Category Archives: Building Techniques

Not sure what SNOT is? Want to learn innovative new ways to create awesome LEGO models of your own? Peruse our posts about LEGO building techniques to pick up tricks & tips from the best.

An AFOL’s guide to having a newborn

As some of you may know, my wife and I welcomed our third little kidlet into the world on March 5th. I don’t recall how I juggled babies and LEGO with my first two, but over the last month I have observed a few things, in particular by reviewing what I have been posting to my flickr stream recently. As a result I thought it may be useful if I point out a few tips for those that are about to, or are in the middle of, juggling LEGO and babies.

Disclaimer: The Brothers Brick in no way endorses the act of actually trying to juggle with a baby and LEGO. Feel free to juggle with LEGO at your leisure, but NEVER throw in a baby!

1. Yep, you REALLY should have finished sorting:
I learned this by not doing it. With bambinos comes a lack of free time, a lack of free time means you really don’t have time to rummage through bins of unsorted LEGO. So add ‘finish sorting LEGO’ to the list of baby preparations. As a serious LEGO maniac this should be as important as putting the crib together, stocking up on diapers, and getting a bunch of meals made and in the freezer.

2. WIP it good:
If you get a stroke of inspiration, run with it. Even if it means throwing a few pieces together in order to be able to go back to it when you have time. The theory is, that with a bunch of partially constructed models, you will not forget about them, and over time will complete them all. That being said this theory is still a work in progress (pun fully intended), and I am just hoping that I eventually finish the 5 or 6 projects that I currently have going.

3. Doodle like there is no tomorrow:
One more thing to add to the baby preparation list; buy a Moleskine, preferably a LEGO version. When you get that stroke of inspiration (see rule # 2) but do not have bricks on hand, a quick doodle is the perfect thing to keep the idea fresh in your mind. Even if you don’t have drawing skills (see left) it is worth getting the idea on paper to come back to later. Also it makes you appear 27% more artsy.

4. No honey it really is for him:
This only works if you have another kid already, but they are perfect accomplices. I have mastered this technique. All you have to do is show your other kid some cool concept art or watch something on TV or Youtube and then say, “Hey, we should totally try and build that out of LEGO!” They will of course totally agree as you have already spent the preceding 5 years molding them into the little geek that they are. The key is to do this right before supper, because then while sitting at the table they are sure to ask, “Daddy are we going to build that [insert model idea here] after supper?”

“Why yes son, I am sure we can probably do that…but only after Daddy does the dishes!” (this step is important…browny points never hurt anyone)

5. Pfft! Size doesn’t matter:
Remember that grandiose plan to build that giant spaceship? Well forget that! You just have to lower your expectations slightly. Build small, it is amazing how gratifying a small build can be, in particular an impromptu one (see left). This usually happens as a result of my failure of step # 1. But I suppose that it can be looked as a positive side effect of unsorted bricks. This is also another fun thing to include your other kids in. You just set a big unsorted bin of bricks on the floor and all start building, if the spouse walks downstairs you are ‘playing with the kids’, not ‘playing LEGO when you could be doing something more productive’.

6: Don’t be afraid to FIGBARF:
If you are anything like me, when you are short on buildy time, you will Figbarf, a lot! But don’t worry, the act of barfing figs can be very therapeutic. You feel like you are ‘building’ LEGO, and it is at least some small means of creative release. Again a perfect thing to include your other kids in…they really are the pefect little cohorts!

Disclaimer Part Deux: Only attempt the above once you have helped your spouse with the laundry, made sure there is food in the cupboards, done the dishes (refer to rule #4), gotten them a cup of tea and changed the baby’s diaper. On the surface it may appear that these tips are intent on weasling out of work and/or spending time with your spouse or new baby…but that is just silly and/or means for a swift slap upside the head

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Elador on the icy river

tiberium_blue is known for his technique of making brick-walls out of liftarms as seen in The Sleepy Oak and T’Met Monastery. His latest is another great example showcasing this style, but also notable is the landscape that features embedded boulders that first made their appearance in Castle Palamar.

