Lego BlackFalcons with Brickperium and Brickwarriors custom items

 

Grudgebringers

This indoor diorama diverges from my usual outdoor approach with natural lighting, featuring instead a large blue cardboard backdrop.

A tent made of cardboard and paper serves as a central element, reflecting my attempt to replicate the appearance of fabric.

The scene represents a rare moment of calm for the Grudgebringers, the legendary mercenary company introduced in the video game Shadow of the Horned Rat, a title I hold in great esteem. A knight accompanies his horse on foot, with sausages and hams visible on the saddle, hinting at supplies gathered through foraging. Nearby, one infantryman peeks into the tent, perhaps to inform an officer of an update.

Custom Barding

 

The Frontier

In my diorama titled The Frontier, a tense scene unfolds as a band of soldiers, possibly Hessians, emerge from the shadows of a dense forest. Accompanied by a group of Native allies, they approach a frontier homestead cautiously. 

Inside the home, a colonial family prepares for the unknown. The husband stands by the window, gripping his musket tightly, his gaze fixed on the advancing figures. Behind him, his father-in-law shields the man’s wife and her sister, both women visibly tense. The younger sister clutches a kitchen knife, hastily grabbed from the set dining table, ready to defend their home if necessary.

The scene draws inspiration from the timeless, suspenseful frontier narratives of John Ford’s The Searchers and Drums Along the Mohawk. Set in the mid-1700s, this diorama captures the mix of fear, determination, and unity in the face of an uncertain encounter, immersing us in the atmosphere of America’s early colonial frontier.

Lego Imperial Guards

Shot of my LEGO Imperial Guards company on the march! Leading the formation, we have the officer and the flag bearer carrying a custom-made flag on fabric, complete with the iconic Guard emblem. I added a weathered effect to the flag, giving it a worn look that speaks of hundreds battles fought against pirates.

The setup was shot in RAW mode with a woodland backdrop on a TV screen, with some real soil added in the foreground for extra depth. I’ve also mixed in both original LEGO pieces and non-LEGO products purchased on Aliexpress.

More Knights

The collection of five photos captures Playmobil knights with heraldry inspired by both Game of Thrones and LEGO factions. First, we have a Playmobil knight bearing the heraldry of House Bolton, with its sigil of a flayed man, embodying the brutal and ruthless nature of the house. Alongside him is another Playmobil knight, this time with the sigil of House Frey.

In the next image, a group of Playmobil knights proudly display the Bull's Knights emblem. Complementing the display are two Playmobil knights sporting the heraldry of the LEGO Crusaders.

Finally, in the last photo, a Playmobil knight with the Fright Knights emblem adds a dark and eerie contrast to the other figures. The Fright Knights, known for their sinister aesthetic.

This collection serves as a tribute to both the storied factions of Game of Thrones and the bold and imaginative world of LEGO, blending medieval symbolism with the craftsmanship of Playmobil figures.

Point d'argent, point de Suisses

"Point d'argent, point de Suisses" — a phrase meaning "No money, no Swiss" — this diorama captures a battalion of Swiss soldiers advancing into battle. Using high-quality, unofficial Lego minifigures from AliExpress, I was struck by the craftsmanship of these pieces despite their unofficial origins. Originally designed as grenadiers of the 1st Swiss Regiment in Napoleon's Grande Armée (circa 1805), they wore fur caps; however, I customized them with tricornes to depict the Swiss troops who served the French Crown throughout the 1700s.

This diorama reflects the Swiss mercenaries' reputation as elite soldiers, valued for their discipline and courage, as noted by figures like Prussian King Frederick II. Inspired by René Chartrand's historical work, "Louis XV's Army: Foreign Infantry and Artillery," and the stunning soldier illustrations by Eugène Lelièpvre, I also included two flags: the royal standard, with its white field and golden fleur-de-lis, and the Swiss regiment’s Flammé flag. These elements honor the foreign regiments who were indispensable to French military power during the 18th century.

House Swyft of Cornfield

In this photo, I’ve portrayed a Playmobil knight as “Sir Tyler Swyft,” inspired by the house of Swyft from Game of Thrones. Known for their striking sigil—a bold blue bantam rooster on a yellow field—the house motto is “Awake! Awake!” fitting perfectly for a valiant, watchful knight. I crafted the tabard and shield with this emblem, aiming to capture the medieval, noble look of Cornfield’s champion. Sir Tyler Swyft’s name may bring a smile as it echoes a more modern cultural reference, but he stands proudly as a guardian ready to defend his keep with the fierce vigilance of his house’s rallying cry.

