16
votes
1answer
158 views
Do tools exist to help me translate a real world object to a LEGO design?
It can be a big challenge to create a design for a large object. Are there techniques or tools to simplify this, and to help estimate numbers of blocks required?
15
votes
3answers
2k views
Lego set for 17 year old
This might sound a little bit silly, but I'm 17 and I've never built a LEGO toy, so I was looking for a first one, to see what it's about. What sets would you recommend I should look at, that are ...
15
votes
3answers
502 views
What piece is this ARC-170 Starfighter cockpit?
I got these with the ARC-170 LEGO Starfighter:
I'd like to get more if possible. They are a part of the cockpit.
(I apologize for the poor quality pictures)
15
votes
4answers
3k views
How can I use more than three motors with one NXT brick?
I'm building Caterpillar Excavator with my NXT, and at the moment I'm trying to control 4 points of motion:
2 Caterpillar Tracks - These should be controlled independently to allow for cornering, ...
15
votes
4answers
1k views
Why are minifigure head studs now hollow?
Comparing my childhood minifigure heads to my post dark age ones, there is now a hollow stud at the top vs the solid ones I grew up with. At what point did this change happen and what was the reason ...
15
votes
2answers
350 views
What is “micro-scale” building?
I have seen references to "micro-scale" building in LEGO documentation. How is this different than the "normal" LEGO building scale?
15
votes
4answers
2k views
How to calibrate NXT motors to travel the same distance?
The motors included with the NXT are not all created equal - when given the same input power level, they do not always go the same distance or turn at the same rate.
I measured this by creating a ...
15
votes
1answer
1k views
How can I make a working pin tumbler lock?
I'd like to make a working pin tumbler lock out of LEGO bricks. I have already designed a key I'd like to use that should be compatible with five cylinder lock.
15
votes
1answer
322 views
Minifig rotatable legs on a stick - what is this?
What kind of piece is this? Emboss says "(c)2003 The LEGO Group" and there is a 4303 number below. I browsed Peeron a little but didn't find anything similar.
There are two red handles, one rotates ...
15
votes
4answers
1k views
Is there a logic to the way The LEGO Group fills the plastic bags?
When opening a new box, most of the pieces are in closed plastic bags, and sometimes inside those plastic bags is another plastic bag for smaller pieces.
I find the pieces, for the most part, rather ...
15
votes
3answers
7k views
Where are LEGO parts made?
Are all LEGO parts made in a single factory, or are there multiple factories? Where abouts is it/are they? If there are several, are there different factories for different pieces/sets, or do all ...
15
votes
1answer
1k views
Why does LEGO state the number of parts on US boxes, but not in Europe?
I was reading Huw Millington's review of set 70700 Space Swarmer on brickset, in which he states:
The box is almost square and this being from the USA, like all US boxes but unlike European ones, ...
15
votes
3answers
574 views
How would you make a good pivot-arm suspension?
I once tried to make a 4 wheeled Lego robot using a pivot arm suspension system. The robot was motorized using 2 Mindstorm (2.0) motors (one one each side). I can't find and original picture but it ...
14
votes
6answers
944 views
How can I easily remove a jumper plate without a brick separator?
How can I easily remove a jumper plate?
I find a it very difficult to remove this kind of brick with a brick separator.
14
votes
7answers
616 views
What are some storage options?
I have several Lego sets and I usually build them and then make them small enough so they fit back in the box for long term storage . . . but my dream is that I can take apart my model and organize ...
14
votes
4answers
1k views
How can I motorize City-scale wheels?
I'd like to build city-scale (6 studs wide) vehicles motorized with either PF motor or clockwork. The primary problem right now is connecting wheel(s) to motor. Are there small enough LEGO wheels with ...
14
votes
3answers
2k views
Has anyone made their own custom LEGO bricks?
As I've just learned, LEGO bricks are made from ABS plastics.
I wonder if it would be possible to make some simple molds at home, get some ABS pellets, melt them up and make your own custom bricks? ...
14
votes
5answers
871 views
Useful machines built with LEGO
I am looking for examples of useful machines built with LEGO (probably Technics, NXT etc.). There are many fun project examples and proofs of concept, such as a Rubik cube solver and a Turing machine.
...
14
votes
3answers
1k views
When did Lego decide that it was okay to put a stud into a technic hole?
At one point, Lego didn't really support putting a stud into a Technic hole, stating that it caused too much stress on the bricks. And for a while, there were no sets where that's the case. However, ...
14
votes
3answers
3k views
How many different colours of LEGO bricks are there?
Excluding translucent pieces, how many colours of official LEGO bricks are there?
14
votes
5answers
689 views
Technic axle corrosion? What happened here?
I got my LEGO from storage from when I was a kid (1980s) and while almost all bricks are in good condition, the Technic axles are in a pretty bad shape. They seem to have corroded(?). Please see the ...
14
votes
1answer
413 views
How can I determine the name of a brick?
Over the vast years of collecting bricks of various sizes and sets, I find that during my free builds I run low on a specific type. How can I go about identifying what the brick is named and what ...
14
votes
2answers
333 views
LEGO games for grown-ups?
Are all LEGO Boardgames more or less for children, or are some of them suitable for grown-up, more expert players? (Everybody likes relaxing with a simple game, but are any of the games a bit more ...
14
votes
1answer
427 views
What are LDUs and how do they relate to LEGO bricks?
What are LDUs? I see technical people talking about plans and designs in terms of LDUs. I understand it's a measurement unit.
What does it mean and how do LEGO bricks relate to them? Why are they ...
14
votes
1answer
325 views
Is there a convention for part and/or set numbers?
Is there any rhyme or reason to the way LEGO part are named? Failing that, is there any other sort of taxonomy that we can use to find specific parts?