Building on water

How do you build a diorama without a baseplate or a solid surface underneath? Leave it to the creative geniuses Sean and Steph Mayo (Siercon and Coral) to figure out a way. This diorama is floating on water and there’s no baseplate that holds the pieces together. Each brick had to have a plate attached underneath to trap the air inside the brick. Check out the video on Flickr to see this floating wonder.

Blue Pullman train in LEGO

Carl Greatrix (bricktrix) has once again built something I thought would be impossible to reproduce in LEGO. The Blue Pullman was a very strange, but ugly/attractive diesel luxury train running in Britain through the 60s. Its very distinctive wedge shaped face is extremely challenging, but Carl has managed to get a pretty great likeness. It also looks very nice lit up and running.

Crumbling walls

I do like me a good LEGO tehcnical study once in a while. Ethan (-MrMacy-) brings us a doozy of a pair of crumbling walls that is well worth sharing.

And on the topic of trains...

Peter Oglivy (Peter.A.B.) has graciously offered to take over the occasional LEGO Trains challenge, and given us a doozy for town and train builders: build a railbus. Railbuses were an important part of rail networks in the 1930s (and even today in some parts of the world) and because of the era and other limitations, are rather difficult to build well in LEGO.

So if you’re keen on a challenge, head on over to LEGO Train MOCs. And even if you’re not, check out the entries as they appear, you’re sure to see some spiffy models and snazzy techniques.

To the right is Henrik Hoexbroe’s take on a Railbus from a while back.

The Thin White Duke

Admittedly, I’m not a big David Bowie fan (the extent of my knowledge involves puppets and tight pants). This mosaic by Adam Myers, though, caught my eye. I liked the simplicity of the image itself, with the high-contrast in black and white.

And I LOVE the technique using layered clear plates!

The Batman

An iconic scene deserves an iconic photo, and Project Azazel doesn’t disappoint. The approach to this photo with forced perspective gives it a larger feel.

Oh, and it lights up. I was totally sold at the working Batsignal.

Madder than Mel (or Max)

Way back in time, when Mel Gibson still had an Australian accent and was not openly a nutcase, he starred in an excellent cult movie. That movie, as I’m sure many of you know, was Mad Max. The real stars of the films were the late 70s muscle cars, which bring us to Adam Grabowski’s (misterzumbi) excellent LEGO models. Adam goes one up on the usual replicas of the Ford Interceptor (I’m not even going to try to link to the thousands of versions), and throws in “Nightrider”‘s Holden Monaro too. The Monaro is a very hard car to get right at minfig scale (I’ve tried) and Adam pulls it off very neatly.

A Priory Brick

Now here’s a gorgeous bit of medieval architecture by Paul Vermeesch. Paul says this lovely seaside monastery was inspired by his deft modding of Bombur’s hair into a tonsure. The white and medium-dark flesh tones of the building give a wonderfully refreshing feeling that’s different than the gritty, disheveled look so many castle builders aim for, and the stone-work on the cliff is a mastery of the technique. Paul even took a shot of his concept sketch for the diorama, showing us a bit of his thought-process.

LEGO underground train with working platform and train doors. And more.

As though making a very nice looking cutaway street scene with an underground Metro (subway for our US readers) train wasn’t enough, serial genius Esben Kolind has gone several better. His Metro train and station uses NXT, technic and a load of smarts to feature sliding doors which open when the train hits the station. But wait there’s more. Not content with just having the train doors open, the station doors open at the same time, preventing minifig suicide, and impressing the pants off onlookers. And to lift (excuse the pun) his game, Esben also adds a working elevator.

Tiny Delights

These tiny space planes by Griffin! are fantastic models. At micro scale, every piece used counts, and this builder has made sure to choose carefully. Every element used in this creation appears to have a purpose, represents an important part of the ship, and contributes to the overall aesthetic. I think my favorite detail may be the binoculars as intakes, but the minifig skis as the fuselage are also fantastic.