LEGO Castle walls- Nice and weathered looking

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Brickshelf user, Infernum, recently posted an excellent example of weathered LEGO castle walls. This beauty looks like it has weathered the storms of time, and prevailed. It will no doubt weather the storms of her enemies as well.

LEGO castle

LEGO castle walls still standing strong

I really like the techniques Infernum used to build these LEGO castle walls.  They really look old and decayed, yet still formidable.

I conversed with Infernum over on Eurobricks, and he said next time he attempts a build like this, he will offset the dark gray bricks one stud to make it look like the LEGO castle walls have crumbled even more.  I like the idea, but think a 1/2 stud offset would be better.  And then I’d want to see piles of rubble at the base of the walls.

This LEGO castle is well defended with its twin lookout posts giving defenders a good 270 degree view of the surrounding lands.

I also appreciate that there is an interior to this LEGO castle.  I really like how the doors were created.  Very nice!

It’s no secret that I love LEGO castles.  What’s your favorite LEGO theme or genre?

LEGO Sydney Opera House 10234 unveiled!

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This weekend at Brickworld Chicago 2013, LEGO made a huge product announcement. They unveiled the LEGO Sydney Opera House 10234 slated for sale in September 2013.
LEGO Sydney Opera House

LEGO Sydney Opera House

Here’s the official word from The LEGO Group

Ages 16+. 2,989 pieces. 
Recreate Australia’s architectural masterpiece!
US $319.99 CA $379.99 DE 279.99€ UK 249.99 £ DK 2499.00 DKK

Recreate one of the 20th century’s most distinctive buildings with the LEGO Sydney Opera House™ model. Build the unmistakable shell roofline, waterfront forecourt and more with this authentic representation of Australia’s most iconic building. Employ a variety of new and advancedbuilding techniques to recreate the complex forms, angled walls and subtle detailing of the real thing! Collect lots of dark tan LEGO® bricks including the rare 1x1x2/3 stud and 1x2x2/3 stud slopes, as well as a 48×48 stud baseplate in blue for the very first time!

  • Build this model of a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
  • Includes hard-to-find dark tan LEGO® bricks, tiles and sloped bricks!
  • Collect the 48×48 stud baseplate, available in blue for the very first time!
  • Sturdy construction allows the model to be handled and moved!
  • Features advanced building techniques for complex forms, angled walls and subtle detailing!
  • Measures over 11″ high, 25″ wide and 15″ deep!

This thing is huge! And stunning! I will have to make room in the LEGO budget, and my office, for this beauty.

Wow.

What do you think of this instant classic? I LOVE all that dark tan. And this is one of my all-time favorite examples of architecture anywhere in the world.

LEGO Dark Ages – Have you gone through them?

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What are LEGO Dark Ages? If you’re an AFOL, you’ve probably already gone through them. You might not even know it. LEGO Dark Ages are the period of time you set all your LEGO aside in favor of other interests, usually the opposite sex ;-) , up until that time you once again find that love of the brick.  For many AFOLs, their interest in LEGO is rekindled when they find others like themselves on the internet.

LEGO Dark Ages

LEGO Dark Ages – Share your story!

I remember exactly when my LEGO Dark Ages began.  It was the summer between elementary school and junior high.  I realized I was going to meet new friends, and I was becoming more and more aware of girls at the time.  I felt like it was time to grow up.  I boxed up all my toys; my Star Wars* figures, my Hot Wheels cars, and my LEGO.  Deep down, I must have known that I would want these things again at some point.  They were carefully packed, meticulously labeled, and lovingly stored away.

That was probably the summer of 1983.  I honestly don’t think I even thought about LEGO during those intervening years.  It took a very thoughtful gift from a very special person to bring me out of my LEGO Dark Ages.

It was Christmas of 1996. (I think.  It may have been 1997 though…)  I was given LEGO as a present.  It was the Hemlock Stronghold.

