Introduction: Lego Portal Turret
These are the instructions for my popular design of a laser turret from Portal. It's all Lego; you won't need any other materials to make this nice display piece.
Step 1: Parts Needed
Here are the parts you'll need. You may have some, most, or all of these in your own collection; if not, you can get them from Bricklink.com (or Lego's Pick-A-Brick , but they tend to be much more expensive, if somewhat easier). Part names may be different between Bricklink and Pick-A-Brick.
No. Color LDraw no. BL no. Part name
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4 Black 48729.dat 48729b Bar 1.5L with Clip
2 Dark-Gray 44728.dat 44728 Bracket 1 x 2 - 2 x 2
2 Dark-Gray 4733.dat 4733 Brick 1 x 1 with Studs on Four Sides (color doesn't matter)
2 White 4733.dat 4733 Brick 1 x 1 with Studs on Four Sides
2 Black 47905.dat 47905 Brick 1 x 1 with Studs on Two Opposite Sides (can be Dark-Gray)
2 Black 4593.dat 4593 Hinge Control Stick
3 Black 3820.dat 983 Minifig Hand
1 Black 4497.dat 4497 Minifig Spear
2 Dark-Gray 30162.dat 30162 Minifig Tool Binoculars Town
2 Black 4006.dat 4006 Minifig Tool Spanner/Screwdriver
2 White 3024.dat 3024 Plate 1 x 1
8 Dark-Gray 4073.dat 4073 Plate 1 x 1 Round (color doesn't matter)
1 Trans-Red 4073.dat 4073 Plate 1 x 1 Round
2 Black 4085c.dat 4085 Plate 1 x 1 with Clip Vertical Type 3
2 Dark-Gray 4085c.dat 4085 Plate 1 x 1 with Clip Vertical Type 3 (type 4 is even better)
2 White 3023.dat 3023 Plate 1 x 2
2 Black 3794.dat 3794 Plate 1 x 2 with 1 Stud
4 White 3710.dat 3710 Plate 1 x 4
4 White 3460.dat 3460 Plate 1 x 8
2 White 3021.dat 3021 Plate 2 x 3
4 White 50746.dat 54200 Slope Brick 31 1 x 1 x 2/3
2 White 3048.dat 3048 Slope Brick 45 1 x 2 Triple
22 White 50950.dat 50950 Slope Brick Curved 3 x 1
5 White 61678.dat 61678 Slope Brick Curved 4 x 1
4 Black 4599.dat 4599 Tap 1 x 1
2 Black 41677.dat 41677 Technic Beam 2 x 0.5 Liftarm
2 White 6541.dat 6541 Technic Brick 1 x 1 with Hole
2 Light-Gray 4274.dat 4274 Technic Pin 1/2
1 Black 6558.dat 6558 Technic Pin Long with Friction and Slot
1 Light-Gray 4697b.dat 4696 Technic Pneumatic T Piece - Type II
4 White 3069b.dat 3069 Tile 1 x 2 with Groove
An Excel sheet of the parts with links and more information is attached.
