In some kind of TLCB nightmare, Flickr’s Jens Ådne J. Rydland has managed a gloriously successful mashup of two sci-fi themes about which we know nothing. So here’s one of those walking things from Star Wars merged with LEGO’s own Blacktron and Ice Planet themes, for a reference so nerdy it’s probably got adenoids. Join the sci-fi convention via the link above, whilst this TLCB Staffer tries to counterbalance writing this by drinking a beer and giving a wedgie to one of the Elves or something.
We’ve never thought about the villainous Blacktron empire’s more mundane needs before. But even an evil space organisation needs to eat. You can’t go thieving satellites on an empty stomach.
Fortunately Flickr’s Dario Đipić has thought about it, and the result is one of the most alien-looking vehicles we’ve ever published, even though the design is rooted in those in common usage today.
That might be because, despite the wonderful work they do feeding the planet, combine harvesters looks absolutely terrifying, and thus are weirdly suited LEGO’s classic space baddies theme.
Head out into the alien fields via Dario’s photostream, and keep the empire of evil from going hungry.
Blacktron, one of our favourite of LEGO’s classic space themes, have quietly bubbled along since their official dissolution several decades ago. Quietly no more it would seem though, thanks to Flickr’s Frombol and his spectacular Blacktron fighter. Suitably cunning techniques have been used throughout the build and there’s more to see (plus a link to building instructions) at Frombol’s photostream. Click the link above to make the jump!
*Today’s title song. Kinda.
Ok, we’ll start out by saying we are absolutely not going to do these two brilliant podracers by Rubblemaker of Flickr justice. Knowing virtually nothing about Star Wars isn’t something we feel the need to correct, but it does make writing about Star Wars more tricky…
What we can say is that Classic Space themes Blacktron and, er… Classic Space look thoroughly awesome as Starwarsy racing thingumies, particularly when kicking up a cloud of brick-built lunar dust.
Rubblemaker’s inventiveness is evident throughout the builds, with Benny’s Classic Space podracer even using Star Wars Death Star pieces for its engine intakes, which we’re immensely pleased with ourselves for noticing.
That’s the limit of our Star Wars knowledge though, so we’ll leave this to the proper blogs at this point. Until they pick this up you can see of Rubblemaker’s brilliant creations on Flickr. Click the link above to pod race in Classic Space.
The Lego Car Blog Elves have been remarkably on-point lately, bringing back actual cars and trucks for around the last fifty posts! We’re not sure any of this newfound laser-focus is of their own doing though, with the current Eurobricks Small Car Contest and our own Lock-Down B-Model Competition supplying them with plenty of wheeled creations. Not that you can’t build a B-Model spaceship of course.
Anyway, not entered in either of those contests, and also not a car, is this ‘BT-87 Allied Avenger’ Blacktron starfighter by Flickr’s The Brick Artisan. Not only is the build really rather excellent, the presentation is stellar too, and there’s more to see at The Artisan’s photostream. Click the link above to jump to hyperspace.
FebRovery really is over… (isn’t it Markus Rollbuhler and Chris Perron?). Luckily Markus and Chris’s building skills are significantly better than their timekeeping, so here are two more rovers before we really will get back to posting cars. Probably.
Markus’s effort (above), entitled ‘Stardust Snooper’, harks back to LEGO’s earliest space themes in its purpose, being solely an exploratory rover. A living space and research lab support the crew of two and there’s more to see on Flickr by clicking here.
Today’s second rover comes from Chris Perron, whose Blacktron ‘Surface Scout’ is also apparently an exploratory vehicle. Just one with a giant double laser cannon thingy on the roof. Four wheel steering and a beautifully built cockpit for one feature alongside the ginormous death ray and there’s more to see of Chris’s build on Flickr.
And here endeth the FebRovery Rovers. Unless someone uploads a cool one tomorrow. Now let’s find some cars…
Febrovery continues apace and today we have two builds from the annual nerdfest to share with you, one which looks like it could be an actual lunar rover in the not too distant future and one which… doesn’t.
First up (above) is Ivan Martynov‘s ‘SOL 317’. We assume that by the use of those little 1×1 figures that Ivan’s design is for a rather massive machine, but increase the scale about ten times and it could easily be one of the small robotised vehicles that mankind is so fond of for current planetary exploration. Whichever it is it’s a great build and you can see more at Ivan’s photostream via the link above.
Today’s second rover throws realism out of the emergency airlock and arms the space villains Blacktron with an enormous rocket, which has got both your Mom and TLCB Elves excited for different reasons.
Shannon Sproule‘s Blacktron ‘BRUTE’ missile launching rover involves ‘towing a nuke onto the battlefield, launching it and then hiding in the observation tower to record the destruction’ according to the builder’s mildly unhinged description. Apparently he’s working on one twice as big too…
Stand well back and shield your eyes at Shannon’s photostream via the link above.
