What can you build from Lego? What can you make from Lego? Various options and video tutorials
There are many ideas for Lego construction, but not every one can be completed...
For some reason, some are not inspiring. Others are inspiring, but impossible due to sparse details. Still others I really want to do, but there are no instructions.
Here are 5 good ideas. They are complex and challenging enough, but interesting enough to motivate. Only commonly found parts are used in crafts. All were made from old Lego bricks and brought to their logical conclusion by a 7-year-old Lego fan named Semyon.
Will be of interest to children from 5 to 99 years old. Instructions are included in case you want to assemble these.
Lego helicopter
Semyon's Lego crafts are so colorful because we don't have enough bricks of the same color. But when they are found, Semyon prefers to replace them with one-color ones - he likes it when it’s beautiful. The photo shows attempts to make the helicopter red. This is why it is important to sort parts not only by type, but also by color.
The helicopter had to replace some parts (for example, the landing gear) with those available from the collection. Resourcefulness and ingenuity are part of playing with Lego.
Assembly instructions:
Lego ball
When you see such a craft, you are surprised at how easy it is to assemble such a symmetrical beautiful design. But there is one catch. It is not difficult to assemble the parts of the structure, but it is impossible to connect them into a whole. The structure is very fragile and is falling apart. I tried, but I didn't succeed. But Semyon succeeded:
Instructions:
Lego robot
This interesting robot turned out to be quite durable. It’s not even immediately noticeable that there are not enough hands in it.
Homemade Lego: robot made from old bricks But we needed parts that could not be found. You might be able to do it using these instructions:
Candy machine
This is a very fun craft and not at all difficult. Who doesn't love receiving candy like m&ms or Skittles? When testing a machine gun, the main thing is not to overdo it, as in this video :)
Unfortunately, the instructions for this device are hidden somewhere - I can’t find them. there is a similar one.
House-shop-cafe made from Lego
When I saw that the child was going to take on this project, I thought it was a hopeless idea. Of course, this is interesting - a 3-story structure that opens up like a book. There are so many interesting things inside. There is a bicycle on display - where can I get a bicycle?
But Semyon saw everything differently. The bicycle was replaced with a weight (also for sports) and other improvised materials. This is how the first floor turned out. And then, unfortunately, it was not possible - the instructions contained inaccessible parts.
But the first floor is also a success for such a project. It turned out to be a completed house that you can play with. The hardest thing is to see that it is possible when it seems that it is not. If you manage to complete this project to the end, please write to us about your success.
And here are the instructions
Until I caught up with my son’s hobby, sometimes I would sweep the Lego bricks that crunched under my feet into a trash bag. How ashamed I am now! There must have been rare details that are so lacking now. And we would also have more parts of the same color - the crafts would become more beautiful. If you, like me, don’t have enough patience, sweep it not into a trash bag, but into a carpet bag.
The LEGO constructor has long ceased to be just an educational game for children. Tens of millions of cubes are used to build full-fledged amusement parks for children and their parents. LEGO has made inroads into the film and gaming industries. Creative individuals use parts to create paintings and sculptures, and passionate engineers use them to make car bodies. Looks impressive! Indeed, the limits of the use of famous figures are limited only by human imagination, and it knows no boundaries. In this article you will learn about unusual applications LEGO bricks in everyday life.
Coin Sorter
To distant Soviet times my mother worked as a salesperson and dealt with kilograms of coins every day. I helped her sort them by face value. On the one hand, it was very cool to occasionally find memorable specimens, on the other hand, the boring activity quickly became boring. It's a pity that in those days it wasn't like LEGO constructor, so and so interesting recipe use of its parts. The mechanism can be adapted to any coin diameter.
Stand
During the hot summer, my computer likes to shut down due to overheating. Touching the surface on which the laptop is standing will result in a slight burn. Therefore, it is necessary to create an air “cushion” under it to provide greater ventilation and better cooling. Several cubes are ideal as a stand.
The solution can also be used to save space in the kitchen. In the same way, the baking sheets can go into the dishwasher.
