The Hobbit, Microscale Map

Name of Model: The Hobbit, Microscale Map

Created by: william costumers

Found at: http://mocpages.com/moc.php/141371

Details: We've seen microscale before, we've seen landscaping before, and we've seen Lord of the Rings models before, but this is the first time we've seen all three in one model. The scale is slightly caricatured, giving it an old book illustration feel and allowing the builder to do some interesting things with greenery. Zooming in reveals the non-LEGO labels that make this function as a map.

Lord of the Rings: Places in Middle Earth

Name of Model: Places in Middle Earth

Created by: bricktales

Found at: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=321185

Details: Here's an interesting set of scenes from the series Lord of the Rings. I'm not much of an LotR fan, so I can't speak to the accuracy of these - but there are quite a few of them and many of them are interesting from a building perspective, and a few of them make entertaining use of non-LEGO elements as well. There are a variety of landscapes, custom figs, houses, and castle-styled scenes, so I suspect that quite a few of us non-LotR fans will still be able to enjoy the gallery and the building ideas shown. The photo I've selected to accompany this post is one of several great landscapes shown here - I love that little stream and the mix of white and dark grey pieces used to get a realistic rocky land feel.

Orthanc

Name of Model: Orthanc

Created by: xbolt

Found at: http://xbolt.knowledgehouse.info/orthanc.html

Details: Here's another model based on Lord of the Rings - this time from Orthanc in Isengard. This one is a big black tower that Samuran lives in. This particular model used over 4000 pieces and is as tall as a person (as the additional photos demonstrate). I don't know how much detail there is on the inside, but this appears to be to minifig scale.

2 Models of Minas Tirith from Lord of the Rings

Name of Model: Minas Tirith

Created by: Bruce at MicroBricks

Found at: http://microbricks.blogspot.com/2007/04/minas-tirith.html , http://www.ozbricks.com/bricktales/lotr/lotrplaces/lotrplaces12/lotrplaces12-06/lotrplaces12-06.html and http://www.ozbricks.com/bricktales/lotr/lotrplaces/lotrplaces12/lotrplaces12-05/lotrplaces12-05-01.html

Details: To make up for the lack of a proper Saturday post, I'm posting two models today. Both are based on Minas Tirith from Lord of the Rings. MicroBricks blogger Bruce has decided to test the limits of the microscale format by creating a large mountain scene with a full village. Although the model is at a very small scale, it covers a lot of ground - 6 LEGO baseplates' worth. The ground leading up to the mountain is cleverly sculpted, and the mountain itself features some well-placed vegetation. As if that wasn't enough, the front gates have also been expertly crafted in minifig scale: