Appendix A. Brickopedia

The LEGO system is made up of thousands of elements. Some are different sizes of the same type of piece (like 2×3 and 2×4 bricks), while others are exactly the same size with different decorations or patterns printed on them.

I’d need an entire book in order to catalog every piece in the system. Instead, this Brickopedia contains a selection of more than 275 elements, from basic bricks, slopes, and plates, to specialized elements, arches, and even decorative elements. The pieces included represent the most common and most reusable elements in the LEGO system, and they are the most likely to be found in your own LEGO collection. In the case of bricks, plates, slopes, and arches, I’ve included nearly every basic element that falls into those categories. In some of the other categories (such as specialized elements and decorative pieces), I’ve included a narrower selection of pieces, focusing on those that offer the most creative possibilities and interaction with other basic parts.

As you’ll see, I’ve categorized the Brickopedia from the perspective of building with LEGO pieces. As a result, I suggest that you do not use it to plan purchases of LEGO pieces because its categories and terminology may not match the ones used by stores or websites. Some of the categories and descriptions are unique to this text. I hope that you’ll find the Brickopedia useful in your attempts to categorize, organize, and, of course, build with the LEGO system of parts.

How the Brickopedia Works

The Brickopedia contains a separate entry for each element. Each entry contains several pieces of information, as shown in Figure A-1.

Figure A-1. A sample Brickopedia entry

This information notes why you might have certain pieces in your collection, suggests how to use them, or in some cases, just offers an interesting anecdote about the part.

The category and subcategory names convey the nature of the pieces. Whenever possible, I’ve cataloged similar parts together, like standard and inverted slopes of the same size, to show their relationship. I’ve also divided the LEGO elements into several broad categories. Each category contains subcategories that further refine the way pieces are classified (see Table A-1). Table A-2 through Table A-10 catalog each major category from basic bricks to decorative elements.

Table A-1. LEGO Element Categories and Subcategories

Category	Subcategory	Description
Bricks	Standard	Rectangular sides, same height as a 1×1 brick.
	Adapted	Irregular sides/shape or taller than a standard 1×1.
Plates	Standard	Square or rectangular shape, same height as a 1×1 plate.
	Adapted	Irregular sides/shape. “Quarter cut” or “diamond cut” describes pieces that can be combined to form a circle or a diamond shape.
	Bows	One edge has symmetrical angles cut away, whereas the opposite edge is straight or indented in the center.
	Wings	Available in left and right varieties, shaped like airplane wings.
Slopes	Standard	The angled face is usually on the top part of the element.
	Inverted	The angled face is usually on the underside of the element.
	Corners	Any slope that can be used to form a corner where two rows of the same type of slope meet at 90 degrees.
	Peaks	Two or more angled faces meet at the top of the element. When in place, there are no exposed studs.
	Compound	Two or more (flat or curved) angled faces.
	Curved	Angled faces that have a curve.
Specialized Elements	Junctions	Elements with studs on their sides or with a portion perpendicular to another part. These pieces allow you to join two or more pieces to make a bend in or change the shape of a model.
	Odd Faces	Elements with one or more irregularly shaped, contoured, or textured faces.
	Hinges and Turntables	Hinges are bricks or plates that meet at a flexible joint. Turntables allow attached elements to rotate. Both hinges and turntables can add movement to a model.
	Pin-Enabled	Bricks or plates with a Technic-style pin attached on the sides, top, or bottom, or elements capable of accepting a pin.
	Wheels/Tires	Pieces that add motion to vehicles.
Arches	Standard	A single piece that creates a complete arch.
	Half	A piece that forms only half of the complete arch. Studs are on top as with the standard variety.
	Half Inverted	A piece that forms only half of the complete arch. Tubes are on the bottom, and no studs are showing. The arch is on top of the element.
Tiles and Panels	Standard	Standard tiles are any flat elements that are the same height as a plate but have no exposed studs. Standard panels are thin elements that can create a division smaller than a full-width brick.
	Inverted	Inverted tiles have smooth undersides with no exposed tubes, but they do have studs on top, unlike standard tiles.
Cylinders and Cones	Standard	Standard cylinders are cylindrical elements that resemble a coffee can or a drum. Standard cones are elements shaped like upside-down ice cream cones.
	Adapted	An element that is only partially cylindrical or conical. Pairs or groups of this kind of element can be combined to form a complete cylinder or cone.
Baseplates	Standard	Baseplates that are one full brick in height and 8×16 studs or larger.
	Waffle	Any thin baseplate with a waffled underside that does not accept studs.
Decorative Elements	Fences, Rails, and Rungs	Latticework or ladder-like elements that can be used as fences, grilles, hand rails, and so on.
	Bars, Clips, and Handles	Bars are the diameter of a minifig hand; clips are bricks or plates that can hold them in place. Handle elements have a bar-sized portion attached to an otherwise standard piece.
	Foliage	Any element that looks like flowers, trees, shrubs, or other greenery.
	Ornamental	Any piece that is purely decorative but isn’t some type of foliage. A flag is perhaps the best example of this type of element.
	Doors/ Windows	Pieces that can be used as doors or windows.

