Tag Archives: lego

These 1:1 scale LEGO Reptiles are the perfect blend of Creepy and Cool!

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The word Herpetophile stands for someone who loves reptiles. Of course, if you already knew that, chances are you’re a fan of scaly vertebrates like lizards, snakes, turtles, and other members of the reptilia family. If the term herpetophile describes you, chances are you’ll love LEGO builder legotruman’s submission to the LEGO Ideas forum. legotruman’s reptile collection showcases with three animals – the Veiled Chameleon, the Leopard Gecko, and the Box Turtle. These reptiles are made entirely from LEGO pieces, celebrating the unique colors, textures, and patterns of these animals, and are built to 1:1 scale, making them perfect for any serious collector who shares a love for, well, unconventional pets!

Designer: legotruman

Indigenous to the Arabian Peninsula, the Arabian chameleon, scientifically referred to as Chamaeleo calyptratus, boasts captivating hues and is distinguished by its distinctive casque that extends from its head. Contrary to common misconceptions, the chameleon’s remarkable color changes are not for camouflage but rather serve as a visual display of its emotions, stress levels, and social standing. legotruman recreated the chameleon using a myriad of tiles, perching the animal delicately on a LEGO branch too. Points if you noticed the use of a brick from the LEGO Scooby Doo Mystery Machine for the chameleon’s eyes!

The adorable-looking Leopard Gecko, native to desert habitats, has garnered worldwide popularity as a beloved pet reptile. One of the frequently encountered morphs showcases a striking pattern of dark spots on a vibrant yellow or orange skin, reminiscent of leopards. Often dubbed as the pioneers of domesticated lizards, they are cherished for their endearing large eyes, charming smiles, and their iconic plump tails. Adult females can reach a length of up to 20 cm, while males can attain an impressive 28 cm in size. The lizard, made entirely out of LEGO bricks, gets perched on a slanted branch, allowing it to display the gecko’s elegant stance.

Highly favored as pets, the Box Turtles are known for their dome-shaped shells. Some showcase remarkable radiating patterns on their shells, adorned with vibrant shades of yellow and orange. Despite their tortoise-like appearance, it’s important to note that they belong to the terrapin family, similar to other aquatic turtles like the red-eared slider. Remarkably, box turtles can enjoy a lifespan of up to 40-50 years! To recreate their stunning shells, legotruman utilized black and orange slope Lego elements, quarter tiles for the leg scales pattern, and gold ring elements to craft their eyes.

The LEGO Reptiles are a submission to LEGO’s Ideas forum, where creators and enthusiasts can design their own LEGO sculptures and share them with the global community. The entries with the highest votes get considered by LEGO’s internal team to be turned into retail box-sets. legotruman’s LEGO Reptiles has collected 2240 votes as of writing this article, and is gradually on its way to hit the coveted 10,000 vote mark that qualifies it for an official LEGO review. Click here to vote for the entry!

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LEGO announces smaller, 1050-brick version of R2D2 to celebrate Star Wars’ 25th Anniversary

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Get ready to embark on a journey to a galaxy far, far away as LEGO commemorates the 25th anniversary of Star Wars with this new 1050-brick version of R2D2, hitting stores in March 2024. R2-D2, the iconic droid who’s captured our hearts in countless Star Wars adventures, is making a triumphant return in his brick-built form, following a 2214-brick version from 3 years ago. This newer build is smaller (boasting half the parts of the original), and is focused around younger galactic enthusiasts age 9 and above. However, whether you’re a seasoned LEGO Jedi or young a novice Padawan, this delightful set promises hours of galactic fun!

Designer: LEGO

Standing at 24cm tall, this brick-built rendition of R2-D2 is slightly shorter than the previous 75308 model, which graced us nearly three years ago. However, don’t let the size fool you, as this version is packed with exciting features. With a moveable head, an adjustable third leg, a periscope, and a plethora of tools straight from the Star Wars universe, it’s a true masterpiece.

But that’s not all, folks! R2-D2 comes complete with an information plaque, a Minifigure version of himself, and a special 25th Anniversary Minifigure of the infamous Darth Malak. It’s a Star Wars celebration like no other!

Here’s the lowdown on LEGO Star Wars 75379 R2-D2:

  • Set Name: R2-D2
  • Set Number: 75379
  • Age Range: 9+
  • Piece Count: 1,050
  • Price: $99.99
  • Release Date: March 1st, 2024

So, mark your calendars for this epic rendezvous with R2-D2 in March 2024. Whether you’re a young Jedi or a seasoned builder, this set promises adventure, nostalgia, and the joy of creating alongside one of Star Wars’ most beloved characters.

