Smaug the golden! Smaug the magnificent! Smaug the ... tiny.

Julius No made this amazing micro Smaug.

Barad-dûr II

You probably recall Kevin Walter's amazing Barad-dûr from a couple of years ago. Well, the rebels blew it up, so he's been working on a second version. I usually don't feature WIPs here, but, well, many Bothans died to bring us these photos, so we shouldn't let their sacrifice go to waste. I can't wait to see the final tower.

Helm's Deep

Mpoh98 built this Helm's Deep story tower. All of the levels are nice, but I particularly like the great perspective he achieved on the upper level.

Life-size Bag End at KidsFest

A few months ago, pictures were published by the LEGO Model Shop of a life-size Bag End. I didn't post it here at the time, because I wanted to wait to find out where it would be on display. It looks like it was in Louisville this past week for LEGO KidsFest. Looking back, it was also at the Virginia KidsFest in February. Check out the KidsFest schedule to see where you might be able to see this at a future display. They also seem to be displaying the Bilbo and Gandalf sculptures that were previously seen at Comic Con International.

Paths of the Dead

Legopard built the entrance to the Paths of the Dead.

You have my axe

Cole Edmonson expanded his armory with Gimli's walking axe.

Big dwarves

While I've been focused on the MELO, Pate-Keetongu has continued to sculpt dwarves, adding Thorin, Oin and Bifur to his retinue.

He's got his eye on the prize

The Middle Earth LEGO Olympics is over, and Jacob Nion takes home the win with his Sauron.

MELO round 1 selected MOCs - TT and RotK

Here are some more selected MOCs from the qualifying round of the Middle Earth LEGO Olympics focused on the Two Towers and Return of the King.

Jackson Williams made a great rendition of Meduseld. Be sure to follow the link, as there is no one photo that shows all of the great details of this MOC.


If you're going to do a Rohan MOC, almost everyone is going to go with the Battle of Helm's Deep, or if not that the hall of Meduseld. I really appreciate that Josh Walters went for the non-obvious with Simbelmynë. Ever has it grown on the tombs of my forebearers.


Martin Geistefeldt went for the obscure, with Haleth, Son Of Háma, a boy created by Jackson at Helm's Deep.


Grant Davis gives us a Jacksonian scene, Lighting the Beacons.


Chris Stone's Do you remember, Mister Frodo? is quite evocative.


Lee Muzzy showed us the climactic confrontation in Mount Doom.

MELO round 1 selected MOCs - FotR

Here are some more selected MOCs from the qualifying round of the Middle Earth LEGO Olympics. These are focused on scenes from Fellowship.

David made a great rendition of the Old Forest and the Barrow Downs full of features like Old Man Willow with moving parts, the opening barrow, and everyone's favorite singing fool, Tom Bombadil.




Justin Knelsen shares the House of Tom Bombadil.


Aiden Frusher shows the difficulties encountered on Caradhras, as does Jedi Master Ronin.



Finn Tegotash shows Gimli kneeling at Balin's Tomb.


Patrick Devine has a nice little micro version of the Argonath.

MELO round 1 - more selected MOCs

Here are some selected MOCs depicting scenes from the from the qualifying round of the Middle Earth LEGO Olympics.

AM had a clever idea to feature the film crew for the Jackson movies On set at Bag End.


Legopard has Bilbo making a Last Look at Bag End before setting out on an adventure.


Hugo Van has a troll ask What's a burrahobbit doing in my pocket? Dodge has the trolls Turned to Stone.



Kenton Lanier has a great version of Gollum's Cave.


Matthew Oh has Laketown under attack in Fire and Water.

MELO round 1 - selected favorites

Sixty-three people entered the Middle Earth LEGO Olympics. I've already featured all of the head-to-head pairings from the second round onwards, but only a couple from the qualifying round. There's no way I'm going to feature all sixty-three, so I'll just post a few personal favorites. This round was wide open, and builders were invited to build anything from the Hobbit or the Lord of the Rings. Here are some based on random locations.

Flax Kikare gave this interpretation of the dwarven halls in the Ered Luin.


Justin M gave us a typical home in Hobbiton.


Derrick Rose's Unexpectexd Guest shows a nice little detail from Rivendell.


Kyle Ransom made his version of Radagast's home at Rhosgobel.

MELO Round 2 - Orthanc bracket part 2

Here's the rest of the Orthanc bracket from round 2 of the Middle Earth LEGO Olympics.

Grant Davis was pitted against Nathan Oh with the category Balin's Tomb. Grant advanced.



Matthew Oh was pitted against Lee Muzzy with the category You shall not pass!. Matthew Oh advanced.



I was pitted against John Daniels with the category The mirror a Galadriel. I advanced.



Finn tegotash was pitted against Jacob Nion with the category The Breaking of the Fellowship. Jacob Nion advanced.

MELO Round 2 - Orthanc bracket part 1

More from round 2 of the Middle Earth LEGO Olympics, here is part 1 of the Orthanc bracket.

Kyle Ransom was pitted against Garrett A with the category A shortcut to mushrooms. Kyle Ransom advanced.



Jackson Williams was pitted against Hugo Van with the category Weathertop. Jackson Williams advanced.



LukeClarenceVan The Revanchist was pitted against A Sargent with the category The Council of Elrond. LukeClarenceVan The Revanchist advanced.



David was pitted against Toa Infernum with the category The caverns of Isengard. Toa Infernum advanced.