Table A-2. The Bricks Category

Part	Specifications	Notes
	Description: 1×1	This part is the basis of the LEGO system. Measurements and categorization of other parts are based on its 1×1 size. It’s the third most common part. Just don’t step on it barefoot in the dark! [1958]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3005
	Description: 1×2	The most common part in the system; used in over 3,000 official sets. Just about everything that you build (mosaics, sculptures, minifig-scale buildings, and so on) will use some of these. [1958]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3004
	Description: 1×3	A bit odd because of its uneven number of studs, but don’t overlook 3-stud-long parts like this one. Not every model has an even number of studs. [1969]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3622
	Description: 1×4	Like its half-sized cousin, the 1×2, this part is common and often very useful. On the list of the most common parts, this one shows up at number seven. You probably have lots of these. [1967]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3010
	Description: 1×6	A short stretcher-style brick that’s less common than the 1×4. It’s extremely useful for creating large sections of walls for minifig-scale dwellings or for making the walls of macroscale models. [1958]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3009
	Description: 1×8	A longer stretcher-style brick that’s less common than the 1×4. Like the 1×6, it is very useful for quickly extending the walls of minifig buildings. [1958]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3008
	Description: 1×10	This piece is a relatively new addition to the standard 1×N bricks. It’s not as common as the 1×8. Longer walls become short work with a long brick like this. [1993]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 6111
	Description: 1×12	The second longest 1×N brick because (as of this writing] there are no 1×14 bricks. The 1×12 is rare in smaller sets. It provides a huge overlap for smaller bricks, resulting in a stronger model. [1993]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 6112
	Description: 1×16	This piece isn’t usually found in smaller sets, but if you can get some, you’ll probably find them useful as your projects grow more complicated. [1988]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 2465
	Description: 2×2	The “stubby” is another brick that is sometimes overlooked. Several 2×2s can be tied together with a few larger bricks. It’s the second most common part in the LEGO system. [1958]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3003
	Description: 2×3	As with the 1×3, this brick is really useful, especially when you need pieces of unequal length. Two of these equal a 2×6 (obvious, but easy to forget). [1958]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3002
	Description: 2×4	The common 2×4 is often the first LEGO brick people envision. Introduced in 1958, it’s a core building element. You can never own too many of these. [1958]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3001
	Description: 2×6	A midsized beam often found in assorted tubs and buckets. Despite its common length, it’s interesting to note its late arrival. You might have expected it to have been around from the beginning. [1990]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 2456
	Description: 2×8	This beam-like brick was first seen in the late 1950s when the stud and tube connection mechanism was first patented. [1958]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3007
	Description: 2×10	One of the original elements that helped define the modern LEGO system. Useful for bracing large models or for finishing a wall above windows or doors. [1958]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3006
	Description: 4×6	First seen in the mid-1990s but more common in sets released after 2000. One of only a handful of standard bricks that are four studs wide. [1995]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 2356
	Description: 4×10	Introduced the same year as the 4×6 brick. Usually found in assorted tubs and buckets. [1995]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 6212
	Description: 4×12	Seen occasionally during the early 1980s but not again until the mid-1990s. A relatively uncommon brick. [1981]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 4202
	Description: 4×18	A long and uncommon brick. Appeared in a few sets in the early 2000s but hasn’t been seen much since. [2000]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 30400
	Description: 2×2 elbow	A so-called elbow piece. Handy for shoring up the corner of a wall where columns of stacked pieces come together. Although it has the same shape as the 4×4 elbow, it wasn’t seen until the late 1980s. [1987]
	Subcategory: Adapted
	Part #: 2357
	Description: 4×4 elbow	This piece is included as a comparison to the newer, smaller 2×2 elbow. This version has not been seen in regular sets for over 40 years. [1958]
	Subcategory: Adapted
	Part #: 702
	Description: 3×3 diamond cut	I call this diamond cut because if you arrange four of these with their right angles at the center, they form a rough diamond shape. [2001]
	Subcategory: Adapted
	Part #: 30505
	Description: 3×3 zig zag	Depending on which way this piece faces, it can provide texture because of its indented side. The reverse side gives a realistic bevel to a square corner where two walls meet. [1988]
	Subcategory: Adapted
	Part #: 2462
	Description: 2×3 left beveled	It’s sometimes useful to look at two elements as a pair of similar pieces, especially when you’re talking about these two beveled elements. Introduced in the mid-1990s, they can be used on cars, planes, spaceships, and so on to help contour the body and make your models look more realistic. Also available in larger sizes as parts #41767 and #41768. [1994]
	Subcategory: Adapted
	Part #: 6565
	Description: 2×3 right beveled
	Subcategory: Adapted
	Part #: 6564
	Description: 2×4 left beveled	Although the 2×3 versions of these pieces were found in sets around 1994, the longer 2×4 versions shown here didn’t arrive until 2002. The longer and shorter types work well together to create subtle shapes and angles. [2002]
	Subcategory: Adapted
	Part #: 41768
	Description: 2×4 right beveled
	Subcategory: Adapted
	Part #: 41767

