We’ve already looked at one alternate build of LEGO set 43247 Young Simba the Lion King, but how about we look at another, this time of the Pokémon variety? Builder The Frenchy Bricks has assembled the bright yellow-orange parts of our favorite Disney lion into quite the expressive Psyduck. With posable limbs and the perfect thousand-mile stare, here’s hoping it’s no headache to recreate my own copy.
LEGO Star Wars did have a brief flirtation with the Technic brand at its inception, but while we’ve seen everything from supercars to Unimogs in Technic since, we haven’t seen even a single starfighter. Rather a shame, don’t you think? Thankfully Dyens Creations is on hand to fill that hole. This X-wing is an impressive model in and of itself. But where can you find the parts to build one? Why, they all come from 42145 Airbus H175 Rescue Helicopter! That added parts limitation really makes this model impressive. And being a Technic creation, it naturally comes with some motorised functionality: the wings fold, the landing gear retracts, the canopy opens and the targeting computer can be adjusted. Most impressive.
Alternate builds are an art unto themselves – so why not see what else people have turned their LEGO sets into in our alternate builds archives?
As much as I like LEGO’s current crop of Creator 3-in-1 sets, I have fond memories as a child of building Creator and Designer sets that sometimes had instructions for 8 or 9 different builds. I wonder if Firas Abu-Jaber has the same longing… Not content with re-shaping 10295 Creator Expert Porsche 911 into a Corvette Stingray, Lamborghini Countach and a Porsche 911 Turbo S, his latest iteration of the set has turned out a gorgeous Ford GT40 MkI.
The GT40 is famous for winning the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans race four times on the bounce, and the model depicted here is the Mark I which achieved the feat in ’68 and ’69. Confusingly, those came after the MkII and MkIV victories, while the poor MkIII never got a look in as a road car! The MkI wins were closely fought with Porsche, who would go on to dominate endurance racing, so there’s a hint of irony that this Ford is repurposed from the German marque. Not that you would know it from looking at it – I did a double-take when I read the description. I mean, it’s even got a fully-fledged interior and engine!
So counting the 911 Targa, I make that a 6-in-1 set so far… Here’s hoping we get to see more re-imaginings from Firas soon!
We’re still waiting for the release of the next Batman movie, but we’ve already seen LEGO release some tie-in sets like the 42127 The Batman Batmobile. That’s a pretty decent set, but Nico71 has taken things even further into a totally awesome and new direction. Nicolas has rebuilt the core kit into a T-Bucket hot rod!
Also be sure to watch their great video that goes into more detail, including showing off the working V8 engine, light effects, and other customization options!
Click here to watch the video!
This smooth car by Firas Abu-Jaber is an alternate build using parts from the LEGO Porsche 911 set, and it looks fantastic. But any sports car is more than just flashy, this precision automobile is packed with features just like the official LEGO set, and others of the same scale.
From opening doors, hood, flip-up headlights, and even a detailed engine in the back, this car fits right in with the official set. The reflective surface also adds a touch of class to the final pics.
As a child, one of my favorite things about holding a new LEGO set in hand was turning the box over and looking at all the alternate builds that the set could be reconfigured into. These weren’t official models. There weren’t included instructions for them, like you see in the Creator 3-in-1 sets of today. The pictures were just springboards for your imagination. While the LEGO Group might not market the versatility of their sets in the same way anymore, that doesn’t mean modern sets are any less customizable. And if you need proof of that, legoapprentice has got you covered. He’s built three different versions of Bilbo Baggin’s home, Bag End, made from only the pieces available in three different LEGO sets.
The first version of Bag End is probably closest to the one you’re familiar with. Made from the 21325 Medieval Blacksmith set, this build draws heavily on the medieval roots of Tolkien’s fantasy world. Bilbo looks right at home next to a pair of knights and a blacksmith. And the large chimney up top is no doubt evidence of a kitchen that’s serving up tons of delicious Hobbit meals. Perhaps a pie made from the apples grown on the tree up top.
Click here to see the other alternate versions of Bag End
Prolific LEGO Technic builder Michał Skorupka (Eric Trax) asks the question; what if you have the Technic 42114 Volvo Articulated Hauler set and get bored? The builder and I must be on a completely different wavelength because, much to my surprise, the answer has nothing to do with scaring the dog. Instead, he tells us the answer is to build another Volvo, of course. He’s constructed the Volvo G990 Grader with all the working remote-controlled features you can expect from a great Technic model.
I don’t want to spoil anything for you but there’s a part in the video where he dumps beans all over the carpet and the grader grades them! Check it out for yourself.
Do you still have a hankering to scare the dog? Have a look at our Technic Archives for ideas as to how to make it happen.
It’s probably fair to say that Firas Abu-Jaber is an expert at building realistic models of iconic cars. The attention to detail and scale in his designs helps him realize some truly life-like designs. On top of that, he’s fond of making these insane replicas as alternates to LEGO Creator Expert sets like the Ford Mustang and the Fiat 500. I mean, this replica of a Lamborghini Countach 5000 Quattro Valvole is amazingly detailed for being an alternate of the LEGO Creator Expert 10295 Porsche 911 and it isn’t even the first alternate build he’s done of that set! Let’s take a closer look at what Firas is able to do with a parts limit.
When some folks buy LEGO sets, they are quite content to follow the instructions and build exactly what the designers had in mind. They build a set, admire the item on the shelf, shampoo, rinse, repeat, and that is the extent of their LEGO experience. But us builders are a different breed entirely. When Serge S bought the 10265 Ford Mustang set he had a different plan in mind for the parts. Taking us to a time when automotive designs were drawn by hand and without the assistance of computers, he constructed the mid-engined De Tomaso Pantera GT5.
This alternate view proves that all doors open and that the engine occupies what would normally be the trunk or boot as it’s called elsewhere. Once again this creation uses only the parts from the official Mustang set. I don’t know about you, but I’m smitten!
LEGO Creator Expert’s latest vehicle, 10265 Ford Mustang, is one of the best vehicles LEGO has made. But Nathanael Kuipers decided to use the parts from the set to build another stunning vehicle, this beautiful classic pickup. With the clean lines and split grille that marked the Ford F100 trucks of the early 70s, it’s remarkable that every element in this truck came from a single copy of the Mustang. Now that LEGO has moved away from cars with a Volkswagen Camper Van and a Technic Range Rover Defender, maybe they’ll turn an eye to gorgeous trucks like this, too.
Larger LEGO sets always have enough pieces to make a decent alternate build — after all, that’s what LEGO bricks are meant to be, an unlimited configuration for limitless creations. This offroad vehicle was made by Nathanael Kuipers from the 10252 Volkswagen Beetle, and the colour scheme likely gave it away at the very first glance.
I find it pretty interesting how the Round Corner 5 x 5 x 1 without Studs element usually reserved for the shaping of the wheels is now used for the shaping of the engine hood compartment. And of course, no vehicle can run without an engine block — the only mystery is that we just don’t know what the brick power is that keeps it running. My guess is a single H-block engine 4 studs wide!
I love when a builder takes an existing LEGO set and creates an alternative model. Dvd has gone one step further with his Exo-Recon Walker, using the parts from Peter Reid’s successful LEGO Ideas set #21109 Exo-Suit to recreate another of Peter’s designs, the Recon Walker. Not only that, but Dvd has even been so kind as to include an LDD File so if you have the Ideas set, you can build your own Exo-Recon Walker!
