The Unofficial LEGO Builder's Guide, 2nd Edition Cover

The Unofficial LEGO Builder's Guide, 2nd Edition

by Allan Bedford
November 2012, 240 pp.
ISBN-13: 
9781593274412

What's the difference between a tile and a plate? Why isn't it a good idea to stack bricks in columns to make a wall? How do you build a LEGO mosaic or build at different scales? You’ll find the answers to these and other questions in The Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide.

Now in full color, this brand-new edition of a well-loved favorite will show you how to:

  • Construct models that won't fall apart
  • Choose the right pieces and substitute when needed
  • Build to micro, jumbo, and miniland scale
  • Make playable board games out of LEGO pieces
  • Create photo mosaics and curved sculptures
  • Build a miniature space shuttle, a minifig-sized train station, and more

Of course, the real fun of LEGO building lies in creating your own models—from choosing the subject to clicking that final brick into place. Learn how in The Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide.

Includes the Brickopedia, a visual dictionary of nearly 300 of the most commonly used LEGO elements!

Author Bio 

Allan Bedford is a lifelong LEGO fan and builder whose most ambitious model is a 5,000-piece replica of Toronto's famed CN Tower. An avid photographer, Bedford spends his time chronicling the streets and people of his adopted hometown, Toronto.

Table of contents 

Acknowledgments
Introduction

Chapter 1: The LEGO System: Endless Possibilities
Chapter 2: Back to Basics: Tips and Techniques
Chapter 3: Minifig Scale: Oh, What a Wonderful Minifig World It Is!
Chapter 4: Miniland Scale: The Whole World in Miniature
Chapter 5: Jumbo Elements: Building Bigger Bricks
Chapter 6: Microscale Building: More Than Meets the Eye
Chapter 7: Sculptures: The Shape of Things to Build
Chapter 8: Mosaics: Patterns and Pictures in Bricks
Chapter 9: Putting It All Together: Where Ideas Meet Bricks
Chapter 10: Beyond Just Bricks: Other Ways to Enjoy the LEGO Hobby

Appendix A: Brickopedia
Appendix B: Design Grids: Building Better by Planning Ahead

Index

View the Index (PDF)
View the detailed Table of Contents (PDF)

Reviews 

Featured on examiner.com (Read More)

Featured on families.com (Read More)

Reviewed on The Brick Show (Watch it here!)

Featured on Selectism (Read More)

Featured on National Geographic's "ScienceBlogs" (Read More)

Featured on The NXT STEP Blog (Read More)

Featured on CoolThings.com (Read More)

"Serves as a very good basic starting point for anyone getting into the hobby, and perhaps more importantly, it shows younger builders some tips on expanding their modelling skills."
—Ryan McNaught, LEGO Certified Professional

"Like a good Lego project, each chapter expands layer by layer on the one before, resulting in a thorough, well-rounded and indispensable source of guidance and creativity."
—Rebecca Gueorguiev, School Library Journal (Read More)

"A great addition to your LEGO library."
—Greg Barbrick, Blogcritics (Read More)

"It should be a requirement for anyone who builds their own creations...The content is awesome, easy to read and enjoy. The photography is some of the best I have seen."
—Richard Hayes, Brick Fanatics (Read More)

"The definitive book on the basics of LEGO building."
—Steven Combs, Bricks in my Pocket (Read More)

"This is essential for any avid builder's LEGO book library."
—Dan Phelps, A LEGO A Day (Read More)

"It's now in full colour and all the images have been re-rendered and now look absolutely stunning, in fact I'd go so far as to say they are the best I've ever seen in a book."
—Huw Millington, Brickset (Read More)

"Everything is beautifully laid out, and most (if not all) of the imagery is pulled right from LEGO-based CAD programs to make them look absolutely amazing."
—Dave Indish, Bricks of the Dead (Read More)

"Many of these techniques are derived from real-world examples (like the Overlap technique as seen in real brick walls) and it is all well-written, so it doesn't take much to understand the ideas being conveyed. If you have any interest in putting together your own LEGO models, this book is a good investment."
—J.R. Nip, Game Vortex (Read More)

"One word.....AWESOME! If you are a LEGO lover (or know someone who is) The Unofficial LEGO Builder's Guide is a must have."
—Jilleen Hays, Seaside Book Nook (Read More)