Top 10 bricks missing from the Lego Architecture Studio

Tom Alphin is the author of the bestselling new book: The LEGO Architect. Explore 7 common architectural styles with photos of amazing LEGO creations, a brief history of each style, and follow clear instructions to build your own models using common LEGO bricks!

Learn more at brickarchitect.com or buy it now at Amazon.com.

While the Lego Architecture Studio includes a great selection of bricks for creative architectural sketching, I found the selection of bricks is lacking in two main areas: bricks needed for advanced building techniques, and specialty bricks for accents and detail work. Over the course of my Lego Architecture Studio 30-day challenge, I’ve identified the top 10 bricks that were not included in the set but should have been.

I used specialty bricks which were not included in the Architecture Studio set for many of my challenges.

Later in this article, I’ll teach you how to buy these bricks to augment your Architecture Studio.

The top 10 missing bricks…

#10 – 1×1 Technic Brick

The Technic 1×1 and 1×2 bricks are very versatile for two reasons. 1) They allow you to attach a normal stud at a 90 degree angle allowing SNOT construction. 2) They have a hollow stud on top which allows you to attach bricks on top with a 1/2 brick offset.

	#6541 – Technic, Brick 1 x 1 with Hole
	#3700 – Technic, Brick 1 x 2 with Hole

I used a couple of 1×1 bricks to attach the sign to the top of my #17 Art Deco Theatre model.

#9 – Cones

The set includes a nice selection of 1×1 and 2×2 round bricks. I don’t know why they didn’t include some cones to add some nice accents to your models.

	#4589b – Cone 1 x 1 with Top Groove
	#3942c – Cone 2 x 2 x 2 – Completely Open Stud

I used the 1×1’s for light fixtures on #22 Craftsman home and #20 Castle, and I used the 2×2’s for the lamp in #8 Furniture.

#8 – Flags

Flags make excellent accents to buildings, and they can also be used to represent tapestries or hanging art in your models.

#2335 – Flag 2×2 Square

I used them for wall coverings inside rooms in #28 Living Room and I should have used them to decorate #20 Castle.

#7 – Bars / Antennas

Sometimes you need a slender component when building a detailed or microscale model. I prefer the versatility of the bars which can be inserted into a jumper to use it vertically, or held horizontally with clips.

	#3957 – antenna 1×4
	#87994 – Bar 3 L
	#30374 – Bar 4L

I used these in several models including projects #30 Library, #26 Ski Lodge, #22 craftsman, #11 skyscraper and #8 furniture.

#6 – 2×2 Jumper

Any brick which can allow me an 1/2 brick offset is an immediate winner. The 2×2 jumper allows offset in both directions, replacing the use of three normal 1×2 jumpers. (I also tripled the number of 1×2 jumpers in my collection, as they are extremely useful!)

	#87580 – Plate, Modified 2 x 2 with 1 Stud in Center (Jumper)
	#3794 – Plate, Modified 1 x 2 with 1 Stud (Jumper)

I used these in most of my projects, notably for light posts in #22 craftsman and to attach the castle to the baseplate in #20 Castle.

#5 – 87087 – 1 x 1 with Stud on 1 Side

The Architecture Studio includes a good number of this brick’s cousins with studs on more sides (4733 or 47905), but I find the simplest version with an outward facing stud on just one side to be the most versatile, because the second stud on the version with studs on 2 sides can get in the way when you don’t need it.

	#87087 – Brick, Modified 1 x 1 with Stud on 1 Side
	#4070 – Brick, Modified 1 x 1 with Headlight

The Architecture Studio set includes plenty of the more common 4070 Headlight brick (also known as the Erling brick), but I find the 1/5 brick indentation to be unattractive and inconvenient.

I just got these, so I haven’t been able to use them yet!

#4 – Clips 4085 / 6019 / 2555

Clips are necessary to attach slender round components, Minifigure accessories, and can grab the side of plates. (Minifigure hands have the same diameter opening as clips.)

	#4081b – Plate, Modified 1 x 1 with Clip
	#6019 – Plate, Modified 1 x 1 with Clip Horizontal
	#4085d – Plate, Modified 1 x 1 with Clip Vertical
	#2555 – Tile, Modified 1 x 1 with Clip

I used these to attach the ski racks in #26 Ski Lodge and to attach the wall-mounted lights in #30 Library. They can be a substitute for a hinge in some instances.

