All Questions
10
votes
4answers
1k views
Best way to store instruction manuals?
Currently I store Lego set manuals/instructions in hanging file folders in a file box, grouped by set type. This makes it hard to dig through and find the one I need, and manuals tend to get tangled ...
10
votes
1answer
1k views
Is there a site with the (previous) monthly LEGO Store mini-build instructions?
We have been going to the LEGO Store off & on for the monthly mini-build, but haven't been able to make it there for quite a few. I've been searching the web for the instructions for the builds we ...
10
votes
1answer
474 views
Making a hexagon with plates
Do any of the wedge/wing shaped plates have the right angle to make a true hexagon or equilateral triangle?
If not, is there any way to make a regular hexagon using plates?
(I know they can be ...
10
votes
1answer
3k views
What is currently in the LEGO Store Pick A Brick Wall?
The LEGO Stores feature the Pick A Brick Wall, where you can buy a small or large cup of LEGO bricks. The selection changes every now and then.
Where can I find the current bricks that are available ...
10
votes
2answers
296 views
What kind of metal/alloy were on the old LEGO 9V train tracks?
LEGO's train tracks (the actual rail part) were made from some kind of metal alloy that does not seem to oxidize, and seems to have good electrical charateristics (low resistance).
Any ideas what ...
10
votes
2answers
399 views
Repairing Lego minifigure torso cracks/damage
I have a ton of Lego minifigures that I really put through their paces throughout my childhood (fighting pirates, exploring space... basic stuff really). A number of them are damaged on the torso. ...
10
votes
2answers
2k views
Looking for a site with custom instructions
I'm looking for a website that has some cool custom model instructions. I have a LEGO store near me and I'm able to buy pieces individually. I'm looking for more of a sci-fi ship kind of instructions.
...
10
votes
1answer
210 views
What happens to the portions of large glued displays that aren't retasked into a different display?
When LEGOLAND dismantles a glued display, is it recycled into something other than LEGO, or do they have to be thrown away? I know certain portions of a display might be utilized again in a different ...
10
votes
1answer
272 views
How many copies of each set is produced?
Is there any way to find out how many copies of a set were produced? I would like to know how rare some of my older sets actually are.
10
votes
1answer
284 views
How to tell the different ages of pieces
I know that LEGO bricks have changed over the years, with regards to moulding pip locations, element i.d. numbers printed inside etc, but I was wondering if anyone knows when these changes happened?
...
9
votes
5answers
553 views
Does Lego market sets that were designed by fans?
My {son, daughter} read on a LEGO box that the set was designed by a LEGO fan. That is amazing! Is this common and how does my {son, daughter} get into that?
What sets were designed by fans so far?
9
votes
2answers
552 views
What is the first day of the 2011 Star Wars advent calendar supposed to be?
I opened the Star Wars Advent Calendar 2011 early and I don't get what the set on the first day is. I'm not much of a Star Wars fan I guess. I can't identify it as any particular ship and my only ...
9
votes
4answers
336 views
Is it legal to sell your mocs?
First off, I assume that it's legal to sell used LEGO bricks and it's also legal to sell self-made LEGO instructions and parts-lists.
As far as I know, there are people selling LEGO sets of their ...
9
votes
3answers
193 views
Tools to aid in getting parts from tight spots?
As a builder of some semi large scale projects. I find that I can't always get that dropped part because my arm is either not long enough. Or my hand is too big to reach in and get it. Anyone have any ...
9
votes
3answers
674 views
Is there a database of original Minifigure configurations, including their personal gear?
Is there a minifigure museum? I have a gallon jar (& more) of minifigures that my kids have mixed and matched. Is there a website I can reference in order to put the minifigures back in their ...
9
votes
1answer
323 views
How much weight can a handle of Technic pegs and beams support?
Some Lego spaceships have handles attached, made out of Technic beam and pegs, and attached to the model using Technic bricks, pegs, and axles.
For example, 7644: MX-81 Hypersonic Operations Aircraft ...
9
votes
4answers
227 views
How can I keep LEGO winches from becoming tangled?
I have some LEGO winches/strings with hooks.
