Lighting for LEGO photography doesn’t have to be difficult. It can be as fun as the MOCs themselves by only using what you have on hand to achieve some brilliant effects. So here are few techniques that can inspire your own creativity.
Read MoreIn this next installment of our Sorting Series, we take a look at storage containers for LEGO available at bargain prices, with some ideas for free or readily available containers, too!
Read MoreAndrea Lattanzio (Norton74) is known for his realistic LEGO scenes with organic landscaping and realistic vehicles. His newest country creation is a small and cozy blue cottage, and he shared his work-in-progress photos with us for a behind-the-scenes look at this idyllic forest scene.
Read MoreEver wondered why anyone would want to travel to outer space? Well, if these LEGO builders’ brick-built travel posters are anything like reality, outer space is an awfully cool place!
Read MoreBuilder Andrea Lattanzio has treated us to an awesome diorama illustrating once and for all why you should never mess with a bear… or traverse a rickety wooden bridge in a vehicle!
Read MoreHow do you sort LEGO? Well for me, a good sorting system is one where you can find exactly what you want to build with the least amount of hassle (peanut butter jars and ice cream containers optional).
Read MoreHow do you build a post-apocalyptic world in LEGO? And how do you convey clear, meaningful stories within the deliberate destruction?
Read MoreWhere do you start when building a luxury LEGO car? How do you determine the color and shape, let alone the interior? My philosophy is to let the pieces guide you.
Read MoreIf you have noticed the internet being overrun by LEGO bonsai trees as of late, it is for good reason. Brickset’s Build a Bonsai Competition is churning out some amazing entries (all because of the goats for a prize, I’m sure!), and Carter Witz is throwing his hat into the ring. His elegant bonsai would look at home on the neatest desk, but there’s more to this creation than meets the eye!
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One of the best things about the LEGO community is that we can learn from one another. Here at BrickNerd, we like to share techniques that we see from builders all around the world. . .
Full Plate has experimented with many unique tree designs. This month, he's adding to his growing collection of recent landscape projects. These snow covered tress (though the white leaves could be replaced with another color if you wish), are incorporating a "weaving" technique with some the individual leaf elements being held in by friction. The end result is a very realistic tree appearance which, according to the builder, is fairly solid and can even be held upside down. Very impressive!
One of the best things about the LEGO community is that we can learn from one another. Here at BrickNerd, we like to share techniques that we see from builders all around the world. . .
Roughly a month ago, we featured Dzambito42's neat "Grilling" vignette scene. I found his grill design to be incredibly good, and so I wanted to feature his design here for Technique Tuesday. A special thanks to David, who after I reached out to him, provided me with the breakdown and photos for us to share here for you all.
I have provided a couple of David's breakdown photos below. If you'd like his complete (and detailed) process, check out the album I compiled of the photos provided to me.
Breakdown:
One of the best things about the LEGO community is that we can learn from one another. Here at BrickNerd, we like to share techniques that we see from builders all around the world. . .
Are you feeling a little more advanced today? Good! We've covered some more basic stonework techniques before, but we're taking things up a notch with this design by Marcel V. If you have a lot of bar elements and modified studs with a hole to spare, this is the design for you! One beneficial aspect of this technique is that it really provides you with the ability to angle the stones to make them crooked and even protruding from the wall. Very intricate, and looks fantastic when completed!
One of the best things about the LEGO community is that we can learn from one another. Here at BrickNerd, we like to share techniques that we see from builders all around the world. . .
I think Full Plate broke the barrier when it comes to microscale tree designs. This technique could totally work for a larger tree, but man would it require a lot of parts! I know that I have seen many tree designs used for microscale models, but I haven't seen anything new in ages. A strange combination of parts in green can create something very organic before your eyes. Check out this breakdown provided by the builder!
Every once in a while you just need to connect two elements together that were not designed to fit that way. That is usually the genesis of a cool technique in fact, just a clever way of doing something LEGO never intended (subversive and creative at the same time!) This is an astoundingly simple way to connect two sphere halves by ledamu12 that will have you going "why didn't I think of that?"
One of the best things about the LEGO community is that we can learn from one another. Here at BrickNerd, we like to share techniques that we see from builders all around the world. . .
Ulrik Hansen brings us a bit more complex technique, or at least more parts intensive for some builders. This style of sloped tile flooring can be used in many environments, whether it's inside your castle, or even a stone/concrete wheelchair access ramp outside of your town hall. As always with LEGO, the possibilities are endless. Example 1 involves 1x2 hinged bricks, which to me is such an awesome idea. The second image Ulrik provides us with uses connected headlight bricks, and shows another way with cheese slopes. Thankfully, the images are very clear and are easy for many builders to understand what's happening. I have never seen some flooring like this before, at least with these specific parts used to create the effect. Very nice technique, and one we're happy to share with you all!
Getting large flat surfaces (AKA walls) to be interesting usually takes a lot of parts and a lot of work, but even then they lack sufficient detail. Builder Simon NH shows us a technique that uses panels and a wide assortment of small parts to really break up the surface in not only color and size, but also subtle texture. I can't vouch for how sturdy it is, but it certainly looks fantastic.
Builder BMW_Indy is credited with this fabric (get it, fa-brick?) technique. Using boat tiles, netting and pips you can weave as much as you need, as long as it's in 10x10 pieces. Builder Deborah Higdon used this technique to great effect with this stylish purse.
One of the best things about the LEGO community is that we can learn from one another. Here at BrickNerd, we like to share techniques that we see from builders all around the world. . .
I haven't seen any many techniques come across my feeds this week, so I decided to do one other feature of my own techniques. Any Star Wars fan is familiar with Chewbacca's famous bowcaster, but do you remember what LEGO provides as an accessory? That's right, just a silver LEGO crossbow piece, the same used in castle sets. Or, now they have the crossbow stud shooter. Sometimes you just need something else, a weapon of your own design. Did you know that most Wookies craft their own bowcasters? Using simple parts, I created a series of different bowcaster designs. Each is scaled for minifigures, maybe just a bit long in some cases (but not too terrible). I think my favorite design is third from the right. Do you have a favorite design? Obviously the combos can we mixed and matched, which allows a bit of "customization" for your minifigures. You can take a closer look over on my Flickr page, NS LEGO Designs. Thanks for taking a look!
If you're into LEGO architecture, or you enjoy building houses, then you need to check out this window design by James Zhan! With a front and back view of this window style, the pieces come together to create a very unique window design. As we usually try to share here on BrickNerd, James' model also uses common elements that most builders likely have in their collections. Do you think you'll give this a try? Let us know down in the comments! Build on, everyone.
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