IG-88 Assassin Droid - Watch Out Meatbags!

IG-88 is arguably the deadliest Robot Bounty Hunter in the Star Wars universe. Eric Druon has updated his IG-88 robot MOC previously made in 2007. This super accurate build measures 40cm/16" tall and has plenty of articulation and great detailing. I love the bandolier, and am pleased to see the droids distinctive silhouette has been so faithfully reconstructed.

Younger readers may not remember IG-88 from the movies as he only has a very brief cameo in the Empire Strikes Back. He does also appear in an episode of the Disney Forces of Destiny episode "Bounty of Trouble".

I wonder if Holowan Laboratories are hiring if so Eric is a shoe in for their next vacancy!

Wind

Here's a fun fact: I played the clouds in Cabin Boy. Yes, it's true. Way back when I used to do creature effects, and when the call went out at Alterian Studios for someone with an expressive, character face, Tony Gardner thought of me (go figure). You can even see my transformation in the first episode of Movie Magic (man that was a long time ago). Thanks lummerlander, your MOC brought back some strange but fun memories.

Wearable Empire

If Star Wars taught me one thing, it's that helmets are popular in space. And what good is a helmet that you can't wear? Well, Lego Admiral seems to think the same thing, and has crafted these excellent Vader and Stormtrooper helmets in bricks, and you can actually wear them. I don't know how much protection they would offer, then again Stormtroopers can be taken out by a teddy bear with a rock, so the real ones don't offer much either.

Keko Pops!

Hey kids! You want to start your day off right, right? You can't just run off to the factory or place of labor without getting properly fueled up. Those jobs are important, and too difficult or dangerous for humans so they're relying on YOU! Start your day with a balanced breakfast of Keko Pops! All the energy you need to be productive and dependable, and a free torque wrench in every box!

Taiping Lake Gardens

This beautiful lake diorama by builder wenyehng looks totally tranquil and inviting. With all the chaos in the world, and the craziness in my life with work and home, I find this irresistibly compelling. I don't think me plus a kayak would be a good mix, but drifting around in one of those swans, with a cool drink and little classical music sounds SO appealing. Click through for many more pictures.

NES Classic Case

At first glance you think "ah, a Nintendo NES". Then on closer inspection you think "wait a second, that's brick-built" and you're impressed. Then you learn that it has a NES classic inside and can actually be played and your mind is blown. What better way to store your minuscule NES classic (that is, if you were lucky enough to get one, I was not). Well played BrickinNick, well played.

Nassau 1715

I visited Nassau once, sorta. We were on a Disney cruise a few years ago and that was one of the ports. I have to confess I didn't even get off the boat. But I think if it had been 300 years earlier, and this was the view from the boat, I'd be heading down that gangway (and probably killed by pirates, bugger). This is a collaborative build from Ryan K, Erik Platt, Brian Carter, Patrick Taylor, Ben Lefke, Jack Spitler, and Max Sweeney that premiered at Brickfair VA and is just another reason I wish I could attend east coast events, gorgeous! Click through for more pics.

Samurai Mech

Legends and history of samurai go way back (and I mean way back, like when dates only had three digits) but builder Moko also imagines a future of legendary warriors. This is a samurai mech, and while the scale isn't immediately obvious, the strength, discipline and fortitude is clear. This would be a mighty opponent, I'd want him on my side.

Build This Porsche

The Arvo brothers are back, this time with some classic German automobile engineering. Way back in 2009 they built their first 911, and haven't lost their passion for this iconic performance car. This time however they've gone a step further, by making instructions so you too can build this beast. Hit them up at arvo@arvobrothers.com to get your hands on them.

Odin

To the vikings he was the god of war, to nerds he's Thor's dad, and to LEGO fans he's fantastic relief sculpture by 2nd Life Bricks. It's Odin, and no matter who is is to you, you have to agree this is a fine bit of building.

Ivysaur

Congratulations, you've just evolved your Bulbasaur into Ivysaur, what are you going to do now? Well, you're not done if you want to get to Venusaur, so time to get training! Make your way to the nearest gym and prepare for battle if you want to be the best there ever was. You can be sure builder lisqr will be there.

Steampunk Samurai Iron Man

My old pal Kevin Ryhal, aka M<O><O>DSWIM, has come up with a truly unique mash-up!  He's been creating all sorts of cool combos over the years, from Steampunk Gundams, to Darth Skeletor.   But I just looked through his photostream to make sure.  This is the first time he's gone for three genres in one.  "Jarvis-san, bring the boilers to full power!"

