STAINED GLASS WINDOW

EVENT LOG: Bricking Bavaria 2025 – LEGO Magic at Faszination Modellbau in Friedrichshafen

Last weekend, between Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day, the German town of Friedrichshafen, beautifully located on the shores of Lake Constance, became the meeting point for creativity lovers from all over Europe thanks to Faszination Modellbau — one of the continent’s biggest model building and hobby fairs.

Among model trains, RC airplanes, miniature ships, and high-tech drones, one area shined brighter than the rest (and not just because of the colorful bricks): Bricking Bavaria 2025, the fan-driven LEGO® exhibition that brought together builders and enthusiasts from all over Europe.

This year’s LEGO fan event had a truly international flair. Alongside the many talented German builders, there were exhibitors from Switzerland, France, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, and probably quite a few more countries — a genuine melting pot of creativity, imagination, and passion.

Naturally, that’s where we spent most of our time.
With all due respect to traditional model building, our hearts beat for LEGO creations, bold MOCs, and the brilliant ideas that make Bricking Bavaria such a highlight every year. So in this report, we’ll be focusing exclusively on the LEGO area — where the real magic happened.

Where to Begin?

I have to admit, I was genuinely excited about meeting all those builders whose creations I usually share on my Facebook and Instagram pages.
That said, the exhibition had a setup quite similar to the Fan Weekend in Skaerbaek: no barriers, just ribbons; no chairs, and no dedicated space where builders could stand by their tables and chat with visitors.

On top of that, the fair itself was huge and rather dispersive, which made my “builder hunt” more challenging than I expected. In the end, I had to give up and managed to award the PREMIUM BRICK to only one builder.

And that’s a shame, because there were so many who would have absolutely deserved the recognition from my page — including several incredibly talented women.

I started my visit right at the table showcasing the smaller builds, crafted by the talented members of Rogue Brick. On that table were some real gems!
Among them, the ones that stood out to me the most were Bag End (Bilbo Baggins’ house), created by Thecreatorschild (that’s their Instagram handle), and several other beautifully detailed small-scale creations — including a pagoda, also by Thecreatorschild, featuring some truly clever part usage: minifigure hair pieces turned into a waterfall, and Bat-belts (or similar parts) used as window frames.
I was also amazed by a Montgomery Burns inspired by The Simpsons and a build dedicated to the characters from Hotel Transylvania — both so detailed they were almost hard to believe! These were made by brickleas (Instagram).

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing along the legendary table, I came across the masterpieces of Gerrit Gottschalk (gghost on Flickr), the legendary Iron Builder who amazed me with a scaled-down version of the famous French castle of Chenonceau. Too bad I didn’t get the chance to meet him in person!

Speaking of castles, I also have to mention a beautiful elven-style castle, although I couldn’t figure out who the builder was. The whole structure had a wonderful sense of harmony, but what truly caught my eye was the flooring, crafted with a particularly clever technique.
The builder was kind enough to leave a small demo model showing exactly how the technique was done — a thoughtful touch much appreciated by curious fans like me.

 

 

Leaving that table, more delighted than ever, I came across what I believe to be the most impressive creation made by a single builder: The Wolf Hunt by Andrea Pettau.
His is a truly complete work — a medieval village dominated by a massive wolf-shaped mountain. All around it unfolds a battle between knights and enormous wolves; both the horses and the creatures are in motion, as is the cart trying to cross a small bridge unscathed.

The diorama is packed with intricate details: you can glimpse the interiors of the houses, and at the bottom of the gorge separating the village from the mountain runs a river. On its bed, an eager bear is seen catching salmon as they swim upstream to spawn — a wonderful touch of natural life in the middle of the battle.

It was a real privilege to meet Andrea Pettau in person, and I didn’t think twice before awarding him the only PREMIUM BRICK I managed to hand out during the event.
To get a better sense of what I’m describing, make sure to check out the video I posted HERE.

