Tableau Beach

I'd bet just about all of us in the AFOL community, at some point, have heard someone say that we "still play with LEGOs."  Okay, fine, I build spaceships, yes.  And occasionally swoosh them around the house.  It may be a 120 studs long with over 12K pieces, but it's still a spaceship. 

Now, Didier Burtin has created a modern artistic piece that may silence those snarky comments.  A wall mounted, wood backed, studs up rendering of an ocean view.  Using only lines of color, it's very effective, and looks quite impressive as a center piece over what appears to be a living room console.  So stunning, in fact, you may not have noticed his Saturn V Rocket over there on the left.  Zoom! 

Iron Falcon

You can almost hear AC/DC playing the Star Wars theme when you see this latest creation by Zane Houston.  Apparently there's a Millennium Falcon contest on TBB, and it's generating all sorts of cool stuff.  But what I like about this in particular, besides the clever mash up, is how well it reflects the styles of both genres.  As if Tony were Corellian or something.  Would that make Pepper a Princess? 

The Pilgrim

Vince Toulouse has come up with a fascinating character here using some parts from a Gladiator set.  Since I'm completely unfamiliar with that particular theme, I wasn't sure if this creation was even LEGO.  But it is!  And certainly alien, although at the same time, with a familiar purposeful determination.  I can't wait to read the book!

YT-1450 Light Freighter

I've been around for a while now.   Not as long as Tommy of course, but quite a while.  And I've seen a ton of variations on the Corellian freighter design.  Round in the stern, two mandibles in the bow, docking hatches on the sides, something asymmetrical.  So when I saw this YT-1450 Light Freighter, I thought, "Cool build, nice color blocking, interesting/purposeful stuff on the hull, very convincing as something one might see in the upcoming movie." 

But that all changed when I saw the next pic.  "No frakin' way!!"  After alllll these years, that's why the Falcon had those notches in the front, to actually carry cargo.  Not just, well, whatever it was that Han and Chewie hauled around inside the ship.  Ooger has had a spark of genius here with this freighter, the Nadir, and the massive cargo containers it's got in its teeth.  According to him, "Those mandibles had to be used for something, right?"   I love it!

Vox Machina

According to Chris Maddison, Critical Role is a complicated thing to explain.  So I looked it up!  Apparently, it's a show about a group of voice actors playing Dungeons and Dragons.  They call themselves Vox Machina.  The current story line will be ending soon, and Chris has built these amazing figs to commemorate the finale.  I especially like how the photos were taken outside in natural surroundings, very effective.  After seeing these characters, I think I'll be adding the show to my binge-watch lineup! 

LEGO Around the World

Lasse Vestergard has been a busy guy!  There are 26 countries depicted here, with reliefs, micro monuments, representative minifigs, and of course, flags.  All topped by a pretty serious 62 stud diameter globe.  Scroll through his photostream to see each panel.  They're full of thoughtful details of the country's geography, culture, history, and architecture.  But I wonder, did it take him less than 80 days to complete? 

Steampunk Samurai Iron Man

My old pal Kevin Ryhal, aka M<O><O>DSWIM, has come up with a truly unique mash-up!  He's been creating all sorts of cool combos over the years, from Steampunk Gundams, to Darth Skeletor.   But I just looked through his photostream to make sure.  This is the first time he's gone for three genres in one.  "Jarvis-san, bring the boilers to full power!"

Evening in the Living Room

Heikki M. has created another stunning interior that you might see featured on one of those high-end HGTV shows.  But what's interesting, beyond all the stylish designs and artistic details, of course, is the fact that we've got a little forced perspective built into the scene.  The fireplace in the foreground is actually out of proportion to the furniture and the TV to create the illusion of a much larger room.  Pretty crafty, there, Heikki! 

Rori Dulgisson, Thane from Karak Zorn

Dwalin Forkbeard is clearly a fan of dwarfs and Warhammer Fantasy Battles Universe.  It took him two months to create this stunning figure, his first attempt at something in this scale.  Dwalin knew that to get the details and curves he envisioned for the piece, he would need to go larger.  So at about two feet tall, Rori here is almost life-size.  And with that rune inscribed hammer, I don't think anybody's going to try and toss this Dwarf...

Nissan GT-R NISMO

My son and I have been binge-watching BBC's Top Gear, and we recently saw the episode where Jeremy, in a GT-R, races Richard and James in the Japanese bullet train.  So when I saw this newest beast from the workshop of Firas Abu-Jaber, I immediately knew what an accurate model he created.  And like the real race, a LEGO bullet train wouldn't stand a chance.  POWER!