LEGO 6046 Hemlock Stronghold

I remember looking at the gift-giver funny, and she said, “I think everyone should get a toy for Christmas.”  Today, that girl is my wife.  :-)

After that, my re-emergence was slow, but it had begun.  I remember browsing the internet and coming across people customizing their LEGO minifigures into Star Wars figures.  I began dabbling in this, and that led me to start buying a little set here and there.  Once I stared to see the possibilities LEGO held, my LEGO Dark Ages were over!

So my LEGO Dark Ages lasted the better part of 13 years.  How long did your’s last?  Share your story with us!

*It’s funny.  I don’t remember exactly what my last LEGO set I got before entering my LEGO Dark Ages, but I remember the last Star Wars figure I bought.  it was the Scout Trooper from Return of the Jedi.

LEGO WWII Aircraft – P-61

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When I see beautiful LEGO WWII models, I will always blog them; LEGO WWII aircraft especially.  Check out this LEGO P-61, jeep, and tanker.  All beautifully done by the Mad Physicist.

LEGO WWII Aircraft P-61 'Black Widow' diorama (2)

LEGO WWII Aircraft – P-61

I think the only time I’ve ever seen a P-61 was in Indiana Jones, which is a shame. It is an incredible looking aircraft, and even color looking built from LEGO!

P-61 'Black Widow' diorama, v.2 (2)

I love how the wings swoop up towards the tips, and I love how the complicated cockpit was achieved. This LEGO WWII aircraft model is a seriously complicated build!

P-61 'Black Widow' diorama, v.2 (1)

As nice as the P-61 is itself, I’m also loving the jeep and the tanker. Both are simple, beautifully recreated models.

P-61 'Black Widow' diorama (1)

There’s something about these 5-wide vehicles that really speaks to me. It seems to be the perfect width for minifigure scaled vehicles.

P-61 Black Widow with air- and ground crew

Have you come across other outstanding LEGO WWII aircraft models? I’d love to see them!

LEGO Classic Car – Ford Taunus

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Being from the Motor City, I will always appreciate classic cars.  Especially a LEGO classic car.  Here’s an old Ford from Michael Jasper.

LEGO classic car

LEGO Classic Car

This LEGO classic car has it all; sleek lines, lots of chrome, and a beautiful design.

I am really having a hard time determining how this thing was built. o.0  The sides look, for the most part, like they are standard studs-on-top construction, but there are things like the inverted cheese slopes behind the rear wheel that I can explain.  Any ideas???

And I have no idea where some of these parts would have come from.  It looks like the seat backs are made from tan window pane pieces.

Even the detailing on the under side is incredible.

Not only is this LEGO classic car beautiful to look at, it’s an example of so many building techniques.  My guess is this only serves as a display piece, which is fine.  I would think it would be too fragile to be playable.

What do you thinK?  Does it look solid to you?  Any ideas how some parts were built?

LEGO tree – A simple yet elegant way to build one

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TranceM89 posted a brilliant tutorial on Eurobricks for building a LEGO tree.  This is a slightly different technique than I have seen in the past, and very effective.  I can see this LEGO tree lining my city streets very soon!

***I am reposting the tutorial here for my readers***

LEGO tree building tutorial

This is the parts list. You will need more of most of them of course.
- 6L bar
- 1×1 round brick
- Sea weed plant
- 6×5 leaves
- 4×3 leaves

LEGO tree Parts

Step 1
Add a 1×1 round brick at the bottom of the bar.

Step 1

Step 2
Add 5 more 1×1 round bricks around the bar.

Step 2

Step 3
Add a ’6×4 leaves’ on top of the 1×1 round bricks and the ‘sea weed’ plant on top of the leaves.

Step 3

Step 4
Add some leaves on the sea weed.

Step 4

Step 5
Add some more untill the sea weed is filled.

Step 5

Step 6
Because the tree looks too open with leaves only placed on the sea weed you can add more leaves on top of the other leaves.

Step 6

Finally the tree is finished and ready to be placed in a Lego city or other MOCs.

The result

Very simple, yet elegant.  I like the uneven look, and the roundness.  This LEGO tree will certainly add variety to your MOCs.

