What do you do when a LEGO Pokémon set doesn’t quite hit the mark? Take it apart and create an alternate build using only the pieces from the original set! But how do you level up a character as recognizable as Pikachu?
Read MoreAre you an AFOL in need of a break or maybe some inspiration? Or are you just getting started trying to build a MOC for the first time? Well, alternate LEGO set builds are the perfect experiment to get your imagination racing!
Read MoreThe instructions suggested a Paris skyline. We ignored them and used the pieces from the LEGO Architecture Paris set to build a dinosaur fossil instead!
Read MoreDo you need a huge collection of LEGO parts to build an entire fleet? Not according to Brad Barber, who shows us that less is more as he creates an alternate build armada from a single Star Wars set.
Read MoreWhat happens when you remix a masterpiece using only what LEGO gives you? This color-driven alt-build of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers proves you can reframe the original even if all the pieces are flat.
Read MoreLEGO DreamZzz sets give people a choice between two final models, but what would happen if we gave the sets to three French builders and let them choose their own adventures?
Read MoreAlt builds of large LEGO sets are fun, but we challenged two BrickNerd contributors to create alternate models of two very small sets without adding any extra pieces. Did they succeed?
Read MoreCheck out this alt-build for Benny's Spaceship: Asimov I Starship, by Piotr Turecki. The ship has some nifty design features such as a detachable bow module. Plus everybody fits inside (Kitty's in the cargo bay). But what really jumps out is the photo editing-Stunning! I'll have to imagine an effect like that the next time I swoosh one of MY ships around the living room. Awesome!
When I first looked at the parts selection for LEGO Star Wars 10236 Ewok Village I thought "you could build a pretty big tree with this". But when builder JK Brickworks saw the selection he thought he could build a pretty big Ent with it, and did just that. This is an alternate model for the set, and it's pretty impressive. The face is a little goofy for my taste, but overall it's pretty awesome. There's also a video, LDD model and instructions on his website, check it out!
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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Old LEGO magic still has its charms. We revisit Borgin and Burkes and Dumbledore’s office to compare how their buildings, curious objects, and magical creatures have changed across generations of Harry Potter sets.