Members' building projects: work in progress

At our Bricktopia  events, our members exhibit all their wonderful creations. These structures may be entirely their own designs or they may have been built using instructions from other AFOLs (Adult Fans of LEGO). Sometimes members are still working on a project when they bring it to Bricktopia, but usually you will see completely finished structures there.

We thought it would be fun to give you a peek behind the scenes. Some building projects take months or even years to complete. Step by step, new additions are conceived, bricks are collected, and then it's time to get to work building. We asked our members to share photos and explanations of a project they are working on. We received several interesting responses that we would like to share with you.

WIP #1 | Zoo | Hans Mahler 

I would like to share some of the progress of my zoo project. Two 48*48 plates have been added to this side of the zoo, one for lions and one for panthers. The one for lions is completely finished, with a Land Rover Defender based on the MOC by Dutchbricks member Nard Verbong (nv_carmocs).

The first photo shows how the black panther enclosure initially consisted of a flat plate with a Duplo border. I will continue to build on this until I reach the right height. I am working towards being able to create an “underground” cut-out for a large aquarium, like the one at Burgers' Zoo, once I am finished. That's why I'm going higher and higher. These plates are all assembled according to a MILS (Modular Integrated Landscaping System) type construction. I'm going to finish some details on the panthers and then move to the other side of the zoo to continue building.

WIP #2 | Fishing boat UK-205 | Jesse de Lepper

I am working on and off on building a scale model of the Urk fishing vessel UK 205 SPES NOVA. For the construction, I have downloaded some photos from the internet and am using these as my building instructions. So far, I have used around 20,000 bricks in this project. When the ship is finished, I expect there will be around 50,000 in total. I design and build at the same time, so without ready-made (digital) instructions. It gives me peace and relaxation, and I also challenge myself by building in this way.

WIP #3 | Hogwarts | Maarten van Dinther

Now that the community build for the MECC is truly over and the next Bricktopia is not scheduled until April 2026, I have found the time to start two new (long-delayed) projects. It used to be a tradition of mine to build my own “Hogwarts” every year. I haven't done this for several years now. I have now started what is perhaps the largest (at least as large as my Nijenborgh castle), most detailed and most ‘realistic’ version of the famous castle from the world of Harry Potter. Given the size, I have not set a deadline for when I want to have this building project finished. It is not certain whether it will be ready for Bricktopia Horst (July 2026). I have made a start with part of a library wing and the groundwork for the castle treasury.

The second project is something I am undertaking for the first time. I will not elaborate on this yet. Only that I hope to be able to present it at Skaerbaek Fan Weekend 2026. A hint as to what the theme has to do with can be seen in the last photo.

WIP #4 | Ocean | Pierre Fiddelaers

I am sharing a number of construction photos from an older project, as I will not be starting my next big project until January 2026. This MOC, with an “Ocean” theme, features an underwater and an above-water scene. Total construction time was approximately 160 hours.

WIP #5 | Oshkosh M1070 | Jean-Paul Geurtjens

The Oshkosh M1070 is a tank transporter developed by the OshKosh Corporation for the army. Due to its growing cult status, it is also often used in civil engineering, whether as a tractor for heavy loads or for tuning trucks.

The official LEGO set 42177 Mercedes Benz G500 is required as a basis, along with some additional parts. A total of 2,925 parts are required. In addition to all the technical features, all the unmistakable details of the OshKosh have been included.

The dimensions are: 61.5 x 22 x 26 cm (LxWxH).

Technical equipment:

1. 8x8 drive

2. All axles are sprung

3. Axles are equipped with differential

4. Axles each have their own limited-slip differential

5. Axle is extra lockable

6. 1st and 4th axles are steerable

7. Both doors can be opened, have a stop and are lockable

8. 2x preparation for winch

9. V8 engine

10. Hand of God control

11. Steering wheel control

12. Mechanical closure of the bonnet

Other details:

1. Air pressure tanks

2. Battery

3. Fuel tanks with entry aid

4. Emergency exit

5. Exhaust system

6. Preparation for two winches

7. Small storage space under the driver's cab for tools

I built this lorry in about 14 hours. Now it's time for the flatbed lorry. This one will be entirely my own design. Hopefully, we'll be able to see what it looks like at the next Bricktopia event.

WIP #6 | Dismantling & sorting | Barend Wouters

To build new things, you sometimes have to tear down old things. I never enjoy this task, but luckily my father recently helped me demolish my castle. This allowed me to make a lot of progress, and I expect to be able to start building a new castle for the 2026 events during the Christmas holidays.

After demolition, I sort all the bricks by type, size and colour. Some bricks, such as the 1x1 and 1x2 bricks, have a sorting box where most colours have a place. Other parts go into Ikea bins where I collect everything of one colour and where the individual parts have their own bags.