Friday, May 30, 2014

The flying pancake

The latest challenge on LUGNuts allows builders to make an aircraft to go along with their typical car or truck. So Lino Martins, in his own words, "went with the most obvious choice, a Vought V-173 'Flying Pancake':"

See what you saw

6kyubi6's latest Iron Builder creation looks simple, but in fact it's very well-built and makes excellent use of this round's seed part, the "small ball and receptacle". It almost looks as if it actually works! 

Thursday, May 29, 2014

8-foot-wide Monarch butterfly by LEGO Certified Professional Sean Kenney

LEGO Certified Professional Sean Kenney has completed the latest in his Nature Connects series, this amazing (and huge) Monarch butterfly and milkweed plant:
Four months to build... over 60,000 pieces... some of the stats are just mind-boggling. See more pictures and read Sean's notes about the build over on MOCpages

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Basket case

I realize I've tagged a lot of posts "NPU" in the 11 days since I started this blog, but seriously... some builders find truly inspired uses for LEGO parts, and that's one of the major factors I look for in finding models to feature here on Brickology. This might be my favorite instance so far: Moko's use of an upside-down basket for a pig's nose. I mean, a basket! For a pig's nose! Who'da thunk?
And just because it's so cool-looking, here's another build by Moko, this one entitled "Effect": 

Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards...

...or this could happen. A Plastic Infinity makes his second appearance here on Brickology with this fantasy scene: 

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Motorcycle shop

And now for the second garage-themed model featured here on Brickology in the last two days! This one, by 6kyubi6, was built for the latest round of Iron Builder, using the "small ball and receptacle" as the seed part. May I present "John's motorcycle shop": 

Motorcycle, loud music, oil spill...now that's the sweet life!!
Well maybe a little beer would be nice :P

It glows in the dark

While reading the description for Lord-Oblivion's latest MOC over on Flickr, I was a bit shocked to learn that scorpions glow under black light. At least that means that this "Servant of Serket" is ultra-realistic, as it too glows in the dark! 
The builder has a few notes on the creation: 

I tried to keep the MOC anatomically correct, with the lone exception of the eyes. I felt some nice, big eyes would be better serving to this.

The legs can all move, the tail is pose-able (and the stinger is also able to rotate back), and the top pincers can close down like a real scorpion.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Garage life

I can appreciate a nice Ferrari or Jaguar, but overall I'm not really a car person. But this vintage car garage by Andrea Lattanzio (Norton74) is awesome. As soon as I clapped eyes on it I knew I needed to blog it. 
Find many more photos in the builder's Flickr photostream

Fit for a king

There's another round of Iron Builder raging, this one pitting 6kyubi6 against onosendai2600. This round's seed part is the "small ball and receptacle", which 6kyubi6 has used to full effect in this microscale castle and landscape:
Impressive part use here, and not just with the seed part. The Medusa snake hairpieces and little brown swirl are spot-on. 

Friday, May 23, 2014

Non-classical classic

This is an unusual design for a motorbike... but I like that. Its design is exactly what the builder, FrantiÅ¡ek Hadjeker, has called it: "non-classical classic." I approve. 

Help yourself!

Summer is nearly upon us... so it's time to break out the sausage and potato salad, as it seems vir-a-cocha has already done: 

Rebel Commando

A Rebel Commando is a Rebel Trooper trained for special forces operations. Rebel Commandos fought in the Battle of Endor. As well trained soldiers, Rebel Commandos were often used for scouting and demolition missions. The commandos on Endor were a special 12-man team with members from all seven Regiments of the Alliance Special Forces, they helped out Princess Leia, Chewbacca and Han Solo blow up the shield generator to the Death Star II.
This is a nice creation by Kazumi and Omar Ovalle (Omar + kamitera). I like the use of the cloth (even though it's non-LEGO), and the face and helmet design captures the essence of the character. The absence of arms and legs on this trooper is a bit odd though, it leaves me thinking that maybe the Ewoks got to him...  

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Ruins

The latest creation from A Plastic Infinity is this nice little purple spaceship. Apparently that alien there is returning to her "ancient and long-deserted home in search of her race's most forgotten treasure." Th ship has a creative design – I like the black antennae and, of course, all that purple – and the rocks and ruins are well-designed too. Nice build. 

UPDATE: The builder posted another photo of the ship in flight a few days later:

Olive trees

Matthew Oh has built a nice little scene from Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I especially like the large tree made up of olive green cheese slopes, but all of the vegetation looks good, as does the trail of bubbles behind the canoe. 

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Luxury

Wow. This Ferrari 458 Italia is one of the slickest cars I've ever seen made out of LEGO. Nathanael L. is the builder, and the model features beautifully sleek curves and a fully designed interior. 
Here's the link to the builder's Flickr photostream, where many more photos of this can be found.

Also, Nathanael has a LEGO Ideas project for this car... meaning that if it reaches 10,000 votes it could become an actual LEGO set! Click here to help give this thing some votes. I for one would totally buy this if it appeared on a shelf. 