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This LEGO version of the classic Sony Walkman WM-22 features an opening lid with removable cassettes!

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Fashion is cyclical and it seems like cassettes may just be making their comeback. Audio manufacturer Fiio just debuted their latest retro CP13 cassette player at CES this year, and it shouldn’t be long before people are making mixtapes again. Just to prime us for that retro-resurgence, LEGO builder Srta.JirafaEnfadada designed a to-scale Sony Walkman made entirely out of LEGO bricks… and the best part, it actually fits LEGO cassettes in!

Designer: Srta.JirafaEnfadada

Before MP3 players and iPods pretty much changed the game, cassettes were the gold standard in music playback. Cars had cassette players, people owned boomboxes, and for a brief while, the Sony Walkman was one of the coolest products you could own. Designed to play cassettes on-the-go, the Walkman walked so the iPod could run. You could make your mixtape, pop it in, and listen to music either on the Walkman’s built-in speaker (if it had one), or on a pair of headphones or earphones for a private music experience.

This entry into the LEGO Ideas forum is based on the WM-22 Walkman, available in the iconic red colorway. It features the classic opening flap on the front that lets you put cassettes in and take them out between plays, with a transparent window that even lets you peer into the walkman’s insides to see which cassette’s loaded. Around the periphery are its play-pause and rewind/fast-forward buttons, and a simple rotary dial to adjust volume. The WM-22 didn’t sport a record button, which most costlier models had, allowing you to even capture audio directly to the cassette. However, it did have a 3.5mm jack, which can be found on this LEGO version too (right above the volume button), allowing you to hook a pair of headphones in. You’ve also got 4 different LEGO cassettes to choose from with the build, adding variety to your music library!

The Sony Walkman was submitted to the LEGO Ideas forum, an online dashboard where LEGO enthusiasts can share their own LEGO-based creations. The forum allows the LEGO community to vote for their favorite designs, with the top-voted ones getting turned into box-sets for us regular-folk to buy. The Sony Walkman sits at 2,068 votes as of writing this article, and if it hits the coveted 10,000 mark, it could potentially be made into a retail set! You can vote for the Sony Walkman or any of your other favorite designs on the LEGO Ideas website.

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10 Best LEGO Builds To Try Creating At Home If You’re A True LEGO Fanatic

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Creating and building precise and intricate LEGO structures as a child was one of my favorite hobbies. I could spend hours sitting and creating the little builds, and I still hold those memories dear to my heart. I’m sure most of us have nostalgic and heartwarming memories associated with LEGO blocks from our childhood, as well as the not-so-heartwarming ones of stepping on them with our feet and feeling an insane amount of pain shoot up our legs. But nowadays LEGO is no longer considered child’s play. Master builders and LEGO enthusiasts all over the world have been creating impressive LEGO builds, and we’ve curated a few of our favorites for you!

1. LEGO Popcorn Machine

Built by Dimexart, this charming and adorable LEGO Popcorn Machine is built using LEGO blocks! This build brings to mind the vision of the iconic popcorn machines you usually see in movie theaters. It features a glorious retro-style theme and is made using 955 pieces. Even the popcorn is made from LEGO blocks! How cool is that?

2. LEGO T-Rex Offline Game

There was a time when users who browsed the web on Google Chrome noticed that when they couldn’t connect to the internet, it would display a “You are offline” message with a pixelated dinosaur standing amidst the desert terrain. If you pressed a key, it would kickstart a hidden game – where you could get the dinosaur to dodge obstacles and keep yourself busy. LEGO builder Brick Dangerous transformed this iconic game into a LEGO brick set made using 449 pieces!

3. LEGO Ramen Bowl

Made using LEGO bricks, Micdud’s LEGO Ramen Bowl looks super realistic! “The model was designed, as a fully customizable construction, thanks to a wide selection of ingredients,” says LEGO builder Micdud. It includes all of the basics – a “bamboo” roll-out pad, a beautiful “ceramic” bowl made with subtle and intricate details, as well as chopsticks that are concealed in a decorated “paper” wrapping. It also includes a special chirirenge spoon!

4. LEGO Cherry Blossoms

These lovely LEGO Cherry Blossoms are designed to get you ready for Spring! The LEGO build features two buildable cherry blossom twigs that can you mix and match to create some pretty white and pink blooms. You need to build the flowers with the 438 pieces that come with the set, to build two twigs that measure up to 14 inches.

