We’ve followed him for a while now and we’re always blown away by how great and funky his builds are. It’s a really novel idea and it works exceptionally well.

Find out what inspires Nate and gets him building, and also the two rules he follows when constructing. Please spare some time and go support Nate via his Instagram account (@brickdistorted) and website(BrickDistorted).

Tell us a bit about yourself – hobbies occupation etc

Wadup! I’m Nate, a dude with a ton of a passion for life and the things I spend my time on. Right now, that includes “distorted” LEGO builds as well as making hip-hop music and writing leadership/self-help articles.

I recently started a new job as an Engineering Manager at Amazon and am still deciding whether I’m going to stay in the Washington DC area or move to Seattle, WA (again). I’ve spent my career as a professional computer nerd, building software for Microsoft and Vistaprint before joining Amazon.

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When and how did you get into LEGO?

Believe it or not, I wasn’t into LEGO as a kid! I did have one Technic set (8842 – Hovercraft / Helicopter) that I kept taking apart and rebuilding so often that I eventually lost the parts needed to finish it. When I tried to do a MOC, I’d quickly get frustrated when I couldn’t get it to look how I wanted and so I never was too interested in it.

My only LEGO set as a kid

It wasn’t until I was an adult in 2010 that the Fallingwater (21005) and Robie House (21010) sets caught my eye, and got me interested in the Architecture Line.  As I started to collect more of the sets, I discovered that I was fascinated with architecture and rediscovered my love of following the LEGO directions which are always so well-written!

Fallingwater – The set that got me back into LEGO

When did you start creating these wonderful, alternative architecture builds?

In 2018, I was nearly finished collecting the entire Architecture series and I ran into 2 problems. I wanted to keep building more LEGO Architecture, and 2 of the sets I didn’t own were extremely expensive: Marina Bay Sands (21021) and Sungnyemun (21016). To explore if they were worth paying all that money for, I downloaded the instructions and attempted to build them using parts from some of my non-Architecture sets. I only had about half the pieces in the right color, so I started using the correct piece but in other colors when I needed to.

I was able to finish both builds almost 100%, but the end result looked pretty strange. Later, I sent a photo to my brother-in-law for a laugh but he thought they looked really cool and encouraged me to keep doing it…and so I did!

My very first “distorted” builds

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

I get inspiration from just about anything, so I try to keep my eyes, ears, and mind open for ideas everywhere. If I don’t find any external inspirations, I might ask some of my friends or relatives if they have any cool ideas or I’ll just jump in and start putting something together as randomly as possible and experiment.

I also peruse my LEGO collection fairly often. Just picking up each piece of my collection and inspecting it can lead to a new idea or I’ll notice something that I want to improve upon. I’ve generally found the key to inspiration is maximizing the number of opportunities to be inspired!

After you get an initial idea, what happens next?

I try it out as soon as possible before I lose it! From time to time, I’ll have an idea that’s clear and coherent enough that I can just write it down and remember it later. Normally though, my ideas are just half-baked hunches, and I have to try actually putting things together to turn it into a real idea…otherwise, I’ll probably just forget about it.

This is why I like to have multiple projects happening at once, and I like to keep ongoing projects visible and easily accessible (like how folks leave a jigsaw puzzle out and make progress with it in spits and spurts). This lets me keep mulling over ideas and be able to immediately try something if it pops into my head. One half-baked experiment can end up dictating how the entire project will go!

Are there any techniques in particular that you really like implementing?

“Make it look absurd” – this has become my favorite starting technique. Making it look absurd means building an existing LEGO set using as many random and ridiculous colors as possible, intentionally making the build unrecognizable. The basic rules I follow for this:

1) Never have 2 pieces of the same color touching each other
2) Only use tan, white, gray, or black if I have no other choice or if the piece is not visible

Beyond getting more familiar with how the set is structured, this technique forces me to do things that I wouldn’t do otherwise. Along the way, something new and interesting will jump out to me that I can end up using in the final version. This forces me to experiment in new ways and prevents me from repeating things I’ve done before!

Making the stormtrooper look “absurd” – first draft!

How long does it take from initial idea to finished product?

