Sometimes just a few pieces and a little consistency with the universe in question are enough to make a nice MOC without going into an overbidding of details that kill the spirit of the creation in question.

Wandering through the twists and turns of flickr, I came across this pretty Coruscant SportsCar that caught my eye with its simple lines, basic red color and no-frills or accessory overload design. With a few pieces judiciously used, The Capitán creates here a machine which is immediately assimilated by the fans to the so particular atmosphere of Coruscant with its speeders which cross between the illuminated buildings. 

Some will find this machine simplistic, but I remain convinced that its simplicity is its strength. To see more, visit the flickr gallery of The Capitán, he presents in particular an X-Wing of his own which can also give rise to discussion.

In a competition, you have to know how to show talent but also originality to stand out from the competition. madLEGOman understood this well and his two entries for the Wheels of Justice contest organized by FBTB are original to say the least. 

He therefore presents the BatKart and the LanternKart, two mini vehicles in the spirit of those of the video game Mario Kart.

If the Batkart leaves me doubtful by its forms and its stripped down side, I find the LanternKart very successful. The shape of this mini kart is consistent with the spirit of the game and despite its compactness, it can still accommodate a minifig.

To see more and find out how the Joker is artfully portrayed in this MOC, visit the flickr gallery by madLEGOman.

Still live from Mexico and Free market, local auction site, here are some minifigs from the LEGO Superheroes DC 2012 range already on sale. 

We discover in particular the Joker and his Tommy Gun from the set 6863 Batwing Battle over Gotham City with his sidekick in the face of a clown armed to the teeth. Beautiful silkscreen print on the face of the henchman who wears a green and purple outfit that matches those of the Joker and his favorite gear.

In another ad, we see in detail the Batman of the set 6858 Catwoman Catcycle City Chase about which the discussion is going well now: Will he be entitled to a cape in addition to the Jetpack included in this set?

With all these images available, it becomes almost less exciting to wait for the release of new things. We will have seen everything in detail long before the appearance of sets on the shelves. Times are changing, and Mexicans are the new kings of the exclusive LEGO novelty this year ... No doubt until LEGO cleans up the workers at its new factory ....

Another quality MOC by Blake's Baericks. The scene reproduced is where Bilbo meets the hermit Beorn, a lonely guy who has the power to change into a bear. Note that the Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt will play Beorn in Peter Jackson's film adaptation of the book Bilbo The Hobbit.

For this MOC it is Hagrid, his double, who takes over the role ....

We will appreciate the exceptional level of detail of this realization with in particular the tree trunk, the honeycomb and the luxuriant vegetation.

You can find more views, including many close-ups, of this MOC at the Brickshelf gallery or the MOCpages page by Blake's Baericks.

It was while browsing flickr that I came across this photo of MED and that I asked myself the question. Are LEGO minifigs too detailed?

It is a question that deserves to be asked and that divides the community. It's a fact, LEGO minifigs are getting more and more detailed, screen-printed and dressy. Some see it as a normal evolution of the toy according to the evolution of fashions and technologies, while others see LEGO gradually losing its soul and its image of a toy appealing to the imagination of the youngest.

Today we are a long way from the basic yellow-headed minifigs of the 1990s. I naturally pass on the bits of plastic acting as a character dating from the 1970s before the creation of minifigs with movable arms and legs in 1978 .... The arrival of Flesh in 2003 changed the appearance of minifigs, but without necessarily distorting the product.

In recent years, LEGO has entered another phase: Minifigs are more and more detailed and close to the universe from which they are inspired. Just see Jack Sparrow, Harry Potter ou Indiana Jones to understand that there is no longer any need for imagination: The minifigure is immediately recognizable and assimilable to the character it embodies.

The remakes of the Star Wars universe are also ultra-detailed: Sebulba from the set 7962 Anakin Skywalker and Sebulba's Podracers released in 2011 is much more detailed than the Sebulba of the set 7171 Mos Espa Podrace released in 1999.

Not to mention Boba Fett's minifigure which has evolved well since the set's minifigure 7144 Slav I released in 2000 until 8097 Slav I released in 2010 .... 

The Star Wars universe reflects this evolution of minifigs over the years. The range spans over 10 years and incorporates almost every variant of minifig that LEGO has been able to produce.

Personally, I am divided. On the one hand, I tell myself that as long as the minifig keeps the shape that we know it, all is well. And I expect seriously worked minifigs in the Superheroes range, with beautiful screen prints and colors faithful to that of the models. After all, it's the shape of these characters more than their dress that makes them part of the LEGO world.

But on the other hand, I contradict myself and I regret that some minifigs are sometimes too dressy, decorated, to be made even more realistic or close to their model. Undoubtedly an effect of nostalgia particular to the Star Wars universe, which must be less present among the youngest ....

And you, what is your opinion?