Inspired by the White City
Hey everyone, Sam here! With the massive excitement from LEGO and Lord of the Rings fans over the June 1st release of set 10333, "Minas Tirith," a new MOC project has taken the community by storm. Spearheaded by LEGO creators "Anson" and "Dada Idea," this initiative called on builders to create their own MOCs themed around the White City, which was showcased on YouTube (video link). Today, I'm thrilled to feature a standout submission from this project: the "Siege Mûmakil" by LEGO_POPO (hereafter referred to as POPO)!
A Miniature Siege Beast Packed with Detail
In the third "Lord of the Rings" film, the sight of the Haradrim War Mûmakil crushing countless Riders of Rohan during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields is unforgettable. POPO's "Siege Mûmakil" not only perfectly matches the scale of the new LEGO 10333 Minas Tirith set but also masterfully captures the beast's iconic features in stunning micro-scale detail.
Mûmakil Design - Clever Color Schemes and Technic Pin Magic
The trunk, being the elephant's most defining feature, was the first part built. It utilizes a highly articulated and infinitely extendable tube-based construction. The main body is built on a dark gray parts foundation, with ball joints connecting the head and four limbs. Dark red parts are cleverly embedded into the torso and face to recreate the Mûmakil's mysterious totem-like tattoos. The center of the head is joined with Technic pins, a brilliant move that allows for precise adjustment of the stud positions on the side faceplates for a perfect fit. Overcoming connection limitations with a trick like this is pure genius!
The Howdah - A Masterclass in Mixed Media and Multi-Layered Textures
The attack tower, or howdah, on the Mûmakil's back features a tapered design, wider at the bottom and narrower at the top. Let's break down its four layers:
・The top layer uses two exclusive lantern (crown) pieces from the Disney Castle set, inverted and joined to create the tower's spire.
・The middle section's main structure is built around columnar parts, surrounded by skeleton minifigure legs paired with wand pieces to replicate the menacing outward-facing spikes.
・The lower level uses a hexagonal part as its foundation. Here, short minifigure capes exclusive to the Overwatch sets are clamped between gold ingot pieces and the inner side of fan-shaped parts, with wands interspersed to create an expanding base structure.
・Finally, the bottom layer uses downward-pointing animal tooth pieces to simulate the ropes securing the howdah to the beast's body.
This entire howdah is the soul of the "Siege Mûmakil." It seamlessly blends the fabric texture of the minifigure capes with geometric brick-building, while the top-to-bottom use of crowns, skeleton legs, wands, and thin fan plates adds incredible visual depth and texture. Packing this much detail into such a small scale is truly impressive!
Individuality on the Battlefield - Variations in Parts and Color
To showcase the individual differences within a herd of Mûmakil on the battlefield, POPO created two distinct versions, A and B. These two builds feature different combinations of parts for the tusks and ears, as well as variations in chain color, spike parts, and the color scheme of the howdah's details.
The finished model measures approximately 16 cm long × 7 cm wide × 15 cm high. The physical MOC is currently on public display at the LEGO Certified Store in LaLaport Nangang, Taipei (exhibition dates subject to store scheduling). Fans who want to see the incredible details up close should definitely seize this opportunity!
Bringing the MOC to Life
For fellow fans of LEGO MOCs (My Own Creation) like myself, the biggest challenge is often sourcing parts, especially when a build gets held up by a few rare bricks. That's why I've collaborated with POPO as the producer for the "Siege Mûmakil" MOC to release his creation as a physical kit for the first time! The complete set includes over 280 parts, all sourced for you, including hard-to-find pieces exclusive to certain sets, and comes with a physical instruction manual. For more information, be sure to follow LEGO_POPO's creator accounts!
About the Creators
Creator | LEGO_POPO (Creator Account: LEGO_POPO)
LEGO_POPO began creating MOCs in 2021, specializing in fantasy beasts, monsters, and medieval fantasy themes. He loves recreating various fantasy subjects in LEGO, with works spanning multiple scales, from intricate minifigure-scale creations to a massive dragon with a 1.2-meter wingspan.
Kit Producer | Sam Lai (IG: Sam Lai)
A LEGO fan and custom designer, Sam has previously produced the #77256 Time Machine modification kit and an Orc Siege Tower kit. He hopes to bring more diverse options to both creators and fans by helping to productize the work of talented LEGO MOC builders.
Thanks for reading!