Tag Archives: Instructions

When and why did LEGO include progress bars in instructions guides? [Feature]

LEGO fans are extremely passionate and look into details of any slight changes that the LEGO Group introduces in all aspects. The latest visual change on the instruction booklets has led a few fans delighted and curious, especially on identifying when these first started to show up.

While we don’t know exactly when the first mass produced set it was introduced in, most fans agree that it started to appear in instruction booklets for most sets produced in 2022. The simpler design of the progress bar is LEGO round stud on a thick line that extends from edge to edge at the bottom of the printed page. The more fun looking ones are represented by Minifigures sliding across the timeline from one page turn to another.

Click to learn more about the progress bar in instruction booklets

Take flight with Crimson Squadron and build your own sky-fi aircraft

I’ve always been a fan of Sky-Fi aircraft. It’s a glorious retro-futuristic look, typified by the Xbox classic Crimson Skies, and the creations of LEGO builders such as Jon Hall and John Lamarck. To pull myself out of a recent bout of builder’s block, I set myself a challenge — to build a series of Sky-Fi aircraft, in a common colour scheme, with a similar overall style, but each design different. Crimson Squadron is what emerged over the next few weeks…

lego sky-fi plane

The first of the squadron’s aircraft to roll off the production line was this twin-engined beast — the Bulldog. It established the signature elements which sit across the rest of the fleet: the red and chequerboard livery, a whiff of a muscle car from the up-front intakes, a bubble canopy for a fun retro feel, and an overall super-condensed chunky chibi look. I was pleased with how the Bulldog turned out and immediately set to work once more.

See more of the Squadron and instructions to build your own

Batman needs his Robin: Rebuilding LEGO Art 30125 into the Boy Wonder [Instructions]

We recently shared an early look at the LEGO Art 31205: Jim Lee Batman collectionone of the new additions to the LEGO Art theme. The set comes with three main images to choose from: Batman, the Joker, and Harley Quinn, all based on iconic Jim Lee art. There are also “ultimate builds” that feature a larger look at the Bat, and a showcasing a quiet moment between Batman and Catwoman. But we were left wondering…where’s Robin? Well,  The Brothers Brick contributor Chris Doyle decided to see if it was possible to build a Jim Lee-style Robin out of only the parts in the 31205 kit. Spoiler alert: Yes, you can. And we provide the instructions if you want to give it a try yourself!

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Everything you need for your Hall of Armor [Instructions]

All the best superheroes have a cool base of operations. The Batcave, the Fortress of Solitude, an aunt’s apartment in Queens. But the best (or at least the poshest) superhero base has got to be Tony Stark’s seaside estate, and the Hall of Armor contained within. And it’s no wonder so many LEGO builders are working up custom versions of Stark’s Hall of Armor. What better way to put those multiple armor minifigures on display? But, to make a proper Hall of Armor, you need to surround Tony with all of his toys. Thankfully, KosBrick has come to the rescue with enough tutorials to fill a mansion in Malibu.

Lego Iron Man Hall of Armor

We’re talking high-tech gadgets, top-of-the-line computers, classic cars…the works.

Click through to learn the secrets of Stark Industries.

Octopus time! An alternate build for LEGO 31203 World Map [Instructions]

The Brothers Brick contributor Chris Doyle is back with more mosaic madness! This time, he’s reworked the LEGO Art 31203 World Map into a vibrant octopus. He also shares the instructions necessary to build this version of the World Map yourself. You know. If you want to.

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Build your own LEGO Transformers Optimus Prime [Instructions]

Four million years ago, a young dock worker named Orion Pax lived on the planet Cybertron. At the start of the great Cybertronian War, Orion Pax nearly died after an attack by the evil Megatron. Thankfully, he was re-built into the powerful Optimus Prime by an ancient robot known as Alpha Trion. Now you can dispense with Alpha Trion and build a fully transformable Optimus Prime of your very own, thanks to this tutorial by Tiago Catarino.

Click here to check out the instructions

The soundtrack to a simpler time [Instructions]

While many of us are vaccinated, the Delta variant of the Covid-19 virus is circling the globe faster than a bean burrito through a dachshund. Trust me, you do not want to get in the crosshairs of the virus or a woozy dachshund, so in anticipation of maybe hunkering down indoors again, we have a LEGO model by Kosmas Santosa that should take you back to a simpler time. This brings back fond memories of making mixed tapes for that special someone in high school. It’s like the soundtrack to a time when all we had to worry about was the Cold War, MX missiles, and acid rain. Soothing, right?

LEGO Audio Cassette / Cassette Tape (Tutorial)

If you too would like to be whisked away to a simpler time you can build your own audio cassette tape. Check out the video to see how.

How to build your own pocket-sized Taj Mahal [Instructions]

LEGO currently has two display models of the iconic Taj Mahal available to buy. One that is massive and expensive, and new one that is smaller and more affordable. If you’re like me, poor and easily scared by any number over the £50 price tag, you start wishing for LEGO to produce more and more small microscale builds. Luckily, Luis Peña built a tiny Taj Mahal consisting of just 80 pieces, and small enough to fit in your pocket!

LEGO Micro Taj Mahal

Click to see the instructions

Celebrate Bionicle’s 20th anniversary with a map of Mata Nui island made from pieces of the LEGO 31203 World Map [News]

Today LEGO fans come together to celebrate the LEGO Bionicle theme that ended its run in 2010. Since then, August 10th or 8/10 in American date notation format is bestowed by fans to be 810NICLE day. Builders and designers commemorate their much-beloved franchise with builds, art, and varied ways to revive their love for the theme. Joining the celebrations, LEGO designer Nicolas Vás used LEGO elements from the 31203 World Map and transformed it into a map of Mata Nui island, the locale for the early years of Bionicle adventures.

Map of Mata Nui island from Bionicle using pieces from LEGO Art 31203

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Save all the bricks and bytes of data by building your own LEGO Floppy Disks [Instructions]

Builder Kos Brick flexes his building skills with these very accurate looking Floppy Disks from the early days before computer hard drives became the de-facto way of booting up Operating Systems and storing data. You can now build your own LEGO floppy diskettes with the video instructions he’s provided. Continue reading

Microscale Wall-e watches the skies waiting for a shooting star to wish upon [Instructions]

When it comes to robots that warm our hearts, it’s hard to think of one more endearing than Wall-e, the hard-working, dedicated hero from the movie that bears his name. Working hard to clean up our mess while we humans cruise the galaxy in comfort and style. If you would like to have a tiny Wall-e to keep you company while you work from home, follow along with KosBrick to assemble one of your own.

LEGO Mini Wall-E (Tutorial)

Build one of your own with this instructions video

Build an Among Us character in LEGO and customise them to your fancy [Instructions]

Kosmas Santosa or better known as Kos Brick is back from a hiatus from the LEGO custom building scene. One of his new favourites of ours is showcasing tiny builds with instructions to go along. Among Us is one that is adorable and isn’t overly complex to build with the right parts in your LEGO arsenal.

Click to see the video instructions