But Where's the Ninja?

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The Classic Castle Contest is currently under way, and I'm loving it. Every couple days, there are several absolute gems that pop up in my feed. This peaceful Oriental bridge scene by 'LL' is one of my favorites so far. The bridge perfectly evokes classic Eastern architecture, and very cleverly uses the old rope bridge pieces for the arch. But what I like best about this build are those trees. The grey trunks compliment the fall leaves very nicely, and the addition of some roots really makes them look accurate.

Eastern bridge

Fall in Winter

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Though the actual season may be winter, that doesn't change the fact that this is a beautiful autumn tree.  The trunk is my favorite part, which has been created very well using some new common elements.  I find that LEGO string really adds a nice bark texture to tree trunks (assuming it's the same color as the "wood.")   It's rare for such a small landscape scene to be this detailed, but Legopard has done just that with this little creation.

TheNewBlack - Autumn Tree
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Nathaniel Stoner

     My name is Nathaniel Stoner, and I am an very active LEGO builder.  I mostly build in the themes of castle and science-fiction, but I also dabble in other genres and create occasional random MOC's (My Own Creations). 

     When I was younger, I would get and build small LEGO sets for my birthday, but I was never really into them.  When they fell apart, I would become frustrated attempting to put them back together and would throw them in a box in my closet.  I couldn't stand them!

     Then, miraculously, I became addicted to the LEGO brick later in my teen years.  Ever since, I have continued to build up (pun intended) my collection of bricks and to expand my knowledge of techniques and building skills.  LEGO is truly more than a toy, its an art form and a way to express yourself.

     For the most part, I collect LEGO Star Wars (mainly the minifigs), which is probably my favorite LEGO theme.  I have a fairly decent collection, including some of the original 1999 sets, such as the Snowspeeder, X-Wing, and Naboo starfighter.  I also collected LEGO the Lord of the Rings when those sets first came out.  The minifigs are great, and the story remains one of my favorites ever. 

     My hope is to inspire other young (and perhaps even older) LEGO builders to unleash their inner creativity!  You can find me on my Flikr here. 

Mettaton

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This is Mettaton by Alexander Blais, he's a robot with a soul from the game Undertale. I've never heard of him, or the game of course (nerd cred -6) but I found him instantly engaging. From the little research I did I found the game pretty awesomely retro as well, right down to the sound design. This guy seems to be the real stand out character, and with his appealing design and quirky ways, I understand why.

Metal Crusher

Festive Holiday Scene

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Santa! It's Christmas everywhere you look these days, and I love it. This cheerful little scene by builder HCK_1974 has it all, a stunning tree adorned with festive decorations, a snowy lot where all the action is taking place, children and elves having a good time and a couple of adorable oversized reindeer. And of course santa flying by, spreading holiday cheer.

CHRISTMAS TREE & REINDEER
CHRISTMAS TREE & REINDEER
CHRISTMAS TREE & REINDEER

The Bullet-Proof Bomb

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Builder redfern1950s continues his quest to build all the vehicles from Wacky Races. This one is another childhood favorite of mine, the Bullet-Proof Bomb, AKA The Roaring Plenty. It was driven by the Ant Hill Mob, seven inept but strangely lovable mobsters. One of their secret tactics was the ability to lift the car and simply run across the finish line (I'm pretty sure they stole that trick from Fred Flintstone).

Wacky Races " The Ant Hill Mob "

Dash Baron

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I've never been good at sports, in fact I consider myself athletically retarded. In my youth I once played baseball for a single season, I was left field (left out) and I was the worse player on the team. We came in last place that year, so for one shining season I was the single worse baseball player here in Lompoc, CA. So the concept Mech racing has a natural appeal to me. First, it's pretty nerdy, and second, with a properly calibrated mech I might actually be kinda good. OK, I wouldn't, but if my mech looked half as cool as this one from Lu Sim, at least I'd look pretty spiffy doing it.

ARMT-M01X-SR Dash Baron

A Full Month Of Half-Blood Prince

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BrickNerd's own Mel Finelli has taken on the admirable (if not slightly bonkers) task of building a MOC a day for this entire month inspired by Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. So far she's right on point, and the wonderful little vignettes are a daily delight. Here's just a few of those done so far, and we have plenty more to look forward to.