Along the same lines, my impression is that ...
14
votes
1answer
773 views
Are transparent neon Lego bricks made from a different plastic than usual?
There are several colors of transparent, fluorescent Lego bricks. In particular, "trans neon yellow" and "trans neon orange", introduced in the early 1990s, exist in a variety of specialized shapes ...
14
votes
1answer
603 views
What is LEGO Cuusoo?
Can anyone explain the origins of LEGO Cuusoo project? There isn't a lot of information on the site. It seems to have started in Japan as a way of suggesting ideas for sets but is officially ...
14
votes
3answers
414 views
How should I store unused stickers?
What is the best way to store stickers for future use? I have some unused LEGO sticker sets in plastic bags. The one on top in the bag has become brittle and is flaking.
14
votes
1answer
592 views
Why are old LEGO bricks more brittle than new ones?
My vintage LEGO sets (circa 1980) are difficult to unbuild. Some pieces are prone to break. Did the plastic recipe change with time or are the bricks simply degrading?
13
votes
4answers
7k views
What are the dimensions of a LEGO brick?
What are the real world dimensions of bricks? (starting with 1x1 brick) Plates? Studs? Does LEGO think of this in metric or imperial units or something else?
13
votes
3answers
2k views
What is the largest Lego kit commercially available?
I believe the Imperial Star Destroyer is the biggest in terms of size, at 58.8 cm by 50.5 cm by 21 cm, and the Death Star in the number of pieces, at 3803. Are there any newer, bigger models?
13
votes
7answers
750 views
How can a sticker be removed?
In my younger days I may have placed a few stickers on my bricks. Including some that covered multiple bricks.
Now my daughter has the tendency to do the same thing :)
How can I best remove the ...
13
votes
4answers
522 views
How many minifigs have actually flown in space?
I want to know how many have been to space (they don't have to have returned.)
13
votes
3answers
3k views
Are all the Magnet minifigs now glued on and how should I remove them?
A couple of years ago (around 2010 I think), I bought a number of the Star Wars magnet sets, as they looked like a (slightly) economical way of buying a number of specialist characters (including the ...
13
votes
2answers
416 views
What are the arched things above a wheel called?
I have a bunch of second hand bricks and some are "wheel wells" for the lack of better words.
I would like to find out how I use them for example at bricklink, but then I need to find the name for ...
13
votes
3answers
492 views
Can an axle be removed from this 'brick paradox'?
This blogpost on Technic Bricks briefly explains a few 'brick paradoxes' or dead ends. This particular model seems impossible to disassemble by hand:
How can I remove the axle without ...
13
votes
3answers
1k views
How do you store your built models for long-term display?
My wife and I recently started to re-enjoy Lego and had a lot of fun building the Grand Emporium and a few other pieces but now they're collecting dust and we're lucky enough to have a few spare rooms ...
13
votes
4answers
633 views
How to make a 1 ldu offset?
LDraw units are defined so that a simple 1x1 brick has a side of 20 ldu and a height of 24 ldu.
Using simple building techniques, it's easy to create 2 ldu offset, as illustrated in this picture, ...
13
votes
2answers
2k views
How to minimise or remove sun-stains/fading from blocks?
In particular, I've had white blocks that have yellowed in places. Can the colour consistency be restored? Or at least improved?
I'd be more interested in people's actual experiences rather than ...
12
votes
3answers
909 views
How do I build a sloped roof with a 60° rake?
I've seen the sloped roof on the "Winter Village Post Office" and similar using plates, and I want to build a roof with a similar angle:
What should I use to ensure they are well attached?
12
votes
5answers
11k views
What is considered the most valuable LEGO set?
Which Lego set is considered to be the most valuable set to own?
I'm not talking about the most expensive set, and clearly it has to be out of production already, but when trying to collect complete ...
12
votes
4answers
1k views
How to get started with Mindstorms?
I want to introduce my 8 year old son to Lego Mindstorms.
Where should I start?
Is there a starter kit which is the best starting point?
12
votes
2answers
657 views
Are LEGO elements safe to use in an aquarium with fish?
Are LEGO elements safe to use in an aquarium with fish? I've never seen LEGO elements in a working fishtank.
12
votes
4answers
5k views
Is it safe to wash LEGO pieces in the dishwasher?
I've heard from a lot of people that LEGO can be washed in the dishwasher, but I'm concerned about warping, losing stickers, wearing off of painted pieces, etc. Is it safe to actually wash them in the ...
12
votes
3answers
542 views
Why are Lego sets put in such big boxes?
I am wondering why Lego puts sets in big packages. All bricks are put in small plastic bags and from my experience the packaging could be at least half of what it is.
There is so much told these days ...
12
votes
3answers
410 views
What are the female parts called?
What is the proper term for the "female" section of the piece that the "studs" insert into? I have heard "pipes", "tubes", "underbits". Is there an actual term for the female section?
12
votes
2answers
4k views
How do I print images onto minifig body parts?
I have seen a few custom minifigures out there with images on certain body parts never produced by LEGO. What is the best way to achieve this? I have heard of some people printing out the image on ...
12
votes
1answer
360 views
Why are they called “minifigs?”
Were larger-scale LEGO figures the standard at some point in the past? It just seems odd to me that they're called "mini" when they're basically the only kind of LEGO figures available (not counting ...
12
votes
1answer
283 views
What's the thing between the pant legs?
What is the piece that holds the pant legs together called? Is there an "official1" name? Or is there just a commonly agreed on term?
1Official meaning something mentioned, even in passing, by Lego ...
12
votes
2answers
955 views
Can you program Lego Mindstorms with the Scratch programming language?
My child is learning programming using Scratch in school. Can she program her Mindstorms using Scratch?
