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#2450 BEGINNER SERIES - Lesson 7: Clips and Rails

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Get ready for Professor Tipsen Bricks to explain the basics of using clips, bars, and rails. He’ll cover everything from function to decoration. So, what do you think? Did you learn anything new? Be sure to join the professor for Lesson 8 coming soon!


Hi, I am Professor Tipsen Bricks! Today we are going to look at some unusual yet versatile parts that builders like to use: CLIPS and RAILS! Use this series as a resource if you are new to building, or if you want to refresh your skills and knowledge! Image shows the professor standing in front of a chalkboard and a pile of bricks.

This small round shape is called a bar. It can be connected to any LEGO clip and even fits inside any LEGO stud with a hole! Bars are more than just a lightsaber! There are a wide variety of clips! Bars can have other things attached: cones, studs, plates, etc! Bars and clips can function as hinges. Bars fit into any stud hole. Just don’t attach trans-clear bars and trans-clear cones on clear or they will get stuck! Image shows a variety of clips and bars, as well as Yoda holding a lightsaber.

You can attach clips to ladders, fences, and so much more! Ninjago City Markets (71799) puts clips on a roller coaster track for signage. Make curves with a rounded fence(30056)!Monkie Kid’s Megapolis (80554) uses clips and ladders to form stairs. Image shows signs from Ninjago City Markets and the stairs from Monkie Kid Megapolis City.

The Viking Village uses clips and bars to arrange sections of the build at an angle. A bar fits inside the stud hole of a 1x1 headlight brick. This allows the brick with clip to attach. The Viking Village buildings are angled, thanks to the technique above. Image shows the Viking Village and bars and clips attached to plates.

Clips can even be used to attach to bars to build upside down! You can turn the clips at any angle, up to 180° - turning them 90° fits a corner plate! Image shows parts 2921 (1x1 brick with bar) and 4058d (1x1 plate with horizontal clip).

Plates that have this little lip are called a plate with rail. Rails come in 3 different sizes: 1x2, 1x8, and 2x8. Rails have a channel above and below. Rails can slide inside bricks with channels, such as part 2653. The rails slide along the channel, but can also fall out. Townhouse Pet Shop & Café (set 30197) uses rails to slide the red panels. Instead of using a channel brick, 2x8 rails allow a plate to slide back and forth between the rail and studs.

Did you know that rails can also serve a decorative function? Use them as a ledge for windows or for interesting wall detail! A rail fits above and below the window, to create a window ledge. If your window is wider, use multiple rails to span the distance! Alternating rails and plates creates this really cool zig-zag design! Use 1x2 jumpers with an open bottom. Image shows a wall with window and a zig-zag wall.

You can even use rails and channel bricks for modular (removeable) building sections! Barad-dûr uses rails to safely come apart. Post 1916 shows how to use rails to build upside down! Join us for Lesson 8: all about building with ANGLES! Image shows a section of Barad-Dur with a rail, as well as Post 1916: Upside Down Building Techniques.

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