Nerdvember 2016 Is Here!

Yes it's here again, Nerdvember! What's Nerdvember you ask? It's that time of year we want you to reimagine our mascot Nerdly. This year the theme is Disney, and we're totally excited for it. You can find instructions for Nerdly under the Build tab, or just follow this link. If you need a little inspiration check out the MOCs from 2014 and 2015, then get building, you have until the end of the month. Three winners will be chosen, you could be one!

We have some excellent prizes from our awesome sponsors including books from No Starch Press, a subscription to BrickJournal, custom printed bricks from EclipseGRAFX and customBRICKS, stickers from Cooper Works, lighting products from Brickstuff and surprises from our pals at FBTB and Brick Loot. Oh, and some BrickNerd swag will be included as well. 

We're also super excited to share that all three winners will receive a complete set of all 18 Disney Pixar Collectible Minifigures courtesy of LEGO!

You have until 11:59 pm PST on November 30th to enter. Just build, shoot, upload to Flickr, add your photo to the official group and you're in! So what are you waiting for? Build on and nerd out!

Rules:
Must submit to Flickr group no later than Nov 30th 11:59pm PST
Enter as many times as you like
Please submit no more than two pictures per MOC
Tag your pictures with "Nerdvember"
Must be physically built, no digital models please
No age limit, but if you’re under 18 please ask your parents
No scale limit, build as big or small as you like
No knockoff brands (Kre-o, Mega, etc.) but third party accessories are OK (Brickforge, Brickarms, Brickstuff, etc.)
Stickers are allowed
    
The theme is Disney, but you don't have to follow it if you don't want to, build whatever you want, just make it nerdy.
    
Download instructions for Nerdly at bricknerd.com/diy-fanart or this link
    
Prizes:
Winners will be featured on BrickNerd and there will be three prize packages of various levels of awesome, first second and third. No special categories or funny business, just 1 2 3. Some prizes will be shipped directly from the sponsors. Judging will be done by a small secret committee, their word is final.

Fallout Shelter Contest

Hey! A game tie-in I'm familiar with! I don't play of course, but my son does, and I recognized this immediately. The fine folks at eclipseGRAFX, Brickarms and Brickstuff are all sponsoring a pretty cool collaborative build for Brickfair VA. They're inviting you to build a module for what should be a pretty epic Fallout shelter when it's assembled. The contest ends 12:00 am EST on August 1st, so you have about a month. Check out the rules and standards here and get building!

Bricks & Boilers

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!

Marchitecture Begins!

A new month within the AFOL community usually brings new challenges and contests, and I am personally rather excited for this new offering sponsored by SLUG from Saskatchewan! Marchitecture challenges us to build a microscale version of a real world building, in the style of the official TLG Architecture sets. Full contest rules can be found in the Flickr group.

First prize is a copy of 20128-1 New York City, so get building!

Blurred Vision

I feel the need, the need for speed!. One of things I love to see is great Lego photography.  granada_tunier blurs the background to give the impression of high speed movement, almost like being in a wind tunnel and the rover looks like its been driven straight off of the next "Rescue Matt Damon" Space Adventure! Built as part of the Febrovery 2016 build challenge, this will take some beating.

NERDvember update

NERDvember is going strong as we end the third week and I continue to be absolutely floored by the quality of the submissions. Who knew the Star Wars universe would inspire so much creativity. You still have over a week to build so break out those bricks!

I'd like to send a huge shout out to some more sponsors. First there's Cooper Works, makers of fine decals and stickers. They are providing a sticker pack that will be divided between the winners. Next is EclipseGRAFX and customBRICKS, brick printers and customizers extraordinaire. Both are sending assortments of custom printed parts that will blow your mind.

And lastly is Brick Loot, monthly subscription box for brick lovers. They are providing custom LEGO models including the one designed by yours truly, Nerdasaurus Rex!

View fullsize

Thanks to these and all the sponsors of NERDvember, you all rock! Now if you haven't started building you better get on it, time is running out!

