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.

Mind the gaps in this glorious, shambling LEGO medieval market

A medieval market will always be the busiest at harvest, and Jesse van den Oetelaar has built a scene to make you feel the commotion. While the castle walls are built straight, everything else shows its age and wear, or as Jesse says, “worn down by carts, feet, and time.” I particularly enjoy the low camera angle as it brings us right into the market.

Upon closer inspection, the nice part usage can really be seen. Technic pins with a bar inside create a gathered bundle of grain. The precariously stacked harvest looks ready to topple.

And a mix of hammers and ingots cause an uneven surface for people to travel, as this aging minifig found out the hard way.

Jesse’s diorama marks a welcome return to posting after a two year absence. It’s great to see that the builder has lost none of his talent for half-timbered houses and depictions of bustling medieval life!

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A dawn of translucent dark pink

Bart De Dobbelaer uses a stunning mix of only four colors to provide a powerful piece. Illtranor, Tree of Dawn provides us with a story of creation, civilization, and pride. Bart has a wonderful poem to accompany this beautiful build. With only four colors used, they are used very well. Sitting on a dark grey base, a deep back tree trunk provides a strong depth behind the white and translucent dark pink blossoms and branches. And the city that has grown up around the tree so perfectly matches the tree’s color.

Castles in a modular forest

We recently shared a round-up of LEGO castles by master mason Ben Hauger, but we turned around for a minute and not only did he make a few more castles, he changed the foundation. Yes, these two new castles have all the great features of his previous ones, but now, we get a modular base.

See more of Ben’s latest castle

A John Deere built as well as the original

In recent years, LEGO has released some new, modern farm tractors, but Christoph Ellermann has delivered us a classic from the 1950’s. While the design is simple and elegant, it is the part usage that cements the look. First, we have a technic gear from the 1970’s standing in for the iconic red wheels.

Next, yellow rubber bands provide the detailed paint job, and finally simple minifigure hands give us the cutting blade.

Build your own Star Wars AT-RT Scout Walker with these free instructions from Creativbricks [instructions]

Does the sticker-shock of the 327th Star Corps Clone Troopers Battle Pack have you lamenting that a decent LEGO AT-RT is out of reach? While we found the official LEGO version to be an improvement over past incarnations, this fan design from French builder Creativbricks is even better, and with these free instructions, you can build your own from common LEGO elements.

Free instructions for the AT-RT follow

Run-down never looked so good [Building techniques]

This public market style bike shop by adotnamedstud uses the metal gate element to attach shingles along different angles for a great weathered look. The addition of a small utility pole, a satellite dish, and rooftop foliage adds visual interest. I also like the compact tool drawer in front, made with modified tiles.

Everyone loves a building kit

To anyone who has built a model kit of the non-ABS type of plastic, you can probably feel the texture of the these plastic frames. I love every ounce of detail that Oshi has included, down to the last sprue. As someone who has built both plastic models and LEGO, it is a great combination of worlds. In looking at the details of the “model parts,” don’t miss a wonderful start to the actual car model. It looks like Oshi has selected “green forest” for the model’s final color. I don’t believe that is an official LEGO color, but I trust the builder that it will look incredible.

Build your own functional mini LEGO vending machine! [Instructions]

In a month absolutely stacked with incredible offerings, the must-have set of the moment is LEGO Ideas 21358 Minifigure Vending Machine. Maybe it’s out of your price range, maybe your local LEGO store sold out of copies, or maybe you just like building at an itty-bitty scale? In that case, Steve Guiness (aka the Brick Consultant) has you covered with instructions for a miniature (yet still functional) vending machine model that you can build using common pieces.

Here’s what you’ll end up with if you follow Steve’s instructions:

And a peek inside the mechanism:

Steve is no stranger to Ideas sets, having designed the incredible Typewriter set (sadly, now retired). If you’re inspired by this miniature mechanism, you might be interested in his Inventor Kit, currently on LEGO Ideas.

How to squirrel away LEGO beard hair [Building Technique]

Maybe with the exception of minifigure hair, there are few LEGO parts that create shapes as interesting as those of the single-molded animal pieces. Case-in-point, Dominique Boeynaems puts a trio of gray squirrels to work creating the beard of this wizard aspiring to be a warrior. With their printed faces shielded from view, there’s little to take away from the furry tails of that scurry hidden on Merlin’s face.

How to train your micro dragon [Building Technique]

With LEGO clips for back spines, a tail of mismatched 1x2x2/3 slopes, and a video game controller for a head, Ian Summers shows us an awesome Toothless creation from the How to Train Your Dragon franchise. How long until we have the parts in white to make a Light Fury version of this microscale marvel?

LEGO golden arches... do you want fries with that? [Building Techniques]

Few modern brands are more iconic than LEGO, but McDonald’s is certainly one of them. And with so many new LEGO elements coming out over the years, the building techniques used by builders and set designers alike to create unconventional curves and connection points continue to amaze and inspire. Just one look at this model of the golden arches by Aiden.Builds has my mouth watering for a sausage breakfast sandwich or an Oreo McFlurry. The gentle curves of the arches are made with a surprising amount of straight pieces, and the scale of the build is at first glance deceptively small.

How to summon a LEGO genie [Building Technique]

Each year, we get to see some amazing LEGO building techniques on display during the part count-restricted Rogue Olympics. Mark van der Maarel keeps it well under 100 with this great magic lamp. And if you’re like me, your first wish will be figuring out how those white disks fit together to make such a great puff of smoke!