New LEGO Storage and Display Products

A company called Brick Innovations in cooperation with Phillip Miller Furniture has just launched a Kickstarter Campaign featuring several LEGO storage and display products. Every LEGO builder struggles with how to organize their collection, and the more options we all have the better as far as I'm concerned. Among the items they're promoting is a rather clever selection of tables, cabinets and building furniture, as well as some cool drawer pulls and a shelf to display Minifigures. They were kind enough to send a prototype Minifigure Shelf for me to check out. 

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The shelf they sent holds more or less 8 figures, but it's smaller than the 18" version they have as a reward level on their campaign (which by the way its already funded just two days in, congrats guys!) and is made of a somewhat lightweight wood, I'm assuming pine. Embedded in the top is a strip of 1x genuine LEGO plate to attach your figs to.

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Now I would be remiss if I didn't point out the obvious similarities to the Chroble shelves that have hung in my studio for quite some time now. The Chroble shelves are solid walnut, larger, heavier and have a strip of full sized 1x bricks on top. They are top quality in every respect, but that quality comes at a price, making them quite a bit more expensive than the Brick Innovations shelves. I don't know that I can fully comment on the quality of the Brick Innovations shelves either, since this is a prototype I have to assume the production ones will be better. But the one I have could have used more sanding, clean up and another coat of paint. 

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So if you're interested in more storage and display options for your collection check out their campaign and throw some support their way.

Kylo

I wasn't too sure about Kylo Ren, even after my first viewing of The Force Awakens. But I have warmed up to him since (well, as much as you warm up to a murdering, foul tempered wannabe sith). But how can you resist him as a Brick Sketch by Powerpig? I wouldn't say I'm ready to declare my allegiance, but I have to admit I'm thinking of putting on TFA while I work.

Groucho

Yeah, this is gonna be another "back in my day" post. When I was a kid we only had four channels, and on Saturday morning it was our time. We watched classic WB cartoons, Tom & Jerry, Land of the Lost and the usual stuff. But in the afternoon things shifted to film festival time. And while the movie was hit and miss, you could always depend on some Three Stooges or Marx Brothers to be mixed in (as well as Popeye, ugh). So I grew up watching this man and his brothers, maybe not getting the humor as much as a good whack to the head with a hammer, but still enjoying it more than Popeye. This portrait in the style of Powerpig's Brick Sketches is by builder Paddy Bricksplitter, and he totally nailed it.

The MOC Is Bursting With Awesomeness

The Arvo Brothers are back, with another jaw dropping, chest bursting, awe inspiring MOC. Everyone remembers the first time they saw Alien, hopefully before someone spoiled it for them (and with that being said, SPOILERS AHEAD) and when this adorable little dude bursted out of Kane's chest after everything seemed back to normal. This is the second version of this iconic creature from the Arvo Brothers, the last one being from 2007. Building instructions are available by contacting them at arvo@arvobrothers.com and soon on their website.

La Saignante

This post is one week early for international talk like a pirate day (no really, look it up, it's a thing), so I'll avoid any cheesy "arrggs" and "avasts" and just present this absolutely wonderful pirate ship by builder Kloou. This lovely craft has three masts, a functional crane, fully decked out interior and fourteen guns. She's a formidable vessel you don't want to see approaching on the high sea.

Give Me A Hand

I really dig this mechanical hand MOC by builder ToyForce 120. It reminds me of my time as a mechanical designer, as well as the Terminator (plus robot hands are pretty much always cool). The pose-ability of this hand is absolutely fantastic, if you click through there's tons more pictures with all kids of poses. As for the title of this post, it's totally selfish, I want this hand.

151 PokéMOCs

In light of the immense resurgence of Pokémon this past summer, Carson Hart set himself a goal to build all 151 of the original Pokémon, and he's done quite a good job of it. You might have to squint on some of the smaller models, but a lot of them came out looking really spot-on, like his great Charizard, Lapras, and so on.

Bugging Out

There are few more scary things than Giant Space Bugs. Starship Troopers is one of my favourite Sci-Fi action films. And its the Bugs that make it the more terrifying! This superb MOC by Sanellukovic shows two large bugs stomping around the ruins of some civilisation. It seems to have been built for a competition on a German LUG but I would love to see it expanded into a full Post Apocalyptic landscape crawling with Giant Space Bugs. A shiver actually went down my spine!