 

The wonders obviously didn’t end there, because one of the most stunning and flawlessly executed dioramas was Unterwelt (“The Underworld”). The full title, Industrie trifft auf Unterwelt (“Industry Meets the Underworld”), depicts a gigantic abandoned industrial complex, complete with tracks, cranes, rusty warehouses, and towering blast furnaces.

But behind this seemingly ordinary scene of industrial decay lies something much deeper: the mafia and a group of counterfeiters have taken over the abandoned facility and are using it for their secret operations.
A brilliant concept, crafted with obsessive attention to detail and true masterful technique — over 100,000 pieces and four months of work to create a scene rich in atmosphere and realism.

Unfortunately, the builder forgot to sign their name, and I wasn’t able to track them down — a real shame, because I would have loved to reward them with the PREMIUM BRICK.

Next to the industrial complex, there was a microscale city brilliantly built by Marion Weintraut. Already known for her Château Nottebhorm, this time she truly amazed me with a wonderful little town, full of clever techniques, exquisite details, and creative building solutions that made me exclaim more than once:

“Would you look at that! How talented she is!”

She truly outdid herself — you’ll even recognize several real-world buildings. I wish I could share all the photos I took for her, but unfortunately that’s not possible on the blog. So I invite you to check them HERE. (you’ll find them right after the Underwelt diorama).

The Rogue Brick group surprises us with a new collaboration every year, and this edition was no exception.
The chosen theme was San Francisco, complete with a Golden Gate Bridge stretching across the bay and dominating the scene with its colors and imposing presence.

The diorama faithfully recreated many of the city’s most iconic landmarks: from the Golden Gate Bridge to Alcatraz, passing through Fisherman’s Wharf, Coit Tower, the sleek Transamerica Pyramid, Chinatown, the winding Lombard Street, the green expanses of Golden Gate Park, and the unmistakable Painted Ladies of Alamo Square.
Among the buildings, the Saints Peter and Paul Church stands out — easily recognizable by its two bell towers, one taller than the other — reproduced with impressive attention to detail, a touch that adds even more charm to an already monumental work. You can find video HERE.

Leaving sunny San Francisco in LEGO form, I headed toward a completely different world: that of Star Wars, where a group of builders called Brickz Lab brought to life the city of Jedha, from the film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Their diorama is massive, built across three different levels. Staircases are everywhere, and you can truly feel the atmosphere of the Star Wars saga all around you. Among the highlights, there’s even an AT-ST walker (the classic two-legged Imperial vehicle) that actually moves — just turn one knob to make it go forward and another to bring it back. Of course, I also recorded a video of this masterpiece so you can see the war machine in action!

Now let me mention a few names, just to give you an idea of how many spectacular MOCs were on display. There were truly a lot of them, but for reasons of time and space, I can’t talk about them all:

• Lorendil by Hugo Lebrun

• Gondolin (Suite Tower Diorama) by Louis Frankreich

• The Black Falcon’s Castle by @brickbrotherzz

• The Tower by Jakob Sonnenfeld

• Native American Village by Hugo Lebrun

• The Arch by Florian Neunier

• Spacehattan by Julian, Maik, Matthias, and Timo

All of these are fascinating creations, but I often find myself captivated by smaller builds as well.
That’s why I’d like to draw your attention to a sewing machine created by Hejjo Polen: it’s incredible how, with so few pieces, they managed to capture the look of the real object with such impressive detail.
Take a look at the image below and see for yourself!

I’m not really a fan of trains — and even less of LEGO trains — but I have to say that Thomas Reincke’s diorama is truly remarkable. It would be a shame not to include it in this report, so… enjoy the photo!

Another exhibitor who presented truly outstanding creations was Zuzanna Kovalová.
She’s passionate about Italy, and all of her builds reflect that love.
Her Trevi Fountain is beautiful, but it was her Italian Neighborhood that really caught my eye.
It’s a sort of miniature Venice, entirely imagined rather than realistic, yet the build features fully detailed interiors, which are easy to see and wonderfully crafted.

