First Look at BrickLink Designer Program Series 9 LEGO Sets
- Shaley S.
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Five New BrickLink Sets Are Ready for Crowdfunding
The BrickLink Designer Program Series 9 is getting closer to crowdfunding, and LEGO fans now have their first official previews of the five models selected for the upcoming series.
Series 9 brings together an especially varied lineup, with builds designed for Castle, Western, Train, seasonal, and display focused fans. The five finalists are Wild West Blacksmith, The Fisherman’s Village, Sleepy Dragon Inn, Pumpkin Patch, and Woodbrick Freight Depot, ranging from a compact 565-part autumn scene to a massive seaside village with nearly 4,000 parts.
Crowdfunding officially begins October 6, 2026 at 8 AM PT / 4 PM BST, giving fans just over a month to decide which models they want to back.The latest previews don't reveal every detail of the finished models, but they do give us a better look at how several of the original submissions have evolved during BrickLink's refinement process. For Pickle Bricks readers and Castle fans in particular, Sleepy Dragon Inn could be the Series 9 set to watch.
Wild West Blacksmith – 2,513 Parts
Western builders have another substantial model to consider with Wild West Blacksmith, designed by llucky. The 2,513-part build recreates an essential location in a frontier settlement, combining a detailed blacksmith workshop with the blacksmith's living quarters.
The building features a wooden front and stone forge, while the surrounding desert landscape includes cacti, barrels, equipment, and other details that help establish the Western setting.
One of the model's most interesting features is its functional windmill. The rotating windmill is connected to the forge and operates the blacksmith's bellows, adding an interactive element to the display.
Inside, builders will find the forge itself alongside an anvil, grindstone, workbenches, tools, storage areas, and the blacksmith's modest living space. The finished model contains 2,513 parts and two stickers, with one of the latest previews highlighting a minifigure alongside a wanted poster. For fans who have been building a larger LEGO Western settlement with previous BrickLink Designer Program models, Wild West Blacksmith could fit naturally into the collection.
The Fisherman’s Village – 3,995 Parts
At 3,995 parts, The Fisherman’s Village is the largest of the five Series 9 finalists.
Designed by rocknbricks31, the project takes inspiration from the colorful coastal communities of Maine and combines several buildings into one expansive waterfront display.
The village includes three primary buildings: a gift and souvenir shop, a lobster restaurant with a watercolor studio upstairs, and a general store with the captain's quarters above it. A small wooden lighthouse and fishing boat complete the seaside setting. One of the project's most interesting features is its modular design. Each building is independent, allowing builders to rearrange the structures and create different village configurations.
The colorful architecture also helps distinguish the model from the rest of Series 9, with bright and pastel shades creating the look of a small coastal community. The finished model contains 3,995 parts and five stickers, making it the biggest build of this crowdfunding round. For collectors interested in large display models, coastal settings, or detailed LEGO towns, The Fisherman's Village could be one of the most impressive releases in Series 9.
Sleepy Dragon Inn – 2,981 Parts
For LEGO Castle fans, Sleepy Dragon Inn may be the standout model of BrickLink Designer Program Series 9. Designed by MarinBD, the medieval fantasy model contains 2,981 parts and creates the type of civilian building that can add another layer of life to a larger Castle layout.
Rather than another fortress or defensive structure, Sleepy Dragon Inn provides a destination for the people who might actually live and travel throughout a medieval LEGO world.
The model can be opened from the back, while removable roof sections provide access to its detailed interior. That gives builders the ability to create scenes throughout the inn without sacrificing its impressive exterior appearance.
The original submission featured eight minifigures, and the latest preview also reveals a significant redesign to the practice dummy featured in the model. The finished version is currently listed with six stickers.
For Pickle Bricks readers building medieval armies, villages, castles, and fantasy displays, Sleepy Dragon Inn has plenty of potential. Knights can stop between adventures, merchants and travelers can populate the interior, and the building could become a centerpiece of a larger medieval settlement.
With LEGO Castle continuing to maintain a strong following among adult builders, this is easily one of the Series 9 models we'll be watching most closely when crowdfunding begins.
Pumpkin Patch – 565 Parts
Not every BrickLink Designer Program set needs thousands of parts to stand out.
Designed by SofieBuilds, Pumpkin Patch contains just 565 parts, making it by far the smallest model in Series 9.
The project is designed to capture the atmosphere of autumn, creating a small pumpkin field filled with seasonal details.The scene includes a pumpkin stall, farmer's tools, a scarecrow, hay bales, foliage, and plenty of pumpkins. Two minifigures are also included.
Unlike the other four Series 9 finalists, Pumpkin Patch is currently listed with no stickers.
Its compact size could be one of its biggest strengths. While most of the Series 9 models are substantial display builds, Pumpkin Patch should be much easier to incorporate into an existing LEGO town, countryside layout, farm, or seasonal display.
It could also appeal to collectors who like the BrickLink Designer Program but don't necessarily have room for another 2,000- to 4,000-part model.
Woodbrick Freight Depot – 2,199 Parts
Train fans aren't being left out of Series 9. Woodbrick Freight Depot, designed by Mind_the_Brick, contains 2,199 parts in its refined Series 9 configuration and recreates a historic railway freight facility.
Rather than focusing on another locomotive or passenger station, the project explores the working side of a railway system, giving builders infrastructure that can complement an existing train collection. One of the standout features is a functional crane, which can be used as part of the depot's cargo operations.
The period architecture, freight equipment, cargo details, and railway setting give the model plenty of potential for builders creating larger train layouts.The latest preview also highlights one of the finished model's eight stickers, appearing on a brick-built wooden crate.
For LEGO Train collectors who already have locomotives, rolling stock, and passenger stations, Woodbrick Freight Depot offers something a little different and could help bring an entire railway scene together.
Which BrickLink Designer Program Series 9 Set Stands Out?
One of the biggest strengths of Series 9 is just how different these five models are.
The Fisherman’s Village is the largest of the group and should appeal to collectors looking for an elaborate display model. Its colorful buildings and coastal setting also make it visually distinct from the other finalists.
Wild West Blacksmith is a strong choice for Western fans, particularly anyone already creating a larger frontier settlement. Train enthusiasts have Woodbrick Freight Depot, while Pumpkin Patch offers a much smaller seasonal model that should be easier to display and incorporate into existing layouts.
For the Pickle Bricks audience, though, Sleepy Dragon Inn is difficult to overlook.
Medieval civilian buildings are particularly useful for expanding Castle layouts beyond walls, towers, and fortresses. With almost 3,000 parts, an accessible interior, and a fantasy-inspired design, Sleepy Dragon Inn could become an impressive centerpiece for a medieval village. Of course, pricing will be another major factor when fans ultimately decide which models to back.
Get Ready for BrickLink Designer Program Series 9
Crowdfunding for all five BrickLink Designer Program Series 9 finalists officially begins October 6, 2026 at 8 AM PT / 4 PM BST.
BrickLink states that models receiving more than 3,000 pre-orders will enter production, with a maximum of two copies of each set available per household. Series 9 production and shipping are currently scheduled for March 2027, although BrickLink notes that actual dates and shipping times may vary.That gives fans a little more time to decide where their money is going.
Whether you want to expand a medieval kingdom with Sleepy Dragon Inn, bring a blacksmith to your Wild West town, add working infrastructure to a railway, build an enormous Maine-inspired coastal village, or celebrate fall with a compact Pumpkin Patch, Series 9 offers five very different choices.
