How to Create Custom Lego Minifig Accessories.

There are many ways of making custom accessories to Lego minifigs. I will be talking about 3 different alternatives to create them.

1. Regular Lego minifig accessories-
This is just regular lego pieces put together no modifications at all.

2. Modification of Lego brand and non Lego brand parts-
This is the Modifications of Lego brand and non Lego brand pieces.

3. Also Custom sculpted clay accessories-
This is custom parts sculpted with clay for the minifig.

Step 1: Items Needed.

Step 2: Tips and Tricks Before Making the Accesories.

1.First of all ALWAYS have a picture of what you are making.
It can be a sketch, item, or picture what ever you want.

2.PATIENCE! at first what your modifying or sculpting may not look good but give it time
it will work. : )

3.Revisions! It may of not came out how you wanted it but keep trying until you think you got it right.

Step 3: Regular Minifig Accessories.

This is only Lego brand accessories nothing modified.

3 Reasons that you would use this-

1. You would only use Lego if you were making a minifig from a set in the Lego system series'.

2. Only first time people you make custom minifigs would use this but later they will
go in to making more intermediate accessories.

3.This would also be use if you don't want to damage any Lego while making customs.

The problem making custom accessories with Lego is it can be to bulky for the minifig to use.

Step 4: Modifacation of Lego Brand and Non Lego Brand.

A lot of people use this because its less harder to do than sculpting.

Its used mostly for weapons for minifigs.

People combine lego with brickarms (http://Brickarms.com ).

Brickforge as well (Brickforge.com ).

Here is an example of Modification of Lego into a Halo3 battle rifle.
It consists of a minifig hand, Binoculars, space gun/torch, and the stock of a Lego cross bow.
(sorry for the picture quality).

After some sanding,some detail with clay, and painting this would be a great minifig accessory!

Here is another example of a modification it is a helmet for a minifig (original part )
That was cut and sanded to look like a classic megaman helmet.
Though its not finished but with time it could look great!

Step 5: Sculpting

Sculpting is the hardest to do with minifigs because
the minifigure is small so if you want detail it is quite hard
to get the details incorporated into the sculpt of your
accessory. (Note: if you are ready had experienced sculpting
with much detail this will be not as hard.)

First thing you want to do for the sculpt is get a unwanted
minifig head and torso (for helmets and such) or for a utensil
or weapon a arm and a hand attached to a torso on a base plate.

Get the example of the accessory your sculpting. Next
get the clay soft enough to mold (note:if the clay is old it will be harder to soften but keep doing it!)
(note: you could always base your sculpt on an existing accessory so its easier to make!)
When sculpting add kind of thicker layers on the sculpt because you will probably do a lot of sanding
to get the part looking good.

Once you have your initial sculpt done for your minifig get that Tupperware container mentioned earlier
and fill up water in it until you get enough water to submerse your sculpt in it.
After that put the container with water in the microwave and heat it until boiling then put your sculpt in there softly.
(NOTE: use a oven baked clay for this!)
Watch the sculpt closely and bring it out of the water a couple of times until it has cured.
(note: Leave the part out to cool for at least a hour until working with it)

Once you have sanded it I would recommend using primer on
it a then sand softly and repeat that step
a couple of times to get desired smoothness.

Like I said back in tips and tricks, Revise your sculpt many times until you like it.

My Flickr page has some of my sculpts for you to see
LINK

Step 6: What to Do With a Mod. or a Sculpt?

Well when your done modifying and sculpting with your accessory
there are a couple of things you can do to finish the accessory.

1. You can paint it with acrylics, enamel, or just spray paint.
(note: if you didn't use primer i suggest using acrylics)

2. You can make copies of your accessory by silicone casting
I can't really go into detail of it because its basically too big to not do another
Instructable about it. But I recommend for right now research casting
plastic parts. If you do cast I recommend using smoothon.com for
the materials.

Here is an example of casting a helmet by Recluce Helmet casting
And this is another example of casting a weapon/utensil by Fineclonier link
(note: this is just experimental it may not work the first time)

Step 7: End

I urge you to try this it can make your Lego build come alive
with the customized minifigs and accessories!

Here are some minifig customization sites and forums!

Fineclonier Fourms

customminifig UK

eurobricks minifig forum

Brickarms

Brickforge