Small items organizer
Forget about searching for keys, wallets and other pocket small things with the help of an original organizer. If you're too lazy to drill holes in your bricks, LEGO sells pre-punched keychains.
Educational game
Why not kill two birds with one stone? Combine the development of children's fingers and thinking with learning to read and count. Use a regular marker to write words and numbers onto the cubes. Learning grammar will become much more interesting.
Task Manager
No successful undertaking is complete without planning and setting goals. A design studio from the UK offered its original approach to controlling the movement of projects. The basis was formed by Lego parts.
But any concept is really good if it can be translated into reality. The Lego calendar is successfully used by some companies to plan the work of 20 employees.
Lens cap holder
Do you like photography or video shooting? Then you are familiar with the “problem” of a loose or lost lens cap. Attach Lego pieces to the lid itself and the strap - a simple and practical solution.
Office hacks
Place tiny magnets in the cubes and your paper clips, staples and holders will find a home. The mess on the table is over!
No magnets? No problem! You can make stylish cups for pens and other office items.
Rack
For any nonsense, usually lying around, you can do unusual stand. For example, for a phone...
... joysticks, and even...
... shaving accessories!
Photo frame
Can a photo frame surprise? Certainly! Flight of thought and Lego pieces will help you.
Flower pot
Lovers of indoor plants should love the idea of a designer pot. Usually the rapid growth of a flower is accompanied by worries about purchasing and replanting into a larger pot. With Lego you can modify any existing pot to the required size.
Theme house
Why waste time with pots when you can speed up a whole house! Perhaps this will be a playroom for children, but adults will also want to visit it at all costs.
And what unusual options Do you know the uses of Lego?
How is Lego made?
The history of the world-famous Lego constructors began back in the last century, back in 1949, when the first parts of this wonderful toy were born in the small town of Billund, Denmark. Little ones plastic blocks were designed in such a way that they could easily be connected to each other due to the presence of special elements. The basis for the entire further variety of components of the designer were small bricks of several sizes, equipped with tongues and grooves that connected the parts to each other.
Gradually, the range of parts expanded, the sets began to include wheels first, then figures of people and animals were added, and then, as technological progress developed, even miniature electric motors and various sensors. Therefore, now you can assemble not only houses from Lego parts, as was originally intended, but also spaceships, airplanes, pirate frigates, cars and even moving robots. True fans of this wonderful designer are interested in knowing literally everything about it. It is for them that we will tell you how Lego is made.
LEGO factories are located in three countries - Denmark, Mexico and the Czech Republic. In these giant factories, about 60 tons of colorful thermoplastics are turned into several million cubes every day. Myself process The production of parts is quite simple, there are no special secrets in it.
What and how is Lego made of: the manufacturing process
1. The birth of a new Lego set begins with an idea. The company's developers decide which new set should be put into production based on market conditions - a pirate ship, a robot, or a fire station.
2. When the project is finally approved, design engineers get down to business. They create layouts necessary details, and on their basis special metal matrices are made - molds into which the thermoplastic will be poured. There is no need to make matrices of all parts every time, because most of the blocks are standard. They have been used in all sets since the sixties of the last century. Therefore, it is only necessary to create again the molds for the exclusive parts that are unique to the new set. It is worth noting that Lego molds are very expensive. We are talking about amounts of tens, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. Therefore, all matrices, even those no longer used at the present time, are carefully stored in the factory warehouse, because who knows, maybe they will still be needed.
3. The finished matrices are transferred to the factory, and the next designer is put into production. Its basis is modern injection molding machines, which under large; Pressure and at temperatures above 200 degrees, parts are stamped from molten multi-colored plastic.
4. High-quality acrylonitrile-based plastic arrives at the plant in the form of granules - transparent or red. The granules are stored in a special bunker, from where they are fed into molding machines. There, the plastic is melted, mixed with the necessary dyes and literally injected into matrix molds under high pressure.
5. After water cooling, the molds open and the finished bricks fall onto the conveyor belt.
6. The process of creating parts is almost completely automated and does not require human presence. The robot collects Lego fragments from the conveyor, packs them into bags and weighs them. The robot even attaches heads and arms to the figures and draws facial features and costume details for them.