Well this is a bit more sinister than baskets of bread at the front of the church…
LEGO’s classic space themes have been getting increasingly serious of late, thanks to the slightly warped minds of you lot. Today it’s Blacktron’s turn, courtesy of previous bloggee ZCerberus and his spectacularly evil-looking ‘Harvester’. Enormous spider-like legs support a 360 degree cockpit mounted upon which is a huge cannon/rail gun/laser arrangement. Well, we’re assuming it’s not a telescope…
If that wasn’t terrifying enough Z’s Havester mech is equipped with a pair of equally monstrous smaller mechs, which are giving the Elves nightmares. We’d better return to cars…
Until then you can see more the Blacktron Harvester at ZCerberus’ photostream and you can check out its real-life equivalent (minus the cannon/rail gun/laser) by clicking here.
LEGO’s Classic Space themes have gotten increasingly kick-ass over the years as builders have become ever more ambitious (see here, here and here). Much as we love these elaborate and slightly terrifying builds, there’s something nice about seeing a classic theme built, well… classically.
Case in point; this Blacktron Scout is in all likelihood a pretty pointless machine (future mini-figures have conquered space but still need to drive around on the surface to find stuff?) providing no discernible use whatsoever, but it’s so harmlessly cool that we can’t help but like it. George and Anthony here are off on a journey across the planetary surface to look at rocks or something, whilst the on-board computer flashes lights and makes booping noises. It’s all so delightfully meaningless!
There’s more to see of this ‘Blacktron Scout’ courtesy of Krzysztof Cytaki of Flickr – click on the link to look at rocks or something whilst a computer flashes lights and makes booping noises.
We’re not sure why this is a wolf, or how it’s lucky, but as has been well documented on these pages we know nothing about sci-fi and the builder behind this is called ‘spaceruner’, so we’ll defer to their superior space knowledge.
A mini-figure/droid crew, glowing crystal thingy, hefty cargo container, and folding ‘wings’ all feature, and there’s more to see (plus a host of other ace classic space models) at spaceruner’s photostream.
We don’t particularly like wasps. They do eat pests and pollinate, but they also crash picnics, and no-one likes an uninvited guest.
We do like this one though, Ciamoslaw Ciamek‘s ‘Blacktron Wasp Intelligence Interceptor’ which, like its namesake, has a sting in the tail! See more at the link.
Those no-good space pirates Blacktron are at it again. The harmless magnet-collectors of M-Tron have built themselves a monorail, full of some delicious space fuel as yet undiscovered by science. Yet no sooner have they loaded up than those sneaky Blacktron reprobates begin a cunning space siphon of the liquid goodness. Maybe it’s beer? Whatever it is you can see more of the heist courtesy of Kalais of Flickr – click the link to take a look!
The crafty reprobates of Blacktron have been keeping a low profile for these past fifteen years. Once the most formidable group in the galaxy, Blacktron made a living from Space Evil, which is much like regular Evil, only in it occurs space. It seemed that by 1993 though, their number was up, and Blacktron mini-figures were subsequently only to be found in the cells of the Space Police.
However it seems not all of Blacktron’s members were caught, with some disappearing into the cosmic underground to plot a glorious return. Emboldened by the recent resurgence of other classic space civilisations, the dastardly mini-figures of Blackton have decided that now is the time to stage their comeback, and what a machine they’ve built to do it!
With six enormous wheels, a fully appointed ten-crew interior, a rotating gun turret, and – in true old-school LEGO space style – a smaller scout vehicle hidden within itself, the Blacktron B-59 armoured personnel carrier is ready to help the Blacktron empire rise once again!
Andreas Lattanzio aka Norton74 is the Space General (which is much like a regular General, only in space) behind Blacktron’s triumphant return and you can see more of what they’ve got planned at the link above. Your move Space Police…
Yea, uh huh, you know what it is
Black and yellow
Black and yellow
Black and yellow
Black and yellow
The words of well-known poet Wiz Khalifa there, rapping about wasps, or taxis, or school buses, or Watford Football Club. Whatever he’s on about we have two black and yellow creations for you today, and each is miles better than Wiz’s affront to lyricists everywhere.
First up (above), suggested by a reader, is Nathanael Kuipers’ Renualt RS2027 Vision, and if it’s the future of Formula 1 after the introduction of cockpit canopies we’re all in. See more on both Flickr and MOCpages.
Today’s second creation (below) comes from Brick Knight of Flickr, who has equipped those thieving space pirates at Blacktron with one hell of a cool ride. There’s more to see more of his beautifully photographed Blacktron Scout Buggy via the link above.
Now where were we? Oh yes…
Black and yellow
Black and yellow
Black and yellow
Milan Sekiz has seen a rover and he wants it painted it black. No colours anymore, apart from black, yellow and trans-red are in this series of builds. It also includes a bike, spaceships and a couple more items yet to come. If, like our Elves, you enjoy Transformers, then click on to Milan’s Photostream, where you can see one of those too.
Alternatively, click here for today’s British pop reference. We seem to be getting good at this. Has TLCB finally mastered sci-fi? Probably…
