After seeing one of these cool sculptures on reddit, I just had to build my own. They are so cool!
This is built using a structural principal called tensional integrity (tensegrity for short), where all the chains are under tension due to the distribution of mass in the system.
There are many ways one of these can be built. With a three chain setup like this one, the key is that for the upper part there must be more mass on the side facing away from the two long chains.
In this model, that is just barely the case, so it will collapse pretty easily if it is disturbed. It can be made more stable by adding more bricks to the ‘long’ side. For example, in the video it becomes more stable once Emmet is seated on top.
Building instructions for this can be found below, or you can watch the build tutorial video. You can also purchase all of the pieces for this model in a kit from BuildaMOC.
Build Notes
One thing to note, LEGO has produced 2 lengths of long chains over the years – 16 studs long and 17 studs long. Unfortunately, Bricklink does not distinguish between the two. I’m using 16 stud long ones, but it’s easy to adjust for the longer version. You can just rotate the ends of the longer chains to effectively shorten them, or extend the height of the base by a couple of plates.
Good morning. Could you please explain where in the Instructions I should add more parts to make the sculpture more stable AND which parts I should order for this amendment to the kit? Thank you.
You can add more pieces to the top part, underneath where I seat Emmet in the video. For example you could replace the 1×2 bricks with 2×2 bricks on page 5, step 5 in the instructions.
Jason, I ordered this kit from MOCHUB over a year ago and waited patiently while the World went through various phases of COVID lockdown. The kit (with all the correct pieces) finally arrived here in New Zealand and it was well worth the wait! It sits in an obvious position in my lounge and has garnered many disbelieving comments. And it comes as something of a shock when visitors realise that it’s not glued together (generally after it’s collapsed after they’ve prodded it with a finger).
I also have your motorised ‘Sysyphus’ and ‘Galloping Horse’, both of which I’ve yet to build.
I am not a collector of Lego per se – I actually collect minifigures – so I find the ability to buy your kits of immense value. I follow your efforts on a regular basis and never cease to be amazed by your creativity. Your GBC Robot Dreams is simply brilliant and if you (or LEGO) ever decide to release it commercially I will certainly buy one.
Please keep up your excellent work.
Thanks for the kind words. Sorry it took so long for the model to arrive, but I’m so glad you (and your guests) like it. All the best!
I ordered a couple of these from BuildaMOC for Christmas, and just got them today. They’ve replaced five of the 1x2s with one 1X2 column that’s five bricks tall, just one piece. Due to the tensions on where it is (part of the hanging piece) it starts working loose from the upper end immediately. And since it weighs less (much less internal structure) the whole sculpture is a bit less stable. I don’t want to glue it together so I may just order from somewhere, maybe I’ll get the parts to make another one entirely at the same time.
After some thought and a little experimentation, I think I was too harsh on that initial comment. When I use that five-brick-high piece, I can use a small piece of tape to hold it together without problems. When I don’t use that five-brick-high piece, I can find other bricks of the same height to make interesting shapes — currently I’ve got 12 of the plates that are used as minifig bases in there, plus a 1×2 slope piece. It’s a little heavy, though but balance is an interesting part of the challenge.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I didn’t know they replaced those pieces, so that’s good to know. Cheers.
Nice, I’ve been trying to find out the length of the chains from another video which just showed the completed set. And big thank you for the parts list, I’ll order the part from my store.
Just completed another version of such a structure, it is really cool to have it standing
Just be aware that there are 2 lengths of long chains – 16 studs and 17 studs. Unfortunately Bricklink does not distinguish between them. I’m using 16 stud long ones, but it’s easy to adjust for the longer version. You can just rotate the ends of the longer chain to effectively shorten it, or extend the height of the base by a couple of plates.
man i want to build this… someone needs to sell a completed kit!!!
where do you get all of these ideas
This is a well built structure. I’ve seen one like this before.
This is amazing. Thanks for all of the cool things you build! I love what you do so much.
Just a comment for others: the long Lego chain has two different lengths: 16L and 17L.
Ensure you use the same length! 16L works better, with 17L you will have to tension it a little.
Great stuff, JK!
If you sold this as a kit at a premium I would buy several. Thanks for an entertaining morning.
My 13 yr old son posted two of these that he designed and built, on a Facebook Lego Community page over 3 weeks ago. Up until then, no one had done this. (Searching on google and YouTube for “lego tensegrity” returned zero hits at the time) He got several hundred ‘likes’, and now in the last week, they are springing up on YouTube.
He feels proud that he’s started something!
Please thank him from us, Paul! My son and I had fun with this. It’s mesmerizing.
Thank you Rob. He’s only 13 and feels slightly aggrieved that he has got no credit for his efforts.
There is literally nothing online built from Lego similar to this before he posted his efforts on 5th April!
Give us your son’s post whereabouts. I’ll check it out.
knap van uw zoon dat hij dit ontworpen heeft, heb het met plezier gebouwd en vele verbaasd laten kijken.
Excellent ! Could not believe it at first glance but I will definitely investigate that tensegrity concept, thanks a lot.
Hi, Jason. I am 9 years old and really enjoy seeing what you build. I love the pop-up book set. I just finished building the nativity scene. Could you build something smash brothers related?
Adriel
Thank you so much for your designs especially during the pandemic shut-in. Love em-all. Please tell me that you and Kristal have answered the casting call for Lego Masters season 2.
Only now realized it’s made without any magnets 😀 😀 Gosh, it’s really magic 🙂 Will try it 🙂
can you buy this set?
There is no kit for this at the moment. You will have to order all the pieces yourself. The link to the Rerbrickable page can help you find part resellers to order the parts from.
Thank you, so so much
Thank you
Like the idea of using real LEGO chain.
Hi,Jason!I am thirteen years old from China.Hope you are well.I like this set!I think it’s amazing.I love the pop-up book a lot.I will try it tomorrow And l want to ask you a question.what is its principle？
It’s just basic physics. The upper part is fully supported by the small chain, and it wants to fall forward, away from the long chains, but the long chains prevent it. It just doesn’t look like it based on the geometry of the model. I’m glad you like the Pop-Up book!
Thank you very much!
Thank you and guess what I will be doing tomorrow.