“The Wrath of the Ocean’s Eye” is an epic diorama crafted by builder Joel Short depicting a legendary clash between the Black Seas Barracuda and a colossal serpentine creature. After meticulously charting the build’s development, this magnificent ocean-battle creation was unveiled at BrickCon in September 2026.
Will the Black Seas Barracuda prevail?
The build drew widespread praise in the AFOL community for its engineering, as the immense weight of the front-heavy wave-and-monster structure presented a structural challenge throughout the assembly process.
Photographer has captured these fantastic shots of the legendary Black Seas Barracuda defending off the mighty beast.
Joel Short and his creation
Joel writes:
Sourced from a on .
Presenting: The Wrath of the Ocean’s Eye
My ocean scene is finished and it’s at Brickcon! There’s a lot that I haven’t had time to share here, so I may post more in the future. What do you think of the finished piece?
Cannons blazing – Redbeard’s crew fight for their lives
The Backstory
Captain Redbeard’s buccaneers have scoured the seven seas to capture the mythical Ocean’s Eye, a priceless artifact of arcane power. But in wresting that relic from its shrine, the pirates have roused the fury of an eldritch monster, drawn inexorably to its thieves. The intrepid crew of the Barracuda now faces their greatest peril yet...
Too fierce for King Kahuka to ride
Design & Key Features
The model portrays a dramatic battle on the high seas.
The Eldritch sea monster is a fearsome serpent of the deep, immense in stature. Adorned with razor-sharp teeth, it erupts from the churning waters to assail the pirate vessel with terrible fury, drawn towards the stolen charm, mysterious Ocean’s Eye.
The Ocean’s Eye, a priceless artifact of arcane power.
Caught in the fearsome beast’s clutches a modified Black Seas Barracuda, the edition to be precise.
The waves structure was built using complex layers of blue transparent titles and custom brick configurations to mimic shifting sea food and massive oceanic crests.
Presented on a treasure chest base
Scattered throughout the model are a number of hidden touches and whimsical curiosities, including a custom-built tropical parrot and illuminated cannon fire.
Behind the Scenes
Joel extensively documented the progress of his build and created some featurette reels to demonstrate the techniques he employed, so here be a couple of highlights:
The Monster
The inner workings of the beast: a sturdy framework that grants it a sinuous, serpent-like pose while preventing its scales from shedding at the first touch.
Building techniques used for the sea serpent
Joel States:
Sourced from a on .
The monster is a bit front heavy so it tends to lean slightly which causes this belly strip to bulge out. Joel worries over time the weight of the model will cause it to lean further
The Parrot
Joel was adamant that a pirate ship must have a parrot perched somewhere among her sails. Finding the official LEGO bird unsuitable for the his scene, he fashioned a custom parrot using parts from a variety of sources.
Brick-built versus official parrot piece
Joel states:
Sourced from a on .
This parrot is the cherry on the top of my ocean scene. The Barracuda Bay set includes a blue parrot who looks very relaxed which didn’t fit the vibe of this scene. But a pirate ship needs a parrot so I wondered if I could build a flying version.
BrickCon 2026
was held between 10–13 Sept, 2026 in Bellevue, Washington, with more than 500 AFOL builders in attendance.
Tall ships at Brickcon 2026 – 📸 Bellevue Downtown Association
Under the name “LEGO Ocean Battle”, Joel’s epic “The Wrath of the Ocean’s Eye” diorama was displayed to more than 10,000 public visitors.
Adam’s Brick Junction
on YouTube captured some video.
What is BrickCon?
As the world’s longest-running LEGO® fan exhibition, BrickCon has long served as a gathering place for AFOLs from every corner of the globe. Each year, builders make their journey to Seattle, Washington, bringing with them a treasure trove of creations to display and share with fellow enthusiasts.
The AFOL sessions are reserved for registered adult builders and enthusiasts. The convention also opens its doors during designated public hours, granting fans of all ages the opportunity to admire the works on display.
What’s Next?
The dioramas’ Brickcon debut may not be the final version of the build as Joel has plans to make further refinements for its future appearances.
Joel States:
Sourced from a on .
What’s next for THE WRATH OF THE OCEAN’S EYE?
It’s a huge relief that I finished this in time for Brickcon. […] First is it done? I am very satisfied with the build as displayed at Brickcon but there are a couple of things I’d like to tweak
About the Builder…
Joel Short is MOC designer known for creating large-scale original LEGO displays. He is a member of the VLC (Virginia LEGO Club).
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- “Hand of Orion”
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- “Wars of the Star Age”
His creations include original science-fiction and space-themed models such as The Hand of Orion and Wars of the Star Age, which are available for yer building pleasure on . He does have a persuasion towards sci-fi creations, as evidenced throughout his social media.
But yer will spy the odd Pirate or Castle creation if yer dig deeply enough into his social photos, like this nifty hideout described simply as .
To keep up with Joel’s latest endeavours, follow him on YouTube , Instagram , TikTok and his Facebook Page .
The Hunt for Photographers
If yer happen to be sailing in the Vancouver waters and would like to lend yer photography skills to capture future exhibits of the The Wrath of the Ocean’s Eye, use them same socials to contact Joel.
Joel plans to display the build at the Builder Convention held between 3–6 June, 2027, so get on board and make it memorable!
What Do Yer Think?
From the towering sea serpent and crashing waves to the countless hidden details scattered throughout the design, there’s plenty for sharp-eyed sailors to admire.
Just another Eldritch god doing its thing
What be your favourite part of the build? Did any hidden treasures catch your eye? Or are sea serpents overdone and it’s high time someone built a different mythological sea menace? (That’s also not a kraken)
Share yer thoughts of this epic scene in the !
