Build it with LEGO by No Starch

The most impressive LEGO models often take careful planning (and lots of pieces), but with some inspiration, a little imagination, and a number of tried-and-true techniques, you too can turn bricks into a masterpiece.In The Art of LEGO® Design, author Jordan Schwartz explores LEGO as an artistic medium. This wide-ranging collection of creative techniques will help you craft your own amazing models as you learn to see the world through the eyes of some of the greatest LEGO builders. Each concept is presented with a collection of impressive models to spark your imagination—like fantastic dragons, futuristic spaceships, expressive characters, and elaborate dioramas. You’ll discover some of the inventive techniques that LEGO artists use to: –Create lifelike creatures from unusual elements like inside-out tires and minifigure capes –Design sleek cars without showing a single stud –Add ambience to dioramas with light bricks or LEDs –Craft eye-catching textures to create cobblestone roads and brick walls –Build sturdy, detailed, posable mechs and other figures –Add depth with forced perspective and interesting silhouettes Interviews with the talented builders behind many of the book’s models reveal their thoughts on the design process and what inspires them most. Even if you’ve been building with LEGO since you could crawl, you’ll find new inspiration in The Art of LEGO® Design.

Nathan Sawaya is renowned for his incredible, sometimes surreal, sculptures and portraits—all made from LEGO bricks. The Art of the Brick is a stunning, full-color showcase of the work that has made Sawaya the world’s most famous LEGO artist. Featuring hundreds of photos of his impressive art and behind-the-scenes details about how these creations came to be, The Art of the Brick is an inside look at how Sawaya transformed a toy into an art form. Follow one man’s unique obsession and see the amazing places it has taken him.

Beautiful LEGO 2: Dark showcases dark LEGO master­pieces from artists around the world. From realistic sculptures of creepy crawlers to impressionist works of shadowy nightmares, this collection will leave you marveling at every turn. But dark has its lighter side, too—with sculptures of dark chocolate as well as plenty of black humor on display. Gothic fantasies and sci-fi horrors come to life in scenes created entirely with the simple LEGO brick. Step into a world of pure imagination in Beautiful LEGO 2: Dark.

Scenes from nature spring to life in Mike Doyle's latest curated collection of LEGO art, Beautiful LEGO: Wild! From botanical marvels to adorable critters—such as a sea otter family made from 3,500 LEGO pieces—every page is sure to delight the artist and naturalist in all of us. Interviews with LEGO masters from around the world give you a glimpse into the inspiration behind these incredible works of art. Discover amazing landscapes, insects, mythical creatures, and more, all within the enchanting pages of Beautiful LEGO: Wild!

Take your creations to the next level with The LEGO Architecture Idea Book! These clever building tips will give you endless inspiration for making your own amazing mansions, castles, houses, spooky shacks, and more. Every chapter includes ideas for creating architectural elements like columns, doors, windows, and walls. But rather than providing step-by-step instructions, the book includes helpful photography from every angle that shows you how to achieve the look, adapt it to your build, and make it your own. Learn how to: - Build amazing walls that break the mold, with brick-and-mortar effects, weathered walls, and loose bricks - Recreate structural effects like timber framing, soaring towers and turrets, shingled roofs,clapboard siding, and more - Elevate your models with “stained glass”, intricate color patterns, and tumble-down wear-and-tear - Use pieces like croissants, snakes, and goblets to make unique architectural ornamentation Bursting with clever ideas, The LEGO Architecture Idea Book will show you how to turn your buildings into impressive, realistic structures.

Filled with stunning photos, step-by-step instructions, and creative ideas for customization, The LEGO Castle Book shows you how to build mini castles complete with moats, drawbridges, gatehouses, and more! Build a castle using basic bricks or make one of the six master builds. Create your own medieval village with windmills, taverns, and chapels. Travel through the history of castle architecture and learn how to build walls, towers, gates, and keeps. Whether your goal is to add realistic details like crenellations, turrets, and parapets to your designs or to create a believable medieval setting, you'll find endless inspiration in The LEGO Castle Book. Includes complete parts list and building instructions for 6 castle master builds: • Sleeping Dragon • Land's End • River Gate • Winter Palace • Eight Arches • Mountain Kingdom

