Do you ever look at LEGO models on display at LEGO exhibitions and shows and wonder “how can I build that?”
Improving your LEGO building skills can be done in a variety of ways, and here model designers and builders at Bricks McGee share their tips to help you build better LEGO models.
Look at the real world and try and replicate it
“I tend to look around and try to think of how I’d build certain parts of the environment…it keeps me constantly thinking about how to replicate things in the brick “
Lewis challenges himself to build items in the environment around you from LEGO bricks, whether digitally or “in the brick”. This gives you plenty of practice building models from LEGO parts at different scales
Ask the builder
“talk to a builder who’s built something you like…ask them questions”
Alina suggests speaking to LEGO model builders you admire – they won’t necessarily all reply, but if you ask politely about how they achieved a specific technic they may be happy to show you. Learning from other LEGO builders is a great way to increase your skillset.
Get as much reference material as you can find
“try to get as much useful information about the real prototype as you can (drawings, dimensions, photos etc) so you can compare your model much more easily to the real thing”
Henry thinks, when building LEGO models of real life items or buildings, that preparation is key – the more reference materials, the better. From photographs of the item from many different angles, to digital renders or engineers’ drawings, this can help create a full picture of the model so you can recreate it in LEGO bricks.
Keep up to date with new parts
“Keep up to date with new parts so when useful new parts come out you know about it. Sometimes you’ll immediately see the possibilities of them, other times you’ll remember that they now exist and find them handy.”
Henry suggests staying up to date on the latest parts and colours for LEGO elements. LEGO constantly release new parts, and older parts in new colours, in their sets. It’s worth keeping up to date with the latest LEGO parts being released, as it might just be the part you need in your next model – plus, it’s a great excuse to buy new sets!
New Elementary is a great place with the latest LEGO elements being released in sets.
Take part in LEGO building challenges
“The more you build the better you’ll get at it, no matter the starting point.”
Alina suggests finding a community online or in person where you can take part in build challenges, because the more you practice building the better you will get at it. There are plenty of LEGO building challenges hosted online, and you may find your local LEGO User Group also hosts building challenges. These are a great way to improve your LEGO building skills!
LEGO themselves also have a great library of building challenges you can do at home.
Try building the same item again and again, and at different scales
“Try building the same item multiple times, and at different scales”
Richard takes a lesson from many famous artists here, who would paint the same item over and over again, each time capturing something new in the item being painted. This was a great way to improve your skills as an artist, and can also apply to those wanting to improve their model building skills.
Take an item from your house and try designing it at 3 different sizes – you might surprise yourself with how this tests your LEGO building skills!
Step out of your comfort zone
“Try something different – if you always build cars, build a house!”
Many builders are great at building one thing – cars, or ships, or architectural models – but being a good model designer can mean being a well-rounded designer, says Richard. If you always build the same type of models, you’re unlikely to improve your LEGO skills, so consider designing something totally different!