles between often well-regarded names in the community. But being open to everyone, the qualifying Iron Forge phase of the competition is a fantastic way for up-and-coming builders to cut their teeth. That makes it a great place in turn to find new building talent, and so it proves with Jonas Ens (AKA Beta Brick). This was a builder new to us as of last year’s Iron Forge, and they are once again making an impression in 2026! Let’s round up their journey so far, beginning with a photo-within-a-photo – making nice use of the engine intake that was the third round’s seed part. It’s not the only time this mind-bending builder will innovate with the format! As we’ll see, nature forms a great source of inspiration for Jonas. In the...

The LEGO builder calendar is full of traditions that might seem odd to outsiders. August is for frogs, February is for space rovers. January is the month where we renounce our allegiance to humans and celebrate cyber supremacy with drones! The builds of “Droneuary” can take many forms, from bipedal bots to flying probes – the only rule: no meatbag pilots! Maybe it’s all the AI talk in the zeitgeist or nostalgia for Exo-Force, but 2026 turned out to be an amazing year for Droneuary participation. Here are some of our favorites. Let’s get things started with the most FABULANDOUS drone of the year, that comes courtesy of Gnarlicbread. Seeing the wholesome theme applied to a Devid-style drone is a little terrifying, but the mouse seems okay with it, so maybe those claw hands are for picking fruit and not grabbing friendly critters. The vintage elements aren’t limited to Fabuland; blue...

Participating in the Iron Forge requires serious commitment to building throughout January. For some builders, once is enough, but for others it’s a tradition – a way to welcome the new year with a burst of LEGO creativity! Harry (@by_h_proj) knows a thing or two about LEGO competitions, having earned the runner-up spot in LEGO Masters New Zealand back in 2023. Since then, he’s been an Iron Forge regular, always impressing with a mix of technical complexity and excellent photography. Will the third time be the charm with judges? You can see Harry’s knack for a well-composed shot with this undersea scene. The Engine seed part is most prominent as a Hammerhead mouth and also appears throughout the reef in a mix of colors. My favorite of Harry’s entries this year is this kitchen scene that brilliantly uses the engine intakes as oven vents. The moc mirrors this incredible scene from...

While we wait for the official LEGO Pokémon sets to be released, Japanese builder vaiohalcas put together a stunningly impressive model of the Water/Dark-type Greninja. While I chose Fennekin and ultimately ended up with Delphox on my playthrough of the Gen VI games, this build almost makes me regret it. There’s great attention to detail throughout the build, like the ‘webbing’ between the ninja frog’s appendages. The tongue makes excellent use of my favorite piece, the 2×2 round elbow brick (part #65473). This was in a beautiful color that I hadn’t seen that part in before, and looks like it’s because it only appeared in one Trolls World Tour set! With a few quick adjustments, Vaiohalcas shows off this posable build and customizable tongue to put Greninja in its attack stance. The post Hold your tongue around Greninja appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Jarrett Gercken

You need to be made of stern stuff to succeed in the LEGO Iron Builder competition. Over three intense rounds, a narrowing pool of builders has to show off their skills by showcasing a different seed part. With the final round of the Iron Forge wrapped, we’re taking a look at the octet of builders in the running to win it all. Next up, Margits_MOCs, who created an impressive 13 builds featuring the seed part: engine block! The Brothers Brick is a familiar stomping ground for Margit’s creations – she even made our shortlist for 2025 Builder of the Year. And speaking of stomping, what an immaculately well-timed build this was, using the engine intake as a sturdy shoe sole. LEGO Crocs, eat your heart out. In such a heated competition, it’s little surprise that some competition makes it into the participants’ builds, too. But neither frog nor fish seem to...