The Golden Swan Knight and the Black Baron

In childhood, the Golden Swan Knight and the Black Baron were characters that seemed alive in the vivid world of Playmobil, representing ideals of knighthood and rivalry. For years, I imagined epic battles and chivalrous quests, where the Golden Swan Knight’s noble grace was pitted against the Black Baron’s mysterious darkness, especially in that catalog scene where they faced off near the Black Baron’s fortress, a captive damsel just visible in the background.

In the first photo, I’ve highlighted the Golden Swan Knight with unique elements—a custom caparison, shield, and banner crafted to match his signature iconography. In the second, the Black Baron stands with his loyal knights, each bearing wyvern-emblazoned standards in shades of deep purple, painted and designed to capture their ominous presence. The personal touches here echo the nostalgic memory of that Christmas when my father gifted me a play set with the knight’s tournament tent, alongside a beautiful illustrated book of King Arthur by Howard Pyle, igniting my lifelong fascination with medieval lore.

LEGO Black Monarchs Heraldry on Playmobil Knights

In the first image, you’ll see a close-up of a Playmobil knight proudly wearing a tabard that I created, featuring the iconic logo of the LEGO Black Monarchs faction. In the second image, there are three knights in full armor. Two of them carry shields with an alternative Black Monarchs logo, and one knight holds a lance adorned with a Black Monarchs banner. In the background, you can spot a large banner leaning against the wall, also displaying the Black Monarchs emblem.

For those unfamiliar with the LEGO Black Monarchs, they’re one of the classic medieval factions. 

They were a formidable presence in LEGO's medieval universe, ruling with authority and strength. Their designs were simple yet powerful, and they’ve always been one of my favorite LEGO factions.

What I really enjoy is combining LEGO and Playmobil heraldry. There’s something special about using LEGO knight designs on Playmobil figures and vice versa. It allows for a crossover between these two iconic brands, blending their styles in a way that feels both nostalgic and creative.

And let’s be honest, being able to use both #LEGO and #Playmobil in the same image is pure joy for me! Personally, I’ve never seen them as rivals where one excludes the other. For me, there’s no Team LEGO or Team Playmobil—they complement each other, and both offer endless possibilities for creativity.

LEGO Knights Jousting Duel – Custom Heraldry and Accessories

This scene captures the intense moment of a duel between two custom LEGO knights. In the foreground, one knight is seen from behind as his horse rears up, kicking up dirt, ready to charge with his lance aimed forward. In the background, the opposing knight has already lowered his lance and is rushing toward his opponent in full charge.

What makes these knights special are the custom details. The knight in the foreground wears a cape and barding that I made myself, featuring the heraldry of the Scaricamazza family. If you're into heraldry, I highly recommend checking out Dario Scaricamazza’s work on Instagram. His designs were a great inspiration for this.

As for the knight in the background, his barding and shield feature one of my favorite heraldic designs from the 90s Playmobil knights—a yellow wyvern on a purple background. It’s a nostalgic nod to one of the factions I grew up with, and I really enjoyed recreating this iconic design for LEGO.

Other accessories in the scene include armor and lances from Brickwarriors, which add a lot of authentic medieval flair to the figures. Finally, the knight in the background sports a beautiful bascinet helmet that I found on AliExpress, and it really completes his armored look.

It’s always fun blending custom-made heraldry, classic LEGO elements, and accessories from different sources to create something unique. This duel scene feels like a real clash of knights from two different worlds—the Scaricamazza legacy meets the Playmobil faction from my childhood, all brought together in LEGO form!

Imperial Guard of Krieg Diorama with Custom LEGO Minifigures

I’ve always been a fan of the Death Korps of Krieg from Warhammer 40K, so I decided to bring them to life in a diorama—but with a twist. Instead of traditional miniatures, I used unofficial LEGO minifigures that I found on AliExpress. At first, I was a bit skeptical about the quality, but I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. These figures are well-made, detailed, and really capture the grim, stoic vibe of the Krieg soldiers.

In the diorama, you can see the squad emerging from the ruins of an Imperial palace. The sergeant leads them from the front, while in the background, the Commissar watches over them. Now, unlike other regiments of the Imperial Guard, the soldiers of Krieg don’t need a Commissar to inspire courage—they already embody relentless loyalty. Instead, the Commissar's role here is to prevent them from becoming too zealous and throwing their lives away unnecessarily in their quest for self-sacrifice. Krieg soldiers are known for their grim determination and readiness to die in the Emperor’s name, often needing a Commissar to remind them not to waste their lives pointlessly.

One of the highlights of this piece is the flag bearer, standing next to the Commissar, carrying a regimental banner that I made by hand from fabric. I’m quite proud of how it turned out, and it really adds that personal touch to the scene.

