Not long ago, BrickNerd guest contributor Jesse Gros wrote a piece that, like any good article, left my mind’s wheels churning. I wondered, was artificial intelligence impacting the LEGO community? Could it change the way we build MOCs and truly break barriers for accessibility? Was effortless image spam disheartening MOC builders or just plain drowning them out with Instagram’s algorithm? Good, bad, or ugly, AI has multiple sides—and you know me, I love to sit back and pontificate from the safety of a keyboard on tough topics. So I’m going to try my hand at answering the question: what does the future hold for LEGO fans? Could AI replace human creation of LEGO MOCs or even official sets? AI and LEGO is this the first AI-generated physical LEGO build? Let’s begin with the obvious: right now, AI doesn’t understand the LEGO system. While some AI software can generate images that share...

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons and D&D Beyond has given a little update on what kind of things will be going on to celebrate the event. We already know that we’ll be getting a LEGO Ideas set with the Dragon’s Keep: Journey’s End by BoltBuilds and an illustration of Epic Battle Relief Painting by chainsaw yu 電鋸鋸鋸鋸 will be in the instructions. The details of the set are still under wraps but it was rumored that it will be an April release which coincides with D&D Beyond mentioning it briefly. It is said that’ll have 3,745 pieces and will retail for $359.99. Of course, we’ll just have to wait until LEGO officially reveals the set to get the accurate information. Another rumor that has surfaced in the past few days is that there will be a whole LEGO Collectibles Minifigure line dedicated to Dungeons & Dragons...

If you’re a LEGO Insider, today is the last day for the early access for the LEGO Micro Rocket Launchpad (40712) gift with purchase set on the LEGO Shop. If you’re not, don’t worry because wave two of this release will start tomorrow and run until February 25, while supplies last. Again, it will require a $200 general purchase to get this reimagining of some LEGO Classic Space sets. As a Rakuten/Linkshare Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The post Last Day for LEGO Micro Rocket Launchpad (40712) Insiders Early Access appeared first on The Brick Fan. Original linkOriginal author: Allen "Tormentalous" Tran

For most LEGO fans, this sword might appear to be just another custom third-party injection-molded offering. However, for anyone involved in the minifigure modding world, this is immediately recognized as one of Detroitika’s many handcrafted masterpieces. Not a single aspect of the sword you see below was injected into a molded form. Instead, sections of the sword were shaped out of raw plastic using various methods and later assembled together into the final product. Cutting, lathing, sanding, drilling, gluing, painting and etching were all necessary processes in the creation of this exceptional piece. So where did it all start? When I mentioned the usage of “raw plastic” I was referring to sprues. Sprues are the result of molten plastic left in injection channels which solidify after the injection-molding occurs. These sprues are attached to the product being produced but are not intended to be part of the finished item. They are...

The LEGO Group has announced the program lead and general contractor for the new Virginia factory location. Starting in April, Preben Elnef will be leading the project which includes the factory construction and opening. Elnef was previously at the Vietnam factory location where it is scheduled to begin production next year. The company has also named Gray|Hourigan as general contractor who will prepare the location to start work later this year. If you’re local and are interested in working at the factory, make sure you check out the dedicated hiring page to see what LEGO will be offering. The LEGO Group announces program lead and appoints general contractor at its Virginia, USA site Preben Elnef named permanent program lead. Gray|Hourigan selected as general contractor. Virginia, USA, February 15, 2024: The LEGO Group today announced it has appointed a permanent program lead and general contractor as it advances work on its more...

Image via Wikipedia The Phantom, aka The Ghost Who Walks, was created by Lee Falk and first published on the 17th of February 1936. Pre-dating Batman and Superman, The Phantom was the first fictional hero to wear the skintight costume synonymous with modern comic-book superheroes. In one form or another, The Phantom has continued to be published since its creation and is currently available in comic book form in Australia and many parts of Europe. In Australia, the comic strip first appeared in 1936 in The Australian Women’s Mirror and, since 1948, it has been published by FREW Publications as an ongoing comic book series. Even today, it still has a cult following among an older demographic of fans. From the 1960s to the 1990s, many young Australian comic readers first encountered The Phantom via the inclusion of the comic in showbags at the local Royal Agricultural Shows. Showbags started as...

It's fairly well known that I have an affinity with frogs—LEGO frogs—and love building with them. What’s generally less known (and less posted) is that I’m also quite fond of playing with babies. Again, LEGO babies.  Throw in the fact that I’m one of BrickNerd’s resident LEGO Space posers (sorry for missing you, UniTron), and it was probably a good bet that I’d be the one to talk about the LEGO’s gift with purchase 40712 Micro Rocket Lanchpad, or as everyone calls it “BABY SPACE.” set provided by LEGO To answer your question of “How do I get this!?” the GWP is available with a purchase of at least 200 EUR/ 200 USD/ 320 AUD at your respective LEGO Store or Shop at Home. The promotion is available to Insiders (free to join) through Feb. 18th and then to everyone until Feb. 25th or until supplies are gone. Building Babies? While I'm...

The promotion for the LEGO Micro Rocket Launchpad (40712) gift with purchase set is now live on the LEGO Shop. From now until February 18, LEGO Insiders can get the set with purchases of $200 or more. The general public can get the set next week, February 19-25, but I don’t think the set will even last that long. As a Rakuten/Linkshare Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The post LEGO Micro Rocket Launchpad (40712) Promotion Live on LEGO Shop appeared first on The Brick Fan. Original linkOriginal author: Allen "Tormentalous" Tran

Brooklyn Nine-Nine by BenFankhauser is the latest project to achieve 10,000 supporters on LEGO Ideas. The 1,500 piece build is a more polished version the same project that also reached the goal back in 2021 and 2023 which features a layout of the 99th precinct. The project joins Spirited Away, Appa the Sky Bison, from Avatar the Last Airbender, Venus Flytrap, Minerals Display, Dreamworks’ Shrek’s Swamp 2, Hello Kitty and Friends – 50 Years, Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch, Medieval Tournament, Cherry Blossom Ikebana, Roman Forum, Interstellar, Metallica M72 World Tour, Suitcase Express!, Outer Wilds, Medieval inn by the Gatehouse, and Clockwork Solar System as the ones to reach the First 2024 Review Stage. The post LEGO Ideas Brooklyn Nine-Nine Achieves 10,000 Supporters appeared first on The Brick Fan. Original linkOriginal author: Allen "Tormentalous" Tran

Clockwork Solar System by ChrisOrchard is the latest project to achieve 10,000 supporters on LEGO Ideas. The 3,000 piece build looks to be a resubmission of the same project that also reached the goal back in 2021 and 2022 which shows a working orrery with a 99.8% timing accuracy. The project joins Spirited Away, Appa the Sky Bison, from Avatar the Last Airbender, Venus Flytrap, Minerals Display, Dreamworks’ Shrek’s Swamp 2, Hello Kitty and Friends – 50 Years, Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch, Medieval Tournament, Cherry Blossom Ikebana, Roman Forum, Interstellar, Metallica M72 World Tour, Suitcase Express!, Outer Wilds, and Medieval inn by the Gatehouse as the ones to reach the First 2024 Review Stage. The post LEGO Ideas Clockwork Solar System Achieves 10,000 Supporters appeared first on The Brick Fan. Original linkOriginal author: Allen "Tormentalous" Tran