Table A-3. The Plates Category

Part	Specifications	Notes
	Description: 1×1	The LEGO Group once referred to plates as “slim bricks,” because they’re much shorter than regular bricks. The entire plate is not much bigger than the stud on top of it. It’s one of the smallest elements. [1963]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3024
	Description: 1×2	Ranked number five on the list of the most common parts, it’s also one of the most useful parts. [1963]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3023
	Description: 1×3	This piece is as useful as the 1×3 standard brick. Pieces with odd numbers of studs are relatively uncommon. [1977]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3623
	Description: 1×4	Number nine on the list of most common parts. You can never have enough small bricks or plates. This very common part was not one of the original elements released in 1958. [1975]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3710
	Description: 1×6	This may have arrived as early as 1969 but was seen in only one set. It became common around 1977. [1977]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3666
	Description: 1×8	Although available earlier than the 1×6, this piece was first seen in the early 1970s, over a decade after the launch of the modern system. I remember it being used as the blades of a helicopter set I had as a kid. [1972]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3460
	Description: 1×10	Among the standard plates, this is a less common piece. [1983]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 4477
	Description: 1×12	If it were any longer, a 1×N plate might be too flexible. This relatively new piece has appeared in a number of larger sets. [2008]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 60478
	Description: 2×2	The plate version of the 2×2 stubby brick. One of several plates to first appear in the early 1960s. [1963]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3022
	Description: 2×3	This piece rounds out the list of basic elements with an odd number of studs on one side. You’ll find it most useful as you build models that require pieces that aren’t an even number of studs long. [1963]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3021
	Description: 2×4	This plate version of the venerable 2×4 brick has appeared in over 2,500 different sets. [1963]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3020
	Description: 2×6	Like its 2×6 brick counterpart, this plate is used to bridge the gap between elements four studs long (and shorter) and eight studs long (and longer). It can end up in models of all kinds. [1969]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3795
	Description: 2×8	In the late 1950s and early 1960s, this plate was available in one of the early parts packs. [1958]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3034
	Description: 2×10	What about making a roof with a gentle slope by staggering plates? You can, and when you do, this piece will come in handy for covering lots of area at once. [1977]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3832
	Description: 2×12	Like #3832, this piece is great for building plate roofs, among other things. And like the 1×12 standard brick, it’s the second longest element in its category. (There is no 2×14 plate.) [1987]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 2445
	Description: 2×16	This piece is probably about as long as a piece can be. Anything longer than 2×16 might be too prone to bending and breaking. [1984]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 4282
	Description: 4×4	Although introduced in 1969, this part was not seen widely until 1973, when it began appearing often in official sets. [1969]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3031
	Description: 4×6	Introduced in 1970, this piece was featured in several sets. [1970]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3032
	Description: 4×8	The first year of the modern system featured only two large plates: This one and the 6×8. [1958]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3035
	Description: 4×10	Nice for building small minifig vehicles. Just attach wheels underneath and build a passenger cab on top. [1969]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3030
	Description: 4×12	Use this plate to build things like a long minifig vehicle or a short section of an aircraft wing. It also comes in handy for filling in sections of floors for buildings. [1967]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3029
	Description: 6×6	For many years, the 6×6 was the largest of the perfectly square plates. [1978]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3958
	Description: 6×8	One of the two large plates featured in sets released in the first full year of the modern system. [1958]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3036
	Description: 6×10	The late 1960s and early 1970s brought several welcome additions to the 6×N plate family. This part and the next four parts were released within five years of each other. [1971]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3033
	Description: 6×12	One of the 6×N plates released between 1967 and 1975. [1967]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3028
	Description: 6×14	Odd that neither a 1×14 brick nor a 2×14 plate exists and yet here is a 6×14 plate. The LEGO system is flexible enough to allow for these little oddities while maintaining its functional side. [1972]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3456
	Description: 6×16	Good for building train cars, fire trucks, or even a piece of a roof made from plates attached to hinges. [1967]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3027
	Description: 6×24	Transport trucks, train cars, and even airplane wings benefit from this long, wide plate. [1967]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3026
	Description: 8×8	The largest of the perfectly square plates. [2001]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 41539
	Description: 2×2 elbow	Can’t figure out how to tie together two 1×N walls at a corner, or how to connect two stacked sections? This piece may be just what you need. [1987]
	Subcategory: Adapted
	Part #: 2420
	Description: 4×4 elbow	Although this piece is only two studs longer on each side than the 2×2 elbow, it has nine more studs, which give it more surface area and allow it to connect larger sections that meet at a vertical seam. [1991]
	Subcategory: Adapted
	Part #: 2639
	Description: 2×3 hitch	Use this part as a trailer hitch or to connect Technic pins. Its curve matches a 2×2 cylinder or cylinder plate. [1967]
	Subcategory: Adapted
	Part #: 3176
	Description: 3×3 quarter cut	Useful for rounding corners of wings, fenders, or even walls. [1999]
	Subcategory: Adapted
	Part #: 30357
	Description: 4×4 quarter cut	The only one of the three quarter-cut plates that forms a circle when you place four of them with their flat sides together. [2001]
	Subcategory: Adapted
	Part #: 30565
	Description: 6×6 quarter cut	Use this piece to create shapely balconies for minifig apartments or other structures that need a large, rounded corner. [1992]
	Subcategory: Adapted
	Part #: 6003
	Description: 3×3 diamond cut	Four of these placed with their longest sides together form a rough diamond shape. [1988]
	Subcategory: Adapted
	Part #: 2450
	Description: 4×4 diamond cut	This diamond-cut piece can help to define the complex shapes of wings. [2001]
	Subcategory: Adapted
	Part #: 30503
	Description: 6×6 diamond cut	Unlike the other elements in this subcategory, this one has two studs at each of the smallest pointed ends, not one. [1995]
	Subcategory: Adapted
	Part #: 6106
	Description: 8×8 diamond cut	Big pieces can be beautiful. You might use this one to create the wings of a space shuttle. [2001]
	Subcategory: Adapted
	Part #: 30504
	Description: 2×4	Use this piece near the nose of an aircraft model or at the front of a boat. It is a “bow” plate after all. [2005]
	Subcategory: Bows
	Part #: 51739
	Description: 3×4	This part predates the 2×3 wing plates (#43722 and #43723], but it’s essentially the same shape as a pair of them combined. You might use it in the noses of airplanes, helicopters, and so on. [1985]
	Subcategory: Bows
	Part #: 4859
	Description: 4×4	As with #4859, this piece is roughly the same shape as a pair of similarly sized wing plates. Its 2×2 cutout leaves space for a minifig pilot’s seat or another substructure. [2003]
	Subcategory: Bows
	Part #: 43719
	Description: 3×6	This bow plate could be the stern of a small ship or winglets on a small landing craft launched from a larger spaceship. [1987]
	Subcategory: Bows
	Part #: 2419
	Description: 4×6	You might use this bow plate for a ship’s stern or a small deck area jutting out from its side. [1998]
	Subcategory: Bows
	Part #: 32059
	Description: 6×7	This bow plate really looks like the bow of a small boat. [1991]
	Subcategory: Bows
	Part #: 2625
	Description: 4×9	Is this a bow plate or a wing plate? Given that it has no left/right variants, I’ve classified it as bow, though it’s certainly an odd duck with its unusual shape and nine-stud length. [1987]
	Subcategory: Bows
	Part #: 2413
	Description: 2×3 left	I consider wing plates to be any plate elements whose sides are all different lengths. Too, wing plates must come in pairs that, when arranged with their two second-to-shortest sides together, form the shape of a pair of airplane wings. [2002]
	Subcategory: Wings
	Part #: 43723
	Description: 2×3 right
	Subcategory: Wings
	Part #: 43722
	Description: 2×4 left	When combined, these two pieces cover just slightly more area than the #43719 bow plate. The drawback to using them as a substitute is that they must be held together tightly by other elements. In contrast, #43719 can be used to hold other elements together. [2001]
	Subcategory: Wings
	Part #: 41770
	Description: 2×4 right
	Subcategory: Wings
	Part #: 41769
	Description: 4×4 left	I like these stubby little wings. Use them to create great wing shapes. [1979]
	Subcategory: Wings
	Part #: 3936
	Description: 4×4 right
	Subcategory: Wings
	Part #: 3935
	Description: 3×6 left	Another variation on the wing plate. [2006]
	Subcategory: Wings
	Part #: 54384
	Description: 3×6 right
	Subcategory: Wings
	Part #: 54383
	Description: 3×8 left	A pair of wing plates seen in several space- and movie-themed LEGO sets. [2005]
	Subcategory: Wings
	Part #: 50305
	Description: 3×8 right
	Subcategory: Wings
	Part #: 50304
	Description: 4×8 left	This pair of wing plates was found in some of the early classic Space sets. They each have the same basic size and shape near the notch as the 4×4s shown above, but they extend out twice as far. [1978]
	Subcategory: Wings
	Part #: 3933
	Description: 4×8 right
	Subcategory: Wings
	Part #: 3934
	Description: 3×12 left	These wing plates were introduced five years after the 6×12 wing plates. [2004]
	Subcategory: Wings
	Part #: 47397
	Description: 3×12 right
	Subcategory: Wings
	Part #: 47398
	Description: 6×12 left	Classic Space sets gave us the original wing plates (#3933 and #3934). Twenty years later, sets based on Star Wars gave rise to what are sure to become classic plates in their own right. The 6×12s shown here are long enough to be the only piece you need to form the entire wing for many minifig-scale ships. [1999]
	Subcategory: Wings
	Part #: 30355
	Description: 6×12 right
	Subcategory: Wings
	Part #: 30356