No. Color LDraw no. BL no. Part name
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4 Black 48729.dat 48729b Bar 1.5L with Clip
2 Dark-Gray 44728.dat 44728 Bracket 1 x 2 - 2 x 2
2 Dark-Gray 4733.dat 4733 Brick 1 x 1 with Studs on Four Sides (color doesn't matter)
2 White 4733.dat 4733 Brick 1 x 1 with Studs on Four Sides
2 Black 47905.dat 47905 Brick 1 x 1 with Studs on Two Opposite Sides (can be Dark-Gray)
2 Black 4593.dat 4593 Hinge Control Stick
3 Black 3820.dat 983 Minifig Hand
1 Black 4497.dat 4497 Minifig Spear
2 Dark-Gray 30162.dat 30162 Minifig Tool Binoculars Town
2 Black 4006.dat 4006 Minifig Tool Spanner/Screwdriver
2 White 3024.dat 3024 Plate 1 x 1
8 Dark-Gray 4073.dat 4073 Plate 1 x 1 Round (color doesn't matter)
1 Trans-Red 4073.dat 4073 Plate 1 x 1 Round
2 Black 4085c.dat 4085 Plate 1 x 1 with Clip Vertical Type 3
2 Dark-Gray 4085c.dat 4085 Plate 1 x 1 with Clip Vertical Type 3 (type 4 is even better)
2 White 3023.dat 3023 Plate 1 x 2
2 Black 3794.dat 3794 Plate 1 x 2 with 1 Stud
4 White 3710.dat 3710 Plate 1 x 4
4 White 3460.dat 3460 Plate 1 x 8
2 White 3021.dat 3021 Plate 2 x 3
4 White 50746.dat 54200 Slope Brick 31 1 x 1 x 2/3
2 White 3048.dat 3048 Slope Brick 45 1 x 2 Triple
22 White 50950.dat 50950 Slope Brick Curved 3 x 1
5 White 61678.dat 61678 Slope Brick Curved 4 x 1
4 Black 4599.dat 4599 Tap 1 x 1
2 Black 41677.dat 41677 Technic Beam 2 x 0.5 Liftarm
2 White 6541.dat 6541 Technic Brick 1 x 1 with Hole
2 Light-Gray 4274.dat 4274 Technic Pin 1/2
1 Black 6558.dat 6558 Technic Pin Long with Friction and Slot
1 Light-Gray 4697b.dat 4696 Technic Pneumatic T Piece - Type II
4 White 3069b.dat 3069 Tile 1 x 2 with Groove
An Excel sheet of the parts with links and more information is attached.
Attachments
Step 2: Step 1
Onto the build! I'll add hints down here for the Lego-illiterate. ;)
Step 3: Step 2
Yes, the tiles are supposed to swing back and forth loosely here. They will be secured later.
Step 4: Step 3
Unlike the previous step's bricks, these have studs (the knobby things) on all four vertical sides -- they are often called "travis bricks". This step ties the whole assembly thus far into one piece.
Step 5: Step 4
Step 6: Step 5
Step 7: Step 6
None of the non-white pieces' colors here matter much; they won't be very visible.
Step 8: Step 7
Notice that you do the same thing on the other side.
Step 9: Step 8
Step 10: Step 9
Step 11: Step 10
Step 12: Step 11
This connection may be a little loose; using newer clips or gently squeezing the clips before attaching the brackets can help.
Step 13: Step 12
The 1x1 slopes are called "cheese slopes", one of my favorite parts.
Step 14: Step 13
Step 15: Step 14
This one can be a bit tricky; the bases of the sticks, when put in together, should stick tight in the red plate.
Step 16: Step 15
Fit the previous assembly in the 1/2-plate gap that goes around the body. Try to fit the balls of the lever handles in the gap in the middle; this may take several tries. Once they're in, gently squeeze the body to slightly shrink the gap, to hold the eye in place.
Step 17: Step 16
Did you get the eye in? Great!
Step 18: Step 17
Step 19: Step 18
The tap's top can move around a bit within the slope, making for some nice angles.
Step 20: Step 19
Depending on the parts you have, you may have to pull the hands out of your minifigs' arms. It's okay, they won't mind.
Step 21: Step 20
Step 22: You're Done!
Once you've adjusted the legs to your liking, congratulations! You now have your very own Portal turret. I recommend using it only as a display trinket; it won't hold up to much play.
Step 23: Credits
These instructions were built in LDraw/MLCad, then screencapped in LDView and edited in Photoshop Elements.
Step 24: ...But What About the Laser?
Oh, right. You're wondering how I achieved the laser in my photograph? Don't worry, your turret won't actually kill you.
Materials needed for laser effect:
Laser light (warning: don't shine in anyone's eyes, etc.)
Misting humidifier or something else that creates a mist or fog
Step 1: Shine laser into turret's eye (it's okay, he can't be blinded)
Step 2: Fog up the area with the humidifier to make the laser visible
Step 3: Take picture
Here's my setup:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ltdemartinet/4653056529/in/photostream/
Materials needed for laser effect:
Laser light (warning: don't shine in anyone's eyes, etc.)
Misting humidifier or something else that creates a mist or fog
Step 1: Shine laser into turret's eye (it's okay, he can't be blinded)
Step 2: Fog up the area with the humidifier to make the laser visible
Step 3: Take picture
Here's my setup:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ltdemartinet/4653056529/in/photostream/