Day 2: I've survived my first night on the island. Luckily I was able to construct a suitable shelter with the crude implements at my disposal. I heard a great many creatures outside so I was quite happy to be in the confines of my small dirt dwelling. Now that the sun is coming up I think I'll do a little...what's that hissing sound?
I'm as big a Disney nerd as I am a LEGO nerd, and I've always liked the aesthetics and design of Nemo's submarine from 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. This was steampunk before anyone knew what steampunk was. Orion Pax does this classic justice with an jaw-dropping build, friggin' awesome. Check out his website for more pictures.
Since I can't read German I've never really figured out what the Brick Time Team is all about. But I know they build amazing MOCs. This estate is fabulous, and if I ever get back to Europe, I look forward to seeing some stunning architecture like this. In the mean time I'm content to gawk at it in brick form.
Some builders build for hyper detail while others build for simplicity. There are very few who can pull off both styles as well as Kosmas Santosa. Kosmas continues to impresses us with his NASA Space Exploration Rover. The rover features fluid almost effortless design, implementation and photo editing.
It is no secret I'm a Star Wars nerd, I make no attempt to hide it. So with every new project out there my interest is at least a little piqued. I'm mostly an original trilogy fan, but some stuff in the expanded universe intrigues me, and I'm watching the development of Star Wars: Rebels with interest. This squat little grumpy guy seems pretty awesome. This version was built for the Nuremberg Toy Fair
Like marcosbessa, the builder of this beautiful MOC, I've never played TRENCH, but I find the design fascinating and lovely. And this LEGO interpretation of the game is equally so. The construction of this is so clean, so precise, it's more art than game.
After my disappointment with the Back To The Future Delorean I have to admit I was a little leery when this set was announced. Especially considering Brent Waller's fantastic original design. But I'm very happy to see that it has exceeded my expectations, and the set is only going to set me back $49.99, sweet!
Vroooom! I don't personally follow F1, but I have a few friends who do. And I know this MOC by Nathanael L would make their heart pitter patter for different, but sound reasons. I really like the contouring of the main body. Normally LEGO versions of exotic racers suffer from the same problem that a lot of MOCs do, namely being boxy, but this is sleek and sexy.
Join me live at the posh new BrickNerd Studios (it's a dump) for another BrickNerd Live Build tonight at 5:00 PM pst. It will be action-packed (a lie) and hilarious (not really) as I build all six of the new LEGO Star Wars Microfighters. What else could you possibly want to do on a Saturday night? (let's see, go to dinner, see a movie, go clubbing, have a life, trim my toenails...)
This beautiful bonsai tree by Brickthing is perfectly suited to my level of green thumb, easily repaired and impossible to kill. I especially like the use of the Chima spider legs, and don't get so caught up in admiring the tree that you miss the base it's on, it's a small work of art too.
We LEGO builders tend to forget (on purpose?) that the Bionicle and the Hero Factroy line of LEGO sets are indeed produced by the same company that makes the more traditional "System of Play" sets. Perhaps it is because the Bionicle/HF parts are deemed to unusable in most traditional MOCs? There is however one thing that parts lend themselves to and that is character models. Vlad Lisin has expertly leveraged these oft-neglected parts to create a replica of Clockwerk, one of the playable characters in the popular PC game Dota 2.
It is that most brutal of holidays, Valentine's Day. Men, you know the drill, get out there and torment some poor people working in retail dealing with thousands of other men who put it off until the last minute. Or do like this resourceful troll in this MOC by scrat_ and bring your favorite lady goblin some hand picked flowers and a nice snack.
Happy Valentine's Day everyone!
Here at BrickNerd we like to look back from time to time, and to the future. These figures were at my very first convention, BrickCon 2009. It also happened to be Ochre Jelly's first convention, and we stuck up a friendship that continues to this day (despite the fact that he's 3/4 clinically insane). Spock and Uhura typify his building style, and are just as awesome today as they were the first time I laid eyes on them.
This micro scale Minas Tirith from Lord of the Rings is beautiful. I always marvel at the ability of skilled builders like lisqr to imply more detail than is actually there, and to find more detail in otherwise fairly plain bricks. Like the use of the grill tiles on their sides to make tiny windows, brilliant.
When the live action scene was shot last year in Los Angeles the producers of The LEGO Movie put out a "MOC casting call" to local groups. Many talented AFOLs responded and now their work is on the big screen. I don't know which is more mind-boggling, that I know these artists and have actually held some of these MOCs, or that I didn't spot a single one when I watched the movie last week.
I wish South Korean LEGO artist OliveSeon would post descriptions so I could tell you more about this amazing MOC depicting all the worlds of The LEGO Movie. But you'll just have to do what I did and gawk in admiration. The MOC is obviously taking advantage of many official sets, but to excellent effect and in an awesome total package.
Continuing this morning's viking theme, we move on to Berk, where dragon training is underway. The deadly nadder is considered to be one of the most beautiful dragons, but watch out for those poison spines, not to mention the extremely hot fire. I'd suggest taking advantage of it's blind spot, which just happens to be directly in front of it. Nice build Stormbringer.
I think everyone would agree, the vikings were badasses. Conquerers through and through, from fellow norsemen, to other lands and of course the sea. I think I'd consider Isaiah.S a badass too, for conquering this brick-built hull.
We've never covered LEGO cosplay here on BrickNerd, but that's about the change. For the uninitiated, cosplay is basically "dress up like your favorite character". I know that's overly simplistic, and that dedicated cosplayers literally spend months if not years perfecting their costumes. This Wyldstyle costume by SunlitEquinox is awesome. So is she a DJ?
Here in California we just don't get much snow, at least where most of us live. Maybe that's why I find winter MOCs so appealing, since they represent something far away and somewhat exotic (at least to me). This modular diorama by sdrnet depicts a scene I've never actually experienced at a snowy winter vacation spot. There's so much detail in this scene and inside the building I invite you to click through and take a look. There's also a fantastic little surprise under the mountain, very nerdy.
Want to customize a minifig without fancy printers or toxic fumes? Learn how to use the dark art of reductive design to literally erase the line between official and custom LEGO parts.
LEGO meets tabletop combat in the Brassbound universe. We talk with creator Paul Antoine about designing microscale armies, turning builds into game pieces, and developing games with a growing community.
When a legendary archaeologist minifigure meets the spin cycle, adventure calls! Follow along as we reclaim the lost fedora of Indiana Jones and uncover how to repair a LEGO keychain.
LEGO adventurers need somewhere to unwind between quests. We talk with Sleepy Dragon Inn designer Marin Graux about classic Castle, medieval hospitality, and how his design evolved for the BrickLink Designer Program.
From sketches to superglue, see how this custom LEGO motorcycle earned its street cred. We chat with Jean-Yves about the design, prototyping, and even heat resistance of his LEGO customizations, taking them from prototype to the pavement.
October has arrived with a fresh selection of LEGO contests and challenges. Don’t miss your chance to build a MOC and maybe even win some awesome LEGO prizes. With a new LEGO Speederbike Challenge, and a Halloween contest or two, there’s plenty of inspiration to be found!
What makes your eye land on one part of a LEGO build before another? In this month’s Conversation Piece, we explore focal points, visual weight, and how builders can guide a viewer through a composition.
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