How To Design Your Own Lego Set
At this point, LEGO isn't just a toy, it'due south a fashion of life. The footling edifice blocks have acquired a devoted following the world over, from both kids and adults. We've covered LEGO from stem to stern on this site, but if you've been edifice avant-garde sets for years, maybe you're ready to outset designing LEGO creations of your own.
Of course, anyone tin can make a new LEGO creation out of existing sets, or more than commonly, combining the pieces of existing sets. But for anything over about a hundred pieces, you'll demand a program, both for building the set itself and for acquiring the specific pieces you demand.
Here's how you practise that.
Design Software
If you lot want to make a LEGO set with hundreds or thousands of pieces, you lot want to plan it out kickoff. The easiest fashion to practice that (without spending a mortgage's worth of money on randomized pieces) is to use a software tool to build a set virtually. There are iii notable options at the fourth dimension of writing.
BrickLink Studio
BrickLink Studio, sometimes simply referred to as "Studio" or "Stud.io," is the best option for most builders of intermediate to advanced skill. This free design tool is published and maintained by BrickLink, the biggest secondary market for LEGO pieces (see beneath). It features tens of thousands of LEGO parts, all of which can be modified and placed inside its virtual build space. It's available on Windows and Mac.
Studio mirrors professional person design software with its multi-window interface, and its search tool is the all-time mode to go the role you need. Information technology's as well possible to motion the parts in the virtual world with well-nigh-infinite variety, twisting and turning them in the space with warnings for what will and won't work. My favorite feature is the stability tool, which tin can tell you which parts of your LEGO model are virtually likely to wing apart under stress.
Studio includes a arrangement for replacing parts you employ that aren't available (for example, if you colour a office that LEGO doesn't brand in that color choice). Once you're ready to proceed, the program can aid you brand your own LEGO teaching book, render the creation in 3D graphics animations, and buy your list of parts straight from the BrickLink store.
MecaBricks
MecaBricks isn't the most powerful LEGO blueprint software around, but it is the only 1 that's bachelor in a total web interface. That also makes information technology the only option if you're using ChromeOS or trying to design LEGO on a phone or tablet. The interface supports most of the tools that BrickLink Studio does, albeit without some of the fine control.
A item highlight is an like shooting fish in a barrel way yous can browse the parts library or view and edit user-submitted models in the online repository—once more, all without needing to install any software on your local automobile. The interface is impressively quick, even when handling complex or transparent parts.
LEGO Digital Designer
LEGO makes its own pattern software, though it was unfortunately discontinued in 2022. Still, the software is available as a free download, and information technology's a good way for beginners to get used to designing LEGO sets in a virtual surround. The interface, in particular, is much more child-friendly.
LEGO Digital Designer shouldn't be relied upon every bit the be-all, stop-all of LEGO blueprint software—its pick of bricks is pretty paltry compared to other community-made tools, and it no longer allows yous to buy bricks straight from LEGO. Still, it might be useful for kids to plan out before proceeding to a physical design in a store.
Finding LEGO Pieces
If y'all accept your design ready to get, it'due south time to find your pieces. Maybe yous can make full out some of them with your current collection, merely when you can't find the residual, information technology's time to commencement hunting online.
Official LEGO Pick A Brick
Boxed LEGO sets aren't the only way to buy LEGO pieces. LEGO sells them, direct to the public and i at a time, via the Choice a Brick system. At the time of writing, there are approximately 1500 LEGO bricks bachelor straight from the manufacturer, one piece at a fourth dimension. You lot tin select the parts that yous need, add them to your cart, and have them delivered to you in i or ii weeks. Searching past color, shape, or the official LEGO function number (easily found in any of the tools to a higher place) is recommended.
BrickLink
LEGO doesn't sell all of its parts direct to the consumer—quite a lot of them can only be bought as part of a specific set. At that place'southward cypher malicious nearly this, it's just that plenty of parts take such a low need that they aren't ready for individual sale. Enter tertiary party marketplaces, of which BrickLink is the most robust.
BrickLink connects thousands of individual LEGO merchants, many of which have enormous and well-cataloged inventories, with end buyers. You can shop the BrickLink site for the more esoteric parts that you need, then check out and pay multiple vendors all at once, getting all of your parts delivered to the aforementioned place.
Ownership via BrickLink is expensive and slow compared to Choice A Brick since different vendors sell parts at dissimilar prices and you'll need to pay separate aircraft for each seller. But it'south often the just 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 drove of your ain LEGO pieces, and you aren't concerned about specific pieces, then majority lots are what you want. LEGO sells its own bulk bins at retail, in unmarried- and multi-colour packaging. But that'southward non the best blindside for your buck.
The way to build up a massive LEGO collection in the cheapest possible way is to buy bulk, 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 be had cheaply. But to actually maximize the value and minimize your price per function, look for big lots of LEGOs without any organization at all.
You lot can discover these loose lots on secondary markets like eBay, or locally in pawnshops, garage sales, and flea markets. Compared to buying sets or searching for parts on BrickLink, the value is 5-10 times the amount. Some retail bondage, like Half Price Books in the US, are starting to stock loose LEGO as well. Good hunting.
Local Tools and Groups
If you lot're in a hurry or you just want to connect with fellow LEGO lovers in your local area, yous have a few options.
The LEGO Shop
LEGO has go then huge that well-nigh major metropolitan areas have at to the lowest degree ane official LEGO Store. These stores sell LEGO sets, special limited items, memorabilia, and private parts separated by color on the "Pick & Build" function wall. LEGO Stores as well have access to some sectional items, and are more likely than regular retail stores to have larger or rarer sets.
The LEGO Shop is usually found in malls or in other defended shopping areas of major cities.
Independent LEGO shops
LEGO Stores can't be everywhere, and where they're not, enterprising independent business organisation owners are picking upwardly the slack. Independent LEGO shops sell authentic LEGO sets and bricks, as well as buy and sell used sets, simply aren't officially affiliated with LEGO. The nearest one to me is Rogue Brick in Fort Worth, Texas. (Incidentally: these shops never really take the trademarked term "LEGO" in their name.) You tin find them past searching for LEGO Stores or toy stores in your favorite mapping app.
Independent shops often have a huge amount of loose bricks for sale, and some even accept defended play areas where you and/or your kids can simply sit and build with their huge drove, then pay for the bricks you use when you're ready to leave. Indie shops also function 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 up in without kids to distract them.
LEGO fan and student groups
If you're looking for a local grouping to share your creations or selection up some tips, check out the social media hubs for your area. Meetup.com and Facebook'due south Grouping pages are popular options. Meeting regularly with fellow LEGO fans tin can be a smashing way to meet people and share your experiences. These groups are ofttimes chosen the local LEGO User Group (LUG).
If you attend a higher or university, there's an first-class chance that there's already a LEGO User Group at your school. If you lot're having trouble finding one, check the official LEGO Ambassador Network, a site from LEGO itself offering 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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