Each year, our
RogueBricks community comes together to create a large collaborative model, and this time, we explored the world of the Samurai with Rogue Ronin. The impressive build spanned 10 x 17 baseplates—170 modules in total—or, in meters, a striking 2.5 x 4.3 meters. This diorama was crafted by a total of 34 international contributors and was showcased exclusively at last year's Bricking Bavaria exhibition in Fürth for only one weekend from November 1–3, 2024. In previous years, we had presented collaborative displays with captivating themes such as
Pirates,
Diesel Punk,
Adventurers,
the Canadian Frontier, and
Ancient Greece.
For our latest project, we set out to create a grand and immersive diorama inspired by Japan's Edo period, brought to life in the vibrant colors of autumn. The display featured Kumamoto Town with its iconic castle, several pagodas and temples, serene villages, lush forests, and ships sailing along the picturesque coastline. One of the highlights was the intricate landscape, featuring multi-level elevations and meticulously crafted rockwork. This time, we added dynamic kinetic elements, such as a Matsuri festival with a moving dragon, stone skipping at the lake near the lighthouse, samurai sword training in a dojo courtyard, and a detailed castle interior showcasing a blacksmith workshop, traditional tea ceremonies, and advanced lighting effects that enhanced the atmosphere throughout the whole model.
A total of 38 information plaques provided detailed descriptions of the scenes, historical events, the locations, key figures and legendary mythes depicted in the model. One of these stories followed Miyamoto Musashi, the most famous samurai, through pivotal moments in his life—from his legendary duels and sword-fighting teachings to his later years of exile as a monk. These plaques not only enriched the experience with compelling stories but also offered valuable historical background. For the kids, a highlight was, of course, discovering all 10 Ninjago characters hidden within the layout.
We're proud to have defended our title again this year, with our model receiving twice the 1st prize for ‚Best Collaborative Model‘—awarded by both the public and the exhibitors.
Here you can find everyone involved and their contributions:
Andrea Rollbühler Andrea supported us with landscape and lush fall trees
Cecilie Fritzvold (Cecilie) Cecilie amazed with a dojo, complete with students moving back and forth utilising a motor and smart mechanism
Christian Rau (Rauy) Christian created an imposing cliffside, complete with a cave and a pottery
Daniel Bodky (dbodky) Without Daniel’s houses and rising landscape, the village would hardly be called that
David Dressler (Legostone) David joined us with a traditional boat – a yakatabune – as well as a seaside duel
Elias Hübner (Brickleas) Elias contributed highly detailed houses outside the castle wall
Eugen Sellin (colognebrick) Eugen created a cozy landscape featuring a tranquil pavilion
Fernando Pontes (nando) Nando created a massive forest right in the center of it all and also contributed to the seaside village with shops and houses
Filippos Tsialidis (Phil_DeLaGhetto) Fili went fishing – with cormorants
Gerrit Gottschalk (gGhost) Gerrit created an idyllic village nestled into the cliffs that was being raided by bandits
Gino Lohse (YgrekLego) Gino built a dyeworks surrounded by beautiful rockwork and waterfalls
Hannes Katzmann (Mighty Studs) Hannes contributed a beautiful pagoda nestled into an idyllic forest
Hannes Tscharner (space_plastic) Hannes spent a whole year building the giant Kumamoto Castle that was the imposing eye-catcher overlooking the whole layout
Johannes Haimann (Vaionaut) Johannes built an imposing temple surrounded by lush trees, complete with a beautiful interior
Jonas Kramm (Legopard) Jonas brought an idyllic cliffside, complete with a shrine and a bridge for lovers, overlooking the sea
Justus Morgenthal (Justus) Justus contributed an imposing tower to the castle, collaborating with Hannes in the process
Kevin Walter (Kevin J. Walter) Kevin not only came to the rescue and created a military training area at the last minute, he also brought his pinnaces into the waters of Japan
Lasse Deleuran (Lasse) Lasse did his usual magic and had programmed a little minifigure skipping stones across a vast lake next to his light house atop the cliffs
Luca Schlücking (Lego-Luca) Luca tied together our sea front, complete with some bandits and contraband
Marcel Arlt (Wochenender) Marcel built a large stretch of land along the side of the layout, going from a snowy monkey-riddled well to the lush and swampy forest
Marcel Veit (Marcel V.) Marcel created a parade for the seaside village, including a motorised dragon dance
Marion Weintraut (Brixe) Marion was responsible for the big torii gate in the sea
Mark van der Maarel (steentje) Mark created parts of the castle outskirts outside the castle walls
Markus Rollbühler (rolli) What would Japan be without rice fields? So Markus brought some, right underneath Michael’s imposing pagoda
Markus Ronge (fullsteamchronicles) Markus sent in a colourful and imposing barge – a goza bune
Michael (Felix-the-Builder) Michael contributed an imposing pagoda, overlooking a lake and a tranquil bridge
Michael Diermann (Boba1980) & Sascha Brüning (speedyhead) Michael and Sascha collaborated on monkey-housing hot springs and river that framed the castle on the right side of the layout
Pascal Zimmermann (Plf_Bricks) Pascal contributed with an idyllic forest, overlooking the training grounds
Patric Gnepf (Petric_G) Patric sent some bandits with his modules, hiding out in the lush forest
Robert Radlmaier (hellboy) Robert contributed a watchtower and a bathing house to our seaside village
Thomas Weigelt (Sylon) Thomas created parts of the castle outskirts outside the castle walls
Tobias Keim (BickiboT) Tobias created a large temple complex, with multiple buildings, statues and courtyard
Valentin Köberlein (Skalldyr) Valentin contributed a large swamp with imposing trees and precarious footbridges
Many thanks to everyone involved! 