Projects usually take me 2 to 3 months to complete, depending on how many times I have to order parts. The caveat is that I always do 3 or 4 projects at the same time, and thus I end up with 3 or 4 new builds every 3 months or so. I do projects in batches so that I won’t get stuck spinning my wheels on any one project and so I can be more cost-effective when ordering parts.

What would be your dream architecture set to create/recreate? It could be something LEGO hasn’t done yet!

I would be crazy excited if LEGO released large versions of The Burj El Arab in Dubai, or the former Twin Towers in New York City. A miniature Burj El Arab was included in the Dubai Skyline set, but I want something bigger! I love those 2 buildings for very different reasons, and I bet I’d end up doing at least 2 different versions of each one! Please hook it up LEGO!

What are you currently working on?

I am about halfway through my largest project to date – Sydney Opera House (10234) from the Creator Expert line. It’s a giant, long-term project that’s probably going to take me at least 6 months to finish.

I recently finished my own version of Villa Savoye (21014) and I’m working finishing up my edition of LEGO House (21037) and the Star Wars Stormtrooper Helmet (75276), which is my first distorted build of an official LEGO set outside of Architecture and Creator Expert.

What advice would you give to beginner MOC builders?

Focus on what you like to do the most and keep doing that. You can get good at just about anything if you put in the time, and putting in the time is a lot easier if it’s something you really enjoy!

I’m not good at designing new MOC’s from scratch, and the times I’ve tried I’ve quickly become frustrated, especially when I’d look at the incredible things other people all over the world can make. This turned me off from LEGO a few different times.

The thing that I loved most about LEGO was simply following the directions and assembling the sets. I did this over and over again, experimenting with modifying the colors a bit, and I started to get better at it. Eventually, I found my own way to make something unique and different. I personally don’t think my distorted builds are nearly as impressive as the incredible MOC’s that other people can make completely from scratch, but I love working on my builds constantly, which lets me get better at making things in my own unique, colorful way!

It’s amazing what you can do with trial & error and a little persistence!

Apart from making alternative architecture builds, what other aspects of LEGO do you like, sets, minifigures etc?

Beyond LEGO Architecture and some of the Creator Expert series, I’m a fan of a lot of the LEGO Ideas sets. The whole mechanism for submitting ideas, voting them up, and having LEGO consider them for official sets is so cool! My favorite sets from LEGO Ideas include NASA Apollo Saturn V, Wall-E, Voltron, and Dinosaur Fossils! I’ve also had a blast building the Porsche 911 GTS and Bugatti Chiron Technic Supercars. I’ve heard there may be a Lamborghini coming next, I can’t wait!

I did manage to reconstruct JKBrickwork’s Lego Piranha Plant after spending 18 months watching the YouTube videos and experimenting…it’s definitely my favorite from all my non-distorted builds as well.

We would like to thank Nate for taking the time to chat with us. It has truly been a pleasure and I can’t wait to see what BrickDistorted does next!

Please support him and his creations:
BrickDistorted (brickdistorted website – nearly complete!)
Instagram: @brickdistorted
http://proofofthought.io (website featuring my hip-hop, writing, drone videos, and other creative endeavors!)

I have to admit that he is one of my all-time favourite creators. His current project, in-which he collaborates with Attila Gallik (@thegbrix), entitled STARTRON, is a collection of Classic Space inspired sets and vehicles, which look absolutely gorgeous!

Please spare your time and briefly dive into the World of STARTER SETS, in this exclusive interview. Show your support and follow STARTER SETS on Instagram and YouTube.

Thank you for taking the time to chat with us Miklos. We’ve been following you for a while now on Instagram and really like what you have done, in particular your STARTRON project. We’d like to jump into your World very briefly, if we may, and get an insight into what inspires you, first off….

When and how did you get into LEGO?

In the early 80’s, I got my first LEGO set from my father, it was the space set the ‘All Terrain Vehicle’ (6927). That’s when my LEGO love started as a little kid. My adult LEGO world began when I started building and playing together with my little son. Around this time, I started collecting LEGO Star Wars figures. My son would play with them most of the time by disassembling the figures into the tiniest parts and building new ones out of them. Later, this inspired me to start a new project.

When did you start making custom set ideas?

STARTER SETS became the title of the project that was inspired by my little son. This is a series of conceptual photos whose images, with their pairs of unique, small construction toy figures, refer to serious stories based on violence, humiliation, and oppression.