Neotep, Lord of NPU

Lord of the nearly total darkness; that bit between where you thought you could maybe see something, and nope just too dark to make out anything kind of Lord.of Darkness. He's not happy either, as he's sure he's been ripped off somehow by this deal, and the title was, well, ridiculous but certainly looks impressive across his office door.....from a distance that is : D
The latest kooky character from Karf Oohlu, has so many awesome part uses that I don't know if I can count them all. But I'll try:
- The One Ring(s)
- gold modified lightsaber hilts
- gold perfume bottle
- Ninjago shoulder armor/sword holder
- gold scorpion
- gold binoculars
- basket
- that piece used for the teeth (Where did he get that? I've seen the piece on Brick Daddy from Space Police III, but not in gold.)

So yeah, Neotep is one awesome – and innovative – build. Nice one Karf. 

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

A slice of bricks

Hey, I could eat some cake right now. Oh look, what's this? Mmm... a nice slice of strawberry cake baked by sinan bitiþik
Yeah, I think I'll sink my teeth into that nice sweet... OW! WHY ARE MY TEETH FALLING OUT? WELL DILL MY PICKLE IT'S MADE OUT OF LEGO!

Monday, May 19, 2014

Vroom vroom!

PÄ“teris Sprogis is known for his vehicle building skills... for good reason. His "Spektor V2" is concentrated awesome. 
I love the ray gun elements on the front grille, and the windshield is streamlined and futuristic. 

Check out PÄ“teris' photostream for tons more images, plus a few other variations of this vehicle. You will not be disappointed. 

I'm wishing!

I really like this wishing well by Jordan Schwartz (Sir Nadroj). The leaves and vines climbing over it give it a sense of age and mystery, and the ducks- with their flesh-hand beaks- look mighty fine as well! 

Cubism is a thing

Well, it was back in the time of Picasso. But maybe Dead Frog inc. will bring it back. He's certainly made a good start with his "Mk. 4 Turret": 

Sunday, May 18, 2014

These aren't the droids you're looking for

John Kupitz (Phuonom) demonstrates that size isn't everything with his model of a Star Wars landspeeder. (I'm not sure if it's Luke's or not.) 
The method used to secure the windshield is innovative. 

Forcing the North Gate

Though I am primarily a space/sci-fi builder, I can appreciate a good castle MOC, which is undoubtedly the category this build by JBIronWorks falls into. Entitled "Battle of Durrough – Forcing the North Gate", it is packed with battling minifigures and well-built houses and cobbled streets. 
Seriously... that is an insane amount of minifigs. Must've been a pain to place them all... 

"A Simple Solar Rover" LEGO model in Popular Science

My June 2014 issue of Popular Science arrived yesterday, and on page 66 I noticed a short article detailing how to build a small solar-powered rover out of LEGOs! 
The instructions say to use LEGOs to "build a chassis of your design that supports four wheels 2 inches or larger in diameter." It then says to glue the LEGOs together "for extra durability"... but we all know that's not the way to go (at least not if you're a purist)! The rest of the instructions tell how to set up the solar panel. Apparently, in direct sunlight, the bot should "scoot along at 2 feet per minute," which isn't fast by any standards but should provide a sense of satisfaction that you managed to build a working solar rover out of LEGOs!

It was good to see this article in PopSci, as I suppose it helps to promote LEGOs and the things that can be done with them. I probably won't be trying this myself, but I'd be interested to see what people think of this design in the comments. 

Mmm, citrus-y

Talented builder Bruce Lowell strikes again with these realistic (if a bit smaller than life-size) oranges:
Or maybe they're clementines. That seems right... 

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Snake in the grass

It was a question of great importance: What should be the first MOC I blog here on Brickology? It had to be something awesome, but something none of the other LEGO blogs, like The Brothers Brick, had posted yet. Something new and exciting. 

Finally I came across this fantastic commissioned model by Tyler Clites (Legohaulic). That huge snake is the Great Devourer from Ninjago. I love the clean, sleek lines on this beast... and of course all that dark green is nice as well... 
Congratulations Legohaulic... you have the honor of being the first builder blogged here on Brickology!

UPDATE- Tommy Williamson blogged this MOC over on BrickNerd! Curse you BrickNerd, now I can't claim to be the only LEGO blog to have blogged this awesome snake! :)

It begins

In the beginning there was nothing. 

Then... there was Brickology

I'm starting this blog today – May 17, 2014 – with the intention of highlighting the best LEGO fan creations on the web. My primary focus will be on creations by other builders, though from time to time I may blog LEGO-related news articles. 

I hope you enjoy Brickology

UPDATE: As of March 15th, 2015, Brickology is now The Brick Bucket (www.thebrickbucket.blogspot.com). Click here to read more about the name change. (Don't worry, there's still the same great LEGO content!)