Table A-4. The Slopes Category

Part	Specifications	Notes
	Description: 4×1 18 degree	This low rise slope offers an alternative angle for roofs for your minifig buildings. [2008]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 60477
	Description: 4×2 18 degree	One of the newer elements in the slope family also has one of the lowest angles. It matches perfectly with the 4×1 version shown above. Imagine entire roofs made from these slightly angled slopes. [1999]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 30363
	Description: 4×4 18 degree	This multifaceted slope was used in just a handful of official sets in the mid-2000s. It’s rare, but matched with the other 18-degree slopes, it could be used to create a gorgeous pagoda-style roof. [2004]
	Subcategory: Outer Corners
	Part #: 43708
	Description: 1×1 31 degree	Lovingly known as the “cheese slope,” this is the only element in this category to cover only one stud. It’s useful for subtle shaping in sculptures, or for adding delicate details to the smallest minifig vehicles. This piece has been used in nearly 500 sets. [2004]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 54200
	Description: 1×2 31 degree	Want extra cheese on your model? How about a 1×2 slope that perfectly matches the angle of #54200? [2009]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 85984
	Description: 2×2 33 degree	The early 1970s saw a whole new series of sloped pieces raked at 33 degrees. This peak element typically caps off a sloped roof. [1971]
	Subcategory: Peaks
	Part #: 3300
	Description: 2×4 33 degree	The longer of the two 33-degree peaks. (Although the 33-degree slopes are available in odd-numbered widths of one and three studs, the peaks come only in even-numbered lengths.) [1971]
	Subcategory: Peaks
	Part #: 3299
	Description: 3×1 33 degree	It was only in the early 1980s that 33-degree roofs with odd lengths became possible. This element and #4161 greatly enhanced the classic 4-stud-wide roof brick (#3297), allowing you to finally build roofs of odd lengths. [1982]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 4286
	Description: 3×1 33 degree	Many standard slopes have matching inverted varieties. This slope is a near mirror image of #4286. [1982]
	Subcategory: Inverted
	Part #: 4287
	Description: 3×2 33 degree	Among the first of the 33-degree slopes released in the early 1970s, this slope is commonly referred to as a roof brick. [1971]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3298
	Description: 3×2 33 degree	The undersides of boats, pontoons, airplanes, and more all benefit from inverted slopes like this one. Although the 3×1 slope was released in both standard and inverted styles in the same year, the 3×2 standard had to wait eight years for its inverted match. [1979]
	Subcategory: Inverted
	Part #: 3747
	Description: 3×3 33 degree	Use this to build roofs at a 33-degree slant with odd numbers of studs. [1980]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 4161
	Description: 3×3 33 degree	One of the more graceful slopes. Low-angle, pagoda-style roofs just wouldn’t be complete without this piece. [1980]
	Subcategory: Outer Corners
	Part #: 3675
	Description: 3×4 33 degree	The classic roof brick. [1971]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3297
	Description: 2×1 45 degree	Use this slope to cap off fences, castle walls, or the backs of dinosaurs, or make it part of the peak of a standard 45-degree roof. [1976]
	Subcategory: Peaks
	Part #: 3044
	Description: 1×2 45 degree	A perfect companion to #3044 above. Use this to finish the end of a row of peak elements. [1965]
	Subcategory: End Peaks
	Part #: 3048
	Description: 1×2 45 degree	Use this when one peak meets another peak or a portion of sloped roof. The side facing front butts up against a piece like #3043 or against other 45-degree slopes. [1969]
	Subcategory: End Peaks
	Part #: 3049
	Description: 2×1 45 degree	Introduced three years after its inverted counterpart. Now a common element. [1979]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3040
	Description: 2×1 45 degree	Use this piece to create subtle inverted detail under the nose of a small airplane or the hip of a miniland figure, or use it to shape a small sculpture. [1976]
	Subcategory: Inverted
	Part #: 3665
	Description: 6×1 45 degree	Similar to the 2×2 version (#4871). The perfect start to a minifig-scale boat. [2005]
	Subcategory: Inverted
	Part #: 52501
	Description: 2×2 45 degree	Use this standard 45-degree peak with #3048 to create a contoured roof. [1965]
	Subcategory: Peaks
	Part #: 3043
	Description: 2×2 45 degree	One of the earliest slopes. Roofs in the late 1950s and early 1960s depended on staggered bricks to form their slope. [1965]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3039
	Description: 2×2 45 degree	The inverted match to #3039. Notice that part of the top is open and some of the studs are hollow, like tubes sticking out of a small open box. [1975]
	Subcategory: Inverted
	Part #: 3660
	Description: 4×2 45 degree	Imagine a few of these as the bottom of a minifig boat or the underbelly of a helicopter. [1985]
	Subcategory: Inverted
	Part #: 4871
	Description: 2×2 45 degree	This graceful slope could be considered a compound slope. It’s probably best described as an outer corner because that’s the portion of a roof it will most often become. [1965]
	Subcategory: Outer Corners
	Part #: 3045
	Description: 2×2 45 degree	When two sections of roof meet, join them with a piece like this. There is currently no similar element in any of the other angles. [1965]
	Subcategory: Inner Corners
	Part #: 3046
	Description: 2×2 45 degree	There are many uses for this piece, such as a turret near the top of a castle tower. [1984]
	Subcategory: Inverted Outer Corners
	Part #: 3676
	Description: 2×3 45 degree	You can never have too many elements with odd numbers of studs. [1965]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3038
	Description: 2×3 45 degree	An uncommon peak element that’s three studs long. [1965]
	Subcategory: Peaks
	Part #: 3042
	Description: 2×4 45 degree	When building a roof, you’ll need longer slopes like this one to cover the bulk of the surface. [1965]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3037
	Description: 2×8 45 degree	This piece comes in really handy when you need a longer slope to stretch across a gap in your roof or something to use as a dormer window. One of the longest slopes available. [1983]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 4445
	Description: 6×1×5 55 degree	It’s easy to imagine this elegant piece as the tail of a small plane. As of this writing, this is the only 55-degree slope available. [1999]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 30249
	Description: 2×1×2 65 degree	A perfect complement to the 2×2×2 version, you could use this as the tail of a microscale airplane, or as part of a castle wall. [2008]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 60481
	Description: 2×2×2 65 degree	Though originally released without a center tube inside, a newer version of this element released in 2003 did include this important feature. This piece is one of only two pieces raked at 65 degrees. [1978]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3678
	Description: 2×2×2 75 degree	Not necessarily a dunce cap for square-headed people; you’ll find this steeply peaked element useful for everything from castle towers to Santa hats. Although the other 75-degree slopes are three bricks high, this is only two. [1986]
	Subcategory: Peaks
	Part #: 3688
	Description: 2×1×3 75 degree	Another piece commonly found in castle walls, and the perfect angle for the rear end of a classic fire truck. [1984]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 4460
	Description: 2×1×3 75 degree	Currently the only 75-degree inverted element. The entire face opposite the sloped side is hollow so that it accepts studs at a 90-degree angle. [1988]
	Subcategory: Inverted
	Part #: 2449
	Description: 2×2×3 75 degree	Perfect for the lower walls of any castle or building that requires a sturdy foundation. [1977]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3684
	Description: 2×2×3 75 degree	A perfect match for #3684 and #4460. This piece gives you the angles you need to create a corner. You can even use 75-degree slopes to create a very steep roof, perhaps for a ski chalet. [1978]
	Subcategory: Outer Corners
	Part #: 3685
	Description: 3×1	This part began to appear in sets in the mid-2000s. With no studs on top, it’s extremely useful for rounding out the front of a minifig vehicle. [2005]
	Subcategory: Curved
	Part #: 50950
	Description: 4×1	A sleek, curved slope that can add complex curves and modern lines to your models. Like the 3×1 version, it has no exposed studs. [2008]
	Subcategory: Curved
	Part #: 61678
	Description: 1×3×2	A unique new piece that has yet to find its way into many sets. It perfectly matches the curve of the 1×3×2 half arch piece (#6005) in the Arches category. [2003]
	Subcategory: Curved
	Part #: 33243
	Description: 3×2 bullnose	An element with no equal in shape. Perfect for giving a more subtle rounded edge to buildings or vehicles. [1995]
	Subcategory: Curved
	Part #: 6215
	Description: 2×4 left 45 to 90 degree	These two elements are some of the most interesting ones released in many years. They are unique in that they can act as intermediaries between standard bricks and 45-degree slopes since one end of each is a perfect 90 degrees. Along its four-stud length, that 90 degrees becomes 45 degrees; the sloped end is one full stud wider at the base. [2002]
	Subcategory: Curved
	Part #: 43721
	Description: 2×4 right 45 to 90 degree
	Subcategory: Curved
	Part #: 43720
	Description: 2×6 left	Make spaceships, airplanes, and other flying machines more streamlined with this pair of pieces. Their compound shape—with its curving slope from tip to studs and a matching curved side—provides a sleek and realistic shape for traveling machines. [2002]
	Subcategory: Compound
	Part #: 41748
	Description: 2×6 right
	Subcategory: Compound
	Part #: 41747
	Description: 2×6 left	This pair of elements helps add contours to boats of all sizes, whether as parts of the bow or pontoons. Use these together, side by side, or separated by #500 (the 6×1 curved inverted slope] to create a wider profile. [2002]
	Subcategory: Compound Inverted
	Part #: 41765
	Description: 2×6 right
	Subcategory: Compound Inverted
	Part #: 41764
	Description: 6×1	When you want something more delicate than a flat-sided slope, try these pieces to create a more rounded and smoother angle. [2002]
	Subcategory: Curved
	Part #: 42022
	Description: 6×1
	Subcategory: Curved Inverted
	Part #: 500
	Description: 6×2	Because it exactly matches the slope of #42022, this part is great for nose cones, wings, and other models that require a gentle arc. [2003]
	Subcategory: Curved
	Part #: 44126
	Description: 4×4 original style	Older and boxier than #6069. [1985]
	Subcategory: Compound
	Part #: 4858
	Description: 4×4 new style	Although not an exact replacement for #4858, this piece certainly creates a sportier projection. [1992]
	Subcategory: Compound
	Part #: 6069
	Description: 4×4	Although released at the same time as the #4858 compound slope, this inverted element is a much closer match to the more modern-looking #6069. [1985]
	Subcategory: Compound Inverted
	Part #: 4855

