Category Archives: Model Team

#MorePatriotism

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The misplaced patriotism continues here at The Lego Car Blog, with another American automotive icon. The Ford Bronco first appeared in the 1960s, and now – after a twenty-five year absence – the new sixth-generation model has reignited Ford’s rugged go-anywhere reputation.

Powered by a range of turbocharged engines with up to 400bhp, the 2021 Bronco continues the nameplate’s legacy, with body-on-frame construction, two and four-door variants, a removable roof and doors, and about two hundred different trims named after various outdoorsy-things.

This phenomenal Model Team/Technic replica of Ford’s most sought-after 4×4 comes from previous bloggee DamianPLE, who has recreated the off-road icon brilliantly in brick form.

Underneath the superbly recreated exterior Damian’s model features four-wheel-drive, a high/low gearbox, locking centre and rear differentials, working suspension and steering, a highly detailed V6 engine, folding seats, and – like the real thing – easily removable doors and roof.

A huge gallery of stunning imagery is available to view at Damian’s Bricksafe gallery, which includes close-up photos of the chassis as well as on-location shots, plus you can find the model’s discussion topic and further details at the Eurobricks form, where an excellent video of the Bronco’s working features can also be found.

Take a closer look via the links above, whilst we try to remember our own automotive heritage and post a model of a Morris Marina or something…

Mighty Messerschmitt

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This is a Messerschmitt Bf 109F, the backbone of the Lufftwaffe’s fighter force throughout the entire of the Second World War.

First flying in 1937, the Bf-109 was one of the most advanced fighters in the world, with an all-metal monocoque, fully enclosed canopy, retractable landing gear, and a liquid-cooled inverted-V12 providing 700bhp.

Over 30,000 units were produced for use in the Luftwaffe and the air forces of Nazi Germany’s allies, making it the most numerous fighter aircraft in history, with final units eventually retiring from the Spanish Air Force in 1965.

This incredible brick-built example of the Messerschmitt Bf 109F is the work of previous bloggee JuliusZ D., who has recreated the aircraft in stunning 1:33 detail.

Beautifully constructed in North Africa colours, there’s lots more gorgeous imagery to view at Juliusz’s ‘Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4/trop’ album on Flickr, where the model is also pictured alongside his fantastic Supermarine Spitfire that appeared here a few weeks ago.

And fortunately for TLCB’s home nation (and the rest of the world), good as the Messerschmitt Bf 109 was, it was that Spitfire that won in the end.

A Good Omen

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Even demons need wheels. Well, at least according to Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s 1990 novel ‘Good Omens’, which recently became a hit for Amazon Prime.

Crowley (Bentley-driving demon) and Aziraphale (angel, guardian of the Eastern Gate) have become accustomed to their comfortable lives in England, so it is with some alarm that they learn of the arrival of the infant anti-christ, heralding both the end-times and the imminent loss of their cushy lives.

An unlikely partnership follows, as the pair attempt to sabotage the end-times for the good of… themselves, with Crowley’s 1926 semi-sentient Bentley Coupe playing a starring role in the TV adaptation.

Cue Daniel Church‘s superb brick-built rendition of the demonic Bentley, both constructed and presented beautifully, which you can take a closer look at via his photostream. Click the link above to join Crowley for a spot of lunch, followed by searching for the notorious son of Satan.

Something in the Air*

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Built in the late 1800s, this is a British J71 / E Class steam locomotive, a type that served on British railways all the way up until the 1960s.

Weighing around forty tons and designed for shunting, each J71 was powered by 1.3 tons of coal, which turned water to steam, steam into pressure, and pressure into movement. Except that is, for this one.

Created by Nikolaus Lowe, this fabulous recreation of the J71 definitely doesn’t weigh forty tons, but it really does movie thanks to air pressure, just like its full-size counterparts! Instead of 1.3 tons of coal, Nikolaus’ locomotive is fuelled by compressed air, which powers a functioning pneumatic engine that turns the drive wheels.

It’s all 100% LEGO, no parts are modified, and Nikolaus’ creation could sure shunt too, thanks to the torque provided by that compressed air.

There’s more of the model to see at Nikolaus’ ‘British J71 Class Pneumatic Engine’ album on Flickr, and you can shunt your way over via the link above.

*Today’s wonderful title song.

Undefeated Champion of the World

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Longstanding readers of this smoking hole in the corner of the internet will know that we’re not overly patriotic towards the United States of America (see here, here, here, here, and here). Firstly this is because we aren’t American, but mostly it’s because blind patriotism is simply believing mass marketing.

Today however, we are very much on the ‘Freedom!’ bandwagon, because this – America’s McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle – is very probably the greatest fighter aircraft ever made.

In operation for nearly fifty years, over 1,000 of the twin-engine all-weather tactical fighters have been produced, in that time scoring over a hundred victories without a single loss in aerial combat. Not one.

Still flying with the USAF, Japanese Air Force, Royal Saudi Air Force, Republic of Korea Air Force, and Israeli Air Force, F-15 Eagles remain one of the primary fighters of the democratic world some five decades after they were first introduced.