LEGO® bricks meet The Way Things Work in this fun, informative tour of the world of engineering, from the creative mind of expert LEGO® builder Jeff Friesen. In The LEGO® Engineer, you’ll explore how some of humanity’s greatest feats of engineering work, from towering skyscrapers to powerful rockets to speeding bullet trains. Then follow step-by-step instructions to build these marvels with LEGO® bricks as you experience the world of engineering in a fun new way. How do diesel and electric engines work together to drive massive freight trains? How does a container ship’s bow shape contribute to its fuel efficiency? How do cable-stayed bridges distribute weight differently than suspension bridges? You’ll learn the answers to these engineering questions and more as you build your way through over 30 models, all designed by LEGO® expert Jeff Friesen. Understanding the engineering principles behind these structures will not only help you better appreciate the world around you, but will also help you make your own LEGO® builds more realistic.

Light up your LEGO models to create eye-popping projects and dazzling special effects! This definitive collection of practical DIY LEGO brick lighting techniques includes over 120 full-color photos and hands-on projects for AFOLs (Adult Fans of LEGO). Take your LEGO models to the next level by adding lights to your builds! Whether you want to illuminate official LEGO sets, develop your own realistically lit LEGO models, or design fantastical, glowing worlds, this book will show you how to make your creations stand out—even in the dark. Clear instructions, inspiring examples, and vivid images illustrate how to achieve the best lighting for interior scenes, buildings, minifigs, vehicles, shadow sculptures, glowing artwork, and animated effects. You’ll learn how to: Create your own shadow art with carefully placed LEGO bricks and lights Build realistic lamps, streetlights, and other common light fixtures, using LEGO elements to control the flow of light Make custom-light handheld accessories like laser swords and torches by drilling and wiring minifigs Simulate rocket engines, gunfire, and more with real-time lighting effects Choose between a range of lighting solutions, from official LEGO lighting elements, specialized third-party products, off-the-shelf options like under-cabinet and Christmas lights, and DIY circuits Each chapter features a beautifully photographed gallery of inspiring examples, and an exclusive project with step-by-step building instructions so you can experiment with different lighting techniques. Beyond just installing lights functionally, you’ll discover how to creatively sculpt with lightings and bricks.

Create your own custom city with building instructions for over 50 builds from 8 amazing LEGO Micro Cities! Build a beautiful LEGO® city that's small enough to hold in your hands! Filled with striking photos, step-by-step instructions, and countless ideas for customization, LEGO Micro Cities shows you how building small can open up new possibilities for the creative builder. You'll learn everything you need to know to create your own micro city, from building the foundation to adding convincing architectural details that will bring your city to life.

Step-by-step instructions show how to build detailed LEGO models of neighborhoods - complete with homes, stores, restaurants, barbershops, and more. Enter the fantastical world of model building. The LEGO Neighborhood Book 2 is a full-color guide to creating intricate, bustling LEGO neighborhoods, and cities. In this second volume, a follow up to the runaway best-selling first volume, you'll learn even more ways to create classic architectural styles using only LEGO bricks. In addition to creating entire buildings, LEGO model-building experts Brian and Jason Lyles also show you how to create interesting architectural features like cornices, false fronts, porches, and detailed interiors and furniture. With instructions for three buildings and many smaller builds, The LEGO Neighborhood Book 2 is sure to provide hours of building fun and inspiration for readers of all ages.

Build 52 galaxy-hopping LEGO spacecraft that can fit in the palm of your hand! Complete with step-by-step instructions and stunning full-color photography. LEGO Space Projects rocket right past the standard science-fiction tropes, taking you to the edge of galactic design. The models in this book are built for enlightened celestial ambitions, like botanical research, comet mining, solar sailing, and experimental drive testing. Get inspired by real-life spacecraft as you transform a handful of bricks into NASA-grade propulsion systems, heat shields, and solar collectors. Or let your imagination soar as you snap together an explorer mecha with maneuvering thrusters and hypersonic Cloud Skimmer. LEGO fans of all skills and ages will have a blast building dozens of cleverly styled models, from sleek to comical, from retro to futuristic, from space stations to flying saucers—and beyond. Projects range from 8 bricks to 100, and are brought to life by stunning full-color photography, witty descriptions, and detailed technical specs. Build them using the book’s clear, step-by-step instructions, or use the techniques as a launchpad for your own designs!

