Feel the Force of Jedha’s sacred Temple of the Whills in LEGO

A lot of people are saying that hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster. I get it. I never set foot in an Outer Rim cantina without my trusty DL-44 either. But maybe there’s something to the old stories of wizards and their laser swords. Otherwise, why would the Empire be be so afraid of a backwater moon like Jedha? LEGO builder Ryan McBryde certainly has a soft spot for the “pilgrim moon” of Jedha, home of the Guardians of the Whills, spiritual site for the Jedi, and a source of the kyber crystals used in lightsabers. For the past 8 years, Ryan has been collaborating and iterating on an epic build of Jedha’s Temple of the Guardians of the Whills and the surrounding old city in conjunction with the Star Wars Factions role-playing project. In addition to the incredibly detailed building and interiors, which expands on brief glimpses of the site in the background of Rogue One, Ryan fleshed out the stories of locals and visiting pilgrims who bring the ancient site to life (at least until Grand Moff Tarkin showed up to test his fancy new superlaser).

Jedha City and Temple

Ryan’s project isn’t just an incredible accomplishment in LEGO construction, but a testement to the vitality of Star Wars as a collaborate story space.

Come along for a tour of LEGO Jedha’s holiest site!

New LEGO Icons 10334 Retro Radio announced and hits the airwaves in June [News]

We interrupt our regular programming to bring you this broadcast from LEGO. They have unveiled the latest set to be added to the 18+ Icons line, 10334 Retro Radio. It’s the second piece of vintage tech to see an official LEGO set in recent years, following LEGO Ideas 21327 Typewriter. Much like the typewriter, this radio includes functional controls that can activate a sound brick inside. But if you’d prefer to play your own shows on it, there is storage in the back for your smartphone as well. This 906-piece set will be available for US $99.99 | CAN $129.99 | UK £89.99 from June 4th, with LEGO Insiders getting early access from June 1st.

Click here to see more radio pictures and read LEGO’s press release!

This Weird LEGO polka face is bright and nerdy

True story, I’ve only seen “Weird Al” Yankovich at a concert once. He wasn’t on stage – it was a They Might Be Giants concert – but even headbanging to another band’s accordian songs, his joy was infectious. Joy really hits on what makes Weird Al such a beloved and enduring figure in the music world. His parody songs, exhuberant polka medlies, wild music videos, and countless cameo appearances are guaranteed to deliver smiles. Builder Moptoptrev captures that joy in his heartfealt LEGO tribute. The long, wavy locks, jutting chin, high cheekbones and kind smile click together in an unmistakeable portrait of the musical legend. The mosaic work captures Yankovich’s style and brings a great mix of color. Moptoptrev pairs the colorful bust with a brick-built version of the artist’s Roland accordian. It’s a lovely portrait of an artist who dares to be stupid with all of his generous and talented heart.

Weird Al Yankovic Lego Tribute

This X-ceptional LEGO scene rides into the Danger Room

As a super team, how do you make sure you’re in top fighting condition to take on anything from giant robots, to genetically engineered dinosaur people, to spineless alien gameshow hosts, to your teacher’s unborn twin? Lots and lots of practice. The X-Men’s Danger Room, here recreated in LEGO by Brickelangelo, is a mix of gymnasium and Star Trek holodeck that uses alien tech to create a full-sensory combat experience. Brickelangelo’s vignette supplements the official roster of X-Men minifigs with a few custom versions from (the big, as our mutant heroes train against Savage Land raptors and Tigertooth Sabertooth. The scene is packed with great details, like the rippling pixel effect as the slick tiled room transitions to holographic wilderness, the X-shaped door, and the signiture smoke poof as Nightcrawler teleports into position. Brickelangelo first shared his Danger Room a month ago but came back with improved photo staging to better appreciate the full model, which we much appreciate. With X-Men ’97 killing it on Disney Plus, Deadpool & Wolverine looking to crush summer box office, and LEGO’s return to the theme, Marvel’s mutants are having a moment. No doubt we’ll see more X-ceptional builds like Brickelangelo’s to add to our growing X-Men collection.

Lego X-Men: Danger Room

A Traveler’s Tribute to the Golden Temple

Seeing the talent and imagination displayed in models from world-class builders can be a major inspiration for LEGO fans, but where do those builders find their spark? For Danish AFOL (Adult Fan of LEGO) Lasse Vestergård, two enduring sources of inspiration are travel and faith. Lasse’s latest creation is a stunning model of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the holiest site in Sikhism and an architectural marvel. The original building, the sacred pool surrounding it, and the holy texts within date back to the 16th century. Shifting empires and religious conflicts led to multiple waves of destruction and rebuilding, but the site’s significance and grandeur have endured, attracting both pilgrims and world travelers like Lasse. While he was inspired to recreate the temple after a visit in 2019, it took years before Lasse could find enough gold bricks to make that dream a reality. There looks to be nearly 200 golden bananas alone (I guess that qualifies it as a house of worSHIP).

The Golden Temple in Amritsar built of LEGO bricks

Lasse’s rendition isn’t just noteworthy in its scale, but for its ingenious detail while working within the constraints of white and gold elements. The white flower motif around the side entrances is especially effective. I also very much appreciate seeing so many turbans being used to celebrate a culture not often represented in LEGO.