5. LEGO A-frame Cabin

The A-frame cabin is truly an icon in the architecture world and is one of the most appealing home styles since its inception in the 1950s. LEGO user Norton74 captured the beautiful essence of the A-frame cabin with this adorable and captivating LEGO build. It feels amazingly real and features precise detailing inside, with each corner revealing something new and exciting. P

 6. LEGO Polaroid SX-70 Fold-Flat Instant Camera

Minibricks Productions converted the Polaroid SX-70 fold-flat instant camera from the 1970s into a LEGO build made using 516 bricks. It is partially functional, but you can’t click any real-time photographs with this camera. LEGO converted the submission into a legit brick set that was slated for release on January 1, 2024.

7. The LEGO® Jurassic World Dinosaur Fossils: T. Rex Skull

The LEGO® Jurassic World Dinosaur Fossils: T. rex Skull (76964) is designed to be the first Jurassic World set intended for museum-like display. The 577-piece set consists of a T. Rex skull with an opening jaw, and a stand to display it. The unique build also comes along with an info plaque, an amber piece at the back, and a fossilized footprint.

8. LEGO PS One

Built by LEGO Builder GoofySwan099, this LEGO-based PS One is a tribute to Sony’s first-ever gaming console. We’re unsure how many bricks this build uses, but it features all the bells and whistles you could imagine, including a memory card and controller inputs on the front, an opening CD tray, and RCA ports on the back.

9. LEGO Mineral Display

The LEGO Mineral Display is truly an interesting build as it converts plastic bricks into precious gemstones. The display relies on the geometric nature to mimic the beauty of the crystals forming under the extreme pressure of the earth’s crust. The crystals are created in a myriad variety of shapes and styles and were created by LEGO builder Dario Del Frate.

10. LEGO Ideas Tabletop Air Hockey Kit

The LEGO Ideas Tabletop Air Hockey kit is designed to perfectly capture the fun and joy of slinging a puck from the left to right, as you try to score a goal while protecting your post! There is no air involved in this unique creation, and it is fan-made by LordFamousTulip100 and got almost 100 votes on the global LEGO forum.

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Google Chrome’s T-Rex Offline Game gets immortalized in this adorable LEGO diorama

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Back when Google was still a fun company (when Android had easter eggs, and when the company cracked April Fools jokes ever year), users who browsed the web on Google Chrome noticed a nifty hidden gem within the browser’s error message. When the browser couldn’t connect to the internet, it would display a “You are offline” message with a pixelated dinosaur standing amidst desert terrain. Press a key and it would trigger Chrome’s hidden game – an infinite side-scrolling adventure where you would have to get the dinosaur to dodge obstacles by either jumping over them or ducking under them. The game almost instantly became a crowd favorite, allowing people to keep themselves entertained even when offline.

LEGO builder Brick Dangerous decided to give this game the respect it truly deserves by turning it into a LEGO brick set. Comprising 449 pieces (although you could just as easily extend the diorama), the LEGO Ideas submission features the grey dinosaur against its familiar white background, accompanied by a cloud and two cacti.

Designer: Brick Dangerous

The build is pretty straightforward, with a lot of scope for adjustment or even upgrading to extend the scene sideways. It relies on 449 bricks in its current avatar, with no fixed orientation. You can choose to have the T-Rex on land or jumping in air. Want to make a nice stop-motion, that works too!

“This game is very fun, millions of people play it every time there are connection problems, something simple, but addictive,” says the designer, Brick Dangerous. “Luckily this T-Rex did not become extinct with the meteorite!”

This isn’t Brick Dangerous’ first rodeo on the LEGO Ideas forum. The designer has submitted multiple projects on the forum, and two of our favorites, the vintage telephone and the LEGO hourglass, even reached the coveted 10,000 vote mark. However, for reasons undisclosed, LEGO’s internal review team didn’t convert them into retail sets. This T-Rex build looks promising, though… it’s crossed the 1,500 mark and has another 570 days before its deadline ends. Head to the LEGO Ideas forum to vote for this dino before it goes extinct!

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This LEGO Ramen Bowl looks so realistic it’ll make you salivate

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This might be taking the “microplastics in our food” theme a little too far, but damn does that ramen look good!