On the topic of these custom LEGO figures, I know there’s some controversy regarding unofficial products on platforms like AliExpress, especially when it comes to intellectual property and copyright. These figures are not official LEGO products, but they are an affordable alternative for those looking to add something unique to their collection. I do understand the importance of supporting official creators, but sometimes, fan creations and custom figures allow for more creativity and accessibility, especially in niche communities like ours.

Overall, I’m really happy with how this diorama turned out. It’s a unique take on the Death Korps of Krieg, mixing the grimdark aesthetic of Warhammer 40K with the playful and creative world of LEGO.

Brickperium’s “Cuirass of The Silver Lilies” & “Sallet” Helmet Review – A Must-Have for LEGO Knights!

In this post, I’m excited to share my review of some amazing LEGO-compatible accessories made by Brickperium. In the image, you’ll see a knight wearing the Cuirass of The Silver Lilies and the Sallet helmet, both by Brickperium. The knight also wields a cavalry lance from Brickwarriors, another fantastic brand.

I personally painted the armor and helmet, applying a subtle weathering effect to give them a more realistic look. I also created the caparison for the horse and the banner, featuring the emblem of the LEGO faction Dragon Masters.

I highly recommend Brickperium’s accessories, which have just become available. They add a stunning level of detail and realism to your LEGO knights. I'm also a huge fan of Brickwarriors, having used their products for nearly 10 years! The only minor issue I’ve encountered is that the Sallet helmet is a bit too tight on LEGO minifig heads, making it hard to remove.

Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10, I’d rate these accessories a solid 9. 

They look fantastic and bring your LEGO knights to life! Be sure to check out Brickperium’s wide range of accessories on their website.

Stay tuned! In the coming weeks, I’ll be releasing a video tutorial on how to create your custom banners, flags, and capes using fabric.

Back on the open sea

Here we go again, I managed to get back to the beach, and this time I decided to bring not one, but two galleons: 

the Imperial Flagship and the Bluebrixx Brigantine. 

The plan was to take some photos of both ships together, but I couldn’t find a good way to capture a nice shot! I’ll try again. 

I also had to wait until the evening for the beach to clear out a bit, as it was really crowded! 

My camera probably works better with stronger light, but I really like the rosy evening glow. Flags made by me

Lego Custom Knights

 

Italian Heraldry: Castracani degli Antelminelli

 Castruccio Castracani degli Antelminelli (1281-1328) was a famous condottiero and lord of Lucca. Born into a noble family, he initially distinguished himself as a soldier in the service of the Ghibellines. His military and political skills allowed him to emerge as the leader of Lucca, where he established an authoritarian regime.

Castracani fought against the Guelphs and other rival city-states, consolidating his power in Tuscany. Among his most notable achievements is the victory at the Battle of Altopascio in 1325, which allowed him to extend his control over large areas of Tuscany. Besides his military prowess, he was known for his intelligence and political cunning.

He died in 1328, leaving behind a legacy as a great military leader and skilled politician. His figure was also immortalized by Niccolò Machiavelli, who wrote a biography of him, contributing to his lasting fame in subsequent centuries.

Italian Heraldry: Braccio da Montone

Braccio da Montone, also known as Andrea Fortebracci, was an Italian condottiero born in 1368 in Montone, Umbria, and died in 1424. Descended from a noble family, he became one of the most skilled mercenary leaders of his time. Braccio was renowned for his strategic prowess and bravery, successfully leading his troops in numerous battles. He served various Italian lords and several city-states. His influence and power grew to the point where he founded his own state in central Italy. However, his ambition led him into conflicts with the papacy and other Italian powers. He died in 1424 during the Battle of L'Aquila, marking the end of his short but intense military career.

Lego Black Falcon's Knight

 

Diorama with rain

 

I've just completed a diorama for the FourBricksTall Bad Weather contest, but unfortunately, the limitations of my smartphone camera are evident.

Despite following the fantastic tutorials from FourBricksTall, I couldn't quite capture the rain effect I created using a water spray.

In this diorama, I wanted to evoke a sense of nostalgia, starting with the skeleton launching itself at the knight. The helmet the knight wears is none other than Basil's helmet from the Fright Knights line, which I modified about twenty years ago by removing the wings and part of the helm.

Moving on to the knight, wearing a sallet from BrickWarriors (a highly recommended site) and a standard LEGO armor that isn't visible in the photo. The cape and horse barding are my own creations made using tutorials found on classic-castle.com. The heraldry is inspired by the 1990s Playmobil knights line, one of my favorites.