This particular variant is an F-15E Strike Eagle, developed in the 1980s for long-range missions, and in production until 1997. Built by previous bloggee [Maks] of Flickr, this spectacular replica of the F-15E recreates the iconic aircraft in incredible detail. Depicted in Desert Storm livery, [Maks]’s creation is complete with detailed landing gear, control surfaces, and weaponry, and features some ingenious building techniques to hold it all together.

There’s lots more of this astonishing model to see at [Maks]’s ‘F-15E Strike Eagle’ album, where nearly a dozen superb images are available to view. Take flight via the link above, whilst – just this once – we chant “USA! USA!”…

The M3 in an M3

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Running around 100km between the south coast of England and London, the M3 motorway is used by millions of people every year to drive to / escape from the capital.

It’s also a road driven by thousands of business-types every day from their homes in green suburbia to their business desks in London, from where they do business things. Back in the early 2000s, this was one of the most popular business-person choices for that journey, the BMW ‘E46’ 3-Series.

Typically driven four feet from the car in front, by a sunglasses-wearing business-person, they were loved by their customer base, and hated by everyone else. These days however, the aforementioned business-persons have moved onto electric Mercedes-Benzes and Teslas, and the E46 has become – whisper it – rather cool.

The best of all the E46 3-Series derivatives is this one, the 350bhp M3 Coupe. Launched in 2000, the E46 was powered by a straight-6 naturally-aspirated engine, was mostly manual, and looked… well, not at all like BMWs do now. Which means it’s TLCB’s kind of car.

Recreating his father’s own E46 M3 (lucky man), Flickr’s Leo 1 has constructed the early-’00s coupe beautifully, including a detailed interior and some trick techniques to accurately replicate the handsome exterior.

Building instructions are available, and you can drive along the M3 to an important early-’00s business meeting in your own M3 via Leo’s photostream at the link above.

Stud Bug

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In contrast to this site’s bodged operation and shoe-string budget, TLCB usually publishes models at the exotic end of the vehicular scale. Sleek, powerful, rare… the cars we feature are the opposite of both this site and the cars found in our office carpark. But not today!

Yup, this time we have a vehicle that is far more befitting of our social status, being cheap, common, and rather dumpy, it’s the humble Volkswagen Beetle, a car built in its millions to transport the masses.

Better yet this is a deeply uncool unmodified one, as 99% of those on the world’s roads are,  driven not by hipsters on their way to a trendy festival, but by ordinary workers to ordinary places.

It comes from gaehno of Brickshelf, and not only does it look fantastic – constructed as it is in traditional studs-up fashion using basic System pieces – it’s also packed with brilliant Technic functionality.

A working flat-four-cylinder engine is mated to a four-speed gearbox, there’s functioning steering, a working parking brake, switchable windscreen wipers that operate as the model drives, opening and lockable doors, front trunk and engine cover, adjustable seats, folding sun visors, and even an opening glovebox.

There’s more of the model to see at gaehno’s Brickshelf gallery, and you can take a look at one of the world’s least glamorous cars, built in a beautifully unglamorous way, via the link in the text above.

My Other Car’s a Camaro

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LEGO’s 10304 Icons Chevrolet Camaro Z28 set has proven a hugely popular source of alternative builds. Half-a-dozen have already reside in our archives, including a Porsche 911, Pontiac Firebird, and even a Golf GTI.

Today we’re adding another, as TLCB Master MOCer Firas Abu-Jaber has turned the ’70s American 2-door coupe into, well… a Japanese one.

Launching two years after the Camaro, the Datsun 240Z ‘Fairlady’ took the US by storm, offering good performance, reliability, and relative efficiency, all for just $200 more than an MGB.

This brilliant 1:13 replica of Japan’s most successful ’70s sports car recreates the 240Z solely from the parts found within the 10304 Chevrolet Camaro set, and includes a detailed engine under the raising hood, a realistic interior behind opening doors, an opening tailgate, and working steering too.

There’s lots more of this 10304 alternate to see at Firas’ ‘Fairlady 240Z’ album on Flickr, where full details (including a link to instructions) can be found. Switch your Camaro for a 240Z via the link above, plus you can read the builder’s interview here at The Lego Car Blog via the Master MOCers third link in this post’s text.

Beer Container

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This is a DAF FTG XF 530 Sleeper Cab, and it’s been built – rather beautifully – by previous bloggee Arian Janssens of Flickr. It’s also not alone, being hitched to an enormous three-axle container trailer complete with a giant tank of… we have no idea. Beer perhaps? We can but hope.

What ever is in it, there’s more to see of Arian’s impressive build at his ‘DAF FTG XF 530 SLEEPER CAB’ album, where an alternative more jazzily-hued container load can also be seen. Click the link above to  take a look and cross your fingers it’s beer…

Brothers Rolls-Royce

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The phenomenal Rolls-Royce Merlin engine is surely one of the reasons that Nazi Germany and the Axis Powers were eventually defeated, bringing World War 2 to its end. Fitted to a huge array of aircraft, including JuliusZ D.’s recently blogged P-51B Mustang, the 27-litre British V12 is perhaps most famous for one particular application; the beautiful Supermarine Spitfire fighter.