Putting these away inevitably results in tangled strings (the next time I take them out). Even winding them up doesn't help.
Storing these in drawers ...
9
votes
4answers
3k views
How much does a LEGO brick weigh?
I am trying to do a science project and I need the exact weight of one of the LEGO pieces. I am using it as a counter balance on my scale. What is the weight of a 1x4 LEGO brick?
9
votes
2answers
275 views
What is the most compact way to make a flat six pointed star in LEGO?
I spend a lot of time building in Micro scale (I maintain the Micropolis collaboration standard) and my partner is trying to figure out how to build the most compact, or smallest, six pointed star ...
9
votes
3answers
255 views
How to find out if an element is out of production
Is there a way to know if Lego has officially stopped making a certain Lego element?
As an example, from the 580 Lego set, I haven't seen this conveyor belt (along with those wheels and the ...
9
votes
3answers
740 views
How should I create a Heroica scale graveyard or crypt room?
I've recently started playing Heroica with my sons, and we want to take this further, so I'm looking for some suggestions on modelling a graveyard or crypt room.
As an example, here's a model of the ...
9
votes
3answers
242 views
Is the visual.ly infographic information about the minifigure reliable?
Visual.ly just release this awesome infographic about the LEGO minifigure.
It this all correct information?
9
votes
2answers
2k views
What is the difference between Shuttle Adventurer (10213) and Shuttle Expedition (10231)
Beside the age 16+ designation for the Shuttle Adventurer vs the 14+ age designation on the Shuttle Expedition and some different photography they look identical except they don't sell the Shuttle ...
9
votes
2answers
24k views
Where can I download the LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 IDE?
I want to see how well that IDE runs on my old Windows XP laptop.
I looked on www.lego.com, but it seems to all be documentation (downloads).
9
votes
4answers
412 views
Is “public transport” train compatable with Lego City track?
Among other things, set 8404 contains a train but it doesn't come with any track pieces (see set 7499). Is this train compatible with these Lego City tracks? I see where it's more of an electric ...
9
votes
3answers
218 views
Why can't I reproduce this SD card box in LDD?
I've built an SD card box a few years ago. Now I am trying to reproduce it in Lego Digital Designer.
However when I tried to reproduce the closed version, LDD refuses to snap it in place.
In ...
9
votes
1answer
171 views
How to remove printed decoration
This is probably heresy, but how can I remove the printed decoration on a brick? I managed to buy a large number of bricks with an eye decoration cheap and found that rubbing a long time with ...
9
votes
2answers
201 views
What element modifications are incorporated by the LEGOLAND builders?
I know they glue their sculptures together, and sometimes support them with an inner frame. Is that the limit to their element modifications, or are there more tricks to the awesome LEGOLAND builds on ...
9
votes
3answers
448 views
Which official LEGO sets are micro-scale versions of existing sets?
The 10230 Mini Modulars set is based on the existing modular series:
As well as the 4695 Mini Harry Potter Knight Bus. Have there been other micro-scale sets released by LEGO based on existing ...
9
votes
1answer
416 views
Where can I find the LEGO fire dept. logo in high resolution or in vector format
I want print a high resolution version of the Lego fire department shield (the shield with three flames that is used on all Lego fire trucks). When I search with Google, I find mostly low resolution ...
9
votes
2answers
2k views
How do I know when current sets will retire?
As the title asks, how is the easiest way to find when current sets on the Lego website will be retired and no longer sold.
For example, the 10197 Fire Brigade has been around since 2009, same as ...
9
votes
4answers
588 views
Will my LEGO bricks discolor in indirect sunlight?
I have a bunch of new LEGO sets because of my new status as an AFOL. I've got them sitting on the dresser in a room that gets indirect sunlight (see below). There is no direct rays hitting the LEGO ...
9
votes
2answers
453 views
What's the largest LEGO construction ever?
In terms of the number of bricks used.
Is this house, constructed by James May for the show Toy Stories, the biggest?
9
votes
1answer
223 views
Where can I find “hacker” information about the NXT?
I want to know if, and where, is some extremely detailed hacker information on the Mindstorms NXT 2.0. Things such as the processor, flash memory, and RAM information, GPIO or I2C support, custom ...
