(Written by fikko3107)
If you’ve read my last article about collecting LEGO videos (see: Collecting LEGO Videos – A TFOL’s Confessions), you would probably already know about the extent of my devotion towards digital LEGO. This time, I bring you the next part of my guide to the fascinating world of digital LEGO media: LEGO Building Instructions. 🙂
You may be asking yourself this question: “Why am I even reading this? What’s so interesting about LEGO Building Instructions?” Ironically, I have been asking myself the same question recently. Since LEGO Building Instructions are readily available at the LEGO Customer Service page, there really is no point in archiving them on your PC. Of course, you may want to keep a few handy in the unfortunate event your physical building instruction disappears. But I think some people collects these instructions and take inspiration from them. But… I am not that kind of person…
Which brings us to why I’m writing this post: LEGO Combiner Models and Alternate Models. I find these instructions more interesting since it’s like a building idea, but with the steps on how to build them. So then, let’s start with the first half of this post…
➡ INSTRUCTION FOR LEGO COMBINER MODELS
First things first, let’s clarify what’s a LEGO Combiner Model. It’s a LEGO model that you could make by mixing two or more LEGO sets together. Usually they come from the same theme/subtheme, since it makes it easier to make Combiner Models. Take the LEGO Dino combiner model of the #5885 LEGO Dino Triceratops Trapper and the #5887 LEGO Dino Defense HQ for example (featured below). See what I mean? Same theme, new model…
Of course, occasionally a few Combiner Models popped up that are mixing different LEGO themes and/or subthemes. Like this Dragon Flyer Combiner Model for example; mixing elements from the #7726 LEGO City Coast Guard Truck and the #8634 LEGO Agents Turbo Racer Chase. The result actually ended up quite good.
Take this other one for example; mixing the #7957 LEGO Star Wars Dathomir Speeder and the #7956 LEGO Star Wars Ewok Attack, – both from 2011. The result ended up kind of awkward isn’t it? 😀
➡ INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALTERNATE LEGO MODELS
Alternate LEGO Models are instructions for models that use only one set. Let me just demonstrate. Below is my personal favorite, using pieces from #8942 LEGO Bionicle Jetrax T6. Pretty cool, no? You could take a not-so-massive-at-that-scale skyfighter and make it into a very cleverly scaled cycle. These Bionicle designers were quite bright.
Also check out this LEGO Star Wars model from the Build Together website. Build Together models may not be as good as the general Combiner and Alternate Models, since they are designed to be more family-friendly.
➡ INSTRUCTIONS FOR BUILD-FROM-COLLECTION MODELS
Besides Combiner/Alternate Models there is one more type: Build-From-Collection LEGO models (at least that’s what I call them). These are almost exclusively only found on the LEGO Club website. These encourage you to build not from any particular set, but from using whatever pieces you have. Because of this, we have some remarkable models, such as the at-that-time-symbolic LEGO Club Door, a cute dachshund, and last but not least, a mystery van… *cough* Scooby-doo *cough* 🙄
You can find these LEGO model instructions throughout the LEGO website. Of course, those from older themes are discontinued, so they could prove more elusive than the ones currently available. I was lucky to be able to get the LEGO Ben 10 combiners from Web Archive. I even had a LEGO moderator go through great lengths to get me that LEGO Dino Combiner Model seen above.
That’s all for now as far as collecting LEGO instructions. Despite it being quite ironic that I’ve never built any of these LEGO models, it’s still great fun hunting them down – since as previously stated; some are quite rare. Anyhow, what do you think? Have you made any of the LEGO Combiner or Alternate Models based on instructions available on LEGO’s website?