#3 – More Tiles!

Architectural models look a lot cleaner with a smooth surface. I’ve added well over 50 additional white tiles in a variety of sizes to my set, and I still wish that I had more (I especially like the 2×2 and 1×8 plates, and recently ordered a few 1×3 plates to help with odd-width models.)

	#63864 – Tile 1 x 3
	#4162 – Tile 1 x 8
	#3068b – Tile 2×2

Prominent use of tiles included the gate for #20 Castle, the sign and sidewalk in #17 Art Deco Theatre, and were critical for #5 Shed home.

#2 – Hinges

It boggles my mind that the set included so many bricks but absolutely no hinges whatsoever. Each type of hings offers the ability to bend your model in different directions. For example, the 2429/2430 hinge is great to build walls in unorthodox angles, and I have found the 60478/63868 hinge to be incredibly useful for building large peaked roofs using common plates, and the 44301/44302 locking hinges are nice as they click into specific angles for more strength.

	#3937 – Hinge Brick 1 x 2 Base
	#3938 – Hinge Brick 1 x 2 Top Plate Thin
	#44301 – Hinge Plate 1 x 2 Locking with 1 Finger On End
	#30383 – Hinge Plate 1 x 2 Locking with 1 Finger On Top
	#44302 – Hinge Plate 1 x 2 Locking with 2 Fingers On End
	#2429 – Hinge Plate 1 x 4 Swivel Base
	#2430 – Hinge Plate 1 x 4 Swivel Top
	#63868 – Plate, Modified 1 x 2 with Clip Horizontal on End
	#92280 – Plate, Modified 1 x 2 with Clip on Top
	#60478 – Plate, Modified 1 x 2 with Handle on End
	#3680c02 – Turntable 2 x 2 Plate

Examples of their use include the roofs in #27 Rustic Cabin, #22 Craftsman, #5 Shed home or in the front-facing SNOT facade for #17 Art Deco Theatre.

#1 – Baseplates

Suffice it to say, the set should have at least included a white 16×32 or 32×32 baseplate. I really like using a colored baseplate with these stark white bricks, so you might also want a green or blue baseplate.

	#3867 – Baseplate 16 x 16
	#3857 – Baseplate 16 x 32
	#3811 – Baseplate 32 x 32

Almost all of my projects used at least one baseplate!

Where can I buy specific Lego bricks?

There a couple of ways to buy these crucial “missing bricks” to make your architecture studio more versatile. Before you go any further, I encourage you to make a list of all the parts you would like to acquire and the # of each brick you would like to buy. This will help you decide where to shop.

• Bricklink is an online marketplace with 1000’s of individual sellers offering Lego bricks for purchase. Think of it as an online hardware store, but instead of selling complete Lego sets, most sellers are selling individual bricks. It is probably your best option if you need to buy a lot of specialty bricks. Unfortunately, no single seller will have everything you need, so you will need to make multiple purchases to get what you want. (Note: Based on my limited experience, you can save by buying used bricks, but confirm their condition before making payment. Also, pay attention to the per-brick cost! Some stores will sell one brick you really need for a great price, then charge too much for other bricks that you need. Take your time and shop around. (Brickowl is the same idea, but has less selection.)
• Pick-a-brick wall at your nearest Lego Retail Store. Lego stores let you fill a plastic tub with bricks for 17.99$ . This can be a great value, *if* they happen to have exactly the brick you need in exactly the color you want. I haven’t been lucky enough to have my needs match what is on the wall, so I have not done this yet. (wallofbricks.com tries to maintain a current inventory of Pick a brick walls around the world.)
• Lego’s online pick a brick website has many bricks to choose from, and you are guaranteed that they are brand new. Unfortunately, the selection is much more limited than bricklink, and the prices can be inflated.

How should I sort all these bricks?

I’ve already posted an article describing my portable Lego Architecture studio, so I’m not going to do that again. I did want to mention that I’ve added 4 small Plano boxes with adjustable dividers to organize my small specialty bricks. Each box has a focus: hinges, SNOT connections, Slopes and Trans-clear bricks.

Most of my specialty bricks are now sorted into these boxes.

