Summer Joust 2026 has come to a close. Many of the grandest entries show up during the final days of the renowned Castle contest, and that is doubly true for the collaborative projects. This year’s collab theme was “Guarding the Realm,” tasking a team to showcase a kingdom’s defenses. Or in the case of this majestic three-builder collab, a daimyo’s domain!
Fresh off winning the “Dragonslayer” grand prize in last winter’s Brickscalibur contest, Simulterious returns with the majestic Ryūshin Citadel. The technical work is impeccable, from the ornate half-timbered walls to the tile roofs to the patch of stony terrain. The Croatian builder’s presentation elevates it to the next level with the color balance and asymmetry introduced by the tree branches and a bonsai-style elevated base to hold the scene. Simulterious also created the elegant backgrounds for all three entries.
Vertaro follows with Taihō Harbor, where the daimyo’s forces watch over the coastal harbors with dragon-head cannons and hwachas. The sloping stonework beneath the cannon shed is top notch, and all the sub-builds shine, from the menacing hwacha to the humble crab cage. Perhaps most impressive is the subtle transition from wet to dark sand on the beach with gently angled SNOT sections offset by a fraction of a tile.
Finally we have Gyōgaku Monastery from Oshi Builds, showing that this realm is well defended from the coast to the snowy peaks. There’s much to love about the clean angles and icy stonework on the monastery, but my favorite aspect of the build is the way the snowy terrain sits atop the black base.
The post Guarding Ryūshin Citadel is a team effort in this LEGO samurai showcase appeared first on The Brothers Brick.
Leave a Reply