Bulleid Merchant Navy Class

As I’ve stated more than once on this blog I don’t know diddly about trains, so I’ll let builder technoandrew’s description do all the talking… The Merchant Navy class was designed by Oliver Bulleid for the Southern Railway, and introduced many novel features to a British locomotive. However, many of these innovations proved troublesome, so the class were subsequently rebuilt by British Railways to a more conventional design. My model represents the rebuilt version.

Espeon

You don’t see many lavender MOCs. I’m assuming because it’s a fringe color and has a limited number of elements. But that didn’t stop builder retinence from tackling little Espeon here, and the results are pretty stunning. A lack of elements didn’t seem to be a problem here, because the contours turned out perfect.

Get Some!

“I wanna introduce you to a personal friend of mine. This is an M41A Pulse Rifle. Ten millimeter, with over-and-under thirty millimeter pump action grenade launcher.”

— Cpl. Hicks

Builder Nick Brick is back with one of my all time favorite sci-fi weapons, the M41A Pulse Rifle from Aliens. I still recall sitting in the theater during the pulse pounding 2 hour 34 minute adrenaline rush that is Aliens and going “oooohhh” when Hicks was showing this to Ripley.

Centipede - Plague Mech: Omicron

I don’t know what a plague mech is, and I hope I never find out because this thing is a bit terrifying. Builder Anthony (The Secret Walrus) Wilson has brought together seemingly benign Technic and System pieces into a thing of nightmares. Part centipede, part alien, part machine, all horrifying.

Beautiful Brick Bouquet

Not only is this sculpture by builder jarekwally eye catching and whimsical, it’s also a reminder that LEGO is moving away from petroleum based plastic to plant-based. This is part of their commitment to being sustainable by the year 2030, and they’re well on their way. I’d personally like a couple bouquets like this around the house, fun to look at and pretty difficult to kill (bringing a live plant into this house is pretty much a death sentence).

Samurai Mech

I was stunned to learn that builder Eero Okkonen constructed this gorgeous behemoth in two days, TWO DAYS! I know I’m a slow builder, glacially slow any more (seriously, my current MOC has been on the table in the studio for well over a year) but this just blows my mind. Sometimes it’s the pressure of a contest deadline that can kick a build into overdrive, in this case the Eurobricks Ninjago Contest. But to beat the deadline with such an awesome figure, color me impressed.

I’ve Seen This One it Doesn’t Turn Out Well for the Coyote

The Road Runner and Coyote, two of the classic cartoon foils. Chris Goddard has succeeded where Wile E. never did, by capturing the Road Runner in brick form. Also Wile E Coyote, and a back drop straight out of a classic Merry Melodies short. The classic elements are there: the Road Runner about to set off something the Coyote attempted earlier and failed, the Coyote’s later over complicated attempted to snag the Road Runner, a fantastic American Southwest backdrop, and the Road Runner’s knowing look to the audience just before the Coyote, with his bulging eyes gets his comeuppance. The only thing missing is the painted tunnel that turns into a real tunnel later, but that would likely crowd the scene.

Game Of Thrones Castles In Motion

Fans of Game of Thrones should recognize these iconic castles from the opening titles of the series. Builder Legopard spent three months recreating six of the locations of Westeros and Essos, not only capturing the look and feel of them, but also adding brilliant mechanical action to all. Check out the video to see them all in motion, and try to keep your jaw from hitting the table.

Alien Turns 40

Yesterday while we were celebrating my wife’s birthday there was another birthday getting some recognition, the movie Alien. On May 25th 1979 Ridley Scott changed everything about science fiction and horror, and this was one of the pivotal moments in the film, brilliantly recreated by Ochre Jelly on it’s 40th anniversary. Let this be a lesson to you kids, don’t go poking your head into strange eggs on a distant world, no matter how cool your costume is.

Notre Dame

The world watched in collective horror as fire raged through Notre Dame last month. We all reacted in our own way, some prayed, some cried, some vowed to rebuild and some were just frozen in disbelief. But builder Rocco Buttliere committed to building this, a spectacular recreation of the beloved architectural masterpiece. It is intentionally set in springtime to represent rebirth, a notion I find irresistibly uplifting. Click through for more pictures and some fascinating history.

