MOC Madness 2025 Week 3 Recap
As we entered the second half of MOC Madness, Week 3 delivered an eclectic mix of builds that leaned into storytelling, nostalgia, and creativity across all scales. From micro builds with big personality to expressive mosaics and ongoing collabs, BuffaLUG members showed once again how versatile a pile of bricks can be.
We kicked off the week by highlighting BuffaLUG’s ongoing Habitat Collaboration, a community-driven build series that brings LEGO’s standardized minifigure habitat format to life—BuffaLUG-style. These compact vignettes allow builders to pack storytelling, detail, and humor into a small, stackable space.
The first batch featured five habitats built around minifigures from Series 25:
Dan Easton’s Noir Detective broods over a bloody crime scene from his apartment window.
Ryan Conroy’s Train Kid hides away in a bedroom full of train memorabilia and imagination.
Aaron Herman’s Gamer relaxes in a cozy bedroom with a trophy on the shelf and a mic at the ready.
Jon Breidert’s Fitness Instructor flips convention (and gravity) with an upside-down handstand pose.
Connor McGrath’s Goat Herder stands proudly on a small grassy hill, accompanied by a brick-built goat.
The second round offered even more variety:
Keith Rowe’s Mime build takes minimalism to the extreme—just a black-and-white figure on a blank floor, and somehow, it works.
Also by Keith Rowe, the Mushroom Sprite lives beneath an oversized, gnarled mushroom with tons of subtle texture and hidden detail.
Mike Borgstede’s Rocking Horse Rider inhabits a sweet playroom, complete with a flowered wallpaper border and tiled rug—his first MOC ever.
Mark Mancuso’s Robot Warrior stands in a lab full of disassembled human limbs, walking the line between sci-fi and dark humor.
Alan Gryfe’s Art Gallery cleverly links two habitats together as an homage to the Buffalo AKG Museum, filled with micro-art and gallery flair.
Spot Harris took us straight to childhood summer with his LEGO recreation of the classic blue Raphael Ninja Turtle ice cream bar. Melty gumball eyes included.
Next up was Dan Easton’s work-in-progress arcade, filled with brick-built cabinets and retro energy. Even in progress, the vibe was strong—proof that a good idea doesn't need polish to impress.
Kelsey Reed brought spring into full bloom with a series of floral-themed mosaics and plant builds, including a cherry blossom tree, a flower-patterned wall display, a double blossom mosaic, and plant-filled bookends. Her work was a breath of fresh air—bright, elegant, and seasonally spot-on.
Alan Gryfe followed with a long-awaited build: a LEGO Buffalo Metro Rail car. Compact and cleverly proportioned, it’s a love letter to local transit—custom-sized, tiled, and fitted with a removable roof for minifig passengers.
Mark Mancuso returned with two bold face mosaics of Yondu and Kraglin from Guardians of the Galaxy. Each used color and form to convey character at a glance. Yondu’s piercing blues and Kraglin’s warm earth tones show just how expressive mosaics can be—even at smaller scale. The timing was perfect, as we’ll soon be launching a Mosaic Techniques section on our website as part of the ongoing Build with BuffaLUG initiative.
Closing out the week was Jeremy Killion, bringing a glowing, chaotic Ghostbusters scene featuring the Real Ghostbusters taking on Samhain. With light-up proton streams, tentacles bursting from the sewers, and a nod to Ray’s Occult Books, this build oozed atmosphere (and slime) from top to bottom.
Week 3 brought serious range—from modular mansions to minifig habitats, gumball-eyed nostalgia to dynamic light effects. With just one week left in MOC Madness, the energy isn’t slowing down. If anything, it’s only getting more inspired.
