How To Make Custom Lego Sets
At this betoken, LEGO isn't just a toy, it's a way of life. The trivial edifice blocks have acquired a devoted following the world over, from both kids and adults. We've covered LEGO from stalk to stern on this site, simply if you've been building advanced sets for years, peradventure you lot're ready to offset designing LEGO creations of your own.
Of form, anyone can make a new LEGO creation out of existing sets, or more commonly, combining the pieces of existing sets. Merely for annihilation over most a hundred pieces, you'll need a plan, both for building the fix itself and for acquiring the specific pieces you need.
Hither'due south how you practise that.
Design Software
If you want to make a LEGO prepare with hundreds or thousands of pieces, you lot want to programme it out first. The easiest manner to exercise that (without spending a mortgage'south worth of money on randomized pieces) is to utilize a software tool to build a set up near. There are iii notable options at the time of writing.
BrickLink Studio
BrickLink Studio, sometimes simply referred to equally "Studio" or "Stud.io," is the best option for about builders of intermediate to advanced skill. This free design tool is published and maintained by BrickLink, the biggest secondary marketplace for LEGO pieces (see below). It features tens of thousands of LEGO parts, all of which can exist modified and placed within its virtual build infinite. It's available on Windows and Mac.
Studio mirrors professional design software with its multi-window interface, and its search tool is the best way to get the function you demand. It's too possible to move the parts in the virtual world with well-nigh-infinite variety, twisting and turning them in the space with warnings for what volition and won't work. My favorite characteristic is the stability tool, which tin tell you which parts of your LEGO model are most likely to fly apart under stress.
Studio includes a organization for replacing parts you use that aren't available (for instance, if yous color a part that LEGO doesn't make in that color option). Once you're set up to proceed, the program tin help yous brand your own LEGO teaching book, render the creation in 3D graphics animations, and buy your listing of parts directly from the BrickLink store.
MecaBricks
MecaBricks isn't the most powerful LEGO pattern software effectually, just information technology is the only one that'south bachelor in a full web interface. That besides makes it the only option if you lot're using ChromeOS or trying to design LEGO on a phone or tablet. The interface supports nearly of the tools that BrickLink Studio does, albeit without some of the fine control.
A detail highlight is an piece of cake way y'all tin browse the parts library or view and edit user-submitted models in the online repository—over again, all without needing to install any software on your local machine. The interface is impressively quick, fifty-fifty when handling complex or transparent parts.
LEGO Digital Designer
LEGO makes its own design software, though information technology was unfortunately discontinued in 2022. Still, the software is available equally a free download, and information technology'southward a good way for beginners to go used to designing LEGO sets in a virtual surroundings. The interface, in particular, is much more than kid-friendly.
LEGO Digital Designer shouldn't be relied upon as the exist-all, end-all of LEGO blueprint software—its pick of bricks is pretty paltry compared to other community-made tools, and it no longer allows you to buy bricks directly from LEGO. Nevertheless, information technology might be useful for kids to plan out before proceeding to a physical design in a shop.
Finding LEGO Pieces
If y'all take your design gear up to go, information technology'south fourth dimension to find your pieces. Peradventure you can make full out some of them with your current collection, but when yous tin can't find the remainder, it's time to get-go hunting online.
Official LEGO Selection A Brick
Boxed LEGO sets aren't the only way to buy LEGO pieces. LEGO sells them, direct to the public and one at a time, via the Pick a Brick organisation. At the time of writing, at that place are approximately 1500 LEGO bricks available straight from the manufacturer, one piece at a time. Y'all tin select the parts that you demand, add together them to your cart, and have them delivered to you in i or two weeks. Searching past color, shape, or the official LEGO part number (easily plant in whatsoever of the tools above) is recommended.
BrickLink
LEGO doesn't sell all of its parts direct to the consumer—quite a lot of them can only exist bought every bit role of a specific set. There'due south goose egg malicious about this, information technology's simply that plenty of parts take such a low demand that they aren't set up for individual sale. Enter 3rd political party marketplaces, of which BrickLink is the nigh robust.
BrickLink connects thousands of individual LEGO merchants, many of which have enormous and well-cataloged inventories, with cease buyers. You can shop the BrickLink site for the more esoteric parts that you demand, then cheque out and pay multiple vendors all at one time, getting all of your parts delivered to the same identify.
Buying via BrickLink is expensive and wearisome compared to Pick A Brick since different vendors sell parts at different prices and you lot'll need to pay carve up shipping for each seller. But it's often the but way to find specific parts, and the systems tools brand them easy to find.
Loose Collections
If you lot're trying to build up a massive collection of your own LEGO pieces, and yous aren't concerned about specific pieces, then bulk lots are what you want. LEGO sells its own majority bins at retail, in single- and multi-color packaging. But that's not the best bang for your buck.
The way to build upward a massive LEGO collection in the cheapest possible way is to purchase majority, loose pieces. Used LEGO sets are okay in this regard—LEGO pieces are durable, and LEGO sets missing their box, instructions, or even some pieces can exist had cheaply. Only to actually maximize the value and minimize your cost per part, look for big lots of LEGOs without whatsoever organization at all.
Y'all can discover these loose lots on secondary markets similar eBay, or locally in pawnshops, garage sales, and flea markets. Compared to buying sets or searching for parts on BrickLink, the value is v-10 times the amount. Some retail chains, similar Half Price Books in the US, are starting to stock loose LEGO too. Good hunting.
Local Tools and Groups
If you're in a hurry or y'all just want to connect with young man LEGO lovers in your local expanse, you have a few options.
The LEGO Shop
LEGO has get so huge that most major metropolitan areas take at least one official LEGO Store. These stores sell LEGO sets, special limited items, memorabilia, and private parts separated past colour on the "Option & Build" office wall. LEGO Stores also have access to some exclusive items, and are more likely than regular retail stores to have larger or rarer sets.
The LEGO Store is ordinarily institute in malls or in other defended shopping areas of major cities.
Contained LEGO shops
LEGO Stores can't exist everywhere, and where they're not, enterprising independent business owners are picking up the slack. Contained LEGO shops sell authentic LEGO sets and bricks, too as buy and sell used sets, merely aren't officially affiliated with LEGO. The nearest one to me is Rogue Brick in Fort Worth, Texas. (Incidentally: these shops never actually have the trademarked term "LEGO" in their name.) You lot tin find them by searching for LEGO Stores or toy stores in your favorite mapping app.
Contained shops often take a huge amount of loose bricks for auction, and some even take defended play areas where you lot and/or your kids can just sit and build with their huge collection, then pay for the bricks you utilise when y'all're set up to leave. Indie shops likewise part as hubs for the local LEGO community, often hosting displays of custom-designed sets, contests, sometimes even adults-only nights where grown-up LEGO fans are encouraged to come in without kids to distract them.
LEGO fan and student groups
If you're looking for a local group to share your creations or selection upward some tips, check out the social media hubs for your area. Meetup.com and Facebook'due south Group pages are popular options. Coming together regularly with fellow LEGO fans can be a nifty mode to meet people and share your experiences. These groups are often chosen the local LEGO User Group (LUG).
If yous attend a college or university, there's an excellent chance that there's already a LEGO User Grouping at your school. If you're having trouble finding ane, check the official LEGO Ambassador Network, a site from LEGO itself offer a directory of LEGO-focused building groups.
Source: https://www.reviewgeek.com/37000/tools-to-get-started-designing-your-own-lego-creations/
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