One diorama that really got people talking — and even won several awards during the AFOL evening — is “Invasion of Nexari” by Julius Lukas Uhlmann.
This monumental build is made up of around 40,000 LEGO pieces and took 25 months of work, totaling over 1,150 building hours.

The scene tells an entirely original story created by the builder himself.
In the year 2213, humanity is on the brink of extinction, surviving only inside huge protective domes known as enclaves.
But a new threat emerges: the Nexari, an aggressive alien species that invades other worlds through interdimensional portals.
With what little strength remains, humankind launches a desperate counterattack — a massive battle that Julius Lukas Uhlmann has brought to life in LEGO with incredible attention to detail.

The epic atmosphere, troop formations, and the chaos of combat inevitably evoke cinematic battle scenes, such as the one in Wakanda from Avengers: Infinity War.
However, this diorama belongs to a completely original universe imagined by the builder.
To top it all off, the display features a clever mirror effect that expands the depth of the scene (and no, you won’t find those mirrors on BrickLink 😉).

There’s also a video available here.

Another award-winning builder was Max Richter, with his stunning 1:50 scale Boeing 747-8.
This is an impressive and highly detailed model that perfectly replicates the Lufthansa airliner — from the engines and wings to the elegant curves of the fuselage.
Seeing it in person, you can truly appreciate the engineering precision and passion for aviation behind its creation.
The result is a masterpiece that combines technical realism with visual impact, looking almost ready to take off at any moment.
It’s simply impossible not to stop and admire it!

Speaking of award-winning builds, I also want to highlight the work of Christian Schwab, inspired by the Avatar saga.
His diorama, titled “Kelutral – Home Tree of the Avatar,” was inspired by the LEGO Ideas Tree House 21318 set, which he gradually expanded and transformed over the course of three years of work.
The result is a majestic tree full of intricate details that beautifully captures the spirit of Pandora.
One of the main challenges was ensuring the stability of the trunk and branches, achieved through the clever use of specific LEGO elements.
To give you an idea of the scale, there are over 1,400 leaves in this build!
It’s a creation that radiates balance, color, and imagination — a stunning tribute to the Avatar universe.

Let’s take a step back into the Star Wars universe with “Peridea – The Great Fortress of the Nightsisters”, an extraordinary creation by Oliver Kude from Munich.
The diorama masterfully recreates the mysterious planet Peridea, introduced in the Ahsoka series as the ancient home of the Witches of Dathomir.
It’s an impressive build, completed over twelve months of work and made up of more than 49,000 pieces, transporting viewers to a distant corner of that far, far away galaxy.
Here unfolds the series finale, where Ahsoka Tano, Morgan Elsbeth, and the fearsome Grand Admiral Thrawn face each other in a clash of magic, power, and destiny.
The attention to detail is remarkable — the grandeur of the temple, the dark and eerie atmosphere of the planet, every arch and corridor seems to pulse with dark energy.
A creation that perfectly blends technique and storytelling, bringing to life one of the most evocative settings from the Ahsoka universe.

Among the most surprising areas of the entire event, a special mention goes to the BuWizz booth (www.buwizz.com), a company known for its advanced control and power systems designed for the LEGO Technic world.
BuWizz offers a small yet incredibly powerful unit that combines a rechargeable battery and Bluetooth controller in a single device, allowing builders to control their creations via smartphone and achieve performance far beyond standard LEGO systems.

Their stand was simply jaw-dropping: on display were a go-kart and a scooter, both built entirely from LEGO bricks — yet fully functional and capable of carrying an adult!
Video demonstrations, also available on their official YouTube channel, showed these vehicles in motion, turning and accelerating just like the real thing, powered solely by BuWizz motors and control units.

The go-kart, in particular, is a masterpiece of hybrid engineering — a blend of creativity and mechanics. Built from over 7,000 LEGO pieces, powered by 32 L-motors and 8 BuWizz units, it can reach speeds of around 4 km/h and carry up to 60 kg.
The scooter, more compact but equally impressive, highlights the system’s versatility, proving that even the boldest projects can come to life when passion meets the right technology.