The arm holding the sword, also from BrickWarriors, is a modified arm purchased on AliExpress. Lastly, the other skeleton wears a classic LEGO helmet that I painted twenty years ago after watching Braveheart and deciding to add leather to all the helmets.

The skeleton is clad in a classic armor, with a gambeson underneath that I made myself using graphics from the torsos of the Fright Knights. The graphics are available on classic-castle.com.

Although I used water spray for rain effects, I added a Photoshop filter to enhance the rain for better visibility.

Basil The Bat Lord

The Fright Knights are a series of LEGO sets introduced in the '90s featuring a medieval fantasy theme with a touch of horror elements. This line included castles and knight figures, but with a storyline and style that incorporated vampires, ghosts, and mysterious creatures. It was a unique interpretation of the medieval LEGO genre, adding some darkness and charm to the classic castle setting.

Basil the Bat Lord is a prominent character from the LEGO Fright Knights series. He is depicted as a sinister and powerful figure, often adorned in dark, elaborate armor adorned with bat motifs. Basil commands an army of spooky knights and creatures, including vampires and ghosts, in his quest for dominion over the medieval realm. With his menacing appearance and strategic cunning, Basil the Bat Lord embodies the eerie and adventurous spirit of the Fright Knights theme.

Recommended Soundtrack: Cemetery · John Carpenter

Custom Parts:

Armour by BrickWarriors

Flag remade by me

Thank you, Play_Maxx!

Today I am proudly sharing this beautiful diorama created by Play_Maxx! I invite you to visit his Instagram page, where you can admire his incredible creations. He's truly talented! It was a great honor for me to see that Max included one of the shields I personally crafted in the diorama, using Lego knight heraldry.

To thank him, I created three new Playmobil shields for him using images of triangular Playmobil shields (historical shields from the 90s and perhaps the 80s) he sent me. I adapted the images to make the emblems compatible with oval shields.

The new shields are available here

More Playmobil & Lego Shields to download and print

Due to overwhelming demand, I'm thrilled to announce that I've added not one, but two new sheets to download and print with images for creating Playmobil and Lego shields. The images are sourced freely from the internet, featuring heraldic themes related to Playmobil, Lego, and even some inspired by the Game of Thrones series. Additionally, a few images have been kindly created by the artist Nico Pogarskiy.

Playmobil Shields ID

30207960
30516962

Lego Shields ID

6076677
4211465
6139813

Please note for printing for 6139813, unfortunately, I haven't found the best configuration yet to ensure the image adheres perfectly to the shield.

Other LEGO shields have been taken from the website Classic-Castle.

You can download the files in JPEG format here.

If you liked them, send me a photo to be published on the website, or tag me on Instagram!

Italian Heraldry: Scaricamazza

Again I find myself unable to finish one project without new ideas flooding in. In the upcoming months, I've resolved to also delve into creating mantles, flags, and shields inspired by the heraldry of noble Italian families, focusing particularly on one of my favorite historical eras, the Renaissance.

For each coat of arms, I envision crafting a flag, shield, and mantle. The inaugural coat of arms for this endeavor belongs to the Scaricamazza family. I extend my gratitude to Dario Scaricamazza, the coat of arms' owner and manager of the Instagram profile Heraldry.art.

As an additional touch, I've decided to include a leopard fur atop the mantle, echoing the coat of arms. If there's a coat of arms you'd like to see brought to life, do let me know!

Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world

Today is a day for celebration! And it's a double celebration!

First, I'm celebrating because Mark, on his fantastic blog at https://manoftinblog.wordpress.com/

shared an email of mine along with a link to my website, and he greatly appreciated the photos with the Playmobil figures!

But I'm also celebrating because Alexei from distant Russia has had freed from the printer the tournament knights by Hans Burgkmair the Elder, which I had prepared some time ago by extracting them from images found on the internet.

You can find them in the "Print & Play" section.

I invite you to visit Mark's blog, which contains many interesting gems if you're a fan of toy soldiers in all their possible variations.

The title of this post is actually taken from his blog, a quote I had never heard before.

This particular quote has left a strong impression on me.

26 lead soldiers are none other than the letters of the alphabet found in typewriters, the letters were made of lead and letters alone have a very limited meaning. However, when letters are combined into words we are able to communicate thoughts and ideas.

This quote, dating back over 200 years and attributed to Benjamin Franklin, is still relevant today.

If Franklin was referring to the printing press, the power of written communication has gained an even wider reach thanks to the Internet. Letters and words remain powerful weapons, regardless of how they are delivered.

It's truly beautiful and exciting how passions and interests can bring people together, even those who are far apart, especially in times like these.

Here are pictures of the tournament knights made by Alexei

The author, Hans Burgkmair visibly pleased