A short video about the exhibition: https://youtu.be/SgEosZSwIy0

A limited edition, MOC figure was also created for this project, with the fantasy name STARTRON. It is a small, peaceful but curious astronaut figure.

STARTRON action mini figures.

What draws you to the space theme and gives you so much inspiration?

I’ve always been interested in Sci-fi, space travel, and the discovery of unknown worlds. One of my favorite television series was ‘Space: 1999’. During the journey, the characters of the series encounter many alien civilizations and phenomena that humanity has never seen before.

After you get an initial idea, what happens next?

Most of the time, the STARTRON astronaut himself is my source of inspiration. This little classic space-inspired red and white figure is perhaps best suited for light-colored sets. That’s why I mostly build with parts from Futuron kits. I wanted to photograph my figures in such classic scenes. I don’t even consider myself a real MOC designer, more like an artist or a photographer.

On the other hand, the STARTRON space theme also inspired a talented, full-blooded professional LEGO designer.
He’s Attila Gallik (@thegbrix), who designed brilliant vehicles, space ships, and robots for this old-new space world.

Instagram: @thegbrix

The G Brix + Starter Sets: ’STARTRON Space Rover’.

Currently we have 3 already built vehicles: A rover, a small tanker and a small cargo flyer. Other than this we have plans for a bigger starship, a giant mech, like the ones you saw in Pacific Rim and ultimately a space base to tie all the vehicles together. Our goal is to place the figures into a coherent fully detailed space environment. We are also planning various photoshoots for these builds and they will be present on several exhibitions so you can see them in person. Maybe they will be in a small TV role too, but I can’t tell you more on that right now.

The G Brix + Starter Sets: STARTRON Truck, Spaceship and the Robots.

How long does it take from initial idea to finished product?

The STARTRON figure itself took a relatively long time to complete. It took more than four months for the sketches to become a tangible product. A retro-looking photo will take a few days to complete. Design, construction, setup, photography for the small home studio and post-production. I’ve always been a fan of the old set’s product photos, and I wanted to place the little red astronaut in similar situations.

STARTRON astronaut with a Space Patroller.

Are there any techniques in particular that you really like implementing?

LEGO is the source of endless possibilities and creativity. This myriad of options can be a little daunting. Where should I go? How do I get started? Taking out a set of tools and using them to begin building something can help you get started.

On average how many bricks do you use, and what has been your biggest creation to date?

I am more inspired by smaller sets. I prefer sets with less than 300 items.
The largest so far was made up of about 350 parts.

STARTRON astronauts in the Lunar Dart.

STARTRON astronauts squad.

What are you currently working on?

I’m designing a new color variant from the astronaut STARTRON. Perhaps a little more in number than the original red limited edition astronaut, of which 50 were made. Some more exciting joint projects with ‘The G Brix’ are in the works. The STARTRON brand is our common passion.

What advice would you give to beginner MOC builders?

I suggest designing with little things first. A little robot or a mini vehicle, which can provide a sense of success. If you already have a first little set you will definitely want another type, or even a bigger one. Later, take out an existing vintage set, look at the back side of the box (if you don’t have the original box, you can easily find it on the internet using the set number) and try to build an alternative version, what you like best from the items in the set, simply based on the picture. Much can be learned from the original set designer’s thought process and solutions. If you’ve gained the practical knowledge to build things but don’t have enough parts at home, head to the virtual LEGO room. Download the free STUDIO application where you can design with all existing LEGO elements in different shapes and colors!

Studio 2.0: bricklink.com/v2/build/studio.page

STARTRON by Starter Sets

Apart from making MOCs, what other aspects of LEGO do you like, official sets, minifigures etc?

I really like LEGO ’Ideas’ kits. They’re interesting because these kits were inspired and approved by LEGO fans and MOC designers. One of my favorites from this product line is the classic ‘Pirates of barracuda bay’ (21322) as well as ‘Steamboat Willie’ (21317) designed by one of my compatriots Mate Szabo (@szabolego).

We would like to thank Miklos Voros for taking the time to chat with us. It has truly been a pleasure and I can’t wait to see what STARTER SETS does next!

If you’ve been inspired and would like to have your own slice of STARTRON then please feel free to download instructions for the STARTRON ST-01 Robot, courtesy of  @thegbrix and Rebrickable.