In short, BuWizz perfectly embodies the meeting point between innovation and AFOL spirit — pushing the limits of what can be built… and what can actually move — with LEGO bricks.

After so much power and technology, it was time to slow down a bit and enjoy something completely different.
And what better way to do so than by diving into the beauty, colors, and unmistakable Mediterranean charm of the Italian Riviera, a stunning creation by DS Bricks and TE Bricks?

It’s a vibrant depiction of a coastal village full of life, color, and Mediterranean warmth: brightly painted houses lining narrow alleys, flower-covered balconies, and sunlit terraces where time seems to slow down.
Walking through those tiny streets, you can almost smell the grilled meat in the air and feel the sea breeze rich with salt and iodine, while climbing plants and blooming flowers wrap around the walls of the houses.
It’s a diorama that radiates joy, light, and a love for fine details — a true tribute to Italian life, where every brick and every smile seem made of sunshine.

From a technical perspective, the build is equally impressive: completed over a year and a half of work, it contains over 40,000 LEGO pieces, with an estimated cost of around €3,000, and measures 204 × 51 × 70 cm.
A project born from dedication and passion — proving once again that imagination can turn simple LEGO bricks into pure emotion. Here's the video.

From the sea of the Riviera, we sail toward the islands of Catan, where builder Paul Kalinka (on Instagram as @honey.brickz) has brought to life a series of LEGO versions of the iconic board game that German fans absolutely love.
His main project, completed over 16 months and made of 4,998 pieces, recreates the world of Catan with incredible attention to detail: villages, roads, and hexagonal fields come together to form a fully playable board.

But Kalinka didn’t stop there. Over time, he developed several versions of his creation — from the smallest micro-Catan, to a full tabletop edition, and even an art-style mosaic version that reimagines the island from a creative perspective.
It’s a project that blends passion, precision, and imagination — proving once again how the LEGO world can be a perfect playground for creativity, even in the realm of board games.

From the islands of Catan, we move to a much more… pastoral setting!
Builder Clemens Schnefer presented an impressive microscale creation inspired by the beloved animated series “Shaun the Sheep.”
Despite its tiny size, the scene is instantly recognizable: the flock, the sheepdog, and the farmer — all recreated with striking simplicity and skill.

Looking closely, it’s impossible not to admire the farmer’s face, crafted from just three LEGO pieces, yet capturing his expression perfectly.
A true little gem of minimalist building, proving that even the smallest number of bricks can bring an entire world to life.

After a detour into the world of animated microscale builds, we return to Italy, where the creativity of our builders continues to shine on the international stage.
Among the standout works is the creation by Luca Giannitti, who masterfully recreated Corso Vittorio Emanuele II in Turin, capturing its architectural elegance and urban charm.

Equally impressive is the work by CLV – Costruttori Lego Verona, who presented a stunning model of Palazzi Barbieri in Verona, the city’s town hall and one of its most recognizable landmarks.
With its meticulous detailing and skillful use of stone and marble tones, the piece conveys the monumentality and grandeur of the real building.

Also by CLV, in collaboration with several members of Aemilia Bricks (Alessandra Paltrinieri, Mauro Magnani, Luca Manzini, Max Pecchioni, Roberto Frigato e Stefano Masetti), is a breathtaking winter diorama dominated by the majestic Three Peaks of Lavaredo.

A scene filled with alpine atmosphere, where snow, icy reflections, and tiny daily moments capture the poetry and serenity of the Italian mountains.

For the first two creations, you can find photos below that capture their magnificence, while for the third one — the Tre Cime di Lavaredo diorama — I invite you to check out the video on my channel, The Bricks Box, where you can see it in all its glory.