As I mentioned in my previous post, I’m a TFOL (Teen-Fan-of LEGO) and this is my second article here at theBrickBlogger. Feedback is welcome! In my next post I will tell you about collecting LEGO Wallpapers & Screensavers, so stay tuned! 😉
And you might also like to read the following related posts:
Interestingthat was a good post here is a TIE fighter! (-o-) 😀
i always wanted to build that yellow and red van…
yeah, me too! But I was actually wishing to be able to switch the red to blue and yellow to lime green…and maybe add some custom decals…
sounds awesome! 😉 😀
How do you tell which sets the models come from? Like the yellow and red van…
The description says, and I quote,”Build this model from the bricks in your collection” for the van, implying you should use bricks you own. But for the combiners, the description may say so. or like the hero factory ones, the set number is written on the PDF instructions. When you’ve got no clue, you just guess, judging on the pieces…that’s the case for the Dino combiner.
AAAAWWWWWW YEEEAAAHHHH!! 😀 😀
sorry but I have been waiting for the legoportal thing instruction for so long!
Thank you for posting!
Great article…I was aware of the building instructions for sets on the LEGO customer service page but was not aware of the extra ones you mentioned on the LEGO Club website. I’ll have to check them out!
very interesting
Keep up the good work. I remember I had to look really had to find Zivon instructions, as they were only available in LEGO brickmaster (don’t worry I do have it built, so I don’t need instructions.) Out of curiosity, do you consider fan made “official” models (like those in the Rahi and Dark Hunter guide books) as fitting this?
I terms of actual building, I the LEGO rock band bus (I don’t have all the colors correct, but other than that its done), as well as many of the BIONICLE ones. They used to include them in the LEGO club magazines, and I have mixed opinions about them stopping that. Although I like that they are more in depth than the magazine would provide, they are also easier to remove from the web, and I may not even hear of the model to begin with.
Well, I don’t. They’re really cool, but sadly LEGO never provide the instructions. Also, I don’t subscribe to the magazine, sadly, (Why, Indonesia, why?) so I didn’t know they stopped doing it. and because of this I don’t have many combiners/alternates from the magazine. Thankfully, I’ve sometimes managed to find a few scans from the magazine, such as Lucas Valor, Zivon, Magnalink, Manutri, Sand stalker and Toa Jovan, with varying degrees of quality. LEGO doesn’t officially provide them, But I still accept them. These are quite elusive though, so if anyone can scan them and give it to me or direct me to some, I’ll be thankful.
P.S: If anyone is looking for a certain instruction, I’ll check if I have it and I’ll try to send it somehow.
P.P.S: The Krahka combiner from the story “The darkness below” IS a combiner, but I don’t have it.
Update: I got the Bionicle Adventures: The Darkness below, and I take back what I said; It’s more like a series of inspirational pictures, much like the ones you find on the back of old LEGO sets.
Vera impressive article. You are a REAL TFOL
Hey, I was wondering how I could acquire the building directions for the dachshund puppy??
Thanks!
Bryant; Sorry I took so long replying. You could give me your email, and perhaps I could e-mail it to you, since it’s long removed from the LEGO Club site.
Hi there, very interesting post, but I have some more important questions – how to find those instructions? How to combine my sets and search for them? is there any service for it or just tagging in search engine ;D
Ramidalis, LEGO instructions are available on LEGO’s website: http://service.lego.com/en-us/buildinginstructions/
In addition, if you would like to see what other sets you could build from your current LEGO collection, you can use Rebrickable: http://rebrickable.com/
Can I get the instructions for the Dino command truck? My email is: legoalexb@hotmail.com
I have had a long absence from building Lego.
I recently bought a model to build. I was trying to find a club of like-minded people who build models with instructions. I came across this site.
Hello. Nice to meet you all.
Nice to meet ya too! So what are you building rigth now?
The mobile crane mk2.
I used to do this on my own all of the time, it’s cool to see someone else’s take on it. I’m going to have to try some of these alternates out.
Stuart, I’m glad you found it helpful. 🙂
Do you still have the Mystery Van instructions? I’d love to build it!
Do you still have the Lego Club Mystery Van instructions? I’d love to build it!