Although no LEGO element should ever be considered useless, it’s also true to say that, in some circumstances, some pieces are more useful than others. Tables Table 4-1 through Table 4-3 list parts I used to create the basic miniland figure in the previous section. You might find that these are the most handy to start out with. Think of the contents of these three tables as your toolkit for creating these little people. You may not use each piece in every figure you build, but these do give you a sense of the types of pieces you might want to gather before you start working on this type of model.

Small plates, like the ones shown in Table 4-1, are the key to creating the details of the head and neck.

Table 4-1. Small Plates for Making Miniland-sized Heads

1x1 plates		2x2 plates
1x2 plates		Offset plates

Technic bricks, like those shown in Table 4-2, are used to create the mechanism by which the arms are attached. The clip plates—used as hands—are optional.

Table 4-2. Assorted Pieces for Making Miniland-sized Torsos

2x3 plates		1x1 cylinder plates
2x3 bricks		2x2 plate hinges
1x2 Technic bricks		1x2 clip plates

Changing the slopes and bricks you use for the legs can help create different costumes for your characters. The examples in Table 4-3 are good choices.

Table 4-3. Various Pieces for Making Miniland-sized Legs

1x1 cylinder plates		1x2 plates
1x1 cylinders		1x2 inverted 45-degree slopes
1x1 bricks		2x1x3 standard and inverted 75-degree slopes

As you begin to blend the basic techniques with your own flair, you will undoubtedly find that you are mixing up how the head attaches to the body and how the legs are connected and positioned. Much like other such lists in this book, this list just gives you guidelines that are only intended as a jumping-off point for your own creativity.