STARTRON ST-01 Robot Instructions

STARTRON ST-01 Robot

Please follow, support and check out Stormythos on Instagram, also visit his website where you can purchase instructions for all his custom BrickHeadz. Oh and he has kindly offered a discount code for you to use, valid until the end of the month!

Instagram: Stormythos
Website: https://payhip.com/stormythos

Hi all – Stormythos here! I’m an AFOL living in Australia and I’m a massive fan of the LEGO BrickHeadz line. I have an Instagram account (@stormythos) where I share all my BrickHeadz MOCs!

When and how did you get into LEGO?

Like most fans, my first exposure to LEGO was as a child but, at that age, it was only treated as just another toy. I didn’t really build my own models – only building and playing with the sets as they were designed. Some themes I remember playing with a lot were Bionicle, Knights’ Kingdom, Star Wars and Spider-Man (sets based on the Sam Raimi-directed films).

As I grew older, my interest in LEGO dwindled… Most AFOLs refer to this as their ‘Dark Ages’

When did you start making custom BrickHeadz?

Fast forward to having completed my tertiary studies and my interest had reignited! Around early-to-mid 2018, I started getting back into LEGO and discovered the BrickHeadz theme. Having never really made a proper ‘MOC’ before, I just couldn’t resist making my own custom BrickHeadz! My first build was a BrickHeadz of the Marvel Comics character Thanos in his classic comic-book appearance. I had purchased the official Thanos BrickHeadz (set 41605) and felt that the printed element used for the iconic Infinity Gauntlet was lacking, so I really wanted to include a brick-built alternative in my version.

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At the beginning of July 2018, I decided to start an Instagram account @stormythos (https://www.instagram.com/stormythos/) so I could have a platform to ‘showcase’ all of my current and future BrickHeadz MOCs. I didn’t have any expectations whatsoever, but the reception was so overwhelmingly positive! I am so thankful to be able to share my creations with so many others and engage with LEGO fans from around the world. The LEGO fan community on Instagram is amazing and I’ve made so many awesome friends on there – shoutout to my BrickHeadz buddies!

200+ BrickHeadz MOCs later and my passion for BrickHeadz only continues to grow!

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

I typically draw my inspiration from whatever media is of interest to me at the time, such as movies, TV shows, comic-books or video-games. I also like to ask my followers on Instagram for build suggestions as that’s a fun way to engage with everyone.

After you get an initial idea, what happens next?

The first thing I do when beginning to build a BrickHeadz is look for reference images. Whether I’m building a known character or an animal, whatever it is, I grab reference images first! This allows me to clearly see what colours I should use, what important details and shapes I need to include, and generally ensures my build is as accurate as possible.

Are there any techniques in particular that you really like implementing?

I love using SNOT techniques! Official BrickHeadz sets generally use printed elements for certain details, whereas custom BrickHeadz rely on brick-built details. Being able to utilise SNOT building can really allow you to pack in a lot of detail, especially at such a small scale.

My favourite SNOT technique has got to be using ‘Tile, Round 1 x 1 with Bar and Pin Holder’ (ID 20482) and ‘Plate, Modified 1 x 1 with Open O Clip Vertical Thick’ (ID 4085d). It’s such a compact method to invert stud direction!

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How long does it take from initial idea to finished product?

Build time can vary a lot, depending on complexity and level of detail. I rarely finish a BrickHeadz in a single session as I like to take a break and revisit the model, as it usually allows me to notice something I may have overlooked or approach something in a new way.

What would be your dream BrickHeadz to create?

Not really a ‘dream BrickHeadz’, but a dream would be to officially work on the BrickHeadz line at The LEGO Group! Marcos Bessa, Senior Designer and BrickHeadz Design Lead, is a huge inspiration. I know the process would be very different to building a BrickHeadz MOC, but I love the prospect of working on the official line and approaching it from a product design point of view. I’m very glad that the BrickHeadz line is continuing in 2020!

What are you currently working on?

Always working on new BrickHeadz! My most recent creation is a BrickHeadz of Captain Redbeard from the classic LEGO Pirates theme. I recently asked my followers for build suggestions and this idea grabbed my attention considering the recent release of ‘Pirates of Barracuda Bay’ (set 21322 from LEGO Ideas). I’ve also recently finished working on a series of BrickHeadz based on heroes & villains from DC Comics.