7. After this, the finished parts of the designer are sent to the packaging department. Boxes for the sets are designed by high-class designers. They feature colorful designs that match the theme of the set and the Lego logo. A special machine takes the printing blank, bends it in specified directions and glues the box together. Then the robot places a set of parts sealed in a bag into it. The next machine closes the lid and seals it.
8. Now all that remains is to pack bright, elegant boxes of six pieces of construction sets into large cardboard boxes and cover them plastic film, and fresh Lego will be ready to ship.
Now that you know how Lego is made, it's time to open a new set, pour bright pieces onto the table and immerse yourself in an exciting game!
Nowadays, children have many toys. One of the most common educational games is construction. With the purchase of this entertainment for a child, parents have a new concern. After all, so often a child turns to his father or mother with the question: “What can be built from Lego?” There are many answers to this question. You just need to show your imagination and, perhaps, “fall into childhood” a little. Let's find out what you can build from Lego with your child.
Option one: home
Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is to build some kind of room. This could be a residential building or apartment, an office or office, a car garage or a carriage depot.
To build a structure you will need insertable windows, doors, roof elements and other additional accessories. The more construction parts you have, the higher and wider the room will be. Think ahead color scheme walls and facade. You may want to build tall and beautiful columns in front of the entrance.
In front of the building you can place trees and various plants, people and cars, which are also built from this construction set.
Option two: Lego tanks
Mischievous boys love to play war. To do this they will need barricades and tanks. It is quite simple to build a fencing wall from a constructor. You just need to attach one cube to another. This must be done until you get the height you need.
A tank is somewhat more difficult to build. To do this, it is better to involve adults or older siblings. The base of a tracked vehicle is formed quite simply. The size is determined by the amount of available material. In order to make caterpillars, you need to put the cubes in reverse. That is, so that the convex parts are on the outside. You start building the blank from the inside. When one part of the tank is made, it is necessary to form the second one symmetrically. In the same way, construct required quantity tracked vehicles.
How to build a car from Lego?
Perhaps, after constructing buildings, this option is the most popular. In order to make transport, you will need wheels. First, think about what size the car will be. Build a multi-piece base with wheels.
After this, make the driver's cab of the required size and the body. If the car should be a passenger car, then harmoniously secure the cubes and make a hood, roof and trunk. If desired, you can leave large openings in the form of windows. Through them you can seat the driver and passengers in the cabin.
Alternative option
So, what else can you build with Lego? There can be a lot of options. At large quantities The parts can be assembled into a giant robot or a tree. Girls will certainly appreciate the following ideas: fruits and vegetables, cakes and other products. You can also make a doll or a castle for your little princess. All furniture can be created from small designer parts.
In addition, you can build a real computer or phone. Many children enjoy building farms and animal pens, which are also created using Legos.
It is worth noting that the manufacturer offers to purchase the product various sizes and shapes. Small details are more suitable for older children. While large parts will be appreciated by kids.
If you have absolutely no idea what you can build from Lego, then pay attention to the packaging in which the construction set was sold. The manufacturer always offers several ideas for buildings that are drawn on the box. Most likely, from them you can choose the most suitable option for your children.
Each new Lego set is a joy from a gift, enthusiastic play, free time for parents and a holiday for several days. And then everyday life begins - tears from an accidentally destroyed building and small bricks all over the floor that painfully dig into the heel. Practical considerations suggest that an expensive designer has not yet earned its value. The game must go on, but how? Tatyana Novikova, author of the Lego Buyers Club website, shares tips on how to set up Lego construction at home.
How to organize Lego construction? Searching for an answer on the Internet reveals a lot of advertisements for children's clubs. The details are not specified - you need to bring your child to the circle to find out. It seems that construction is a secret accessible only to selected teachers. But you have so many details - it’s time to open your own circle!
Children love to build with Lego, you just need to create the conditions. If you look at it, there are no obstacles for a child to engage in Lego creativity at home. No investment or huge effort required. A home design club is open to everyone.
