The Art and Science of Lego Building

Summary

In this article, we explore the world of Lego building with PJ Catalan, a master model builder at Legoland California Resort. PJ explains the basics of Lego building, the importance of preparation, and the endless possibilities of Lego building.

The Importance of Preparation
The Basics of Lego Building
Complicated Building Techniques
The Endless Possibilities of Lego Building
Working on a Brick-Built Lego Dinosaur

The Importance of Preparation

PJ Catalan explains that preparation is key to successful Lego building. Before starting a project, it is important to know the size and footprint of the model. Lego now makes 62 colors and over 17,000 elements, which are sorted by piece. PJ emphasizes that every brick used in their projects is from a set, and they receive an order list from LEGO every month with all the parts they need.

The Basics of Lego Building

PJ explains the basics of Lego building, such as the fact that three plates equal one brick and four plates and a tile are the exact math of two studs. These basic building techniques are essential to create a strong and sturdy model.

Complicated Building Techniques

PJ also discusses more complicated building techniques, such as snotted and studs out and studs up signs. These techniques allow for more intricate and detailed models to be built.

The Endless Possibilities of Lego Building

Lego has endless possibilities, limited only by the colors of the pieces, as cutting or painting Lego is not allowed. PJ explains that Lego is diverse and can be used for mathematical purposes as well as artistic ones.

Working on a Brick-Built Lego Dinosaur

PJ enjoys the variety of their job as a model builder, where they work on various projects with different approaches. They are currently working on a brick-built Lego dinosaur, which involves layering bricks and plates to create a strong and sturdy model. PJ explains that they use a system called Nort, Sout, Eas, Wes, where they alternate the direction of the layers to make the model stronger. They also modify the design as they go to ensure the model is built in the quickest, strongest, and best way possible.

Conclusion

Lego building is a fascinating world of art and science, where preparation, basic building techniques, and complicated building techniques all play a vital role in creating a successful model. The endless possibilities of Lego building make it a unique and exciting form of art.