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Redbeard

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What advice would you give to beginner BrickHeadz/MOC builders?

For anyone wanting to get into building their own BrickHeadz, I would suggest starting with understanding how a BrickHeadz is typically constructed and use that as a ‘base’. The instructions for set 41597 (instructions found here) are a great introduction to building BrickHeadz! Additionally, all the instructions for official BrickHeadz sets can be found online.

Apart from making BrickHeadz what other aspects of LEGO do you like, sets, minifigures etc?

One thing I love about LEGO is how many niches there are! Everyone has their favourite thing to build and it’s so awesome to see that variation in the LEGO community.

I also enjoy the LEGO video-games a lot! I often play them along with my younger brother so that’s heaps of fun for the both of us.

Thanks to Greg from The Brick Post for reaching out to me and wanting to feature me in a MOC Designer Interview! You can check out all my BrickHeadz MOCs on my Instagram page @stormythos (https://www.instagram.com/stormythos/).

I also have some instructions available (both for free or for purchase) via my online store (https://payhip.com/stormythos) – you can use the coupon code THEBRICKPOST during checkout for a discount on any paid instructions (applicable until the end of the month).

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Heroes & Villians

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Jar-Jar Binks

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Pennywise

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Redbeard

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Horror

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Thank you Stormythos for your time and having a chat with us, it truly is appreciated. We wish you all the best, and look forward to seeing your next project!

Please join us next week for another MOC Designer Interview. We hope you enjoy reading about these amazing LEGO builders and what inspires them, we sure do!

Thank you.

This week we’d like to introduce Chrisbricked.TV from Instagram. He was our very first feature back when we started and we’ve followed him and his amazing creations ever since!

Focusing on building City, Modulars, Trains, and Vehicles, Chrisbricked.TV currently has over 100 completed projects and there is no sign of stopping. He has recently started producing commissions for AFOLs to grow and include in their own Cities!

Please follow, support and check out Chrisbricked.TV on Instagram, also visit his website where you can purchase the instructions for all his MOCs. Oh and he currently has 50% off!

Instagram: Chrisbricked.TV

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Thank you for taking this time to chat with us. Let me start by asking when and how did you get into LEGO?

I studied engineering for some time and also became fascinated with architecture. Of course as a kid, I had LEGO, but it wasn’t until my late friend Jim showed me about Digital LEGO Building. I was hooked right after!

When did you start making MOCs?

I’m fairly new, I only started in October of 2019. Of course I’ve been using programs for years, but I didn’t start posting them for people to see until recently.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Real life! All my builds are built based off of pictures or actual buildings I see in my everyday life.

After you get an initial idea, what happens next?

The test build. Every MOC I Create is built into a rough draft. After, I rebuild it using more of a organized structure and use pieces in colors LEGO has available. I also make the instructions too. It’s a long process but I can say I enjoy it.

Are there any techniques in particular that you really like implementing? 

SMOOTH! When you look outside you don’t see little round circles sticking out of the ground :). I prefer to smooth all of my MOCs out to make them look realistic (it’s safe to say 90% of the time).

How long does it take from initial idea to finished product?

1 day – to 4 months. Sometimes I just want to take a day off, and sometimes, I’d like to build all day!

What would be your dream MOC to create?

A full size Airport! But I’m afraid my brain would be fried by the time I’m done

What are you currently working on?

Commissions that my followers have ordered me to build for them. Right now, a House, Studio, and City Layout are being designed!

What advice would you give to beginner MOC builders?

Don’t copy people – seek inspiration, but build your own stuff. If something’s done too many times it gets old.

Apart from making MOCs what other aspects of LEGO do you like, sets, minifigures etc?

I love City and Modular, I’m not necessarily a collector so Star Wars and stuff doesn’t excite me. I just like the pieces to build my own stuff.

What is your favourite LEGO set?

Can I even legally answer that? I love sets with lots of colors so the Assembly Square is up there, but on a personal level, the Yellow Beach House by Creator. It was the first set someone bought for me and I didn’t break it because it was a gift

That’s all great! Many thanks for taking the time to answer some questions and talk to us, we wish you all the best with your future projects!

Don’t forget to follow and support Chrisbricked.TV