Medieval LEGO takes you through real English history in the middle ages with a unique twist, with every event illustrated by a tiny little LEGO scene. With contributions by medievalists and scholars, this book brings medieval history to life in a fun, kid-friendly way. Inside, you'll learn about events like the Battle of Hastings, the chartering of Oxford University, and the signing of the Magna Carta. You'll witness the infamous Black Death, and the Great Famine, and you'll read about famous historical figures like Robin Hood, Richard the Lionheart, Geoffrey Chaucer, and William the Conqueror. Grab your broadsword and turn the page to join the adventure.

The Art of LEGO Scale Modeling displays amazing, fan-built LEGO recreations of real-life vehicles, showing off every amazing detail with high-quality photographs. You'll love poring over dozens of models, including Formula 1 racers, construction vehicles, ships, trains, airplanes, and all kinds of trucks. Authors Dennis Glaasker and Dennis Bosman share their own impressive LEGO models as well as highlight models from builders around the world. The Art of LEGO Scale Modeling also includes tips and tricks that describe the design and building process.

In The Cult of LEGO, Wired's GeekDad blogger John Baichtal and BrickJournal founder Joe Meno take you on a magnificent, illustrated tour of the LEGO® community, its people, and their creations. The Cult of LEGO introduces us to fans and builders from all walks of life. People like professional LEGO artist Nathan Sawaya; enigmatic Dutch painter Ego Leonard (who maintains that he is, in fact, a LEGO minifig); Angus MacLane, a Pixar animator who builds CubeDudes, instantly recognizable likenesses of fictional characters; Brick Testament creator Brendan Powell Smith, who uses LEGO to illustrate biblical stories; and Henry Lim, whose work includes a series of models recreating M.C. Escher lithographs and a full-scale, functioning LEGO harpsichord. Marvel at spectacular LEGO creations like: –A life-sized Stegosaurus and an 80,000-brick T. Rex skeleton –Detailed microscale versions of landmarks like the Acropolis and Yankee Stadium –A 22-foot long, 350-pound re-creation of the World War II battleship Yamato –A robotic, giant chess set that can replay historical matches or take on an opponent –A three-level, remote-controlled Jawa Sandcrawler, complete with moving conveyor belt Whether you're a card-carrying LEGO fanatic or just thinking fondly about that dusty box of LEGO in storage, The Cult of LEGO will inspire you to take out your bricks and build something amazing.

Have you ever wondered what your LEGO creations would look like on the big screen? The LEGO Animation Book will show you how to bring your models to life with stop-motion animation—no experience required! Follow step-by-step instructions to make your first animation, and then explore the entire filmmaking process, from storyboards to post-production. Along the way, you’ll learn how to: –Create special effects like explosions and flying minifigures –Convey action and emotion with your minifigure actors –Design sets for animation—make three buildings look like an entire city! –Light, frame, and capture consistent photos –Add detail and scope to your films by building in different scales –Build camera dollies and rigs out of LEGO bricks –Choose cameras, software, and other essential animation tools Dive into the world of animation and discover a whole new way to play! For ages 10+

Travel through the history of architecture in The LEGO Architect. You’ll learn about styles like Art Deco, Modernism, and High-Tech, and find inspiration in galleries of LEGO models. Then take your turn building 12 models in a variety of styles. Snap together some bricks and learn architecture the fun way!

In The LEGO Neighborhood Book, you'll create buildings with real-world details like cornices and facades, and try your hand at interior design by filling your buildings with furniture and light fixtures. Then add the finishing touches to your models with plants, traffic lights, scaffolding, and park benches. Snap together a few houses, shops, and apartment buildings to create your own neighborhood! Inside you'll find: Complete, step-by-step instructions for four multistory buildings Dozens of inspiring ideas to use in your own models Mini builds for a recliner, old-time lamp post, traffic light, and more A gallery of the authors' designs For ages 10+

In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to build 40 miniature models of race cars, airplanes, ships, trains, and more. These fun, compact designs will inspire you to get creative with as few as nine LEGO® pieces. Imagine what you can build with just a handful of LEGO bricks—almost anything! In Tiny LEGO Wonders, you'll create miniscale models of real vehicles like: –A space shuttle –Jets, planes, and helicopters –Flatbed trucks and cement mixers –France’s high-speed TGV train –F1 racecars –Muscle cars –Cargo, cruise, wooden ships, and more! Let your creativity run wild!

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!