Table A-5. The Specialized Elements Category

Part	Specifications	Notes
	Description: 2×2 macaroni	This is one of the most beloved pieces ever produced, but it’s often difficult or expensive to acquire in large quantities. [1958]
	Subcategory: Odd Faces
	Part #: 3063
	Description: 4×4 macaroni	An excellent companion to the original 2×2 macaroni brick. [2004]
	Subcategory: Odd Faces
	Part #: 48092
	Description: 1×1 with indented stud on one side	The famed headlight brick shown from both front and back. You can attach it to other pieces in various ways. The indented stud on the side can hold transparent 1×1 cylinder plates to create faux headlights, or you could use a row of these to attach a 1×N element horizontally. The opening in the back can accept a single stud of any kind. [1979]
	Subcategory: Junctions
	Part #: 4070
	Description: 1×1 with stud on one side	This piece, long awaited by many builders, takes the usefulness of the headlight brick to another level by moving the side stud flush with the face of the brick. Having these studs on only one side allows this piece to become part of any wall. [2009]
	Subcategory: Junctions
	Part #: 87087
	Description: 1×1 with studs on two sides	Introduced five years before #87087, this piece offers studs on opposite sides to which you can attach other pieces. [2004]
	Subcategory: Junctions
	Part #: 47905
	Description: 1×1 with studs on all sides	This element is sometimes called the hydrant brick. Although its design is amazing, it has one drawback: Often the studs you aren’t using just get in the way. [1985]
	Subcategory: Junctions
	Part #: 4733
	Description: 1×2 with two studs on both sides	This 1×2 brick has six exposed studs upon which to attach other elements. [2005]
	Subcategory: Junctions
	Part #: 52107
	Description: 1×4 with studs on one side	Although maybe not the most elegant part, this piece is one of the most functional. It’s small enough to build into almost any structure, while offering four horizontal studs onto which you can securely attach other pieces. [2000]
	Subcategory: Junctions
	Part #: 30414
	Description: 2×4×2 with studs on two sides	This solid piece can form the core of junction substructures. [1990]
	Subcategory: Junctions
	Part #: 2434
	Description: 2×4×2 with tubes on two sides	The industrial look of this 2×4×2 with tubes on two sides earns it the nickname “engine block.” [1992]
	Subcategory: Junctions
	Part #: 6061
	Description: 1×2 single-stud offset plate	This short element allows you to recess parts of a model one-half stud deep, allowing you to add greater subtlety to the shape and feel of your work. [1977]
	Subcategory: Junctions
	Part #: 3794
	Description: 2×2 single-stud offset plate	A really useful piece when building with the offset technique. [2009]
	Subcategory: Junctions
	Part #: 87580
	Description: 1×4 plate with two studs	Is this a plate missing two studs or a tile with two extra studs? The studs are in the standard place, but the smooth portion in the middle is unique. [2011]
	Subcategory: Junctions
	Part #: 92593
	Description: 1×1 to 1×1 bracket	When you need to change directions in a very small space, use this. The hole on top is exactly one stud in diameter, and the area around it is exactly the height of a stud. [2002]
	Subcategory: Junctions
	Part #: 554
	Description: 1×2 to 2×2 bracket	You can easily insert these pieces into a vertical wall, leaving the four-studded side exposed and available for attaching other parts. [2002]
	Subcategory: Junctions
	Part #: 44728
	Description: 2×2 to 2×2 bracket	One of the earliest parts to offer studs perpendicular to its base. This gem showed up in some of the classic Space-themed sets of the late 1970s. [1978]
	Subcategory: Junctions
	Part #: 3956
	Description: 1×2 to 1×4 bracket	Similar to #44728, except that the four horizontal studs are in one row rather than in two rows of two. You’ll find this useful for attaching an element directly to a vertical wall. [1987]
	Subcategory: Junctions
	Part #: 2436
	Description: 1×2 log	Odd Face is the name given to this subcategory because the “face” or front surface of these bricks is something other than standard studs or a smooth wall. The log brick is, of course, useful in brown, but grey versions are interesting too. [1996]
	Subcategory: Odd Faces
	Part #: 30136
	Description: 1×4 log	This is the longer version of #30136. As this book goes to press, there isn’t a 1×1 log brick, but you can sometimes substitute a 1×1 cylinder to get a similar effect. [1996]
	Subcategory: Odd Faces
	Part #: 30137
	Description: 1×2 grille	A unique piece in that the oddness of its face is different from front to back. Use these in groups or rows with similar faces exposed, or mix the faces for a great effect. Because both sides are grille-like, you’ll sometimes see these used as grates on the sides of machinery, as roll-up doors on fire trucks, or even as corrugated steel panels. [1986]
	Subcategory: Odd Faces
	Part #: 2877
	Description: 2×1 grille slope	This is a slope, but not in the traditional sense. It’s useful for creating realistic-looking vents and grates on machines and vehicles. [2008]
	Subcategory: Odd Faces
	Part #: 61409
	Description: 1×2 and 1×2 plate	Although technically two pieces, this pair is almost always used together (like for the arms on miniland figures in Chapter 4). [1987/1987]
	Subcategory: Hinges
	Part #: 2429/2430
	Description: 1×2 and 1×2 brick	Use this pair of parts to create a wall section that swings away from the rest of a building or to create fixed angled sections. [1977/1977]
	Subcategory: Hinges
	Part #: 3830/3831
	Description: 1×2 brick	Use these pieces to allow a spaceship cockpit to move, or angle the studs forward and build it into a stationary wall. Once the studs are exposed, you can use them to attach other elements. [1978/1978]
	Subcategory: Hinges
	Part #: 3937/3938
	Description: 2×2 brick	The bottom portion of this element is the same as the 1×2 hinge brick above. The larger top portion allows you to attach even larger roofs, hoods, or doors that swing. [1978/1991]
	Subcategory: Hinges
	Part #: 3937/6134
	Description: 2×5 plate	This classic piece is sometimes used to attach things like fire truck ladders, but it could just as well be used as the hinge for wings on a bird. [1967]
	Subcategory: Hinges
	Part #: 3149
	Description: 2×2 plate	This piece is a scaled-down version of the larger 4×4 turntable (shown below) but is only one plate high and can hide in many inconspicuous areas of a model. [1977]
	Subcategory: Turntables
	Part #: 3680
	Description: 4×4 brick	This turntable is the “modern” version of a similar element produced in 1963. Earlier versions lacked the square baseplate seen here; they were cylindrical all the way to the bottom. [1977]
	Subcategory: Turntables
	Part #: 3403
	Description: 1×2 channel rail plate	Use this piece to build a substructure that can slide into the 1×4 channel face element (#2653). It’s also available in a 1×8 version. [1997]
	Subcategory: Odd Faces
	Part #: 32028
	Description: 1×2 channel face	This part is sometimes seen as a stacked decorative element. [1981]
	Subcategory: Odd Faces
	Part #: 4216
	Description: 1×4 channel face	This piece can be both decorative and useful for accepting substructures mounted on the #32028 channel rail plates. [1991]
	Subcategory: Odd Faces
	Part #: 2653
	Description: 1×2 pin face with one pin	Say you’ve built a substructure on rail plates and are using the 1×4 channel brick to mount it. Use this brick to lock it in place with 1×2 Technic bricks. [1988]
	Subcategory: Pin-Enabled
	Part #: 2458
	Description: 1×2 pin face with two pins	The pin configuration on this piece matches any two holes on any other Technic brick. Note that its pins are centered under the studs, unlike #2548 above. [2000]
	Subcategory: Pin-Enabled
	Part #: 30526
	Description: 2×2 pin face	Try this piece when you need a pin as a secure part of a solid wall. Build it into a 2×N wall to add a sturdy pin onto which you can attach almost anything. [1985]
	Subcategory: Pin-Enabled
	Part #: 4730
	Description: 2×2 pin top	You may not need this piece often, but when you do, you’ll be glad it exists. The same goes for the plate version of this part (#2460). [1995]
	Subcategory: Pin-Enabled
	Part #: 4729
	Description: 2×2 pin-top plate	Use this part to mount the rotors for a small helicopter and so much more. You can turn this element on its side and connect its pin to a Technic brick that’s been built into the side of a model. You can then attach other pieces to the bottom of this plate. [1988]
	Subcategory: Pin-Enabled
	Part #: 2460
	Description: 2×2 pin-drop plate	Like the #2460, the #2476 plate also offers some interesting possibilities. For example, two of these plates will fit perfectly side by side when their pins are inserted into a 1×4 Technic beam. [1988]
	Subcategory: Pin-Enabled
	Part #: 2476
	Description: 2×2 single-drop-hole plate	These pieces allow Technic pins or axles to attach below bricks or plates. The #2444 element has only one hole on one side. The #2817 has two holes. [1987/1989]
	Subcategory: Pin-Enabled
	Part #: 2444
	Description: 2×2 double-drop-hole plate
	Subcategory: Pin-Enabled
	Part #: 2817
	Description: 2×2 plate with small wheels/tires	Even compact models may require motion. This wheel/tire set is mounted on a tiny 2×2 plate with slender pins sticking out of each side. [1985/1986/1985]
	Subcategory: Wheels/Tires
	Part #: 4600/4624/3641
	Description: 2×2 wide plate with slick tires	If you’re creating a microscale street machine, why not include some mean-looking slicks? The plate in this figure sets the wheels out wider than the parts above, which can give your street rod more of a racing look. [1994/1991/1996]
	Subcategory: Wheels/Tires
	Part #: 6157/6014/30028
	Description: 2×4 wide plate with wheels/tires	If you need wider wheels for a wider vehicle than the 2×2 options above allow, use this piece, which can exchange tires with its brick-sized counterpart (next). [1998/2006/2001]
	Subcategory: Wheels/Tires
	Part #: 30157/55981/30648
	Description: 2×4 brick with medium wheels/tires	The wheels here (with the four studs showing) are sometimes referred to as Freestyle, after the sets they came from. They spin freely on pins jutting out from the sides of the 2×4 brick. [1995/1988/1985]
	Subcategory: Wheels/Tires
	Part #: 6249/6248/3483
	Description: Medium wheels with Technic axle holes	These wheels with Technic axle holes can be used in many ways. Pop some Technic bricks on this axle, and you can mount these wheels on any size car. [1984/1985]
	Subcategory: Wheels/Tires
	Part #: 3482/3483
	Description: Brick separator	Although they’ve been replaced with a streamlined version, there are still lots of the original brick separators around. [1990]
	Subcategory: n/a
	Part #: 6007
	Description: Brick separator	The reengineered brick separator is slimmer than the original. Its thin front edge allows you to remove tiles and offset plates. The feature on top allows you to remove axles from Technic bricks or parts like the 2×2 cylinder (#3941). [2011]
	Subcategory: n/a
	Part #: 630