Joining his P-51B Mustang, Juliusz has updated his Supermarine Spitfire model, photographing the two Allied fighters together (as shown in the image above), and refining the design much like the British engineers did during the conflict, with this variant being a Mk.XVIe as operated by the Polish Air Force.

Juliusz’s stunning build quality and presentation are immediately evident, and you can see more of his spectacular Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XVIe, plus the North American P-51B Mustang which shared the Spitfire’s iconic Merlin engine, at his photostream; click these words to take a look.

Optimally Posting

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It’s been a while since we last posted a Lego creation. This may have been because we’ve been at the pub, but as there’s a longstanding narrative running through this website to do with mythical Elves finding blog-worthy Lego creations, let’s go with them not finding anything. Yeh, that.

We do genuinely only publicise creations that we believe warrant it though, and today we have the first of many now we’re back from the pub TLCB Elves have found some.

This one comes from TLCB debutant Levente Lévai, whose own interpretation of Transformers’ Optimus Prime transforms from truck to robot and back again with such incredible complexity it makes our heads hurt. Although that could be the lingering aftermath of the pub.

There’s loads more to see of Levente’s spectacular transforming Autobot on Flickr, where there are dozens of images depicting the extraordinary metamorphosis. Click the link above to roll out.

Mad Maximum Squashing

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Longstanding readers of this stagnent puddle in the corner of the Internet will know that TLCB Elves – the mythical creatures whose unending and unpaid job it is to find the creations that appear here – have a penchant for extreme violence towards one-another. This usually takes the form of a hit-and-run (see here, here, here, here and here), and today normal service was resumed as one of their number found this.

‘This’, is a fully remote controlled replica of the wild ‘Big Foot’ monster truck from ‘Mad Max – Fury Road’, as built by TLCB Master MOCer Sariel, and powered by twin Control+ L Motors driving all four wheels. Said wheels are shod in huge non-LEGO RC tyres, plus there’s working suspension, a V8 piston engine, and two bed mounted guns for maximum movie authenticity.

All of which means that for the Elves that weren’t squashed, it’s probably the Best Creation Ever. And even for those that were, it was still the Best Creation Ever right up until the moment it smeared them into the office carpet. There’s more of the model to see at Sariel’s ‘Mad Max Big Foot’ album, you can watch it in action via the video below, and you can read the builder’s interview here at The Lego Car Blog by clicking these words.

YouTube Video

Winged Horse

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The Lego Car Blog has published dozens of Mustangs over the years. But not all of them are the four-wheeled variety.

This is the North American P-51B Mustang III, built to bolster Allied fighter number numbers over Europe during World War Two.

Outfitted with the British Rolls-Royce Merlin supercharged engine, the P-51 Mustang scored an incredible 6,000 kills, many delivered by the Polish Air Force as they battled for air superiority over Germany in the final two years of the war.

This astonishing Lego version of the British-engined, American-designed, Polish-operated North American P-51B Mustang III is the work of JuliusZ D. of Flickr, who has captured the iconic fighter in magnificent fashion.

Accurate brick-built camouflage, an authentic livery, working control surfaces, and retractable landing gear all feature, and there’s more to see of JuliusZ’s phenomenal P-51B Mustang model at his Flickr album. Click the link above to fly over hostile Germany in 1944.

Truck Boots Jeans Girl Creek Boots Truck*

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That’s the most American title we’ve published yet. Apart from this one of course. If you’re into bro-country music then this post is for you, as today we have the perfect truck to go with your boots, jeans, girl, and boots.

Built by previous bloggee Jakub Marcisz, this fantastic 1990 Dodge Ram features opening doors, hood, and tailgate, working steering, a detailed interior and engine, and a superbly executed exterior.

Building instructions are available, with lots more of the model to see at Jakub’s ‘Dodge RAM 1990’ Flickr album and at the Eurobricks discussion forum. Plus if one truck isn’t enough (and it never is in bro-country), here’s another from Jakub’s back-catalogue. Truck, beer, girl, boots, truck…

*What every bro-country song sounds sounds like.

My Other Car’s a Camaro

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Bored of your handlebar moustache, wearing leather jackets, and chewing a toothpick in an alley? Then it’s time to cease your Camaro ownership and switch to something far smaller, much lighter, and altogether more classy. Yes this superb Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1 by TLCB Master MOCer Firas Abu-Jaber has been constructed only from the pieces found within the official LEGO Icons 10304 Chevrolet Camaro Z28, yet appears completely unconstrained by the set parts source.

Like the set that donated its parts, Firas’ Golf GTI alternate includes working steering, opening doors, hood, and trunk, plus a detailed interior and engine, and you can take a closer look via Firas’ photostream by clicking these words. Or you can keep growing that moustache.