Concept & R&D
INDEX:
- Life-Size Statue: Resting Flamingo with 2x4 Bricks(2026)
- Motorized Dolphin with the Logo (2026)
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Life-Size Statue: Resting Flamingo with 2x4 Bricks (2026)
Model Data:
Parts Used: 3,000 piecesDimensions: 30 x 15 x 20 in
Production Hours: 16 hours
In 2026, our club HILUG participated as one of 14 local user groups worldwide in the official International Day of Play event. The LEGO Group provided 5,000 pink 2x4 bricks for the event. The model was later built by me using these bricks.
Challenges:
I had long wanted to create a large statue of a living creature, but this time the main challenge was that the primary element was the 2x4 brick. In general, large statues are typically built using 1xN bricks to achieve smooth curved surfaces, so fine detailing usually has to be sacrificed. In addition, there are structural strength issues, so I first decided to recreate the figure in a seated, resting pose.
As a new attempt, I also introduced experimental software that simulates converting 3D sculptures into brick-based models. However, the software only performs simulations using 1xN bricks, so it serves merely as a reference for approximate surface treatment. Of course, it does not generate step-by-step building instructions, so I had to figure out on my own how to construct it so that it could function as a freestanding statue.
Field Testing and Public Response:
At HILUG, the group I belong to, we exhibit every year during the summer holidays in cooperation with events at the Honolulu Zoo. Seeing this as a great opportunity, I brought the life-sized flamingo built from LEGO bricks to this state’s representative zoo. The pink color stands out beautifully against the natural scenery.
Perhaps it attracted the attention of small children visiting the HILUG booth—they sat on the flamingo’s back and patted its head. At times, they accidentally stepped on its tail or put too much weight on it, causing its neck to detach. From the perspective of the target audience—young children—I realized that I should have reinforced it with adhesive or similar methods in advance. Doing so would make it a more kid-friendly installation.
I was invited by the zoo staff to take photos next week inside the actual flamingo enclosure alongside real flamingos. Setting aside technical challenges such as the limitations of 2x4 bricks and lack of fine detail, the fact that I received such an invitation suggests that the flamingo had some kind of positive impact. It is truly an honor.
Future Plans:
In general, when creating large statues like this, safety considerations require methods such as gluing the bricks or embedding internal metal frames to ensure structural stability. These are also measures used in official facilities such as LEGOLAND.
Gluing can be done immediately, but if I want to recreate the flamingo in a standing pose, installing a metal frame inside the legs will be essential. This will be a future challenge, but for now I plan to start by repurposing a relatively inexpensive single-leg stand table as an initial experiment.
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Motorized Dolphin with the Logo (2026)
Model Data:
Parts Used: N/A
Dimensions: 13 x 10 x 6 in
Production Hours: N/AConcepts:
This model has several concepts.One is to incorporate the mechanical mechanisms of LEGO Technic, creating a playful work full of movement, and to achieve automation using motors and gears.
The other is an attempt to recreate the logo of my club, HILUG, as a piece of street 3D art. Sidewalks are installed in accordance with the standards of the LEGO Modular Buildings series, and to ensure it is welcoming to the various people in Hawaii who join the club or attend its events, I have included not only standard minifigures but also LEGO Friends mini-dolls in the layout.
Challenges:
There were several challenges in implementing the motorization. Incorporating remote control via a smartphone would have made it possible to adjust the speed, which seemed convenient, but it would also require a variety of components. For that reason, I kept the electrical system as simple as possible, consisting only of a battery and a motor, and instead reduced the speed by adjusting the gear ratio. In practice, I couldn’t find suitable gears on hand, so in this model I achieved the result by combining them with pulleys.
Results and Future Challenges:
The gear ratio and the use of large and small pulleys made it possible to reduce the operating speed to an acceptable range. When operated by hand, it ran much more slowly; however, achieving that level of slow movement will be a future challenge once larger gear components become available.