9
votes
2answers
334 views
How should I model a Heroica scale castle bedroom?
My son has requested that we add a bedroom to our Heroica castle. I'm looking for some advice on the creation of the bed area.
The Microfig characters are 1x1x2, and the rooms are generally designed ...
9
votes
2answers
504 views
When did LEGO stop producing Technic action figures?
I recently got interested in LEGO Technic again. The last set I own is maybe 15 years old, so my knowledge is a little bit outdated.
Back then some of the Technic sets had action figures included, ...
9
votes
1answer
270 views
Where do the pieces numbered 4255629 go in the Death Star (set 10188)
I just finished up the Death Star set, and while it comes with the usual smattering of leftover pieces, I've got two pieces numbered 4255629 (shown below) that never got used. I've scanned the manual ...
9
votes
2answers
282 views
Is there a way to build a stronger LEGO ball than what was done by the Mythbusters?
In one episode, the Mythbusters busted a fake video by building a 7' tall LEGO ball. The construction did not roll very far before falling apart.
Assuming that they only used standard bricks (with ...
9
votes
1answer
343 views
Under what conditions are the Lego boardgame dice unfair, and by how much?
For Lego's board game line, they have moulded a Lego die, with a 2x2 stud pattern on each side.
Obviously, weight distribution is going to be thrown off if you use a full studless plate on one side ...
9
votes
1answer
282 views
Why did Lego use the same number for two different sets?
For example, Ricky Racoon on his Scooter from 1979 is a completely different set from House with Garage from 1996, but they share the same number (324). Why did Lego recycle numbers like this? Do they ...
9
votes
4answers
1k views
Is there a standard scale for building “minifig scale” creations?
I've seen many impressive models built to "minifig scale" (e.g. the enormous USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier), but is there a standard (or at least widely adopted) scale e.g. 1:60 that these ...
9
votes
1answer
354 views
Steering mechanism for City-scale vehicle
I'd like to build city-scale (6 studs wide) motorized vehicles with PF remote control. There are already several suggestions on how to motorize wheels. The next challenge is steering
mechanism that ...
9
votes
1answer
399 views
How to convert new 4x4 crawler to tracks?
With the new 9398 4x4 crawler coming out what would need to be done to convert it to a track based system that looks similar in style to the ones sold by Mattracks?
On a related point what would make ...
9
votes
1answer
234 views
Which sets can be built in the bag (all the parts are in one bag)?
I've had the chance to participate in some "build in the bag" contests at some events. The idea is simple: each contestant gets a small set (usually provided by LEGO for the occasion), and everybody ...
9
votes
1answer
347 views
Is there a way to re-tighten a minifigure's hip joint?
When a minifigure is new, the joints where its legs joins its hips is relatively stiff. However, when a minifig gets old and has been used a lot, this joint can get very loose leaving its legs very ...
9
votes
1answer
307 views
What are the characteristics of “Miniland” scale?
I have heard many references to "Miniland" scale. From what I have seen, this style of building mostly includes figurines that are larger the normal "mini-figs", but I was wondering what are some ...
9
votes
0answers
201 views
What's the exact opacity and translucency of transparent bricks?
As answered in this question, transparent bricks are made of PC (polycarbonate) and as listed in this answer and on Brickipedia there are fourteen transparent colors:
40 Transparent (clear)
41 ...
8
votes
5answers
2k views
What is piece 4211642 from 10179 - UCE Millenium Falcon?
I'm working on making sure I have all necessary pieces for 10179: Ultimate Collector's Edition Millenium Falcon (a painstaking process, to say the least). I recieved the set not entirely complete, ...
8
votes
3answers
2k views
How can I build a LEGO heart?
In the spirit of Valentine's Day...
How can I build a two-dimensional LEGO heart? Here is an example of the shape I'm looking for.
Perhaps the model should be built from the bottom upward? I would ...
8
votes
3answers
966 views
Can anyone find a photo of the “LEGO bricks, not LEGOS” insert?
Debates aside; I have been told that there used to exist a message either in Lego catalogs or inserts in boxes that reads as this:
The word LEGO® is a brand name and is very special to all of us ...