Made from ‘ingredients’ rather than bricks, Micdud’s LEGO Ramen Bowl is just about as realistic as LEGO could ever get. The bowl was designed as an entry into LEGO’s Ideas forum, where the brick-building company encourages users and fans to design their own LEGO creations and share them with the world. The most popular creations (which collect 10,000 votes from the global LEGO community) get turned into box-sets for us to buy, as we saw with the LEGO Polaroid that got turned into a box-set just last week. With 3,431 votes and counting, Micdud’s LEGO Ramen Bowl may just hit retail status too!

Designer: Micdud

“The model was designed, as a fully customizable construction, thanks to a wide selection of ingredients,” says LEGO builder Micdud. It all starts with the construction of the basics: a “bamboo” roll-out pad, a “ceramic” bowl with subtle details, chopsticks (hidden in a decorated “paper” wrapping) and a special chirirenge spoon.

The beauty of the LEGO Ramen bowl is that, unlike most LEGO creations, each bowl is unique given that you assemble it entirely based on your preferences. you start with a ladle-full of the dashi broth (available in three colors or flavor intensities) before adding the noodles, chashu bacon roll, egg (regular soft-boiled or marinated), and other toppings like panko-coated shrimp, squid, nori seaweed, cooked shrimp (which uses the brick separator piece), different mushroom varieties, Naruto Maki fish cakes, pak-choi cabbage, and finally corn and chives.

The vibrant colors of the LEGO bricks add a mouth-watering pop to the brick-based dish, making it look virtually edible. The bowl, chopsticks, and rollable bamboo mat look positively gorgeous too, and aside from a bottle of Kikkoman soy sauce, this could honestly pass off as a meal! Do beware around small children, though, since this bowl contains tiny parts that may be a choking hazard.

If you loved Micdud’s LEGO Ramen Bowl, head to the LEGO Ideas forum to cast a vote for it!

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Lego Cherry Blossoms lets you have spring in your house soon

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There are people born with “green thumbs” that are able to create wonderful gardens and plant and floral masterpieces. And then there are people like me who kill everything green that they touch (yes, I even manage to kill succulents and bonsais). If you’re the latter or you have kids that are interested in flowers and would need practice on non-living versions of floral arrangements or if you just like adding a bit of flowery things to your collection, then this new Lego addition should interest you.

Designer: Lego

Spring is still a few months away but the LEGO Cherry Blossoms will help you get ready for it, as long as you’re 8 years old and above. The set features two buildable cherry blossom twigs that you can mix and match to get white and pink blooms. Since it’s Lego, you don’t get the actual flowers. You need to build it with the 438 pieces that come with the set to create two twigs that can measure up to 14 inches (35 cm) long. You can combine the different colors or stick to creating a white stem and a pink stem separately.

Once you’re able to complete your cherry blossom twigs, you can put it around the house as a piece of spring decoration. You can also combine it with other LEGO flower sets (sold separately) like their Roses, Wildflower Bouquet, Dried Flower Centerpiece, Flower Bouquet, Botanical Collection, etc. If it’s winter where you are, then these flowers can brighten up your space even though they may not be in season.

It’s interesting to see Lego venturing into other sets that may not necessarily appeal to their original market that are used to bigger and more complicated builds. But the Cherry Blossoms and their other flower sets is perfect for young kids who aspire to eventually create gardens or for adults like me who can only dream of having an actual green thumb.

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LEGO Polaroid OneStep SX-70 camera revives 70s photography nostalgia

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LEGO Ideas is the best thing that happened for the community of enthusiastic LEGO builders who can’t curtail their imagination when it comes to creating jaw-dropping builds. Now, yet another LEGO set brings back the nostalgia of photography just in time for the holiday season. Thanks to YouTuber Marc (Minibrick Productions YouTube channel) who shares his interesting ideas on Google’s invincible video-sharing platform.

Remember the Polaroid SX-70 fold-flat instant camera that rocked the early 1970s? Now this iconic shooter has got the LEGO treatment in the form of a 516-brick set. The creation is a result of Minibrick Productions’ submission of the idea that earlier debuted as a concept. It’s partially functional, so you can’t click real-time photographs with this camera. The LEGO Polaroid OneStep SX-70 is for yours to grab as it can be pre-ordered right away at a price tag of $80 with release slated for January 1, 2024. Certainly, that’s way cheaper than getting the original one that’s a prized collector’s item now.

Designer: LEGO Ideas

It’s a disappointment that this piece of retro-futurism cannot click actual photographs, still to keep the enthusiasts in the feels, there’s a Polaroid Time-Zero Land Film pack with three storable slides. Just slide one of these slides into the camera’s body and press the shutter button to eject the illustrated photograph. One of these photographic slides is that of Edwin H. Land, who invented the Polaroid camera.