04 - Horace Slughorn
05 - Excess of Phlegm
06 - Draco's Detour

Königsfeld Manor

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Welcome to Königsfeld Manor, in lovely Avalonia, Historica. Sometimes a parts shortage is all the inspiration you need for a brilliant solution, and sometimes that solution is better than the original plan. This lovely castle scene by builder MassEditor was originally going to have a pretty standard irregular border, but short of parts he came up with this very interesting "spilling over" border, which is the touch that makes this diorama really stand out.

Königsfeld Manor

The Covert-A-Car

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Builder redfern1950s continues his race to win the internet with his Wacky Races MOCs. This time it's The Convert-A-Car, by far the "wackiest" of the bunch. It's a truly insane contraption that is part boat, plane and car. And while this is personally my least favorite of the vehicles, that judgement is at odds with the fact he has by far the best name, Professor Pat Pending.

Wacky Races " The Convert-A-Car "

Expecto Advent-Calendo!

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A wonderful new contest is being held this December, the Create-A-Calendar Contest, hosted by fellow LEGO blog the Brothers Brick.  The contest began on December 1st and will last until the 17th.  One of the first few entries is this magical Harry Potter calendar created by Koen.  It seems that even Voldemort, when he's not too busy attacking Muggles, can even get in the holiday spirit!  Each of these small builds are well done and recognizable (it should be pointed out that each individual build can be no more than 20 pieces) to any Harry Potter fan!  If you like any of the official LEGO advent calendars, maybe it's time for you to create your own!

Harry Potter Advent Calendar
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Nathaniel Stoner

     My name is Nathaniel Stoner, and I am an very active LEGO builder.  I mostly build in the themes of castle and science-fiction, but I also dabble in other genres and create occasional random MOC's (My Own Creations). 

     When I was younger, I would get and build small LEGO sets for my birthday, but I was never really into them.  When they fell apart, I would become frustrated attempting to put them back together and would throw them in a box in my closet.  I couldn't stand them!

     Then, miraculously, I became addicted to the LEGO brick later in my teen years.  Ever since, I have continued to build up (pun intended) my collection of bricks and to expand my knowledge of techniques and building skills.  LEGO is truly more than a toy, its an art form and a way to express yourself.

     For the most part, I collect LEGO Star Wars (mainly the minifigs), which is probably my favorite LEGO theme.  I have a fairly decent collection, including some of the original 1999 sets, such as the Snowspeeder, X-Wing, and Naboo starfighter.  I also collected LEGO the Lord of the Rings when those sets first came out.  The minifigs are great, and the story remains one of my favorites ever. 

     My hope is to inspire other young (and perhaps even older) LEGO builders to unleash their inner creativity!  You can find me on my Flikr here. 

Valtias, The Blizzard Tyrant

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This new character from builder Mana Ramp Matron is one of those MOCs that makes you stop and go "wait, what?" From the thumbnail you'd hardly expect it's LEGO, and even when you're looking at full res it defies logic. The unusual color scheme combined with the part use and construction is as confusing to the eye as it is delightful. It almost looks like it's lit with UV it's so unusual. Thankfully we don't have blizzards here on the central coast of California, I don't want to run into this guy.

Valtias, The Blizzard Tyrant
Valtias, The Blizzard Tyrant

Hound's Tooth

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This unconventional ship is notorious bounty hunter Bossk's pride and joy, the Hound's Tooth. It's certainly one of the more obscure ships in the Star Wars universe, having only appeared in the Clone Wars animated series, but it has a loyal fan following. Builder armoredgear7 nailed the aesthetic of this intimidating and deadly vessel.

Hound's Tooth
Hound's Tooth

TIE Work In Progress. . .

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Never know what to do when you have a WIP (Work In Progress)?  Why not be creative and display it somehow?  That's what Inthert did with his latest project.  He felt it was "a perfect opportunity to reveal the progress I've made on my TIE fighter."  The use of the LEGO rubber bands to act as wires is always a great technique to see.  I also really like all the ladders and platforms he has created for the hard-working Imperial forces.  Looking forward to seeing this model zipping across the sky!