Have you seen any other good LEGO tree tutorials?

LEGO furniture – Beautiful LEGO interiors

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There are a lot of great LEGO builders out there creating a lot of wonderful LEGO buildings.  I wonder how many of them include full interiors like 1982redhead. Check out this incredible collection of LEGO furniture.

LEGO furniture

LEGO furniture

Look at the cabinet above.  Using 1×4 hinge plates to replicate door pulls?  Pure genius.  And look at the knick knacks on top of the dresser.  Just very well thought out.

LEGO furniture

Not only are the LEGO furniture builds excellent, but I love the color choices as well.  The sand green and yellow work very well together.  This would make any LEGO interior designer proud.  And I love the ship in a bottle displayed proudly.

LEGO kitchen

I really like the thoroughness of this LEGO kitchen interior.  Love the 1×1 handle brick on the fridge.  And I really like the way the 1×2 jumper plates work as cabinet doors with handles.  Too cute.

LEGO table and chairs

I think that might be the nicest LEGO table and chairs I have ever seen, and I would love to eat my breakfast them.  Just seems really sunny and warm to me.  I love the use of yellow inlaid in the table top, and love the yellow cushions on the white chairs.  LEGO furniture at it’s finest!

LEGO bed

I would love for this room to be mine!  Love the bookshelf incorporated into the head of the bed.  And I love the pillow.  Great use for a LEGO part I have very little use for.

Such excellent LEGO furniture, and such excellent design.  I urge you to check out more LEGO goodness from 1982redhead on Flickr.

When you build LEGO buildings, do you build out your interiors are extensively?

LEGO M113 – Military APC

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I love WWII vehicles built from LEGO bricks. Some are done so well, they look like they were meant to be done in LEGO. Like this LEGO M113 by Daniel Siskand.

LEGO M113 ACAV

LEGO M113

LEGO M113 ACAV

Daniel’s detailing is incredible. All the essential parts of the vehicle are represented in the LEGO M113, and they are done to perfection. Check out the image below for example.

M113 ACAV Soldier

Not only is there a rear landing door, but there is an access hatch built into it as well. Incredible attention to detail, and a stunning example of design ingenuity.

M113 APC / ACAV

Siskind’s LEGO M113 is not only beautiful to look at, but it also has a high level of playability.  The roof is easily removable, and you can access the personnel compartment.  Even the roof hatches are operational.

M113 APC / ACAV

If you like this LEGO M113 as much as I do, head over to Brickmania and buy one of their many WWII LEGO kits.

To see more incredible LEGO military models, head over to Flickr.

LEGO Stadium – Baseball, football, gymnastics, etc.

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I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to post about this creation.  It is one of my favorites.  It’s a LEGO stadium, but not just any stadium.  It’s configured to host multiple sporting event!

LEGO stadiumLEGO Stadium

The outside of this LEGO stadium is incredible.  The color choices are perfect, and work unbelievably well together.  One of my favorite details has to be the baseball player head mounted on each side.

LEGO sports stadium

LEGO sports stadiumI can’t even imagine where the builder got all those dark tan brick-bricks, and all that dark orange, not to mention the dark green.  This has to be one expensive model…

LEGO stadiumAnd the dome?  That is pure brilliance.  A true marvel of engineering.

LEGO sports stadium

 

And as mentioned, this LEGO stadium can host a baseball game.

LEGO sports stadiumOr football.

LEGO sports stadiumI love the forced perspective of the small playing field.  This was something I always struggled with when envisioning a LEGO stadium build I have in mind.  I may have to go this route as well…

And I like the various pictures highlighting the construction.  Pure genius.

LEGO stadium

LEGO stadiumI hope you enjoy this LEGO stadium as much as I do.

Have you seen any other LEGO sports venues done this well, and at this scale?

For more LEGO genius by RedCoKid, head over to Flickr.

Just realized this is my third time featuring RedCoKid!

Beautiful LEGO art deco building

Lego University