Table A-6. The Arches Category

Part	Specifications	Notes
	Description:	This piece is perfectly suited for building arched windows into thick castle walls. It’s probably the smallest possible arch piece that can be both practical and elegant. [1976]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 4490
	Description: 1×4	A classic Roman arch that forms a semicircular shape. These arches are useful in many architectural situations. [1976]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3659
	Description: 1×4×2	Given its shape, it’s no surprise that this element shows up in a number of medieval-themed sets. [1994]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 6182
	Description: 1×6	The radius of this arch is much greater than that of the 1×6×2 shown next (#3307). [1972]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3455
	Description: 1×6×2	Like the 1×4 arch (#3659), this piece represents a classic Roman shape. A series of these can create a pleasing arcade for any building. [1971]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3307
	Description: 1×8×2	Like the 1×6 arch, this piece has a slightly greater radius for the arch shape. [1971]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3308
	Description: 2×8×3	This part has appeared in a number of assorted buckets, mostly aimed at younger builders. [1985]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 4742
	Description: 1×12×3	Now that’s an arch! Impressive in size, this piece adds a grand opening to train tunnels, fire stations, and other structures. [1993]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 6108
	Description: 1×2	Tuck this compact piece under #6005 (below) to create interesting shapes in matching or complementary colors. [1992]
	Subcategory: Half
	Part #: 6091
	Description: 1×3×2	Part #6091 fits nicely under this arch. By itself, this piece can also be a flying buttress-type arch. [1995]
	Subcategory: Half
	Part #: 6005
	Description: 1×3×2	This graceful little inverted arch is like the faux inverted arches (made from inverted 1×2 slopes) we saw in the train station model in Chapter 3. [2010]
	Subcategory: Half Inverted
	Part #: 88292
	Description: 1×5×4	Used alone, this flying buttress arch starts at a point away from a wall or structure and meets with the top of its half arch. When used in pairs, these pieces become a 1×10×4 arch. [1986]
	Subcategory: Half
	Part #: 2339
	Description: 1×5×4	This half arch is another case where more than a decade separates the release of a standard part (like #2339) and the release of its inverted counterpart. [1997]
	Subcategory: Half Inverted
	Part #: 30099
	Description: 1×6×2	No, it’s not the handle from a LEGO lunchbox, though it could be. It’s an arch with gently curved corners that can be used as a wonderful decorative piece. [1994]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 6183
	Description: 1×6×3	Probably the piece best suited to being a flying buttress, it really extends outward from the top until it reaches the bottom of the half arch. Simply elegant. [1992]
	Subcategory: Half
	Part #: 6060

