Do you remember the building techniques you used before certain LEGO elements were officially released? How many custom accessories and workarounds did you create before LEGO introduced an official version? Chances are, you have plenty of creative examples that make your builds and photos even more dynamic. But how do you integrate these new pieces with the techniques you’ve already mastered? Let’s explore the “before and after” of LEGO creations through photography and discover ways to blend custom creations with newer LEGO elements. Smoke & Bubble Effects How did we create tiny smoke effects in LEGO before the release of the new Potion Class set? By stacking transparent elements in creative ways! The new smoke element, however, is more refined (much to the delight of chemistry teachers) and offers an easier way to create bubbling effects. Here is how I used to create some transparent bubbles: Something went wrong… or did...

What do Marie Curie, Sir Isaac Newton, and George Washington Carver have in common? They’re all scientific trailblazers—and now, they’re minifigures in one of LEGO’s most inspiring sets yet. The Evolution of STEM, the winner of the 2023 LEGO Ideas contest Celebrate the Wonders of STEM, will release on March 1, 2025. But don’t let the sleek box art fool you—this set isn’t just about building; it’s about celebrating curiosity, innovation, and the interconnected worlds of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. I personally connect to this set being a teacher at a school that encourages the STEM field. (In all actuality, this set should be called The Evolution of STEAM since LEGO in itself is Art.) So join me as we dive into why this set is more than meets the eye and how it reflects learner profiles from an educational viewpoint. Along the way, we will speak with the designers...

LEGO recently announced set 21062 Trevi Fountain, revisiting the same subject that was previously featured in set 21020 in 2014. Revisiting subjects of sets by LEGO is more common than you may realise. It is done in a number of ways and for a variety of reasons. 21020 Trevi Fountain from 2014 21062 Trevi Fountain from 2025 You’ll be amazed how often some subjects have appeared as sets. (I was, while I was researching this article!) But before diving into those stories, let’s talk, somewhat paradoxically, about what we’re not talking about. Set Re-Releases Space Shuttle set 10231 from 2011. Image via Brickset LEGO sometimes re-releases sets. By “re-release,” I mean the LEGO offering the exact same model, or with minor changes, for sale again. For example, between 2001 and 2004, LEGO tapped into the nostalgia of a new group of customers known as AFOLs with the “Legends” line. The re-release...

Can you feel it? Something long dormant is awakening. A contest of heroes and villains… of lightsabers and blasters. In the vast shadowy depths of the galaxy, a challenge stirs—a call to arms that will summon the fiercest builders and creators. But who will rise to answer the call? Who will reign triumphant with the spoils of the star wars? The details remain a mystery, yet one thing is undeniable—Imperial March is coming. On March 1st, everything will be revealed. Prepare yourselves because an epic battle is about to begin! Will you answer the call? Let us know in the comments below. Do you want to help BrickNerd continue publishing articles like this one? Become a top patron like Marc & Liz Puleo, Paige Mueller, Rob Klingberg from Brickstuff, John & Joshua Hanlon from Beyond the Brick, Megan Lum, Andy Price, Lukas Kurth from StoneWars, Wayne Tyler, Dan Church, and Roxanne...

A smooth-moving camera slider can add a professional touch to your videos and brickfilms, creating dynamic shots with ease. In this article, I’ll show you how I built a fully functional camera slider for a smartphone only using LEGO. It’s a simple yet effective solution for adding cinematic movement to your footage. So as we wrap up Engineers’ Week, I’ll even provide some guidance on how to build it yourself. Better a Good Copy Than a Bad Original Before starting a project, I always like to research how other engineers have tackled similar challenges, especially when working with LEGO. With experience on film sets, I’ve seen a wide range of camera sliders in action. For this project, I specifically looked into three-axis motion-controlled sliders to understand their design and functionality. Lynx motion control slider ($2,000) Professional three-axis camera sliders are designed to perform three out of six fundamental camera movements. Every...