Have You Started Your Holiday Shopping Yet?

Hey readers, the silly season is upon us. Pretty soon you won't be able to escape the holiday music and I'll be watching A Christmas Story over and over. 

If you shop online please consider supporting BrickNerd and using the links here on the website. You get the stuff you were going to get anyway, and BrickNerd gets a few cents towards stocking stuffers. Every little bit helps.

Forced Perspective FTW

This shot tickles my visual effects fancy. Not that it's not a pretty excellent build, but the shot itself is a classic VFX trick of forced perspective, carefully arranging models of varying scale to imply distance (it's Star Wars related too, double trouble). Yes, it's a bit of a spoiler to see how it was done, but that sort of thing has always revved my engine since an early age. Nice shot Brickwielder.

Anyone Got A Quarter?

One of my favorite builders and all around swell guy Chris McVeigh is ready for the holidays and wants you to be too. As is his tradition, he's releasing a series of building guides for creating some ornaments, and has something a little different this year, arcade machines! Being a kid of the 80's I was there for the golden age of the arcade, so I find these particularly appealing. Head over to his website for building guides, kits, shirts and more.

LEGO Metropolis

This is grand scale and majesty in a tiny package. Builder Klaus ツ uses nearly all white in the micro scale city, with excellent effect. The limited use of trans light blue adds a great contrast and splash of color without being distracting. The construction is fairly strait forward and not very complex, but the detail level is perfect. It's simplistic enough to imply scale, and complex enough to be very visually interesting.

LEGO Mascot 1954

The 1950's were an exciting time for LEGO. The brand was getting recognition for quality and our favorite "System of Play" was introduced, while the wooden toys that the company was founded on started to be phased out. During the mod 50's, you were likely to see this little guy on the packaging. This version was built by Bill Vollbrecht for the L-Gauge Museum.

Lest We Forget

Whether you are wearing a poppy, flying a flag or simply remembering a lost loved one, today we honor those that served in the armed forces. Builder Si-MOCs pays his respects with a heartfelt MOC, it's simple and powerful. Today I'm thinking of my father and my father-in-law, both served with pride in the US Navy. To all you men and women in uniform all over the world, thank you, thank you very much.

What The What?

Builder Legonardo Davidy is back (already?) with another spectacular build. It's got all the trademarks of one of his builds, marvelous curved structures, detailed and textured walls, whimsical touches and....what the heck? Is that thing standing on chicken legs? 

BR-55 Battle Rifle

The king of future weapons Nick Brick is back with some superior firepower, the BR-55 Battle Rifle from Halo 2 Anniversary. I've never donned armor and charged a battlefield, but if I did I'd want something this beefy and imposing as a weapon. The contouring, clever offsetting, smooth construction and attention to detail on this thing is stunning, you just wanna grab it and start going "pew pew"

Anatomy Of Nerdly

There's been some debate as to why Nerdly wears glasses when he clearly has no eyes. But with this anatomical study by Nerdvember sponsor customBRICKS some light may have been shed on the subject. I don't know if it will influence the debate, but at least there seems to be proof of  orbital anatomy.

DesignerCon Is Today (And Tomorrow)

We set up STUDS and Comic Bricks last night, the display looks amazing. I also have the set from Batman Vs Superman set up and the movie will be playing next to it.

If you can, get yourself to Pasadena and come visit (I have stickers!)

Snoopy & Woodstock

I read Peanuts as a kid, and I enjoyed the animated shows like Great Pumpkin and Charlie Brown Christmas, but my favorite character was always Snoopy (and pigpen, that guy can dance). When he wasn't tearing up the skies as a WWI Flying Ace he was content to have a nap with his buddy Woodstock. This MOC by Bricksky captures them perfectly.

Pirate Jigbots

This is the kind of thing that happens when you bring together a small group of insanely talented builders and a spark of inspiration. This is a collaborative build from Brickthing, LegoJunkie, Legonardo Davidy and Si-MOCs based on the original Jigbot by BrickThing. I don't know which sea these pirates sail, but I'm sure it's a perilous and hilarious place to be.

Nerdvember Continues

I've heard lots of comments about MOCs for the Nerdvember contest in the works, but builder Pistash was the first to enter. This fiesta version of Nerdly cracked me up when I saw it, It must have been the combination of clown nose and party blower (who says clowns aren't funny?). Have you started your Nerdly yet?

Star Wars #1

You all know what a Star Wars geek I am. So when I was invited to contribute to the Comic Bricks art show at DesignerCon 2014 there wasn't a any question what comic I'd use. It was instantaneous and unwavering, Star Wars #1. This was my favorite comic as a kid, I literally wore it out thumbing through it continually until it finally fell apart. Now I have it again in brick form (that is unless someone buys it this weekend)

UPDATE: Somebody bought it, I have mixed feeling about it. Always great to get affirmation, and someone purchasing your art is high praise indeed, but I didn't get a chance to get sick of looking at it. I never even got a chance to show it to my wife in person, she only saw pics. The good news is if I really miss it, I can build another (just as soon as I restock 1x1 orange plate!)

DesignerCon Is This Weekend!

I'm looking forward to attending DesignerCon 2014 this weekend. I'll be displaying some MOCs and my contribution to the ComicBricks art show (if I can get it finished!). If you've never been to DesignerCon I strongly encourage you to come check out all the designer toys, art, apparel and loads of other way cool stuff.

I'm also super excited to be showing an exclusive preview of my new animated film, Batman Vs Superman. See it at the show before you can download it! The sets from the film will also be on display. I'll have some stickers and if you're  really nice a handful of Nerdly printed bricks. Come down to the Pasadena Convention Center this weekend and I'll see you there!

View fullsize

I'd also like to send a HUGE shoutout to fabulous Paul Lee for doing the artwork for the poster, it's phenomenal!

Nobleman's Manor

If you're a castle fan, this is pretty much the best time of year. When CCC hits suddenly the floodgates open on castle MOCs of shapes and sizes. I for one get a kick out of the medium sized castles like this one from Dubbadgrim. Large enough to have impressive scale and diversity, small enough that you can see all the details. I especially like the different styles of the various sections of this luxurious manor.

The Eagle

When I was a kid my neighbor had the coolest Eagle toy, the cockpit and engine pod could be removed and connected to make a cool "mini Eagle" we called it. We also took great delight in attaching a parachute to the back and hurling it off the cliff in my back yard. Despite this wanton vandalism, we were fans of the craft and the show, so it gives me warm fuzzes to see it still. This version by V00D00M is fuzzyriffic.

Falworth Castle

Colossal Castle Contest XII is upon us, and castle builders all over the world are coming together to build and compete. And no collection of awesome castles would be complete without an entry from Mark of Falworth. This humble little abode is based on a previous castle, and the upgrades are apparent. 

Walker With Personality

Normally mechs and bipedal robots are such serious stuff. Either bristling with armaments or intimidating with their size and armor. Not so with this MOC by nobu_tary. I mean, it's clearly built for business, but it's got a flair and panache that makes you want to climb aboard, pop in your favorite mix tape and go clompin' around.