Table A-7. The Tiles and Panels Category

Part	Specifications	Notes
	Description: 1×1 tile	Although a similar part was released in 1971, this modern version includes a tiny groove around the base, which makes it easier to remove. [1978]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3070B
	Description: 1×2 tile	Like the 1×1, this is the second version of this part. The first, without the groove around the bottom, was first seen in 1968. [1977]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3069A
	Description: 1×3 tile	2010 saw the introduction of two new tiles to the LEGO system. This 1×3 version was joined by a 2×4 version shown below (#87079). [2010]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 63864
	Description: 1×4 tile	Run these in series down the middle of a few rows of black tiles to create the lines of a divided road. [1987]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 2431
	Description: 1×6 tile	A tile like this could become the top edge of the sides of a microscale ship, like the one in Chapter 6. [1995]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 6636
	Description: 1×8 tile	To make small helicopters look more real, try using these pieces as rotors. [1980]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 4162
	Description: 2×2 tile	Sidewalks are just one of many uses for standard 2×2 tiles. Mix them with 1×N tiles of different colors to create streets or parking lots. [1976]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3068B
	Description: 2×4 tile	When you need to smooth out a lot of surface area, use these elements that cover eight studs apiece. [2010]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 87079
	Description: 2×2 cylinder	It’s a manhole cover and more! Like many other tiles, this part also has a small groove at its bottom edge, which makes it easier to remove. [1983]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 4150
	Description: 2×2 cylinder	This isn’t exactly a true inverted plate—it has a curved underside. It’s sometimes called a boat plate, since you can attach these pieces under boats to allow them to skim over carpet or other surfaces. [1991]
	Subcategory: Inverted
	Part #: 2654
	Description: 1×1×1 panel	This piece is great for creating hollowed-out areas along the face of a solid wall. It works well with #4865 shown next. [1995]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 6231
	Description: 1×2×1 panel	This element could be a tiny little couch, the steps on the sides of vehicles, or tiny accents on a large open space. [1985]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 4865
	Description: 1×4×1 panel	A longer version of #4865 above. [2000]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 30413
	Description: 1×2×2 panel	Try using these panels on an outside wall to leave room inside the model for moving parts or other substructures. [1997]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 4864
	Description: 1×2×3 panel	Panels are useful no matter which direction they’re facing. When turned like this piece, they can add an indent to an otherwise dull wall, but when turned 180 degrees, they look solid. [1998]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 2362
	Description: 3×2×6 panel	Not all panels are flat. Some, like this one, are made up of several thin, flat sides meeting at interesting angles. [1988]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 2466
	Description: 1×4×3 panel	Many parts are available in transparent colors. This panel is available in several opaque colors, but the clear version (same part number) allows you to use it as a window for a large office building or a minifig structure where you need a lot of light. [1994]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 4215A

Table A-8. The Cylinders and Cones Category

Part	Specifications	Notes
	Description: 1×1 cylinder plate	This is about the smallest element in the entire system. It’s barely bigger in the middle than the stud on top and it’s hardly bigger at the bottom than a regular tube. Match up transparent red ones with headlight bricks and you’ve got brake lights for a minifig car. [1980]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 4073
	Description: 2×2 cylinder plate	The keyhole-shaped opening in this piece matches a similar feature found on 2×2 cylinders. [1980]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 4032
	Description: 4×4 cylinder plate	You can imagine plates like this turned outward as the airlock doors on a space station or turned on edge as the wheels on a chariot. [2008]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 60474
	Description: 1×1 cone	You might use this piece as the nose cone of a small rocket. The tip is just the right size to fit into the bottom of an identical piece or into the underside of nearly any regular brick or plate. [1985]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 4589
	Description: 1×1 cylinder	This part is the updated version of one originally released with the earliest parts in 1958, except that the stud is hollow (the original was solid). [1977]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3062B
	Description: 2×2×2 cone	This part got a facelift after its original release. This newer version has a hollow stud. [1984]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3942
	Description: 2×2 cylinder	This piece looks like a tiny coffee can with studs on top. The hole running vertically through it matches the size of a standard Technic axle. [1978]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3941
	Description: 3×3×2 cone	These pieces are sometimes used as engines on a rocket or a space shuttle. [1995]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 6233
	Description: 4×4×2 cone	This lampshade-like piece can be used as the engine of a spaceship or as a transitional piece that joins 4×4 to 2×2 cylinder pieces. [1982]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 3943
	Description: 4×4 cylinder	The holes on the sides of this piece easily accept a Technic pin or axle or the studs from any standard piece. The only problem is that when you stack a bunch of them, they look a bit like a column of Swiss cheese. [1995]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 6222
	Description: 4×4 quarter-cut cylinder	Two of these pieces together could be used to create a semicircular Romeo and Juliet-style balcony. Four used together could create a round launchpad for a small rocket. [1990]
	Subcategory: Adapted
	Part #: 2577

Table A-9. The Baseplates Category

Part	Specifications	Notes
	Description: 8×16	This baseplate is a newer version of a similar element (#700). This updated part has extra bracing beneath it that helps make it very rigid and strong. [1985]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 4204
	Description: 8×16	This baseplate is perfect for smaller buildings like gas stations or bus stops in your minifig town. [1971]
	Subcategory: Waffle
	Part #: 3865
	Description: 10×20	As a kid I nearly wore out my green 10×20 brick plates. They were the bases for countless houses, factories, and shops, which all met with some disaster that inevitably resulted in my LEGO fire apparatus coming to the rescue. [1965]
	Subcategory: Standard
	Part #: 700
	Description: 16×16	Large baseplates like this one are also found in sizes such as 32×32 and 48×48. The latter is perhaps one of the largest LEGO elements ever produced. These form the bases for all manner of buildings and scenes. [1978]
	Subcategory: Waffle
	Part #: 3867

