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The LEGO Builder's Handbook

Become a Master Builder

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Hardcover
$24.99 US
8.25"W x 10.31"H x 0.71"D   | 30 oz | 16 per carton
On sale Nov 05, 2024 | 200 Pages | 9781718503809
Age 12 and up | Grade 7 & Up
Reading Level: Lexile 1250L
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Forget step-by-step instructions — you’re ready to design your own LEGO creations! The LEGO Builder’s Handbook is the only guide you need for building totally out-of-this-world, wholly original models.

What’s the right scale to use for your LEGO model? How does SNOT, also known as sideways building, work? What’s the trick to achieving smoother tapers? How do you design a LEGO sculpture? Find the answers to these questions and more in The LEGO Builder’s Handbook. Unlock the secrets to advanced building techniques and take your creations to the next level.

In this comprehensive, modern introduction to LEGO building, you’ll learn how to:
  • Build models that won’t fall apart using masonry-inspired techniques
  • Choose the right pieces while mastering LEGO measurement units and the geometry of basic elements
  • Build using a variety of scales to create realistic replicas of real-world structures
  • Create LEGO mosaics, curved shapes, and 3D sculptures using software like BrickLink Studio, LEGO Art Remix, and LSculpt

Full-color and packed with detailed illustrations, this book will also show you how to:
  • Apply half-stud offsets using jumper plates to add subtle textures and realistic details to your models
  • Use SNOT (studs not on top) techniques to build sideways, creating shapes and details impossible with simple stacking
  • Build angled walls, cylinders, domes, and spheres using advanced techniques like brick bending, hinged polygons, and Lowell spheres

Unlock the secrets of the master builders with The LEGO Builder’s Handbook. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned builder, you’ll learn to push the boundaries of your creativity and build your own models, brick by brick.
"Covers an impressive range of building techniques that will be useful both for newcomers to the hobby who want to go beyond following instructions, and also for the more seasoned builder who wants to take their construction skills to the next level."
—Huw Millington, BrickSet.com

"This book is aimed at people ready to start planning their own LEGO®️ builds. The author is well-known in the community for his large LEGO towers, in both physical and digital forms. He imparts the lessons he has learned in developing these models, from basic brick stacking through SNOT (Studs Not On Top) and offset techniques, through to more advanced methods to help you take your builds off-the-grid, regardless of the scale you wish to work at. I reckon even experienced builders will have something to learn from this book."
—Richard Jones, RamblingBrick.com
Deepak Shenoy has been an active member of the LEGO community since 2016, sharing his creations at conventions and on social media. His builds have been featured in BrickJournal, Blocks, and on websites like Brothers Brick and BrickNerd.
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction

Part I: The Basics

Chapter 1: The LEGO System
Chapter 2: All About Scale
Chapter 3: Basic LEGO Techniques

Part II: Breaking Free from the Grid

Chapter 4: Half-Stud Offsets
Chapter 5: Sideways Building (SNOT)
Chapter 6: Angled Walls
Chapter 7: Round Shapes

Part III: Computer-Assisted Building

Chapter 8: Mosaics
Chapter 9: Sculptures

Next Steps
Image Credits
Index

Photos

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About

Forget step-by-step instructions — you’re ready to design your own LEGO creations! The LEGO Builder’s Handbook is the only guide you need for building totally out-of-this-world, wholly original models.

What’s the right scale to use for your LEGO model? How does SNOT, also known as sideways building, work? What’s the trick to achieving smoother tapers? How do you design a LEGO sculpture? Find the answers to these questions and more in The LEGO Builder’s Handbook. Unlock the secrets to advanced building techniques and take your creations to the next level.

In this comprehensive, modern introduction to LEGO building, you’ll learn how to:
  • Build models that won’t fall apart using masonry-inspired techniques
  • Choose the right pieces while mastering LEGO measurement units and the geometry of basic elements
  • Build using a variety of scales to create realistic replicas of real-world structures
  • Create LEGO mosaics, curved shapes, and 3D sculptures using software like BrickLink Studio, LEGO Art Remix, and LSculpt

Full-color and packed with detailed illustrations, this book will also show you how to:
  • Apply half-stud offsets using jumper plates to add subtle textures and realistic details to your models
  • Use SNOT (studs not on top) techniques to build sideways, creating shapes and details impossible with simple stacking
  • Build angled walls, cylinders, domes, and spheres using advanced techniques like brick bending, hinged polygons, and Lowell spheres

Unlock the secrets of the master builders with The LEGO Builder’s Handbook. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned builder, you’ll learn to push the boundaries of your creativity and build your own models, brick by brick.

Praise

"Covers an impressive range of building techniques that will be useful both for newcomers to the hobby who want to go beyond following instructions, and also for the more seasoned builder who wants to take their construction skills to the next level."
—Huw Millington, BrickSet.com

"This book is aimed at people ready to start planning their own LEGO®️ builds. The author is well-known in the community for his large LEGO towers, in both physical and digital forms. He imparts the lessons he has learned in developing these models, from basic brick stacking through SNOT (Studs Not On Top) and offset techniques, through to more advanced methods to help you take your builds off-the-grid, regardless of the scale you wish to work at. I reckon even experienced builders will have something to learn from this book."
—Richard Jones, RamblingBrick.com

Author

Deepak Shenoy has been an active member of the LEGO community since 2016, sharing his creations at conventions and on social media. His builds have been featured in BrickJournal, Blocks, and on websites like Brothers Brick and BrickNerd.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction

Part I: The Basics

Chapter 1: The LEGO System
Chapter 2: All About Scale
Chapter 3: Basic LEGO Techniques

Part II: Breaking Free from the Grid

Chapter 4: Half-Stud Offsets
Chapter 5: Sideways Building (SNOT)
Chapter 6: Angled Walls
Chapter 7: Round Shapes

Part III: Computer-Assisted Building

Chapter 8: Mosaics
Chapter 9: Sculptures

Next Steps
Image Credits
Index