The Golden Temple in Amritsar built of LEGO bricks

The Golden Temple is the second holy site from Lasse’s travels to be highlighted on this site, as we were also moved by his LEGO model of the Mir-i-Arab Madrasah in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Lasse’s galleries feature many more temples and churches from the ancient and modern world and his native Denmark that are definitely worth a look.

A modular slice of Cyberpunk

Although only one facet of a larger collaborative build, Bart Marable’s first foray into LEGO cyberpunk provides much of the requisite detail to identify it’s overall theme. While most modular buildings have such a great facade, we are left wanting when viewing the sides and backs of the building. Bart, in a relatively small build, has provided 360-degree detail with images to prove his effort.

Let’s call the ‘Fan-side’ the facade. The use of both vivid and understated colors creates a facade that seems to have evolved and been enhanced over time fulfilling the goal of portraying a cyberpunk realm, in my opinion.

A Study in Cyberpunk

Let us have a look at the full effort here.

This sleek fighter jet will answer your need for speed

Fighter jet aerodynamics are tricky to render in brick form, but this LEGO F-14A Tomcat by our own Ralph Savelsberg pulls it off with a variety of sloped and angled elements, including the trans-clear bricks that form the cockpit.  The Tomcat’s characteristic swept-back wings are represented with meticulously chosen angled plates. Adding to the authenticity are the missiles stowed beneath the wings and the antenna pieces used for the airspeed sensor probe beneath the cockpit. Not pictured: a highway to the danger zone.

VF-41 Black Aces F-14A Tomcat with a few tweaks

Two new iconic LEGO sets announced, based on a pair of well-known European wonders [News]

LEGO has been inspired by the art in Paris, France with a duo of new LEGO Icons sets bound for release this year. From its home in the Louvre’s Salle des États, the Mona Lisa is by far the most well-known painting in the world, soon to be remade in brick and plate. LEGO Art 31213 Mona Lisa will be a little over 1:2 scale, coming in at 43 x 11.5 in (or 43 x 30 cm) and is comprised of 1,503 pieces. Moving over to the world of architecture, LEGO Architecture 21061 Notre-Dame de Paris is perhaps the best known cathedral in the world, its namesake standing tall since 1260. The LEGO version will still sit at an impressive 13 in tall (33 cm), with a removable roof and detailed interior. These popular Parisian LEGO productions will go on sale at the start of October and June, respectively. More details and pics of these new sets are below!

Continue reading →

A char-CUTE-erie board for you!

Boy, do we have a treat for you today folks! This LEGO build by Carter is an outstanding mix of the tasty and adorable. While the individual treats are not what you might find on a charcuterie board, their chubby cheeks and stubby arms might make up for that. That donut in the center is covered in smooth lavender-colored icing, with the macaroni-shaped pieces coming from a single set released in 2022. The thin seaweed layer around the sushi is made from 2×2 curved slopes. With food this cute, could you bring yourself to eat it?

Mini Snacks

An android endorsed by Spielberg himself

In the distant cyberpunk future, you might run into this LEGO android by Joey Klusnick! This build is a great example of using a highly unique LEGO piece to create something new. That camera that makes up the android’s head is the old USB camera sold in 1349-1 Steven Spielberg Moviemaker Set from the year 2000. The body of this robot is a wonderfully organic series of wrapped rubber. But here’s the thing: that’s still part of the camera! The USB cable of the camera is (apparently) ridiculously long, so Joey has used it to create all the muscle-y bits this android needs to run around. I also want to point out that the USB plug on the droid’s left arm fits perfectly into a pair of fences. One thing I know for certain is that this droid will always get its shot!

Megapixel

LEGO Ideas dresses to impress with the announcement of 21349 Tuxedo Cat [News]

Ever thought your botanical collection could use a cat to knock the plant pots off the mantlepiece? Well, today is your lucky day! LEGO has just unveiled the latest set in the Ideas line of fan-submitted creations: 21349 Tuxedo Cat. Originally entered by user The Yellow Brick (AKA Damian Andres), this furry feline reached the 10,000 supporters threshold in November 2022, with LEGO’s stamp of approval being given in May of last year. Its 1,710 pieces include interchangeable eye colours and, as the set name suggests, a smart black-and-white fur coat. When it hits shelves this June 1st, it will retail for US $99.99 | CAN $129.99 | UK £89.99.

Take a closer look at this cool cat after the jump

You may want to make like a tree and get out of here!

The forest awakens! When the forest is threatened, who speaks for the trees? If you’re lucky, maybe you get a lecture from a fuzzy orange Lorax, but if you’re in the primeval forests of Poland, you might have to contend with the wrath of pagan god Leshy. Builder Bard Jaskier‘s vignette depicts the Slavic force of nature in a style inspired by heavy metal art, with fearsome antlers, goat eyes, a mantle of flowers, and a body that blends bark and bone. As impressive as the central deity is, Jaskier packs the rest of the scene with detail and clever build techniques. Who would have guessed that palm fronds and bamboo could make such perfect dark forest pines? I’m always excited when LEGO fans take inspiration from a specific culture and use their models as a way to bring topics to a new audience, which Jaskier does here with Slavic folklore, just as he has with Polish history.

Leszy