Although this article may seem like a planned successor to my original "This Old Track" article discussing ways of maintaining and restoring 9V metal track, I have to admit that it is not. Rather, it is the consequence of an experiment that got out of control! This experiment was simply an investigation of every LEGO 12V Train system power accessory. I wanted explore how each worked, in particular, I wanted to experience what it was like to setup and use the modular brick form-factor control panel switches. I have always admired from afar these elements, and never having owned any myself, invested in buying at least one of every type to finally discover their operational characteristics. The 12V LEGO train system offered a variety of fabulous power operated accessories—dramatically elevating the operational experience and expanding the play-value of LEGO trains In order to really appreciate the operation of these power accessories,...

The Japan Brickfest (JBF) is Japan’s largest international fan-organized LEGO event and an official LEGO networking event since 2017. More than 270 LEGO lovers - kids, teens, and adults - from all over the world have exhibited their MOCs throughout the years. It was held yearly until COVID shut Japan’s borders and forced everyone to stay home. This 2023 it was held June 10-11 at the Canadian Academy at Rokko Island, Kobe, Japan. This is my third time attending JBF, having previously attended in 2018 and 2019. This year, though, was my first time attending JBF without my LUGmates from the Philippine LEGO Users Group and staging a solo display. Here’s my account of what went on in JBF this time around: Day 1: Experiencing Japan and Setting Up I arrived at Kobe from Manila via Osaka late on the evening of the 8th, so I wasn’t able to do much...

“Man the gumdrop cannons! We’re on General Kringle’s naughty list this year!” Builder Mike Sinclair gives us a LEGO scene that has the Christmas season fighting against itself. Maybe you’re rooting for St. Nick and his elven troops, armed with a present catapult and cannon. But if you’re like me, you’re on the side of the Gingerbread Kingdom. With their cookie castle surrounded by a chocolate moat, these confectionary combatants aren’t about to crumble under pressure. The fortress is a beautiful mish-mash of classic castle shapes laced with bits of icing and other sweet treats. It’s an extremely well-executed fusion of themes. And, much like the smell of gingerbread, it’s got me hungry for more! The post War makes gingerbread boys into gingerbread men appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Kyle Keller

Gnomes are tiny mythical creatures of European folklore. With that said, it is possible that the monster spider in the center of this LEGO creation by Mihał Ch is normal-sized. Still, a spider of any size gives me the heebie-jeebies so I wouldn’t want to be that wee little gnome explorer. It looks like he’s about to become a snack! I may stick around just long enough to admire the neat build techniques used in this underground terrain; the rocks and web design are amazing. The entire diorama is only six studs deep but the amount of detail rendered makes the cave seem to go on forever. But still, let’s hope the other things we feature soon will be less spider-centric! The post Where the explorers are tiny and the perils huge! appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Lino

Lego is not Denmark’s only market-leading company; Vestas, the world’s largest builder of wind turbines, is also Danish. After I built my mega-windmill trailer with a Vestas wind turbine nacelle, I seriously considered building a truck carrying one of the wind turbine’s blades. However, these blades are so big that, even at minifig scale, the model would have to be more than a meter long. This did not strike me as a particularly fun build, but I found a suitable alternative. It is a truck that carries the wind turbine’s hub. The tractor unit is a Volvo FM; another powerhouse from Scandinavia. There’s a Dutch twist too. It is in the largely orange livery of Dutch heavy haulage specialists Van Der Vlist. And the trailer represents a semi-low loader built by Nooteboom, which is also Dutch. Its load is a lot more manageable than a turbine blade, but it is still...