The following links might inspire you to organize your collection:

• http://news.lugnet.com/storage/?n=707
• http://www.wikihow.com/Sort-and-Store-LEGO-Toys

APPENDIX: My Wishlist

While I’ve already called out the top 10 bricks which are “missing” from the Architecture Studio set, there are many more bricks which may make a valuable addition to your collection. I’ve decided to include the longer list below as it might help you acquire additional bricks which will enhance your creative opportunities.

Color	Category	Part ID		Description	# Wanted	# Owned/td>
Trans-Clear	Bricks	3005		Brick 1 x 1	32
Trans-Clear	Bricks	3004		Brick 1 x 2	16
Trans-Clear	Panel	4865		Panel 1 x 2 x 1	16	8
Trans-Clear	Slope	54200		Slope 30 1 x 1 x 2/3	32	23
White	Accents	6046		Bar 9 x 13 Grille	4
White	Accents	2921		Brick, Modified 1 x 1 with Handle	16
White	Accents	30236		Brick, Modified 1 x 2 with Handle	0	16
White	Accents	3900		Minifig, Utensil Signal Paddle	8	3
White	Accents	6190		Phone	8
White	Accents	49668		Plate, Modified 1 x 1 with Tooth	16	16
White	Accents	4623		Plate, Modified 1 x 2 with Arm Up…	12	12
White	Accents	32028		Plate, Modified 1 x 2 with Door Rail	16
White	Accents	2540		Plate, Modified 1 x 2 with Handle…	16	20
White	Accents	33291		Plate, Round 1 x 1 with Flower Edge	16
White	Accents	2654		Plate, Round 2 x 2 with Rounded Bottom (Boat Stud)	8	1
White	Accents	4599		Tap 1 x 1	12	8
White	Accents	2432		Tile, Modified 1 x 2 with Handle	12	4
White	Arches	4490		Brick, Arch 1 x 3	6
White	Arches	6005		Brick, Arch 1 x 3 x 2 Curved Top	16
White	Arches	2339		Brick, Arch 1 x 5 x 4 – Continuous Bow	8
White	Arches	30099		Brick, Arch 1 x 5 x 4 Inverted	8
White	Arches	6060		Brick, Arch 1 x 6 x 3 1/3 Curved Top	12
White	Arches	6191		Brick, Modified 1 x 4 x 1 1/3 No Studs, Curved Top	12
White	Bars	4095		6.6 Umbrella	0
White	Bars	3957		antenna 1×4	8	12
White	Bars	87994		Bar 3 L	16
White	Bars	30374		Bar 4L	16	12
White	Bars	2335		Flag 2×2 Square	8	8
White	Baseplates	3867		Baseplate 16 x 16	1	4
White	Baseplates	3857		Baseplate 16 x 32	2
White	Baseplates	3811		Baseplate 32 x 32	1	2
White	Brackets	99781		Bracket 1 x 2 – 1 x 2	12
White	Brackets	44728		Bracket 1 x 2 – 2 x 2	8	8
White	Brackets	87087		Brick, Modified 1 x 1 with Stud on 1 Side	12
White	Brackets	3794		Plate, Modified 1 x 2 with 1 Stud (Jumper)	32	26
White	Brackets	87580		Plate, Modified 2 x 2 with 1 Stud in Center (Jumper)	16
White	Bricks	3005		Brick 1 x 1	32
White	Bricks	6111		Brick 1 x 10	8	8
White	Bricks	6112		Brick 1 x 12	8
White	Bricks	2465		Brick 1 x 16	8
White	Bricks	3004		Brick 1 x 2	16
White	Bricks	3622		Brick 1 x 3	32
White	Bricks	3010		Brick 1 x 4	16
White	Clips	60476		Brick, Modified 1 x 1 with Clip Horizontal	12
White	Clips	30241		Brick, Modified 1 x 1 with Clip Vertical	12
White	Clips	30237		Brick, Modified 1 x 2 with Vertical Clip	12	12
White	Clips	4081b		Plate, Modified 1 x 1 with Clip	12	16
White	Clips	6019		Plate, Modified 1 x 1 with Clip Horizontal	16	16
White	Clips	4085d		Plate, Modified 1 x 1 with Clip Vertical	16	6
White	Clips	2555		Tile, Modified 1 x 1 with Clip	12	16
White	Curves	11477		Slope, Curved 2 x 1 No Studs	12
