Josh On Design

No Starch Press just sent me a new book in their ongoing Lego series called Tiny Lego Wonders: Build 40 Surprisingly Realistic Mini-Models. This book covers building tiny but highly detailed models of vehicles. Their design is clever and the finished models are adorable. Most importantly this isn't just a photobook. Each model comes with complete building instructions.

It should come as no surprise that this newest tome keeps to No Starch's high standards. The topic and production are both stellar. Gorgeous high quality photography and clear detailed instructions make the book immediately engrossing. You'll definitely want to buy this in hard back. Mattia Zamboni wrote the book, with help from fellow Lego model makers Alexander Bugiel, Matteo Russolillo, and Robert Heim. Together they have assembled a collection of detailed models that are pretty easy to put together and will look outstanding on your coffee table. Mattia is a Lego Ambassador and this book shows his dedication to the craft.

So who is this book ultimately for? Well, that's the tricky part. I'm not actually sure who is the intended audience of the book. The models each have a difficulty rating, implying this is a book for kids. No adult builder would have trouble with any of them. However, most children are unlikely to have the exact parts required to build any of the models. Some require specific pieces that you might have one or two of, but probably not ten; at least not in the same color. Only a life long Lego fan will have an organically grown collection of bricks big enough to build most models. Instead the reader will have to order new or used bricks from an online retailer like Brick Link. The author even suggests this in the introduction.

So, should you buy the book? I think any 10yr old or higher would get a lot of inspiration out of the book, and certainly learn some new building techniques. However, if you want to actually build the models exactly as depicted in the book you'll have to either order some new bricks online or already have an absolutely massive collection.