Introduction: Transforming LEGO Aircraft Carrier

About: Sorry, I haven't been very active. I'm busy, but I'll get back into it. :) I consider myself to be a geek. I especially love mechanical engineering. I also like to draw and swim. My expertise in LEGO is micro …

This project started innocently enough with a drawing I made. I'm sorry that I don't have it on hand, but I drew an concept sketch of an aircraft carrier, then drew it as if it had transformed into a humanoid. Like all of my other drawings, it disappeared, but the concept revisited my brain later. Naturally, I used Lego bricks to try and make my dream a reality. My final design was not like my picture, but it worked just the same.

The main problem I had was size. I wanted my carrier to be small enough to take around, not easily done when a lot of moving parts are needed. I originally did a 3 stud wide model which failed miserably. I realized it had to be larger.

Secondary problems were creating arms that bent, a bridge that created a head, and feet.

This Instructable is largely pictures as instructions, but I may have some text in each step.

This is the final product! I hope you enjoy. Please comment below! I am always welcome to some constructive criticism!

Step 1: Parts

Here is a list of elements needed. I apologize is any of the names are incorrect.

  • amount: element type
  • 1: 1 x 4 plate
  • 1: 1 x 2 cheese wedge
  • 1: 1 x 2 grille
  • 1: 1 x 3 plate
  • 1: 1 x 1 plate
  • 1: 1 x 1 plate with vertical clamps
  • 1: 2 x 3 plate
  • 2: 2 x 1 plates
  • 2: 2 x 4 wings
  • 2: robot levers
  • 2: robot arms w/ studs and vertical clips
  • 2: "T"-bars
  • 2: 1 x 2 plates with segmented bars
  • 2: 1 x 2 smooth slopes
  • 2: 2 x 2 plates with a right angle (this piece is a 2 x 2 plate with a 1 x 1 piece missing)
  • 3: 2 x 4 plates
  • 4: 1 x 1 plates with horizontal studs
  • 4: 1 x 1 plates with horizontal clamps
  • 6: 1 x 1 plates with vertically pointing clamps
  • 8: 1 x 2 plates with bars on the short end

Step 2: Bow (front)

  1. Place 1 x 4 plate on flat surface.
  2. Put 1 x 2 plate with segmented bars on the thinner end of the plate.
  3. place another 1 x 4 plate on top of the first. A one stud long overhang should be present.
  4. Place both wing pieces on top of the last piece, covering it completely. The wide end should be facing the segmented bar.
  5. place a 1 x 4 plate on the 1 x 2 plate.

Step 3: Stern

  1. Arrange the pieces as in the first picture.
  2. Place a 2 x 3 plate on top of the 2 x 2 plate with segmented bar. It should overlap all the pieces, but leave a 1 x 2 sized gap.
  3. Place a 1 x 2 cheese wedge into the gap. The highest side should face inward.
  4. Place four 1 x 1 plates with upward-facing clips on the 2 x 3 plate. They should form a square. The clips should be parallel to the sides of the stern. Check the picture.
  5. Flip over the Stern.
  6. Attach two robot arms with the bends facing upward on the leftmost two sections on the bar.

Step 4: Bridge (command Center) and Stern-Bow Connection

  1. Attach a 1 x 1 plate with a vertical clip to the open bar segment. The stud should face inward.
  2. Attach a 1 x 2 plate to the outer side of the 1 x 1 plate.
  3. Attach a 1 x 1 plate to the gap on the 1 x 2 plate. The stud faces inward.
  4. Place another 1 x 2 plate under the last 1 x 2 plate.
  5. Clip the robot arms on to the Bow. The bars should be directly across from each other.

Step 5: Arms/Hull

  1. Attach two 1 x 1 plates with outward facing studs as shown.
  2. Place a 1 x 2 grille on top of the plates.
  3. Put one robot lever in each hole of the 1 x 1 studs. They should point outward as shown.
  4. Place one 1 x 2 plate with bars on the short end on top of another. Connect them to the levers as shown. do the same for the other side.
  5. Attach a 1 x 1 plate with a horizontally facing clamp to the 1 x 2 plate. The studs should face outward. Do the same for the other side.
  6. Place a 1 x 1 plate with outward facing studs under the 1 x 1 plate on both sides as shown.
  7. Adjust so the arms are parallel and flush to the body.

Step 6: Bottom/Keel

  1. Clip the "T"-bars on to the bottom of the Stern as shown.
  2. Attach the robot arms with suds on the "T"-bars as shown.
  3. Clip a 1 x 1 plate with a clip on top to each of the robot arms.
  4. Place one 1 x 2 plate with bars on the short end on top of another. Clip them to the robot arms as shown.
  5. Attach a 1 x 1 plate with a horizontally facing clamp to the 1 x 2 plate. The studs should face outward. Do the same for the other side.
  6. Place a 1 x 2 smooth slope on to the 1 x 1 plate as shown. Repeat on the other side.
  7. Adjust legs as shown.

Step 7: Transformation

  1. Move the legs outward.
  2. Flip the legs by moving the "T"-bars outward. Make sure the 1 x 1 tiles on the legs are facing outward.
  3. Flip up the feet.
  4. Fold the arms out. Flip the bow down to form the chest.
  5. Flip down the command bridge to create the head.
  6. Style arms.
  7. Adjust arms and legs for balance.