Steampunk is a particularly interesting style, because it allows LEGO fans to mix retro and futuristic designs, featuring steam-powered machines, interesting color combinations, and minifigs dressed in neo-Victorian attire. Even official LEGO sets often include steampunk-inspired models. A good number of The LEGO Movie sets got a very steampunk-ish vibe, especially the #70807 LEGO MetalBeard’s Duel and the #70810 LEGO MetalBeard’s Sea Cow. The LEGO Ninjago Skybound sets, the newly released LEGO Nexo Knights theme, and the LEGO Monster Fighters series also carry a strong steampunk undertone. Plus the now retired LEGO Master Builder Academy had an entire kit dedicated to steampunk. 🙂
While many LEGO fans build models in steampunk style, or are inspired by elements of steampunk, LEGO fan Moko built a whole collection of steampunk models that I wanted to show you today. I consider these creations “pure” steampunk, because they are not just borrowing some features from the style, but are consistent in all aspects, down to the color choices and the minifigure outfits. The collection consists of a stunningly beautiful steampunk train, an equally great looking mech, a gorgeous classic car, and a sweet motorcycle.
At first look this LEGO steampunk train looks somewhat similar to the #10194 LEGO Emerald Night because of the colors, it is far more detailed. Check out the piping, gears and other details around the boiler! There are also pictures of the engine cab, and the interior of the train car that you can find at Moko‘s flickr gallery.
The LEGO steampunk mech is another great model, with carefully chosen pieces in just the right colors and lots of greebling. And of course the mech is steam operated. I’m only showing you it here from the front, but the back is equally detailed (see Moko‘s flickr gallery for more pictures). Also notice the awesome mech operator wearing a gladiator helmet!
The classic style LEGO steampunk car also takes advantage of some rare and unusual pieces. And notice the female minifigure with robo-legs… totally steampunk!
The LEGO steampunk motorcycle is the smallest model in the collection, but it still comes with great details. It has a sidecar, gears, piping, and lots of gold accents to create that steampunk-ish look.
And here is a picture of all the characters who operate these awesome machines. They all seem to have at least some artificial body parts, enhanced with steampunk technology. And they all sport neo-Victorian outfits, and some very dangerous looking weaponry.
If you have never built any steampunk creations, but would like to, see this Wikipedia page about the style to get you started. For the main colors you would want to choose browns, grays and gold or copper, and for accent colors dark-blue, dark-green, dark-red, and dark-orange work well. Remember that all steampunk vehicles are supposed to be powered by steam, so check out pictures of steam-powered machinery. They always have interesting gears, gauges, and piping. For minifigs use top hats, mechanically enhanced body parts, goggles, and timepieces. You can find plenty of pictures of steampunk-inspired fashion online, and there are good choices for minifig parts in official LEGO sets to make them. If you don’t have enough LEGO elements to fit the style, you can get an official LEGO set that already has a lot of steampunk-ish details and colors, then start modifying and building from there. The current LEGO Ninjago sets are a good option. You can find them under the LEGO Ninjago section of the Online LEGO Shop.
So what do you think? How do you like these LEGO steampunk creations? Did you ever build anything in steampunk style? Are there any other LEGO steampunk creations that you really like? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below! 😉
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Fantastic! Not only do they capture the look of steampunk but the colors are perfect. Why the mech even has steam! Brilliant to chain the bubbles together that way!!!
LOVE the female characters. The robot legs enable the use of those petticoats that are FAR more effective and feminine than the awkward Lego-style sloped long skirts.
Well done all the way around!
Yeah, I have been saying it for a long time that LEGO really needs to update those dreadful slope skirts. I also really like the petticoats used here. A really clever idea. 😀
How are the petticoats constructed? Some sort of cogwheel placed horizontally? Nice use of Friends hairpieces as well…
I saw some steampunk Moc at Lekia in Solna (close to Stockholm) some month ago, which looked pretty nice… I guess there should be photographs online somewhere, although I’m not really sure of where…
For steampunk fans, I can recommend the French animated film “April and the Extraordinary World” / “Avril et le Monde truqué”. (Based on the work of Jacques Tardi, although his works seem to be Jules Verne and pulp pastiches rather than steampunk.) I think France probably has the most interesting animation scene in Europe.
French animators are definitely fantastic. So many unique ideas and great execution. Their LEGO animations are also some of the best. Steampunk is such an interesting theme and definitely worth exploring. I’m going to experiment with that petticoat design to see how it was made, but the white piece is from the CMF ballerina. 😀
Looks to me like there’s a matching 1×2 plate under the torso, then the ballerina tutu from S15 with 2 stacks of two 1x1s as legs.
Ah, that’s where it’s from…
I just realized I picked up those ballerina legs second hand on a thrift store today… You could construct your own minifig for 10 Swedish kronor, and these legs were more interesting than the plain ones… I thought they looked spacey and astronauty…
(It’s cool that the thrift stores would receive Lego only a few months old…)
Currently 10 Swedish Kronor equals 1.17 US$ …
That’s a really good price for a minifigure! 😀
Well, it’s like Oxfam / Salvation Army, so it’s a mixed bunch and they get their stock for free, but I’m not complaining for a custom… (There are some more fancy minifigs locked up in a cabinet, I might take a closer look at them during the week, but the prices are a bit unclear… At least 20 Swedish Kronor, maybe more, but some are cool…)
Doesn’t seem to be a 1×2 plate, but a rotated 87580 – modified 2×2 plate with jumper stud…
http://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=87580#T=P
On further thought, 1st a rotated 87580, then a jumper stud, then the tutu, then two stacked round 1x1s…
It appears that the construction makes the female minifigs slightly taller, although it’s hard to gauge with the different headgear…
Female minifigs are always slightly taller in the world of LEGO – unless they are wearing pants. 🙄
This is so AWSOME I love Lego steem punk its very fun to build. And its fun to see how many tiny little details you can put in them 😀
Also does any one know when pictures of the Lego power puff girls dimensions packs will come out I’m interested as to what they will look like.
I haven’t seen any pictures yet, nor have I heard when they will be available. But will keep an eye on them for you. 🙂
I guess they’ll have the child legs… Wonder if they might have custom heads like Stitch and Sonic…
Three main characters should mean several packs, I guess…
wow these builds are stunning! soooo cool
I just made the picture of that mech my backgroud of my kindle it looks so awesome 😀
Oh! LOL! Great idea! 😀
I love the train! And all of it!
I made my own steampunk rocket.