NERDvember update

NERDvember is well on it's way, and the competition is heating up. The group is almost 50 members strong and there's been some brilliant submissions so far.

I thought I'd take some time to highlight some of the sponsors and tell you about some of the amazing prizes that are being offered this year. First off is The LEGO Group, who generously donated a First Order Snowspeeder, Rey's Speeder and Darth Vader! In addition to those FBTB is donating some polybags as well, so there's going to be plenty of LEGO in the prize packages.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

No Starch Press is donating three books to lucky winners, one for each prize pack. They are Beautiful LEGO Wild, LEGO Scale Modeling and Medieval LEGO.

View fullsize

View fullsize

This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, stay tuned as we reveal more prizes in the coming days, and if you haven't already started building, you better break out the bricks!

Pimp Rey's Speeder!

Those outstanding humans at The Brothers Brick have a new contest going challenging you to pimp Rey's speeder, and they're giving away some really cool stuff. What better way to celebrate the awakening of the force? Head over to the official Flickr group for all the rules and details and get building!

Oh, and I couldn't help myself, Nerdly needed to get in on that action. And it serves double duty as a completely disqualified entry to NERDvember!

NERDvember is here!

That's right you Nerdly building maniacs, NERDvember is here! Sure Halloween is fun, and everyone loves the Holidays, but November is quickly becoming our favorite month of the year. That's the month you crazy talented builders all over the world create some amazing MOCs inspired by BrickNerd's mascot Nerdly. Three winners will win prize packages including loads of stuff from our awesome sponsors. This year we're giving out some super sweet prizes. 

With Star Wars The Force Awakens so close, and us being such nerds, we thought we'd put an emphasis on MOCs from the Star Wars universe this year.  Of course, if you have any ideas on how you'd elaborate on Nerdly, go right ahead, it doesn't have to be Star Wars related. If you need some inspiration, here's last year's incredible creations.

Head over to the official Flickr group, read the rules, join up, download Nerdly instructions if you need them and get building. We can't wait to see what you create!

Huge thanks to all the awesome sponsors for this year!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Fellow denizens of space, SHIPtember is finally upon us! Test your resolve and mettle in a 30 day, no-holds barred battle of the builders! Boys will become men! Men will become champions! Champions will rise! The chaff will be unceremoniously culled from the wheat! Feast your eyes upon this year's trophy!

For the uninitiated - SHIPtember is a yearly challenge for any builder to try his hand at a SHIP within 30 days. A rather daunting task, as SHIP building is fraught with peril, frustration, and crumbling battlecruisers. Visit The Shipyard for official rules. Go ahead. Try it. You know you want to.

Build A LEGO Lab Contest

Radleys, an international chemist equipment manufacturer, is running competition right now. They're inviting builders of all ages to create a LEGO laboratory. It can be any size you want, it just has to be 100% LEGO, the crazier the better. Winners in two age groups will win a £150 shopping spree at LEGO.com. Head over to their website for all the specifics and get building!

Time Is Running Out!

He's so SQUISHY!

You have today and tomorrow until midnight PST to finish your Next Level Nerdly! One lucky winner is going to win a very exclusive plush Nerdly!  You don't have to be attending Brick Magic to win, get building!

One Week Left To Take Nerdly To The Next Level!

Hey builders, you're running out of time to enter the Next Level Nerdly contest. You have about one week left to get crazy with the bricks and you just might score a really cool prize package loaded with LEGO and BrickNerd swag. Including an exclusive plush Nerdly! Over to the official Flickr group for the rules and get building!

This Plush Nerdly Can Be Yours!

There's only about two weeks left in the Next Level Nerdly contest on Flickr, and part of the first place prize package is now chillin' at BrickNerd Studios thanks to Flat Bonnie. This is one of only three in the world, hand made and individually numbered (this one is 02). He's super squishy and awesome.