Sienar Fleet Systems - Exprimental project: TIE
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Nathaniel Stoner

     My name is Nathaniel Stoner, and I am an very active LEGO builder.  I mostly build in the themes of castle and science-fiction, but I also dabble in other genres and create occasional random MOC's (My Own Creations). 

     When I was younger, I would get and build small LEGO sets for my birthday, but I was never really into them.  When they fell apart, I would become frustrated attempting to put them back together and would throw them in a box in my closet.  I couldn't stand them!

     Then, miraculously, I became addicted to the LEGO brick later in my teen years.  Ever since, I have continued to build up (pun intended) my collection of bricks and to expand my knowledge of techniques and building skills.  LEGO is truly more than a toy, its an art form and a way to express yourself.

     For the most part, I collect LEGO Star Wars (mainly the minifigs), which is probably my favorite LEGO theme.  I have a fairly decent collection, including some of the original 1999 sets, such as the Snowspeeder, X-Wing, and Naboo starfighter.  I also collected LEGO the Lord of the Rings when those sets first came out.  The minifigs are great, and the story remains one of my favorites ever. 

     My hope is to inspire other young (and perhaps even older) LEGO builders to unleash their inner creativity!  You can find me on my Flikr here. 

Festive Tournament!

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It's finally winter time, which means holiday joy and fun!  For castle builders, it also means it's time for the Colossal Castle Contest!  Jen Spencer has brought these two exciting events together in a joyful castle creation!  In this winter wonderland (Christmas pun intended), a medieval archery tournament is gearing up for a cold, but fun day in the snow.  I do hope that no one is using ice or white arrows, because if they miss their target they might never find them again!  Happy holidays, everyone! 

The Archery Tournament
The Archery Tournament
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Nathaniel Stoner

     My name is Nathaniel Stoner, and I am an very active LEGO builder.  I mostly build in the themes of castle and science-fiction, but I also dabble in other genres and create occasional random MOC's (My Own Creations). 

     When I was younger, I would get and build small LEGO sets for my birthday, but I was never really into them.  When they fell apart, I would become frustrated attempting to put them back together and would throw them in a box in my closet.  I couldn't stand them!

     Then, miraculously, I became addicted to the LEGO brick later in my teen years.  Ever since, I have continued to build up (pun intended) my collection of bricks and to expand my knowledge of techniques and building skills.  LEGO is truly more than a toy, its an art form and a way to express yourself.

     For the most part, I collect LEGO Star Wars (mainly the minifigs), which is probably my favorite LEGO theme.  I have a fairly decent collection, including some of the original 1999 sets, such as the Snowspeeder, X-Wing, and Naboo starfighter.  I also collected LEGO the Lord of the Rings when those sets first came out.  The minifigs are great, and the story remains one of my favorites ever. 

     My hope is to inspire other young (and perhaps even older) LEGO builders to unleash their inner creativity!  You can find me on my Flikr here. 

Santa And His Reindeer

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Builder and mechanical wiz JK Brickworks is back with a little kinetic holiday cheer. You may recognize the big guy and his team from set 10245 Santa's Workshop, but you've never seen them move like this. Jason has designed a remarkably low profile mechanical linkage that simulates the flying motion of the real Santa, amazing.

Alternator

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Modern first person shooters certainly do offer a never ending supply of inspiration for weapon builder Nick Brick. His latest full sized pistol, the Alternator, is from Titanfall 2. It's a sub machine gun with a novel side by side barrel arrangement. Nick also paired it with a time travel device cleverly called the Time Device, which is actually pretty cool in game play. For once I might actually get to see these devices in action, since this game is on my son's Christmas list.

Alternator - Titanfall 2
Alternator & Time Device - Titanfall 2

John Lewis Celebrates 10 Years Of Christmas Ads

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This year marks the 10th anniversary of John Lewis' iconic Christmas commercials (if you haven't seen them, check out YouTube, they're pretty great). To commemorate this John Lewis teamed up with LEGO Certified Professionals Bright Bricks to build some fantastic creations. They're on display at John Lewis' flagship store on Oxford Street in London until Christmas.