What you'll learn

Building strategies for how to design the hull, the glacis and armored skirts, how to determine the layout of the wheels and how to apply tracks to your build.
How to design and attach the turret including the main gun, mantlet, side armor, rear assembly and hatches etc.
How to use technic gears and axles to add external controls to rotate the turret and elevate and depress the barrel/main gun.
How to determine the layout of the wheels, add the correct track size track, add a bouncy suspension to your tank and source parts.
Learn about key parts of the tank - The difference between Tanks and SPG’s - The effective use & importance of easy to remove sub-models and angled armor.

Course content

9 sections • 29 lectures • 4h 10m total length

Intro to the Introduction to Building Tanks w/Lego Bricks + Adding Instructions1:23
First we explain that we will provide multiple strategies on how to build different parts of the tank - Second we explain that we went ahead and built the WW2 British Comet A34 Tank (which we use as an example during the course). You get the instructions, parts lists and wanted lists for the Comet. (We include wanted lists for parts discussed in the course and for the Comet Tank). Building the Comet will help demonstrate how we incorporated the building techniques that we discuss in the course into the design of the Comet. We will provide all the accompanying resource documents, instructions, lists, etc. in the course "Building Tanks with Lego Bricks Wrap" video and the "Building the Comet Part 5" video
Introduction to Building Tanks with Lego Bricks - Abbreviations - Tanks v. SPGs5:28
An overview of what subjects we'll cover in the course and the different parts of a tank we'll discuss building. We'll also cover a few abbreviations for key words in the course and a brief discussion about Tanks v. SPG's (Self-Propelled Guns)

Blueprint Template Review and Why is the Tanks Silhouette Important?6:54
A quick review of what we learned in "Building Models form a Blueprint with Lego Bricks" so we can apply it to building tanks with Lego bricks and a discussion about how we can use the concept of silhouette to check the design quality of the model we are building
Creating and using Sub-Models and the Advantage of a Remove-able Top Hull5:08
We discuss the use and advantage of using sub-models during the building process including creating a remove-able hull top sub-model to create easy access to the inside of our tank
The Anatomy of a Tank9:35
With the use of a diagram, we show you the key parts of a tank that we'll need to design and build, describing each parts name and function

Designing the Bottom of the Hull7:39
How to determine the size and design of the bottom of the hull (the lowest part (closest to the ground) part of the hull)
Basic Wheel Layout and Key Building Parts for our Tank16:24
We'll discuss how to match the wheel spacing you see in the blueprint with actual stud spacing using available Lego parts - And determine if conventional stud spacing will work or do we need another method of laying out the wheels
Alternative Wheel Spacing Systems - FWSS - CPSM13:32
Examining two alternative wheel layout systems: FWSS - Floating Wheel Support System and CPSM: Chassis Parts Stacking Method - Short discussion about wheel alternatives
Adding a Bouncy Suspension6:18
We'll discuss how to add a bouncy suspension and a "fake" bouncy suspension (when you hear the word suspension, we are usually referring to a "bouncy" suspension.
More about Wheel Placement/Choosing and Attaching the Tracks using Track Links12:53
A discussion about the drive sprocket and idler wheel placement and choosing the right track link size and color and attaching the tracks

The Upper and Lower Glacis (Front Armor)6:48
Attaching the lower and upper glacis (front armor) - What are the options?
Armored Skirts and A Brief Discussion About Reactive Armor6:18
Designing and attaching armored skirts to the side of the tank and a brief discussion about reactive armor (the Professor Brick Maker way)
The Upper Hull - Fender Flares - And Attaching the Lower Glacis & Rear Assembly13:34
We'll discuss an overview of the upper hull. Remember everything attaches to the hull. (When you review the "Building the Comet" videos, you'll see step by step how the Comet's hull was built). We'll also discuss attaching the lower glacis to the hull (if attaching the lower glacis to the upper glacis isn't appropriate). And we will discuss adding fender flares and attaching the rear part of the tank as a separate sub-model.
More About Angled Armor3:05
A discussion about the other benefits of angled armor on a tank or armored vehicle

Designing the Turret: an Introduction11:08
The turret ring. Exploring turret design strategies, using the SNOT technique to create turret sides and creating a turret top to hide the seams created by adding turret sides and a rear section
Creating a Rotating Turret and Rotating the Turret with an External Control9:07
We'll explore different methods to rotate the turret: using Lego small and large turntable systems or as an alternative, using a technic mechanism with gears and an external control
Turret Design Review11:08
A review of the important parts of the turret build - the turret is a large part of the tank build (Building the turret might take as long to build as the tanks hull)
Creating the Parts of the Main Gun - Barrel Support - Mantlet - Barrel13:27
We'll break down the main gun in to 3 parts, the barrel support, the mantlet and the barrel. We'll discuss the parts used for creating the barrel and the barrel support and show examples of each of the three.
Combine Parts of the Main Gun - External Barrel Control & the Bore Evacuator10:00
We'll combine the 3 parts of the main gun and discuss adding a technic mechanism with gears to elevate and depress the barrel and the mantlet. We'll also discuss adding a bore evacuator and define what the ______ a bore evacuator is (you probably already know)