All you need to do is take Nerdly to the next level and upload a picture to the official Flickr group. Not attending Brick Magic? No problem, you can still enter. But if you are coming, please bring your Nerdly to show off. And right now the odds are incredibly good since there's not a single entry yet (meh). But I know taking it to the next level takes time, and I've heard some really cool ideas, so I'm looking forward to what you build. So break out the bricks and I'll see you at Brick Magic!

View fullsize

Time To Take Nerdly To The Next Level!

As you all know I'm going to be at BrickMagic 2015 in Charlotte North Carolina next month and I thought we'd have some fun with my favorite bespectacled mascot. So let's have a little contest shall we? I'd like to challenge you to take Nerdly to the next level. What's that mean? That means adding lights, or motion, or insane transforming capability, or building style, or anything you want as long as it's totally wild. Post your pictures to the official Flickr group and if you're coming to BrickMagic put them on display. You can start with official instructions, or go freestyle, it's up to you. There will be prize packages for three winners including an exclusive plush Nerdly! This super squishy and adorable Nerdly is one of only three in the world, hand crafted by Flat Bonnie! So break out the bricks, fire up your imagination and get building, I'll see you at Brick Magic!

Even More Chibi Goodness

The Brothers Brick Chibi contest has got to be one of my favorite Flickr contests ever. Watching the daily additions of all these adorable vehicles has been an absolute pleasure. And there's SO many, they just keep coming and coming, and they're all so stinkin' cute!

So Much Chibi Goodness

The Brothers Brick's chibi contest is generating a flood of exceptional MOCs. I don't know if it's the form factor, the builds themselves or the inspiration behind them, but scrolling through Flickr those days is just one squee after another.

Nerdvember Winners!

Well, it was a Nerdtastic month, and there were many, many amazing entries, but there can be only three winners. Congratulations to Ochre Jelly, customBRICKS and Yatkuu on winning Nerdvember 2014. I'd like to extend special thanks to the judges, this was not an easy task. And a huge thanks to everyone who entered, your creativity never ceases to amaze me. There were 77 Nerdlys entered this year, all I can say is wow! 

And yes, before you ask, customBRICKS is a sponsor of the contest, but that did not mean disqualification (and no, they won't be getting their items in their prize package). 

First place: Nudely - Ochre Jelly

Second Place: What's Inside - customBRICKS

Third Place: Spider-Nerdly - Yatkuu

Honorable Mentions

The entries below received many votes as well, and deserve featuring.

Breaking News: Iain Heath's True Form Revealed!

Dateline: Seattle Washington

In a move that stunned the AFOL community, builder and pony proponent Iain Heath revealed his true form today. While most community members know Iain as a lanky bespectacled individual with a funny accent, he is in fact a small puddle of goo. Normally a dungeon dweller, Iain has gone to great lengths to disguise his appearance, even taking up residence in a lake side dwelling. "He had me fooled, but I had my suspicions when he tried to murder me that one time" said notable AFOL Guy Himber. Authorities have been notified of this strange occurrence, but as of this writing have taken no action. "It turns out being a small puddle of goo isn't illegal" said officer Harry Snapperorgans of the Seattle police department. "But we're keeping an eye on him just in case". When interviewed Iain could only emit strange squishy noises, but at an earlier date he mentioned an interest in a contest on Flickr. It has been suggested that this is the motivation for his reveal.

Chibi Micro Contest

Our pals at The Brothers Brick are running a really cool contest right now, with some awesome prizes. They challenge you to build a chibi micro vehicle from your favorite movie, TV or LEGO theme. I can think of a slew of vehicles I'd build (hope I can find time). Head over to TBB for more details and break out the bricks!

First prize: Exclusive Fan Expo Ghost Starship with Kannan Jarrus #460 (donated by TBB) + Set of Star Wars Microfighters (donated by TLG)
Second prize: Choice of 4 Star Wars Microfighters (donated by TLG)
Third prize: Two Star Wars Microfighters (donated by TLG)