Roll A D20 To See If You Spring The Trap...

I didn't play much D&D when I was a teen, our preference was Aftermath and Traveller, but I played enough for this MOC by Galaktek to get me right in the nostalgia feels. Join the adventure of a party of four as they descend deeper and deeper on the search for treasure. Click through for a full room by room quest, it's pretty epic.

Orca

Here's some fun facts about Killer Whales:

1. They're not whales at all, they're actually the largest dolphin.
2. They'll stay with their mother their entire life.
3. They use echolocation, a form of undersea "radar" to navigate and find food.
4. They are an apex predator, top of the food chain baby!
5. They look awesome when built in bricks, like this one by timofey_tkachev.

Brick Bank Is On The Money!

As a huge fan of the wild west as a setting and LEGO theme I was delighted to find the "Brick Bank" by builder Paul Trach. It looks as though Paul has decided to upgrade the Creator set 10251 and repurpose it for the Wild West Theme. Paul explains he has built this for a competition over at his LUG Rogue Bricks. I've seen some other really strong entries already and the Lug seems full of great builders, but this is so far the standout for me!

The builder has gone to great lengths to ensure a level of quality that runs all the way through the MOC from top to bottom. The roof has a super water barrel and that funky little winch (was it used to install a small safe in the managers office upstairs?) and the brick built signs show a dedication to doing things right - no easy way out with a sticker here! Did I mention the use of the flat silver ice cream tops for the railings -  tekkers!

Let's also take a moment to admire the 45 degree angle of the build itself. There is some serious SNOT work going on here and I love it. The façade of the building has some fine decorative adornments and a delicate clock (don't be late to deposit your money).

Possibly my favourite detail on the build is the way in which the lattice work on the windows has been crafted using whips, these are highlighted by contrast to the trans green stained glass window panes constructed behind it.

As if those details aren't enough Paul has thrown in some authentic looking swing doors,  a beautiful pair of flowering cacti, fantastic use of the light grey ingots on the snot work base of the building and a delightful selection of dapper looking minifigs.

Paul's stream is full of great builds in a variety of themes - head over and take a look!

Vietnam Rocky Highland

I've never been to Vietnam, but I hope if I ever get to visit it's as vibrant and charming as this little MOC by builder Know Your Pieces. There's an interesting mix of traditional and modern aesthetics, with the waterwheel giving a timeless touch, but the power poles letting us know this is contemporary.

Sky Pirates Dragon Attack

This is one of those MOCs that's just hard to take in as a photo, or series of photos for that matter. There's so much going on and so many complex angles that pictures just don't do it justice. But one thing is clear from this single picture, that builder LEGO 7 put some serious time and effort into it. Do yourself a favor and click through for more pics.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Web-Head

I've never been too much into comics, they just weren't available in the little town I grew up in. But I did manage to get my grubby little paws on some occasionally, and my two favorites were Iron-Man and this guy, brilliantly built by umamen. I remember having several action figures of Spidey as a kid too, and none of them had the poseability of this brick-built one, making it even more impressive.

BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL!

Builder Alex Jones aka Orion Pax is back and seemingly on a one man crusade to recreate the toys of my (and many other fella's of a certain age) childhood in LEGO form. His latest build is what looks like an almost 1:1 scale recreation of HE-MAN and his best pal and trusty steed BATTLE-CAT stars of the "HE-MAN and the Masters of the Universe" cartoon.  Alex has faithfully recreated the furry pant wearing hero of the 80's - The recent release of the Batman - Clayface playset making the tanned complexion of HE-MAN possible. The detail on Battle Cats armoured mask in particular makes it almost indistinguishable from the rigid plastic version many of us owned way back then. Although I'm personally not a fan of sculpting, he's done a fantastic job of recreating HE-MAN's face using a Buzz Lightyear head as a base.

As a kid I loved Tuesday afternoons at 4 o'clock for my taste of Eternian action with a dose of morality at the end for good measure. I hope Alex gets round to giving Skeletor and Panthor the same treatment soon!

Motorized BB-8

BB-8 is pretty much universally adored, and since the release of The Force Awakens we've seen thousands of iterations of this little guy. He's on everything from sports bottles to hats. Being nothing but round makes him naturally difficult to build in bricks, but our love for him means that builders keep doing it. Check out this version by Takamichi Irie, not only does it look great, the motorized functions really bring him to life.