To keep things authentic, the LEGO camera has the signature Color Spectrum of the Polaroid and the exposure compensation dial to a new 8×10 tile. As I said, it’s partially functional, so there working viewfinder and shutter button. To induce a bit of quirkiness, there’s the “photography-led” marketing that comes with the “NOT SHOT ON LEGO Polaroid Camera” sticker on the photos.

Piecing together this LEGO Polaroid camera is going to be a fun activity over the weekend and it’s going to induce the interest of onlookers who might mistake it for the real thing at first glance.

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Incredibly Detailed LEGO PlayStation One comes with Controllers, a CD, and even Memory Cards

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The LEGO-based pixelated look goes well with the PS One, which ran 32-bit games when it launched in the 90s. We’ve come a long way since then, but LEGO Builder GoofySwan099 decided to do a grand throwback to the good old days with this LEGO version of Sony’s first-ever gaming console. It isn’t clear how many bricks this build uses, but it comes with all the bells and whistles, including memory card and controller inputs on the front, an opening CD tray, and RCA ports on the back. Accompanying the console itself is a controller, multiple memory cards, and even a LEGO compact disc that fits right into the machine!

Designer: GoofySwan099

Although a little rough around the edges, the LEGO PS One is a spitting replica of the original. It’s fairly operational with maneuverable parts, add-ons, and a matching color scheme complete with logos to remind you of the real deal. Lift the hood and you’ll see a rotating CD that comes out (don’t forget to blow on the CD as you put it in like they used to back in the old days), and along with memory cards that saved game progress, you’ve got two slots for controllers, enabling team and mano-a-mano gameplay.

“The console has working features such as a power button, open button, memory card ports, controller port, and reset button. The back of the console is also detailed, showing all of the ports to connect the console to a television,” says LEGO builder GoofySwan099.

There’s even venting on the sides, designed to push air backward and out of the console!

At 2487 votes, the LEGO PlayStation One is gradually climbing up the Ideas forum charts, where community members like you and me get to vote for our favorite fan-made pieces. If it reaches the 10,000 vote target, LEGO’s internal team will consider making this into a box set, following some amount of design refinement.

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These LEGO Geodes and Minerals let you be a gem-collector without burning a hole in your wallet

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Who knew that a humble interlocking brick from 1932 would become such a versatile ‘pixel’ of the human world nearly a hundred years later?? The LEGO Mineral Display turns plastic bricks into precious gemstones, relying on their inherent geometric nature to mimic the beauty of crystals forming under the extreme pressures of the earth’s crust. Designed in a variety of shapes and styles, these minerals, created by LEGO builder Dario Del Frate, turn you into a gem collector overnight, with the added benefit of allowing you to build the gems instead of mortgaging your house to buy them online! Sure, they aren’t authentic, but they’re intricate, and thanks to the use of transparent gems, gorgeously eye-catching!

Designer: Dario Del Frate

Del Frate designed these minerals back in 2020, sharing them on LEGO’s Ideas forum in August of the year. In a statistical rarity, his submission received 10,000 votes from the broad LEGO community but wasn’t approved by LEGO’s internal team. Del Frate, however, decided to refine his design and renew his effort, also building a display unit with the minerals, giving you a nifty place to store and exhibit them to your friends and guests.

LEGO Amethyst Geode

“The old & new specimens are now displayed in a lovely case, built with available dark and reddish brown elements, enriched with golden rivets. The case can be hung directly to a wall or simply put on a shelf,” Del Frate mentions. “The collection is composed of 6 pieces: Rhodochrosite, Amethyst Geode, Black Tourmaline with Aquamarine, Orange Quartz, Emerald, Pyrite.”

LEGO Rhodoschorite

It’s honestly baffling how versatile LEGO bricks can be, replicating the different kinds of gems rather incredibly well. The different geometries, transitions between amorphous and crystalline structures, and the wide variety of colors get captured in Del Frate’s collection beautifully. While he mentions that his previous LEGO entry had a few ‘illegal’ joining techniques, he’s refined all his designs to now be made in a legal fashion, with no wedging, gluing, breaking, or manipulating the bricks in any unintended ways.

LEGO Orange Quartz

LEGO Pyrite

LEGO Black Tourmaline with Aquamarine

LEGO Emerald

Del Frate’s latest submission sits at the 3,500 vote mark and is open for voting. If it crosses the coveted 10,000 vote threshold, he gets yet another shot at having the LEGO review team consider turning this into a box set that people like us can buy and assemble!

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