White	Fences	3633		Fence 1 x 4 x 1	16
White	Fences	3185		Fence 1 x 4 x 2	12
White	Grille	2877		Brick, Modified 1 x 2 with Grille (Grill)	16	6
White	Grille	92947		Brick, Round 2 x 2 with Grille	32
White	Hinges	3937		Hinge Brick 1 x 2 Base	12	12
White	Hinges	3938		Hinge Brick 1 x 2 Top Plate Thin	12	12
White	Hinges	3831		Hinge Brick 1 x 4 Swivel Base	16	12
White	Hinges	3830		Hinge Brick 1 x 4 Swivel Top	16	12
White	Hinges	44301		Hinge Plate 1 x 2 Locking with 1 Finger On End	12
White	Hinges	30383		Hinge Plate 1 x 2 Locking with 1 Finger On Top	12	8
White	Hinges	44302		Hinge Plate 1 x 2 Locking with 2 Fingers On End	12	12
White	Hinges	4276		Hinge Plate 1 x 2 with 2 Fingers	12
White	Hinges	4275		Hinge Plate 1 x 2 with 3 Fingers	12
White	Hinges	2429		Hinge Plate 1 x 4 Swivel Base	16	12
White	Hinges	2430		Hinge Plate 1 x 4 Swivel Top	16	12
White	Hinges	4531		Hinge Tile 1 x 2 1/2 with 2 Fingers on Top	12
White	Hinges	63868		Plate, Modified 1 x 2 with Clip Horizontal on End	12	8
White	Hinges	92280		Plate, Modified 1 x 2 with Clip on Top	8
White	Hinges	60478		Plate, Modified 1 x 2 with Handle on End	12	12
White	Hinges	3680c02		Turntable 2 x 2 Plate	12	8
White	Levers	4593		Lever Small	8
White	Levers	4592		Lever Small Base	8
White	Panels	4865		Panel 1 x 2 x 1	24	19
White	Pins	2458		Brick, Modified 1 x 2 with Pin	12	12
White	plate	3023		Palte 1 x 2	36
White	plate	3024		Plate 1 x 1	24
White	plate	3623		Plate 1 x 3	24
White	plate	3710		Plate 1 x 4	12
White	plate	3666		Plate 1 x 6	8
White	plate	3030		Plate 4 x 10	8
White	plate – wedge	2450		Wedge, Plate 3 x 3 Cut Corner	12	12
White	Round	3941		Brick, Round 2 x 2	12	12
White	Round	553b		Brick, Round 2 x 2 Dome Top…	8	4
White	Round	3063		Brick, Round Corner 2 x 2 Macaroni	12
White	Round	4589b		Cone 1 x 1 with Top Groove	8	12
White	Round	3942c		Cone 2 x 2 x 2 – Completely Open Stud	8	12
White	Round	4740		Dish 2 x 2 Inverted (Radar)	8	6
White	Slopes	54200		Slope 30 1 x 1 x 2/3	16	24
White	Slopes	85984		Slope 30 1 x 2 x 2/3	16
White	Slopes	3300		Slope 33 2 x 2 Double	16
White	Slopes	3048		Slope 45 2 x 1 Triple	8
White	Slopes	3048		Slope 45 2 x 1 Triple	8
White	Slopes	3046a		Slope 45 2 x 2 Double Concave	8
White	Slopes	3041		Slope 45 2 x 4 Double	16
White	Support	3940		Support 2 x 2 x 2 Stand	8	8
White	Technic	2444		Plate, Modified 2 x 2 with Pin Hole	12	12
White	Technic	6541		Technic, Brick 1 x 1 with Hole	12
White	Technic	3700		Technic, Brick 1 x 2 with Hole	12	8
White	Tile	3070b		Tile 1 x 1	16
White	Tile	63864		Tile 1 x 3	12
White	Tile	2431		Tile 1 x 4	8	16
White	Tile	6636		Tile 1 x 6	16	8
White	Tile	4162		Tile 1 x 8	8	12
White	Tile	3069b		Tile 1×2	16	16
White	Tile	3068b		Tile 2×2	16	16
White	Tile – Round	98138		Tile, Round 1 x 1	16
White	Tile – Round	4150		Tile, Round 2 x 2	12	4

Learn how to create amazing architecture using LEGO in my bestselling book, The LEGO Architect. Clear instructions show you how to build the 7 most important architectural styles using common LEGO bricks, and photos of amazing LEGO Architecture will inspire you.

The LEGO Architect is published in English, Français, & 日本語.