The Lego Suicides
While we certainly hope that no one ever really does commit suicide using Lego, we have to cop to being pretty entertained by this photoset on Flickr. Remember, Lego are a choking hazard!
All the Brick That's Fit to Click
February 1, 2006
January 24, 2006
Reader Mail: How Does Custom Work?
Mitch C. asks us:
Do you know where I could find someone to give me a quote to create aThere are bespoke builders out there like Nathan Sawaya who can be commissioned for one-off pieces. For something smaller, though, you might consider appealing to more generic outlets like Lugnet's Buy/Sell/Trade forum. And you could always put something out on your local Craigslist, although you probably won't get the sort of quality, experienced builder that you really want.
custom lego kit for my kids?I am looking for a model of "Rocket" from the new Little Einsteins show
on Disney. Rocket is the red rocket ship that the kids ride on.
Any readers have any suggestions of places where custom models can be commissioned?
January 15, 2006
Builder Profile: Ley Ward
Combining a talent for micro-scale design with a good sense of humor, Ley Ward draws inspiration from a variety of sources, including—if his Further 3.0 and the Harry Pranksters set [pictured] is any clue—'60s acid culture. His Further models might indeed be the first Lego models we've seen that featured almost every pastel color offered by Lego.
Ward's attention to color is evident even when he's staying entirely monochromatic, like he does in his NASA-esque 'CRaB rover,' which uses only grey blocks to give the impression of a realistic, '60s-era lunar probe.
Ward's not afraid of little whimsy, though, with sets like 'Springtime in the pasture,' built using just as many pieces for the field as are used in the micro-scale sheep. (And yes, there's a black one.) Ward even manages to make pieces like the minifig pith helment work to his advantage in models like the 'Pith Infiltrator.'
Minifig-Scale Final Fantasy Chocobo
Although from the captioning in his Flickr stream 'Horvatits' makes it clear that this chocobo model (inspired by the Final Fantasy videogame series) is still being tweaked, we think he's off to a very strong start.
Now he just needs all those pieces in 50th anniversary colors, to make the fabled golden chocobo.
January 13, 2006
Builder Profile: Soren and the Boys of Neutron Bot
If you're a mecha or spaceship fan, you'll find a wealth of amazing models at Neutronbot.com. We first stumbled on the site by way of Flickr, where Soren—one of Neutron Bot's six modelers—has his own photostream. While all the Neutron Boy modelers are good, we find's Soren's work to be exemplary, showing a real mastery at both the micro and minifig scales.
Often you'll hear a compliment paid to Lego fans that goes something like, "Your model is as good as one from Lego!" Well, Soren's model's are better than the models Lego releases themselves.
Don't believe us? Check out the articulation on humanoid mecha like the L-Siren, the use of color on ships like the Mongoose, the imaginative quality of his armored ambulance, and the attention to detail in models like the 550 Aircoupe [pictured].
Soren's work compelled us to break out the bricks again tonight and make some mecha of our own—which might be the very highest compliment of all.
Lunch Box with Fruit by Nathan Sawaya
This macro-sized lunch box with fruit is the latest project from Nathan Sawaya, professional, certified Lego builder (and of Han Solo in Carbonite fame). Commissioned by the Produce Marketing Association, the oversized lunch box opens and shuts and even has a real, working clasp—not to mention a matching Thermos.
Builder Profile: Henry Lim
Henry Lim's 100,000+ piece Lego Harpsichord has been around for while, but it's gotten a bit of recent love in the blogosphere from the likes of Digg. Rightfully so—it not only is good-looking, but manages to withstand the 325 pounds of pressure needed to make the strings playable.
But as much as we like the harpsichord, we find some of Lim's other creations even more impressive. This 14-foot Stegosaurus, for instance, is not only huge, but is almost completely self-supporting using Lego bricks alone. The fact that Lim can lean on the head—held up without any glue or internal non-Lego scructure—is a testament to his engineering skill. (At last update, Lim had not quite figured out how to make the tail completely free-standing.)
Lim also manages to impress with his Audrey Hepburn mosaic. Mosaic work can be done fairly easily with access to digital imaging tools like Photoshop, but the results remain very attractive.
January 12, 2006
1970 German Army Unimog 404
We're not exactly sure who to credit for this excellent minifig-scale 1970 German Army Unimog 404—his website doesn't actually say his name that we could find—but we find his commitment to detail at the challenging scale commendable. It's one thing to build two models of the Unimog, but quite another to accurately replicate the famous suspension.
We love us some Mogs, but now we want to see a minifig-scale Pinzgauer!
Builder Profile: Chris Churchill's Mechanized Brick
Chris Churchill's Mechanized Brick is a commercial venture, selling WWII-era models of his own design for prices between $20 and $240. That may seem a bit on the expensive side, but bear in mind that purchasing individual blocks for custom models can get very expensive very quickly. If you'd like to try to save a few bucks, Churchill also offers an Instructions CD with detailed diagrams and parts lists for his first twelve models, including the Lockheed P38 Lightning pictured above.
We know that Lego has had a long standing policy not to make modern military models, but they certainly aren't averse to weaponry as long as it's older (muskets, cannon, bow and arrows). Although we can understand why a European company would still feel sensitive about building models from a war that was fought on their own continent—especially the German models—we can't help but wish that Lego would create a WWII series of their own. In the meantime, we've got Chris Churchill's models to lust over.
January 10, 2006
Builder Profile: Bryce McGlone
Bryce McGlone is a fan builder who specializes in Bioncle models—especially mecha. Many of his models, like this Efertijin Demon Lord, have a marked demonic influence. In models like the Efretijin he uses his vast collection of Bioncle masks to great effect as feathers or scales. We especially enjoy his more 'arty' models like The Rack, designed not as a traditional model but instead as a response to visual influences such as HR Giger and Captain EO. (Yes, that Captain EO.)
Enjoy McGlone's experiments, including a series of classical and baroque architecture on his personal collection site, Plasmic Bricks.
German Panzer III Tank
From Sullis' Brickshelf.