Quad Jumper Picnic

Here is something a little different that I missed back in July (does this count as MOCstalgia?) I am not and never will be a fan of the Friends Mini Dolls. They just doing sit well with me. However in this MOC from Tyler Sky they seem perfectly at home. I love bold colours on space ships and cool design features. And just look at the backdrop. I wish I could hop into that Jumper and blast off somewhere for food on a blanket!

Ana's Biotic Rifle

Overwatch has spawned a great many MOCs, and they continue to impress and amaze me. This latest full size prop "weapon" (can you call it a weapon when it's designed to heal?) from Nick Brick is beyond awesome. The build quality and style alone is impressive enough, but this also has custom printed elements, realistic bolt action, lighting effects and folding stock. Check out the video to see this baby in action.

Laboratory

A great MOC doesn't need to be huge, or elaborate. It doesn't need to be an epic battle, or a nod to pop culture, or the latest fad, or any pre-conceived notion. Sometimes a great MOC is just a very clean and simple interior. No flash, no gimmicks, just clever construction, attention to detail and fantastic building skill. This laboratory by builder Heksu is just such a MOC. There are other shots of it with a character in the scene, but I like this one, simple and elegant.

Bowser

Mario Bros. is one of my all-time favorite video game series, in large part due to its diverse cast of fun, unique characters. One of which is Bowser, Mario's long-time arch nemesis and general thorn-in-the-side. Nathanial has immortalized King Koopa himself in bricks, and it's fantastic. Gotta love him posing with the infamous Blue Koopa shell. 

Macross Destroid Defender

Just this morning I blogged a Valkyrie, now this Defender MOC by builder prolost comes to my attention, it's Macrossriffic sorta day! I like the clean lines and design of this mech, like it's animated counterpart, it's no nonsense.

Thanks for the tip Angus!

Review: LEGO Collectible Minifigures Series 16

Yes, LEGO Collectible Minifigures Series 16 is finally here, with all the banana guy action you can take. I did an overview of the entire collection yesterday, and they're pretty awesome. This video however is just as terrible as most of my YouTube channel...You've been warned.

Valkyrie VF-1

I've always sorta preferred the mentality of Macross (or Robotech as it was better known in the US) over Transformers. Rather than disguising themselves it was simply a matter of practicality. It's easier to get where you're going if you can fly fast, and easier to fight if you're a robot, so why not combine them? This version by nobu_tary nails the look perfectly, and transforms as well, awesome.

Happy 50th Anniversary Star Trek!

Fifty years ago the intrepid crew of the starship Enterprise embarked on a five year mission, and have been going strong ever since. I was a late bloomer to Star Trek fandom, although I did watch occasionally when I was a kid, it wasn't until I was 18 when my roommate and I had a nightly routine of watching that I became a fan. And I'm certainly not alone, as you can see by this small collection of MOCs from over the years. This is just the tip of the iceberg, do yourself a favor and boldly go Google "LEGO Star Trek", it's totally worth it. Live long and prosper Star Trek!

Hh'alamand'ia

Behold the Space Squids Hive Mother SHIP!  Our old buddy Bob DeQuatre has really thrown down the tentacle, er, gauntlet for this year's SHIPtember contest.  There's even a video of the rotating eye and swimming squid action!  Bob says it's his first foray into the SHIPtember frenzy, too.  Welcome to the Fleet! 

Macaw

From the thumbnail you'd swear this is just a photograph of a blue and gold macaw, but as you can see it's a brilliant sculpture by AnActionFigure. The overall shaping, color and pose are what contribute most to this, but my favorite parts are the subtle details. Check out the string work around the eye, and the eye itself, I can't decipher how it's constructed, but it's perfect.

Spacing Bad

It would appear meth is a problem across the galaxy, as evidenced by this intergalactic meth lab. Builder madLEGOman has mashed up space and Breaking Bad for a fun (well, as "fun" as a meth lab in a RV ever gets) MOC that I think would make a compelling series on it's own. Just think how cool it would be for them to be on the run from an alien drug cartel.