After the cold, snowy atmosphere of the Italian mountains, it’s time for a complete change of scenery — straight into the heat of the Egyptian desert.
Here, four builders from LEGO Masters 2023 — Christian, Jürgen, Michel, and Philipp — joined forces to bring the wonders of Ancient Egypt to life in bricks.

The diorama includes all the civilization’s most iconic landmarks: a majestic Pyramid of Giza (by Christian and Jürgen), a mysterious Sphinx (by Philipp), and an elegantly crafted Lighthouse of Alexandria (by Michel).
A small kiosk and plenty of fine details add depth and realism, making the whole scene feel alive and immersive.

With over 40,000 pieces assembled in just a few weeks, this minifigure-scale landscape captures the allure and mystery of the Nile’s ancient civilization.
And if you’d like to see it from every angle, check out the video I made on The Bricks Box — it’s absolutely worth a watch!

After the sands of ancient Egypt, it’s time to make a leap… through time!
Another diorama that truly thrilled the audience — even though it had been showcased in previous editions — was the one dedicated to the Back to the Future saga, built by Jester and Jaeger, known on Instagram as @brickrockcity and @jaeger_der_verklemmten_steine.

The two builders recreated Hill Valley across the different eras featured in the films: Jester worked on the 1955  and 2015 scenes, while Jaeger built the 1885 AND 1985 version, perfectly capturing the charm and style of mid-century America.

In the lower section of the diorama, visitors could spot tiny iconic scenes from the trilogy’s most memorable moments — a perfect tribute to a film series that shaped cinema history and still fascinates fans of all ages, even in LEGO form.

You can admire many more images and details of this incredible diorama in the clip I posted on The Bricks Box — just click this link to take your own trip through time!

I’d like to conclude with the final big collaboration of this edition: the Dungeons & Dragons Diorama, created by the Gemeinschaftsprojekt Collab team.
This ambitious project brought together 19 talented builders, who joined forces to present — for the first time — a massive ten-meter-long creation.

The diorama tells the story of an actual Dungeons & Dragons session. It begins on a cold winter evening, with four friends gathered in a basement, rolling dice and studying maps.
From there, the scene shifts straight into the fantasy world imagined by the Dungeon Master — and trust me, it’s absolutely dazzling (I couldn’t stop staring myself!).

The D&D minifigures have truly found their home here: among enchanted forests, dangerous dungeons, fearsome creatures, constant threats, and rivers of lava, every inch of the build bursts with imagination.

I’d also like to add something I never thought I’d say: for the first time, I truly appreciated the use of lighting.
Usually, I see lights as a kind of make-up — something that makes a build look prettier, a trick to enhance a creation that, without them, might feel ordinary or less striking.

But here, it’s the complete opposite. The lighting isn’t a cosmetic addition; it’s a narrative necessity. It highlights the flames, the rivers of lava, the sunsets, and the magical beams cast by wizards.
The diorama would have been magnificent even without lighting — but in this case, the effects are that extra touch that elevates it to something truly spectacular.

It’s like putting make-up on a woman who is already beautiful and watching her turn into a goddess.
Absolutely brilliant work.

And of course, I also made a video, because the four photos below simply cannot do justice to the immense effort behind this creation.

I had been wanting to visit this exhibition for a long time. People had always spoken wonders about it, and now I can confirm it myself — those were not just rumors.
I’m truly glad I invested my time and money to be there as a visitor: it was absolutely worth it.

Naturally, due to space limitations, I wasn’t able to include everything that was on display. But that certainly doesn’t mean that what wasn’t mentioned wasn’t impressive or skillfully built.
Events of this scale are so rich and vast that selecting what to highlight becomes inevitable.

So I’d like to apologize in advance if anyone feels left out of this report — my intention was simply to provide an overview, not to overlook the value of anyone’s work.

To make up for this unavoidable limitation, I also created a small photo album containing a good number of images — both of the builds I described and of others that, unfortunately, I couldn’t include in the article.
It’s not exhaustive — something will always be missing — but I hope it will let you enjoy a little more of the magic of this incredible experience.