Building the Comet Part 1 - Hull, Wheels and Tracks14:36
We discuss the building of the Comet tank - The hull, wheel support system and attaching the tracks
Building the Comet Part 2 - Fenders, armored Skirts & Attaching the Top Sections16:28
We discuss the building of the Comet tank - The turret rotate control mechanism, armored skirts and the removable top sub-model sections
Building the Comet Part 3 - More about Attaching the Top Sections7:20
The discussion continues about the Comet Tank's removable fender/armored skirt assemblies and top section sub-models and attaching the rear section
Building the Comet Part 4 - Creating the Turret and the Barrel Control16:34
We discuss the design of the turret and adding a mechanism to elevate and depress the barrel (main gun). We also decided that it was necessary to recess the minifig farther in to the turret so as a solution we moved the barrel mechanism to the opposite side.
Building the Comet Part 5 - Adding Detail and A Review the Comet Build6:38
We discuss adding detail to the Comet and a brief review of the build. See Comet Tank 63 Page Step-by-Step Instructions, Comet Parts List, Brickmania, Brickarms and Custom Cut (Flexible Tubing) Parts List and Comet Basic and Advanced Parts Wanted Lists (XML's, .xml's) in the resource section.

Requirements

We highly recommend taking our intro course, "Building from Blueprints with Lego Bricks: Vehicle Edition"
To optimize the courses benefit, it's best for the learner to have some experience building lego kits that include sub model creation and building their own custom designs.
Be familiar with basic Lego brick building techniques and basic parts like bricks, plates and slopes.
The builder will need the ability to research blueprint images and other related images from the internet and use an image editor to scale and print images needed to create a blueprint template.

Description

In this course, we're plussing (+ing, amping up, enhancing) our Lego brick built tank models. Designing our creations to precise measurements, to be historically accurate and sized to minifig scale. After a brief introduction and review of what we learned in the course "Building from Blueprints with Lego Bricks: Vehicle Edition" (we will again be using our printed blueprint as a template during the building process) we'll discuss the anatomy of the tank. Defining all the most important parts of a tank, for example: the Main Gun, the Turret, Glacis, Hull, Armored Skirts, etc. We will then discuss design and building strategies for each important part of the tank (each part becomes a sub-model of the entire build). After we source and resize our blueprint image, we'll use it as a useful building template. The course will also include a discussion about key building parts and how to source them including Bricklink wanted lists. And after a brief summary, we will include a how to build and attach a custom oil drum tutorial and a complete set of step-by-step instructions and parts list for the WW2 British Comet A34 Medium Tank (including more Bricklink wanted lists). By the end of the course the viewer will have gained perspective, enhanced building and parts knowledge (specifically for the building of tanks), many useful techniques and have a better understanding of how to design and build the important parts of a military tank tracked vehicle. And by including a full set of instructions along with a discussion of how to build the Comet tank, the viewer will gain understanding of how the key parts of a tank integrate together (form of a tank!).

Introduction to building tanks with Lego bricks
Blueprint template review and preparing to build different parts of the tank
- Sub-models, silhouette and one stud connections
- The anatomy of a tank
Designing and building the hull bottom, selecting wheels, wheel spacing, bouncy suspension and attaching the tracks
- Basic vs. FWSS (floating wheel support system) and CPSM (chassis parts stacking method)
- Choosing the right track link
Designing and building the armored skirts, glacis, upper hull, fender flares
- A discussion about how reactive armor works
- Why angled armor?
Designing and building the turret and the main gun
- Adding an external turret control
- The parts of the main gun: the barrel support, mantlet and barrel
- Adding an external barrel control
- The bore evacuator/fume extractor
The building process & course review + sourcing parts
- Find wanted lists here!
Tiny Tutorials: Building Tiny Tanks - Building a Custom Oil Drum
Building the Comet - A five (5) part discussion
Uploading and Using Bricklink Wanted Lists Tutorial

Who this course is for:

Custom Model Beginners are welcome! Builders of every skill level will find the concepts, techniques and suggestions discussed in the class helpful and illuminating.
The Lego model builder who likes to build their own custom models and wants to take their designs to the next level.
The Lego modeler that wants to precisely build historically accurate real vehicles in minifig scale or 1:35, 1/35th scale - the information contained in this class can be used to model vehicles, planes, ships, buildings or any other model type no matter the size.
The MOC or display builder that wants to build models all in the same proportion.

What you'll learn

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Course content

Introduction to Building Tanks with Lego Bricks2 lectures • 7min

Blueprint Review and Preparing to Build Different Parts of the Tank3 lectures • 22min

Designing the Hull Bottom, Wheel Spacing, Bouncy Suspension & Attaching Tracks5 lectures • 57min

Armored Skirts - Glacis - The Upper Hull - Fender Flares - Reactive Armor4 lectures • 30min

The Turret and the Main Gun5 lectures • 55min

The Building Process & Course Review + Sourcing Parts - Find Wanted List Here!2 lectures • 10min

Building the Comet - A Five (5) Part Discussion5 lectures • 1hr 2min

Tiny Tutorials: Building Tiny Tanks - Building a Custom Oil Drum2 lectures • 6min

Uploading and Using Bricklink Wanted List Tutorial1 lecture • 3min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: