“In a world of floating islands, Elias . . . knew every lever, every pipe, and every sound it made. But his eyes often wandered atop the workshop, where his air balloon stood, waiting to lift off.” That’s how Gus (aka Faëbricks) begins the tale surrounding this tall vignette called “Sogno di Volare,” and personally, he had me at “floating islands.” The model has clear industrial, steampunk vibes from the brick foundation to the moored airship—and speaking of that airship, how cute is that thing? It’s a compact, one-seater model perfect for gallivanting around those floating islands. As Gus continues: “One day, he promised himself, he’d set his balloon free, leaving the steam and noise behind, and float into the wide, open sky.” Here’s hoping our little engineer gets his chance.   The post Steam on! appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Ryan Kunz

The artful LEGO creations of Mattia Careddu are more than they first appear to be. Two forms stand on opposite sites of a mirror – an elegant robot and a black fantasy monstrosity. Which is truth and which an illusion? Mattia’s build is striking, both as three separate models and as an evocatively staged tableau. I love the retro robot with a slight tip to its head. The mirror frame is simple but effective, especially at this large scale. But it’s that shocking red background contrasting with the sand green and inky black that turns the scene into dreamy technicolor phantasmagoria. The post LEGO seen through a glass, darkly appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Jake Forbes

For many LEGO fans, each new series of Collectible Minifigures is a creativity prompt to assemble minifig habitats to house each character, and one of the most prolific and inspired of these builders is ABrickDreamer.  The latest Dungeons and Dragons series of minifigs is arguably the hottest set to date, with each character bringing deep lore and delightful accessories to inspire habitat builders. Let’s take a look at ABrickDreamer’s take with 12 fantastic habitats! The Dragonborn Paladin lead the pack housed in an elegant castle courtyard with a lovely double archway. The Dwarf Barbarian camps atop a mountain pass, joined by a goat to match her gruff demeanor. The Mind Flayer and its Intellect Devourers suck life from a deep dungeon. Minifig habitats follow a few basic rules – the base should be 8×8 studs,and the walls 8 bricks high, offset halfway by a stud to help them interlock. Often the...

Magneto was right – a lot of people have been saying it. Even Professor X saw fit to hand over his X-Men to Magnus in the event of his death (or engagement to a space empress). LEGO builder and Marvel fan flambo14 shows their pro-Magneto stripes, creating a throne from a dismembered Sentinel hand for the the Master of Magnetism.  Flambo14 creates artfully arranged chaos with a mix of scrap metal parts for the raised dais, held in place not by magnetism, but by tension and cleverly concealed LEGO connections. It’s the perfect display piece for Marvel’s most magnetic personality. But good luck fitting that throne into the X-Mansion, bub. The post Is there room in your X-Mansion for the Master of Magnetism’s throne? appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Jake Forbes

November sees the release of two of the year’s most anticipated LEGO sets: LEGO Marvel 76294 X-Men: The X-Mansion and LEGO Ideas 21353 The Botanical Garden. Each set is paired with an exclusive gift-with-purchase during the first week of availability. This is also your chance to acquire a copy of the GWP LEGO 40698 Books Are My Passion, while supplies last. For full details on November’s sets, visit LEGO’s website (US | CAN | UK). LEGO Marvel LEGO Marvel 76294 X-Men: The X-Mansion | 3093 pieces | Available Now for Insider, November 4 for all others | US $329.99 | CAN $429.99 | UK £289.99 Daniel braved the Danger Room to review LEGO Marvel 76294 X-Men: The X-Mansion in advance of its release.  Be sure to read the review if you’re unsure about joining Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. You may also be able to find LEGO Marvel 76294 X-Men: The...

After countless Halloween seasons in the LEGO hobby, I’ve seen pumpkins of every size, shape, and variety. So I certainly take notice when a new bit of “gourd-making tech” hits the scene. Fellow SortLUG member Deborah Higdon has nailed an excellent pumpkin shape in her seasonal mosaic, utilizing curved tiles to create the lobes of the fall fruit. A pair of spooky creatures and some winding vines add to the 3-D elements of the creation. All that’s left is to wish you all a happy Halloween from The Brothers Brick! The post Trick-or-Treating for tiles! appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Kyle Keller (TBB Managing Editor)

The respected Dr. Henry Jekyll and his monstrous alter ego Mr. Edward Hyde roam the streets in this slick and sinister build by Kamil Karpińsky. The titular characters from Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic story turned Halloween icons are a study in contrast: Jekyll is dressed to the nines in a bowtie, waistcoat, top hat, and long coat, with a gentleman’s cane as an affectation. Mr. Hyde, on the other hand, makes good use of Gothmog’s head from 10333 The Lord of the Rings: Barad-dur for a fearsome, demonic visage. His enlarged shoulders strain at the remnants of Jekyll’s coat, while his feet have split his trousers open, exposing his impressive brick-built musculature. The rest of the build is fairly minimalist, but we can see the infamous potion spilling onto the street. The post There’s no Hyde-ing the good and evil here appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Ryan...

Spooky, ooky, with the most eloquent of moans, Lurch is more than a butler in the Addams household – he’s family. mc tung celebrates Halloween with a lumbering LEGO tribute to lovable Lurch. The builder plays with the Frankenstein association with Lurch’s ears jutting out like the Monster’s bolts. Why is Lurch crying? Maybe he misses Wednesday now that she’s sharing a room with Enid at Nevermore Academy. At least Thing is here to walk Lurch home to the microscale Addams house . The post Addams Family butler won’t be left in the Lurch appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Jake Forbes

Crank up the Mystery Machine, the LEGO Scooby Gang – made by Magmafrost13 – are back in action! Daphne is looking chic as ever with her scarf made from a fern and don’t miss the little eyebrow detail Magma gave her. The gang is always trying to get a grip on whatever monster-of-the-week is running around, so they have hands made from little sticks! Finally I’ll draw your attention to the unique nose the builder gave each character. I think they match each character perfectly, and will certainly help Mystery Inc. sniff out some mayhem! The post Zoinks Scoob, I think we’re LEGO! appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Simon Friesen

What makes a cozy home? For a necromancer, nothing beats a mildewed crypt full of bones and a little pumpkin patch for a splash of color. That’s just what artist Gabriel Midgley built in LEGO to get into the Halloween spirit. Gabriel beautifully presents the spooky vignette with exposed roots creating a dynamic base and custom lighting giving the scene a suitably eerie glow. The necromancer is a chilling minifig design with layered robes, a custom staff, and the back of Szazz’s Tam‘s head making for an unsettling eyeless face. Gabriel has only recently started sharing LEGO builds and we’re excited to debut them here on TBB. A noted Tolkien fan, Gabriel offers some wonderful vignettes from the books that are defintitely worth a look, like the Council of Elrond or this Rohirrim Homestead. The post Isn’t it necromantic? appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Jake Forbes