Behind-the-Build: Lost Boys Hideout

Aaron Newman October 13, 2020

It was an absolute blast to design my interpretation of the Lost Boys’ hideout from the 1953 Disney animated movie Peter Pan. At 18” (45cm) tall—and over 1700 bricks—it’s quite a big creation, and took me more than a month to design and refine. Best of all, I opted to build and present this model as a “LEGO set,” complete with stable building techniques, play features, and a full assortment of minifigures. It just felt more appropriate to the subject material to channel some of my inner child, who loves nothing more than an exciting new LEGO kit. Like Peter Pan, I’m never growing up!

Watch the video above for an in-depth tour and exploration of the Lost Boys’ hideout, including demonstration of its play features, or read on to see detailed images and learn more about the design choices that went into this playset.

"Wraiths with Wings!"

Aaron Newman May 13, 2020

I designed this replica of a Fell Beast from Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings film trilogy (2001-2003) in collaboration with Build Better Bricks (B3). Despite their limited screen time during the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) films, the Ringwraiths’ dragon steeds known as Fell Beasts are some of the most striking creatures from Jackson’s take on the Tolkien universe. I was excited to revisit this subject; the last time I made a Fell Beast was actually back in 2012, when my building skills were nowhere near as practiced as they are now.

Read on to learn more about the design choices that culminated in my finished Fell Beast model—and stick around to the end of this post to see my 2012 version, too!

"I'll Be Back!"

Aaron Newman April 10, 2020

I designed this version of the eponymous character from James Cameron’s landmark movie The Terminator (1984) in collaboration with Build Better Bricks (B3). When B3 initially approached me about recreating the famous cyborg in bricks, I’d actually never seen any of the Terminator franchise films… and, embarrassed as I am to admit it, I still haven’t seen the original movie all the way through!

Read more to learn about all the design choices I made on this model.

However, I didn’t have to watch more than a few clips of the original T-800 Terminator to refresh myself on just how iconic of a design I was dealing with. Of course, I already knew Arnold Schwarzenegger’s accented catchphrase from the movie, “I’ll be back,” and would’ve recognized the Terminator’s distinctive metallic endoskeleton anywhere. But there’s something beyond just fame that sets this character apart and captures the imagination. Its menace, its strength, its doggedness, its humanoid teeth… The Terminator is just intimidating, no question about that!

Behind-The-Build: Heartbreak of the Dragon Prince

Aaron Newman February 27, 2020

For Episode 3 of LEGO Masters, “Movie Genres” (2/26/2020), Christian and I created “Heartbreak of the Dragon Prince,” a fantasy romance with a thrilling conclusion!

In our final build, the Dragon Prince and his princess are threatened by a pair of nefarious necromancer brothers, who have summoned an army of skeletons to attack the castle. In the blockbuster moment we captured, the Dragon Prince—chained by wicked magic—has managed to delay the horde of skeletons with fire, but cannot prevent one of the necromancers from pushing his love from the top of the tower. Will he be able to save her from a deadly drop?

Read on for my special dissection of this 13-hour model’s process, design choices, and more.

"Throw a Little Hot-Rod Red in There."

Aaron Newman September 9, 2019

When I first saw Iron Man in 2008, I left the theater enraptured and amazed by the film I’d just seen. I imagine most audiences felt similar enthusiasm; after all, for more than ten years, Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Tony Stark served as the foundation upon which the Marvel Cinematic Universe—the most lucrative film franchise in history—was built. In 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, as we had to say goodbye to this character, it truly felt like the end of an era.

After seeing Endgame, I wanted to create a brick-built homage to Iron Man. However, rather than opting to build the nano-tech suit that comprised the hero’s final iteration, I chose to recreate the form in which this character captured the imagination of the world eleven years ago. I’ve assembled Iron Man in his first and—I’d argue—most iconic form: Tony’s Mark III Armor, the first suit to sport his signature gold and “hot-rod red” color scheme.

Read on to learn more about the design of this 10” (25cm) figurine.

"Small" Tales: Making a Miniature

Aaron Newman September 26, 2018

I designed this miniature version of my Tale of the Three Brothers build, from late March of this year, for a microscale LEGO Harry Potter contest online. I had the idea to miniaturize my previous Wizarding World creation as soon as I read about the contest; after all, that build received such a warm response, and it remains one of my favorite presentations to date. So I set myself the task of making it micro!

This final build, the which I finished in a short day’s work, was a fun and quick exercise in miniaturization. While building stuff smaller-than-life in LEGO is hardly unusual (case in point: even my huge 40” Chateau de Chenonceau isn’t quite the same size as the real-life castle!), to take an existent design of mine and replicate it smaller was a novel task.

Read on to learn more about the parallels I drew between the original scene and its smaller version.

"The Tale of the Three Brothers" is my fifth ABS challenge build.

The Brothers Peverell

Aaron Newman March 27, 2018

This build, an artistic presentation of "The Tale of the Three Brothers" from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, is the fifth build I've completed for my second round in the ABS Builder Challenge, an online competition where LEGO® artists are tasked with implementing a "seed part"—in this case, a silver goblet—creatively into as many builds as possible.

Read on to learn more about the design choices behind this model.

This replica of the Doof Wagon is my fourth ABS challenge build.

Ride Eternal on the Fury Road

Aaron Newman March 25, 2018

This model, a recreation of the Doof Wagon and Nux Car from Mad Max: Fury Road, is the fourth build I've completed for my second round in the ABS Builder Challenge, an online competition where LEGO® artists are tasked with implementing a "seed part"—in this case, a silver goblet—creatively into as many builds as possible.