Why Do They Keep Building These Parks?

As summer approaches we can all get set for another dino-blockbuster, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Builder ZiO Chao is getting in the mood with this fabulous collection of dinos. On this sign there's no fewer than ten including the classic tyrannosaurus, velociraptor and triceratops. How many of the others can you name? Click through for the full list and closeups of each dino.

A-3B Skywarrior

I have undeniable ties to the US Navy. My father served and so did my father-in-law. While my dad  never talked much about his service, my wife's father told me some very interesting stories about being a radar operator on an S2F Tracker. If I had to guess, there were at least a few of these A-3Bs on the aircraft carrier as well. Builder Mad Physicist has done it again with a large scale aircraft of one of the Navy's largest aircraft (they didn't call it "the whale" for nothing). It's loaded with details including foldable wings, articulated air brakes and an opening escape hatch. Ralph has also loaded the descriptions of numerous photos (including WIP) with loads of history, click through to learn more about this often overlooked aircraft.

Medical Frigate

I've always loved the Nebulon-B, from the first moment I saw it on screen in the Empire Strikes Back I was intrigued. It was designed by my dear old friend Nilo Rodis, inspired by an outboard motor. The description for this MOC says that it's "original creation by dranac modifications and photo by one case". I will say they make a hell of a team, because this is an outstanding model and presentation.

A Loving Old Couple

I suppose it's not all that uncommon, for people to fall in love and actually stick together. Marriage is work, don't let anyone fool you, but when two people click, and understand each other enough to weather the bad times (there are always bad times) then it can work out. This couple, expertly rendered by builder vincentkiew, has been married over 60 years, which is truly an accomplishment. Then you learn that he happens to be the Prime Minister of Malaysia, and the oldest Prime Minister in the world, and you don't know what to be more impressed about.

Rough Water

The ship in this diorama by builder Kloou is lovely, and deserving of attention. But really I can't stop looking at the water. This looks incredibly tedious, fragile, frustrating, time consuming and maddening, not to mention the part count. It also looks absolutely marvelous, and is worth all the heartache (easy for me to say, I didn't have to build it).

Cloud City

Who wouldn't want to visit this tranquil city in the clouds by builder did b? That is of course if you don't mind flying, because there's no elevator to this place. I can't imagine a runway being much of an option either, so it's either lighter than air craft, or helicopter. My preference would be dirigible, getting there would be half the fun.

Battlestar Galactica

Following the premiere of Star Wars way back in the 70's there was a sudden and prolific flood of sci-fi, most of which was pretty bad. But there was one shining star (pun intended), Battlestar Galactica. It's the only one with any staying power, enough so to build a loyal fan base. Fast forward a few decades and that same fan base was capable of spurring a reboot, expanding the universe and bringing it to a new generation of fans. One long time fan is BrickNerd's own El Barto, who has constructed this beautiful beast. She's 140 studs long and weighs almost 30 pounds. Check out the contours and complex compound curves on this, it's a true labor of love.

SHOK|AAHN Starfighter!

(Smarmy Radio Host's voice)  Good morning LEGO fans!  It's going to be a No-Mech Weekend here on Bricknerd!  Kicking it off is Jeremy Williams with his killer new Xylian starfighter.  Used to combat raiders and smugglers, this little beauty really packs a wollup!  And what better song to get the party started than this! 

Lavaria's Ultimate Mech

Got a little something for the Nexo fans out there thanks to builder LEGO 7. It's Lavaria's Ultimate Mech, in glorious large format. This wicked six-legged beast features a good mix of System, Bionicle and Hero Factory elements, seamlessly integrated into an offering that looks like it could come from LEGO itself.

Seraphine II

This mech by builder Devid VII has a nimble and gaunt appearance. But despite it's wasp waist and overall slender frame, it actually holds a minifig in the back. I will say I'm a bit distracted by the size of his...let's call it a codpiece. Seriously, what's that for?

Exo Onesie

According to builder Wami Delthorn, Exo Suits are not for babies, at least that's what the images say on Flickr. I'd say judging on how this turned out, that's not really the case. This baby is clearly a skilled builder, and the suit fits just fine, so why not? Sure he or she caused a little mayhem at first, but wouldn't anybody?

Wizard Makerspace

I've often wondered how much of the wizarding world lives in distant fantasy, and how much was real. Not that I believe in magic (maybe), but I know there had to be people trying to turn lead to gold, humans are just like that. Enchantments may not have really done anything, but I like to believe they were attempted in places like this wonderful interior by Cesbrick. And if you don't believe in magic, please explain how those hammers are used for the fireplace.

Centaur Knight Mech

This is an awesome mashup of mech and myth from builder LEGO 7. Meet the Centaur Knight Mech, which has the amazing concept of taking a centaur (part man, part horse) and realizing it in mech form. The results are stunning, in both form factor and construction. The details are understated, keeping it sleek and purposeful, and the color combinations really work well.

"They Have A Tank"

While the original Raiders of the Lost Ark remains my favorite, Last Crusade is a close second. The dynamics of Dr. Henry Jones junior and senior makes for fun scenes, and the action in the movie is top notch. Of course the tank battle is a highlight, and this recreation of the iconic scene by JBIronWorks is spectacular. Not only that, but there's an awesome behind the scenes story in his description as well, click through for an interesting read.

MFS-019 Octopus

Builder Moko has gone full cephalopod on this build. This is the MFS-019, AKA Octopus. In nature, vibrantly colored creatures are usually a sign that it's deadly, and judging by look of this beast, it applies here as well. I love the subtle "suckers" on the inside of the arms, and the overall look of this guy, very cool.

Platypus

This aircraft might be unconventional (I mean, how many times have you seen a pusher canard biplane) but it's no less intimidating. It's also named after a pretty unconventional animal, which makes it all the more appealing.

Dispatch Bike

While I've never really ridden a motorcycle (unless you count my dad's Trail50, I don't) I've always admired the aesthetics of them, especially vintage ones. This retro styled beast from redfern1950s2 hits all the marks for me, especially when equipped with a side car, it's just beautiful.

Flying Camera

What costs a lot of money, sounds like a swarm of angry hornets and really shouldn't be used near airports? Drones, or more accurately quad copters (drones implies autonomous, they aren't). I have one of these things languishing in my garage (there's only so many aerial views of my culdesac I need) but it required a lot less skill to put together than this offering by vitreolum, and it makes a lot more noise.

Welcome, To Jurassic Park

Hard to believe it's been 25 years since Jurassic Park premiered. This movie marked a pivotal moment in my life. At the time I was doing creature effects and animatronics, everything was fiberglass, rubber and servos. I had been watching the development of CGI with mild interest for years, but was never terribly impressed. This movie blew me away, and I remember saying to myself "we're finally there, time to switch to pixels". Immediately after I bought an Amiga computer and started teaching myself 3D. It's also hard to believe that BrickNerd turns five today (well, the day I registered the company, the blog doesn't officially turn five until July 1st), so it seems appropriate I should be celebrating the five year anniversary of this endeavor and admiring this sculpture by DOGOD Brick Design, two pivotal moments in my life.

After The Quake

Being a California native and living here most of my life I know quakes. We had one just a few weeks ago, I was in the studio by myself when it happened. I just looked around and admired everything swaying, then went back to work. Of course this was a small one, not like the destruction that ravaged the city in this diorama by builder ranghaal. The image here is pretty small, it's worth clicking through to check out the larger pic for all the detail.