Table A-10. The Decorative Elements Category

Part	Specifications	Notes
	Description: 1×4 lattice	This part could become a small garden fence or the decorative guardrail on a microscale ship. [1976]
	Subcategory: Fences, Rails, and Rungs
	Part #: 3633
	Description: 1×4×2 lattice	This element looks great when built into a wall, as the grate over an air conditioning system, or just as a vent of some kind. [1967]
	Subcategory: Fences, Rails, and Rungs
	Part #: 3185
	Description: 1×2 ladder plate	This tiny ladderlike piece is easy to incorporate into most models since you really only need to find room for the 1×2 plate. The rungs of the element can rest against the side or end of a model to form a ladder or grille. [1980]
	Subcategory: Fences, Rails, and Rungs
	Part #: 4175
	Description: 1×2 grille plate	This piece was re-released in the mid-1990s with a tiny groove around the bottom edge. This groove is handy, as it makes it easier to remove the grille plate from any surface to which it’s been attached. Try mounting it on another piece in a contrasting color—the openings in the grille allow the color of the element below to show through. [1987/1995]
	Subcategory: Fences, Rails, and Rungs
	Part #: 2412B
	Description: 1×6 handrail	This handsome element is often used on train models but can just as easily be the handrail on a small bridge or a ship’s guardrail. [1996]
	Subcategory: Fences, Rails, and Rungs
	Part #: 6583
	Description: 1×8×2	This piece looks like the fencing you might find in parking lots or the railings along the upper decks of a fancy passenger liner. Of course, it could just be a plain old bicycle rack for a minifig park. [1988]
	Subcategory: Fences, Rails, and Rungs
	Part #: 2486
	Description: 4-brick-high basic bar	Light saber? Baseball bat? Hand rail? Yup, it’s all that and more. The diameter of this bar is exactly the size of a minifig hand, and it’s the right size for any of the following clip elements. [1999]
	Subcategory: Bars
	Part #: 30374
	Description: 4-brick-high basic antenna	How about a self-attaching bar? The round-tipped antenna has a socket at the end that attaches easily to any studded element. The antenna is also the same width (along the main section) as the basic bar shown in the previous entry. [1977]
	Subcategory: Bars
	Part #: 3957
	Description: 1×1 clip plate vertical	Some parts just keep evolving; this part is on its third incarnation. It’s often used to attach handled parts and bars to models. [1979/1987/1993]
	Subcategory: Clips
	Part #: 4085C
	Description: 1×1 clip plate horizontal	Clip plates don’t just have to clip to ordinary bars like #30374. They can also be attached to handled parts such as #2540 or #30236. [1990]
	Subcategory: Clips
	Part #: 6019
	Description: 1×2 clip plate with two clips	Twice as wide as #6019 above, this part gives you more gripping power on a sturdier 1×2 base. [2008]
	Subcategory: Clips
	Part #: 60470
	Description: 1×2 clip plate horizontal	The greater length of this element (compared to #6019 above) makes a stronger connection for a moving panel or swing-away doors. [2009]
	Subcategory: Clips
	Part #: 63868
	Description: 1×1 with studs	This is the modern version of an earlier piece. The rounded part on the side has two stud-sized areas that allow any number of elements to connect to it. The hole through those studs is exactly bar sized. [1980/1988]
	Subcategory: Clips
	Part #: 4081B
	Description: 1×1 with clip top	Need a handrail for a minifig boat or just something decorative along the top of a wall? Grab a pair of these and put them at the ends of the #30374 bar element and you’re all set. [1989]
	Subcategory: Clips
	Part #: 2555
	Description: 1×2 with clip top and single stud	The combination of a clip on top and a single exposed stud makes this an interesting and unique piece. [2011]
	Subcategory: Clips
	Part #: 92280
	Description: 1×1 brick with handle	Some pieces in this category have clips; others, like this one, have a handle attached instead. [1992]
	Subcategory: Handles
	Part #: 2921
	Description: 1×2 plate with handle	This piece can be decorative or functional depending on what you attach to the handle. It takes up only the space of a 1×2 plate, which can make it more useful than the brick version (#30236). [1989]
	Subcategory: Handles
	Part #: 2540
	Description: 1×2 brick with handle	This piece has the same size handle as the #2540 plate. Use rows of this brick to decorate the tops of buildings or even some vehicles. [1999]
	Subcategory: Handles
	Part #: 30236
	Description: 1×2 plate with braced handle	This part is often called the “1×2 tile with handle.” [1987]
	Subcategory: Handles
	Part #: 2432
	Description: 1×2 plate with handle	This piece is like a horizontal version of the 1×2 plate with handle shown above (#2432). Use it for hinging small doors and panels to add functionality to small models. [2004]
	Subcategory: Handles
	Part #: 48336
	Description: 1×2 plate with handle	This part includes a 1-stud-wide handle on its narrow end. [2008]
	Subcategory: Handles
	Part #: 60478
	Description: 1×2 plate with handles	Originally introduced in the late 1970s, this piece was redesigned a few years later (to have a more robust connection between the plate and the handles) and continues to be used in sets today. [1981]
	Subcategory: Handles
	Part #: 3839B
	Description: Bush	Decorative gardens, rustic western settings, and mountainous train layouts all benefit from this spiky little bush element. [1992]
	Subcategory: Foliage
	Part #: 6064
	Description: Fruit tree	When you need an apple orchard or some well-groomed bushes for the sides of a posh minifig mansion, the fruit tree is the answer. [1977]
	Subcategory: Foliage
	Part #: 3470
	Description: Pine tree (small	This little pine tree has been seen only in standard green since its introduction more than a quarter century ago. [1976]
	Subcategory: Foliage
	Part #: 2435
	Description: Pine tree (large]	This large pine tree has been manufactured only in green during the last 40 years. Mixing large and small versions together in a scene adds realism and interest. [1973]
	Subcategory: Foliage
	Part #: 3471
	Description: 3×5 stem	Use several of these pieces to create the look of an ivy-covered wall for a library or an older home. [1987]
	Subcategory: Foliage
	Part #: 2423
	Description: Sea grass	Sure, this element can be used as sea grass, but how about making it a cactus or a yet-to-be-discovered creepy munga bush on a planet first explored by a minifig ship of your own design? [1997]
	Subcategory: Foliage
	Part #: 30093
	Description: Basic flag	Castles, carnival rides, and parade floats need colorful flags that look like they’re blowing in the wind. This simple but effective ornamental element is usually placed atop #3957, the four-brick-tall antenna. [1984]
	Subcategory: Ornamental
	Part #: 4495
	Description: Lion head carving	Decorative pieces reached a new level of sophistication and elegance with this lion head. Perfect for classy downtown buildings where minifigs gather to do business. [2000]
	Subcategory: Ornamental
	Part #: 30274
	Description: 1×2×2 window	A staple from the beginning, these pieces can be used in groups to create large office windows or alone to add character to even the smallest minifig dwelling. [1958]
	Subcategory: Windows
	Part #: 7026
	Description: 1×4×3 train window	This is the newer version of the train window shown with the original version of the glass insert. This part combo also works well as windows for buses or even spaceships. [1993/1980]
	Subcategory: Windows
	Part #: 6556/4034
	Description: 1×2×2 window	Often called airplane windows, these pieces can also be used in models of trains, fire trucks, ships, helicopters, and so on. They’re useful with or without the glass inserts. [1987]
	Subcategory: Windows
	Part #: 2377
	Description: 1×4×2 windows	Two airplane windows, joined together. As with #2377, this element can find its way into a variety of vehicles. Think of it as a panel with cutouts. [1985]
	Subcategory: Windows
	Part #: 4863
	Description: 1×2×2 ⅔ window	Do the occupants of your castle need light? This beautiful pair of elements will certainly help. Use a 1×4 standard arch over the top of this window to make it look like part of the wall. [1996/1996]
	Subcategory: Windows
	Part #: 30044/30046
	Description: 1×4×3	The old reliable 1×4×3 basic window is shown with inserts that look like panes of glass. You can replace the solid panes with ones that are latticed or turn the part around. Add shutters to give it a homier look. [1977]
	Subcategory: Windows
	Part #: 3853
	Description: 1×4×5 four-pane door	Minifig-scale buildings aren’t much good if your characters can’t get in and out of them. This often-used part is strangely available only in this version, which opens from the left. [1977]
	Subcategory: Doors
	Part #: 3861
	Description: 1×4×5 glass door	This more modern-looking door is available in both left and right varieties. It’s perfect for office buildings, schools, banks, or other urban minifig structures. [1982]
	Subcategory: Doors
	Part #: 73436