The Running Flamingo

Bob DeQuatre has come up with a sexy new mech, The Running Flamingo, piloted by none other than Flora Saint-Clair.  Not sure who she is, actually, but thought that sounded good... Anyway, the pink fenders surrounding the canopy as well as the ones covering the legs are quite fetching, and make a nice contrast with all the greebly mechanical bits underneath.  And she's even got *ahem* high heels.  Nice one Bob!

Varian TrueBeam Linear Accelerator

No, gang, it's not a fancy gizmo in Dr. Crusher's sick bay on the Enterprise, or even something you'd find in secret laboratory at CERN.  In fact, it's a LEGO replica of a machine used for radiation therapy.  Built by Nannan Zhang, it's used to explain treatment to children with cancer.  Check out the video where he demonstrates all of the mechanical features.  Great idea, Dude!

International Harvester Ice Cream Truck

Check out this tricked-out Metro van by our old pal Firas Abu-Jaber.  It has all the features you'd expect, like a flip up window, opening back door, sliding side door, and removable roof.  But what you might not expect in such a vehicle is that it's sits on some seriously wicked rims.  It's also been lowered in the front, like it was designed for a drag race...  So, Firas, what's under the hood? 

Virtual LUG Game of Thrones Display

Brickworld 2017!  This year, the VLUG crew conspired to produce a LEGO version of the hit TV series Game of Thrones, or, as we call it, Brick of Thrones.  I was informed that there are also books.  Anyway, the basic inspiration for the collaboration came from the map of Westeros, featured during the introduction to each episode.  As you scroll through the pictures, you'll see various landmarks, characters, and even the famous Battle of Blackwater Bay.  From the Red Keep, to Castle Black, to white walkers, there's a lot to enjoy for fans of the show, and even for those who've never seen it.  And no, for the umpteenth time, that's not Elsa.

VLUG GoT Display

The Red Keep

By Adam Reed Tucker and David Howard.

The Red Keep and Blackwater Bay

By Adam Reed Tucker and David Howard.  Battle of Blackwater Bay by Dennis Price.

Pyke

By Mark Kelso.

Pyke

By Mark Kelso.

The Eyrie

By Connor Lill.

The Twins

By Bart and Alex Larrow.

Winterfell

By Chris Phipson.

Winterfell

By Chris Phipson.

Winterfell

By Chris Phipson.

Oldtown

By Bart Larrow.

Dorne

By Bart Larrow.

Iron Throne

By Roy T. Cook.

Castle Black

By Roy T. Cook.

Castle Black

By Roy T. Cook.

The Wall

By Lee Jones.

Craster's Keep

By Alice Leber Cook.

Giant upon Mammoth

By Gio Seynhaeve.

Daenerys Targaryen

By Bart Larrow.

Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge

Designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, the Margaret Hunt Hill bridge spans the Trinity river in Dallas, Texas.  And that's what I thought I was looking at until I figured out Lia Chan had built a replica out of LEGO.  I suppose it was due to the tricky ground-level angles of the photos, in addition to the dizzying array of white flex tubes.  Impressive!

Nord Wayshrine

My old pal Thorsten Bonsch continues his series from Elder Scrolls Online with this impressive rendition of a Wayshrine.  As Thor describes in his post, they're basically jump gates, enabling players to travel between them, from region to region.  They vary in design based on the area in which they are built, this one exhibiting Nord architecture.  I particularly like what resemble Viking ship's bows at the gable ends of the roof.  Nice work there, Thor!

Palutena

Feast your eyes on this stunning figure by Eero Okkonen, his eighth entry in this round of the Iron Builder extravaganza.  Note the large green Duplo grass piece which is the required element.  At first glance, such a piece would seem to be a serious pain in the backside.  But if you're creating a Goddess of Light with long, flowing green hair, it might be the first thing you dig out of the parts bin.  Beautiful!

F70 Double Falcon

Check out this beauty by Vince Toulouse!  He continues his dieselpunk theme with this fetching flying-wing design, with a dash of P-38 thrown in to spice it up.  Having the engines integrated into the wings are a clever way to reduce the drag coefficient.  Although I'm not sure how the landing gear factors into that equation, I'm sure it evens out, one way or another.  Either way, I bet when Vince is swooshing this baby around his place, he just knows it's awesome!