A Life-Size "Realistic" LEGO Head Is Just As Disturbing As You'd Think

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Those mad geniuses at Tested have conjured a thing of nightmares. Makeup and monster maker Frank Ippolito designed and built this LEGO inspired costume in record time for San Diego Comic-Con, and it turned out fantastic (and absolutely unsettling). Not only did he make the head, but he fabricated a pair of hands that are just as disturbing. Pair those with his simple red shirt and blue pants and you have something that is simultaneously endearing and frightening. I wish I was able to see this in person on my one day there.

Introducing MOC Nation

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There's a new option on the web for custom LEGO creations and fans of LEGO of all ages, builders and designers alike, MOC Nation. For builders it's a chance to get your hands on sets designed by the greatest designers on the planet. For designers it's a chance to share your creations with the world and make a little money too. Today is the official launch date and while the catalog is small, it's going to be growing very soon. Head on over and check them out!

MOC Nation was created by Matt Gutierrez, Jason Gutierrez, and Andrew Capener — three AFOLs with backgrounds in e­commerce, entrepreneurship, design and a passion for all things creative. 

Skateboard Table

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This would looks pretty amazing in the Nerd Lounge here at BrickNerd Studios, I mean it's not every day you see Minifig gear scaled up to human size. Well, it might be if you're LEGO enthusiast and craftsman Steve Guinness, the builder of this fine piece of furniture. It's 35 times bigger than the real thing, and if you look carefully you can see an actual one in there for scale reference. Steve will soon be offering up hand made LEGO inspired home decor items on his website Bricks at Home.

The Struggle Is Real

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I would argue that it's been a very, very long time since I've stepped on a brick. Mostly because I'm so particular about storage and proper care of the precious. Then again, I stepped on a pip just yesterday during the LiveBuild (with shoes on, does that count?). But as a parent, with two boys that were once quite into LEGO, I've suffered my fair share of nighttime ABS induced foot trauma. Now our friends at Tee Fury have a shirt to recognize the pain we've all shared. Act fast, it's today only!

BattleSHIP! Brickworld 2016

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BattleSHIP! Brickworld 2016

You may have already seen pictures of the ships.  You may have actually been witness to the destruction.  But this will be the full story on the glorious and gut-wrenching concept that was BattleSHIP at Brickworld Chicago.  Simon Liu, the evil genius behind the idea, started a group just after SHIPtember, 2015.  "Hey, you guys interested in playing? Ask your buddies to see if they're crazy, I mean, interested, too. "  And so it began. 

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New Creator Beetle Coming

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I normally leave stuff like this to the sites that concentrate on news, but this makes me so giddy I had to share. The family car when I was young was a beetle, my first car was a beetle and my car  now is a beetle. I've always had a deep affection for these round little wonders, and now LEGO is hooking us up with a fantastic new model. I love the retro styling and studless design, it's beautiful. The 1,167 piece set will retail for $99.99 (US). VIP members can get their grubby little mits on it July 14 and the general public can on August 1.

Countdown To BrickSlopes

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BrickSlopes is only three weeks away, I hope you have your travel plans all buttoned up. There's going to be amazing MOCs on display, games to play and friends to make. All that and for some reason they want me to make the keynote (I really should finish that). I haven't been to Utah in almost 20 years so I'm looking forward to being back and I hope I'll see you there!

Attention Sports And LEGO Fans (Especially You Boston)

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Sam Berns (Of Life According to Sam) loved sports, and he loved LEGO, and the world loved Sam. His inspiring words have uplifted millions and he will be forever missed. This year for the auction to benefit the Progeria Research Foundation (PRF) and to honor Sam the master builders at LEGO and the sports teams of Boston have partnered up to offer an absolutely awesome one-of-a-kind LEGO mosaic. And as if that mosaic wasn't cool enough check out the frame SIGNED BY EVERY SPORTS TEAM IN BOSTON! The Night of Wonder 2016: Score for the Cure auction is this Saturday, April 9th at the Renaissance Waterfront in Boston, MA. For more info click here.

AutoSort 2600

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LEGO Unveiled an unexpected product this morning, the AutoSort 2600. "It's the holy grail of LEGO enthusiasts world wide" claims LEGO CEO Jørgen Vig Knudstorp. "We realize that sorting LEGO bricks is a time-consuming activity, we see that here every day in the workshops. That is why we perfected this device." According to the press release this thing will sort by color and part in record time. Just dump your bricks into the hopper at the top, select which theme is the predominate product and sort. Within minutes your bricks are sorted. "We realize the price point of 60,000 DKK (a little over $9,000 USD) is a little high for the average consumer, but we built this for the real fans. Besides, we're known for being a little pricy, but we're better known for quality". The AutoSort 2600 is expected to be available the second quarter of 2017. 

UPDATE: April fools! Sorry folks, this thing isn't real, so the dream lives on...

Bricks & Boilers

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Attention steampunk and LEGO enthusiasts, it's time to compete. Announcing the Bricks & Boilers Exposition, brought to you by the dapper gentleman and lovers of chuff Ted Andes and Guy Himber. There are three categories to enter:

Strut Your Stuff - "Build a Walker for the Grand Parade" - minifig piloted, no size (or leg) limits.
"Hall of Wonders" - "Make a Display Model for the Royal Museum". Free-build category. The device/invention must fit into a 16x16 stud area, but it can unfold into anything larger (build to any scale)
Amusement Gardens - "Create a Moving Carnival Ride/Attraction" - limited to 32x32 stud base area (overhang permitted above the base); “You Control the Action!”

BrickNerd is a proud sponsor of this event so get building, you have until the end of April!

The “Bricks & Boilers” Exposition – Steampunk Competition 2016

LEGO Gaming Computer

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Mad scientist and customizer extraordinaire Mike Schropp is back with another mind-blowing custom computer, this time it's for gaming. This isn't just a matter of wrapping an existing system with a LEGO shell, this is a ground-up, highly customized monster. He even modified the power supply and uses a custom machined heat sink! I won't go into the specs and details here, because there's too much to share. Luckily Mike has an excellent website that breaks down the entire process.

Get Building!

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There's two new contests that have been announced. First for you car enthusiasts out there LUGnuts is having it's 100th challenge! They're asking you to take on the task of building a randomly assigned car based on the number you give them between 1-100 and they have some killer prizes. Next up is Space Chefs, where you are being challenged to build either a "Cosmic kitchen" or a "Space Chefs on the go" vehicle. Also with some fabulous prizes.

Oh, and as if that wasn't enough, it's also FebRovery.