Diner Mini Modular

I really dig the mini modular scale. The original set is one of my favorite sets of all time, and I still have it together. In fact, you’ll find it in the background of a great many of the animations at BrickNerd Studios, it’s perfect for forced perspective. This mini version of the diner by Swan Dutchman would make a perfect addition to the set too. It’s amazingly accurate to the proportions and colors of the original, including the signage on the front, isn’t that spiffy?

Mickey!

Mickey Mouse is a pretty popular subject for LEGO artists, I myself took a crack at him almost 10 years ago. And I can tell you from first hand experience he’s not easy, especially at small scale. But thanks to some much needed parts, namely the 1x1 round black tile and 1x1 half round white tile, everyone’s favorite mouse has never looked better than this rendition by the great Bruce Lowell.

John Wick

A word of advice, don’t mess with this man’s dog. Sure he may seem like a bit of a burnout, a loner, but he’s got some skills. And while you may have your particular beef with him, if you try to settle a score you should be prepared for some…push back. But, whatever you do, do not mess with his dog, you have been warned.

"You Raise Me Up"

Its not always about dashing heroes, sleek spacecraft and armed to the teeth mecha! Sci Fi worlds still need waste disposal, and maintenance craft.

Tim Goddard has captured the industrial look with these fantastic mobile platforms. There is not much in the way of back story for these, but then again, they are just walking platforms so what more do you need?

I love the use of parts on the legs, as the look like they have great articulation, and the little “eyes” just give the platforms that added character

All Aboard!

I love a well-executed train scene. It’s likely from growing up at with my dad fairly active in the NMRR, and going to lots of train shows. Allan Corbeil’s “Going West” is an excellent diorama of a 4-6-0 steam engine chugging through the woods. The engine is well executed with a billowing cloud of coal smoke. The choice of using the old 9V powered track gives the rails a metallic shininess. I’d love to go on about the train but the vegetation is equally impressive! The simple cat’s tails in the pond are great, and add to the forest’s undergrowth well. There are 4 different style trees with a variety of greens for the foliage colors which adds to the realism in the build. This excellent build captures the Age of Steam well, I can hear the hiss of steam, the smell of coal smoke, and feel the earth rumble as the train chugs along.

Rhapsody

If I didn’t have a fear of swimming (or heights), a ride on Ted Ande’s futuristic skiff Rhapsody sounds just peachy. I always enjoy seeing builders try to incorporate Technic pieces into their MOCS, and it’s especially well done in this one. I also dig the floorboard texturing.

Metronome

I’m no musician, but I’ve made music, and while I’ve never used a classic metronome, I’ve always been fascinated by them. How the simple change of distance of a weight on a swinging arm could change the tempo, it’s marvelously mechanical. This version by builder moctown not only looks legit, it makes very clever use of the 1x1 white tile with black square.

Congo

I can think of no place on this planet, or any other, at any point in history or the potential future that I’d like to run into Congo here by builder luigi1456andrew. Between his sharp teeth, scaly skin, piercing eyes, full armor and deadly weapons he is sort of the physical manifestation of reading the news today.

"Antari Station In Quadrant 6, And Step On It"

I really dig this futuristic yet totally retro space taxi by builder ericteo_98, it looks like something right out of a movie. How awesome would it be to see this gliding through the sky against a sci-fi cityscape, dutifully delivering passengers to places we can only dream of. Of course this is the future, so the prices will be crazy too, but maybe the floor wouldn’t be nearly as sticky due to advanced material sciences (who am I kidding, we can’t have nice things).

"Your Mind Powers Will Not Work On Me Boy..."

It’s far too early in the morning and I haven’t had nearly enough tea to have my mind so completely blown by a MOC. I knew what this scene by builder Grantmasters was the moment I saw the thumbnail, but just look at the scale of it! I mean Jabba’s throne room in surprising detail in a package about 10 x 14. I also love that the genesis of this creation was the fact that the hat was reminiscent of Jabba, brilliant.