Key Points
- There are common elements to most LEGO tank builds, including the main body, wheels, and turret.
- Organizing your LEGO pieces before starting will save time during the build.
- LEGO allows for customization, so you can add your own flair to the tank design.
- Starting with the chassis provides a reliable base for building the rest of the tank.
- Looking up tank models or consulting tank books can provide inspiration for your build.
One of the best things about LEGO is that there are so many ways to have fun with it. Whether you’re a loyal LEGO collector, a diehard customizer, or new to the scene, the opportunities for your next build are endless. Essentially, the only limit to what you can create is your imagination. However, we all need some inspiration from time to time to take our creations to the next level. If you’re a fan of military vehicles, you might have considered making a tank out of LEGO. Luckily, we’re going to showcase a simple tutorial on how to build a LEGO tank here. This video is courtesy of the AHA KIDS YouTube account. We’ll highlight the pieces you need. In addition, we’ll provide you with some tips and tricks for getting the most out of your new LEGO tank. You can take a look at the video below.
How to Build a LEGO Tank: The Pieces You Need
There are lots of ways to construct a LEGO tank. But, generally speaking, there are a few elements that are common to most builds. These are the main body, or chassis, the wheels, and the turret, or cannon, on top. For the particular build in this video, you’ll need the pieces that are listed in the table below. There are a variety of colors in this build, which add a nice aesthetic. As such, we’ve indicated which pieces are of the same color as well. We’ve also given the part IDs in brackets so you can look them up easily. But if you own a Classic Creative Box, you should find everything you need in there.
| Pieces Needed | Color |
|---|---|
| Two 2×4 bricks (3001) | Dark green |
| Six 1×4 slopes (60477) | Dark green |
| One 2×4 slope (3037) | Dark green |
| Six 2×2 round bricks (3941) (half of them lighter shade than the majority of the other bricks) | 3x dark green, 3x light green |
| Two 2×3 bricks (3002) | Dark green |
| Four 24 x 8 tires with offset tread (61254) | 2x dark green, 2x black |
| One 2×2 brick (3003) | Dark green |
| One 2×4 plate (3020) | Light green |
| Two 1×2 slopes (3040) | Dark green |
| Two 1×3 curved bricks (50950) | Dark green |
| Four 2×2 slopes (3039) | Darkest green |
| One 2×2 bracket (3956) | Black |
| Three 1×4 plates (3710) | Darkest green |
| One 4×6 plate (3032) | Black |
| Six 1×4 plates with wheel holders (2926) | Black |
| Ten 8×9 wheels with holes (74967) (four are diff colors) | Black |
| One 2×2 turntable base plate (3680) | Red |
| One 2×2 turntable top plate (3679) | Gray |
| Ten 8×9 wheels with hole (74967) (four are diff colors) | 6x gray, 4x white |
- Lots of freedom to build whatever you wish
- Classic bricks and modern pieces
- Over 700 pieces included
- Compatible with LEGO construction sets
How to Build a LEGO Tank: Useful Tips
While there aren’t any spoken instructions in AHA KIDS’ video, it shouldn’t be too complicated to follow. This is especially true if you own a LEGO Classic Creative Box, as you can visually match up the required pieces in the video to the pieces in your set. The video does provide a useful guide but is fairly flexible in terms of tank dimensions, colors, and wheel size.
Part of the fun of LEGO is improvising and letting your creativity shine, so feel free to switch things up as you go along. If you’re unhappy with how your build is going or the result, you can always start afresh and try out some alternative blocks instead. If you find that you don’t have all the same pieces as the video, don’t fret. You’ll likely be able to build an awesome tank with the pieces that you do have, as long as you follow the general guidelines.
With that said, it always helps to have some handy tips and tricks to make sure you’re on the right track. Our recommendations are next.
Prepare Your Pieces to Save Time
As with any LEGO project, it’s always a sensible idea to organize the pieces you need before you begin. You can lay them out similarly to the video tutorial, or in any arrangement that makes the most sense for you. This may seem like an annoying step, but you’ll save lots of time since you won’t need to scramble around for that pesky missing piece halfway through the build.
- Turret, barrel, and vertical armor included
- Dual cockpits with openable hatches
- Adjustable design
- Faithful replica of the German tank
Customize Your Tank to Your Tastes
LEGO is great for adding your own flair to whatever you’re building. You could use the same classic color combinations as they do in the tutorial. Or, you could mix it up with any shades that you like. The alternating shades of green on the tank cannon are a nice touch, but you could adjust this to your preferences as well. You could also scale the tank up to a bigger size, with larger pieces and bulkier wheels. The sky’s the limit here!
Start With the Chassis
This is a good tip when building a tank, or any larger vehicle. Once you’ve built the main body, you’ll have a better idea of the total dimensions. This will tell you how much wiggle room you have in adding the wheels and any extra components. With this part done, you’re simply building on top of a reliable base.
Get Inspired
Looking up tank models or consulting a book about tanks is a great idea to fuel your inspiration for your build. While the tank in this tutorial is fairly simple, there are countless variations you can make, with increasing degrees of complexity. For example, ASpengler’s YouTube channel has some fantastic tank builds, many of which are based on real-life tanks. Be sure to check out his videos if you’re a tank lover.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©APPLERICHY/Shutterstock.com.