The tips listed below are not step by step guide. Rather, important techniques to get around the difficulties that arise. A child loses interest for many reasons and different stages games with Lego. Fortunately, there are recommendations from Lego designers and experienced parents.
Lego - instead of Montessori classes for children and meditation for adults
What do you think about an adult who makes architectural structures from small Lego parts? He seems to spend a lot of time sorting parts and building. He probably doesn't do anything else.
Nothing of the kind! Tom Alfin has also written a book about Lego architecture and runs a blog. But this is just part of his life. Tom is a programmer and user interface manager at Microsoft. He is also a traveler and photographer. It’s just amazing, where does he get so much energy and where does he find the time?
This is one of many cases where a Lego fan is successful in other areas.
- Sort by color. At first glance, this is illogical. But this is exactly how designers recommend sorting parts. Big drawback Lego - the noise that colorful bricks create. No, we're talking about not about sound, but about visual noise. Even when placed in containers according to size, the cubes do not look very attractive. And children love it when it’s beautiful. They love it when their crafts look neat and stylish.
Megan Rothrock (Lego Group designer and author of Lego Adventure) noticed that while the pieces are in one colorful pile, children do not know what to do with them. When they are arranged by color, interest and ideas arise. Sorting by color inspires creativity, so it's important. It is convenient to use wide and flat transparent containers. All the details are on the surface and easy to find.
To keep things simple, it’s enough to sort by the most common colors: black, white, dark gray, light gray, yellow, blue, red, beige. Leave the others in a common container.
- Should I sort by part type? Design experience shows that sorting by size and type makes sense. That's just... from Lego constructors about 4000 types of parts. Each piece is available in several colors. If each type of part is sorted by color and type, it’s scary to imagine how many thousands of containers would be needed.
It is convenient to store small, frequently encountered bricks separately. Tom Alfin, whom we mentioned above, has made a guide to the most common small details and even indicated the most common color (at the bottom of the page). Use it as your storage assistant.
- Storage system for a child. He must be able to maintain order on his own. An overly complex storage system and a lot of effort to maintain order kill motivation. Who would want to build if it’s so difficult to clean up afterwards?
Independent creativity will be a joy if building material accessible at arm's length. This can be organized using a special gaming table.
3 in 1 solution: gaming table, temporary stand for finished models, organizer for storing parts. Here everything you need is at hand. At his table the child builds and thinks.
To organize one, you need suitable table(eg from IKEA) and Lego building boards. Construction boards are attached to the table with superglue or double tape. Velcro textile fastener is also suitable. Ikea tables are so varied that there is a solution for any design and size of a child’s room. Storage organizers can be built into them.
There may be more parts than the desk organizers can accommodate. Then you need to keep the most popular ones on hand.
Instructions for Lego: why store it and where to find it?
Once the parts are sorted, creativity kicks into high gear. Usually a child cannot be stopped - he really wants to assemble something grandiose. He tries to come up with something himself, but it doesn’t turn out as beautifully as he would like. Until the design techniques have been perfected, instructions are needed.
- Save old instructions for Lego sets in file folders. The new is the well-forgotten old. If you saved instructions from designers, you will always find great ideas for design.
- Download instructions from the manufacturer's website. You can select by model number or by your favorite series.
- Find ideas and DIY tutorials on Pinterest.com.
In children's Lego construction clubs they not only build, but also make up fairy tales. Try the same. Choose songs that inspire you role playing games and making up stories. And then move on to the next step.
How to assemble Lego without instructions
The Lego company recommends trying regular pictures instead of instructions. What is your child's favorite topic? Houses, robots, animals and cartoon characters - everything can be assembled from Lego. Assembly without instructions is the next step. For this you need to master the basic techniques. If a child has collected a lot according to instructions, he is ready for independent creativity. Lego bricks are a treasure trove of interesting tricks and tricks.
The house can be opened like a book to see what's inside
Photo source:
What is your relationship with Lego constructors? Tell us in the comments, do you design from old bricks? How do you store bricks? What design tricks do you know? Thanks for your feedback!