How to build a LEGO jungle – techniques and parts
Here are some easy LEGO building techniques and parts lists to get you started on building a LEGO jungle.
In part one of this project we spoke about the consideration that lighting and composition can play when building with LEGO. We used the example of a jungle, where both can make a huge difference to the final model, and demonstrated that this can be the case even if the model is only made up of relatively simple techniques and designs, with the parts library available at Pick a Brick to choose from and made available for this project courtesy of the LEGO Group.
Section by section, here is a look at each technique that we used to help build out our jungle scene, alongside tables of each part, which you can find available in LEGO’s Pick A Brick library.
Canopy
The canopy uses Limb Elements (6266964) and Small Limb Elements (6268814) in green, bright green and dark green connected together with slight overlap of layers (positioning the darker colours underneath and lighter colours on top), all held together through their anti-studs by a piece called Plant, with 3.2 Shaft, 1.5 Hole, No. 1 (6235080).
| Image | Element name | Element number | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
 | LIMB ELEMENT | 6266964 | Add to cart |
 | LIMB ELEMENT, SMALL | 6268814 | Add to cart |
 | PLANT, W/ 3.2 SHAFT, 1.5 HOLE, NO. 1 | 6235080 | Add to cart |
Tall, winding trees
The trees comprise Round 1×1 bricks (4211183) and Plate, Round 1×1 With Through Hole (6300322) slid on to 192mm Outer Cables (6505229) and topped with 3×3 Bamboo Leaves (6270003) and the newer Plant, with Plate 2x3x2, No. 1. These trees are anchored to the floor via the end of the hose connecting into 1×1 Bricks with Knob (6062574) and the top end of the hose connecting to the anti-studs of the Limb Elements (6266964) that make up the canopy. The right set-up between floor and canopy can have these hose-based trees bend in various, winding directions and still hold the model firm.
Extra plant-life decoration can be provided with Flex Tube (6504266) connected to the top of the canopy via 1×1 Round Plate with Horizontal 3.2 Shaft (6306775) and allowed to hang down.
A second technique to create a firmer, more solid tree to doubly-hold everything in place uses reddish brown Technic Connectors of all angles (6271351, 6261388, 6333110 and more) held together with 2m Cross Axles 2L Axles (4109810), including in how they connect to the floor via a 1×1 Brick with Cross Hole (6397610) and to the canopy via the bars of a Plate Round 2×2 with Vertical Shaft (6313506).
This technique is not as organic so we’ve only used one such tree in our jungle build, but have attempted to blend it into the more natural approach of the other trees by filling the holes in the Technic Connectors with rounded plates, plant pieces, or rounded plates with holes, and various stem-related parts.
| Image | Element name | Element number | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
 | ROUND BRICK, 1X1 | 4211183 | Add to cart |
 | PL.ROUND 1X1 W. THROUGHG. HOLE | 6300322 | Add to cart |
 | OUTER CABLE 192MM | 6505229 | Add to cart |
 | BAMBOO LEAVES 3X3 | 6270003 | Add to cart |
 | PLANT, W/ PLATE 2X3X2, NO. 1 | 6411022 | Add to cart |
 | FLEX TUBE 21 MODULE, W/ 3.2 SHAFT, NO. 1 | 6504266 | Add to cart |
 | PLATE 1X1 ROUND W/ HORIZONTAL 3.2 SHAFT | 6306775 | Add to cart |
 | BRICK 1X1 W. 4 KNOBS | 6133765 | Add to cart |
 | ANGLE ELEMENT, 112,5 DEGR. [5] | 6271351 | Add to cart |
 | ANGLE ELEMENT, 157,5 DEGR. [3] | 6261388 | Add to cart |
 | ANGLE ELEMENT, 180 DEGREES [2] | 6333110 | Add to cart |
 | 2M CROSS AXLE W. GROOVE | 4109810 | Add to cart |
 | 3-BRANCH CROSS AXLE W/CROSS H. | 6441316 | Add to cart |
 | BRICK 1X1, W/ CROSS HOLE | 6397610 | Add to cart |
 | PLATE ROUND 2X2 W/ VERT. SHAFT | 6313506 | Add to cart |
Plants and smaller trees
The techniques used for these trees are as follows…
Bamboo Leaves 3X3 (6270003) stacked on to a green Outer Cable 72mm (6409912), with the bottom fleshed out with a couple of broader Swordleaf 6x5s (10885).
Plant, with Plate 1×1, No. 1 (32607) attached to Limb Element (6266964) and held together with Plant, with 3.2 Shaft, 1.5 Hole, No. 1 (6235080).
Plant with 3.2 Shaft, No. 1 (6388070) turned upside down with green Outer Cable 72mm (6409912) attached and topped with a couple of Finger Leafs (6347460).
Leaves 3 Elements (6269048) just stacked in towers of four or five.
Round Brick 1x1s (4211183) stacked on to shorter hose pieces and topped with Plate Round 2×2 with Vertical Shaft (6313506) and Small Palmleafs (6269040) attached to each bar.
The background shrubbery is created again with Plant, with Plate 1×1, No. 1 (32607) attached to Limb Element (6266964) on their side (built into the floor) and covered in some of the new 4x5x1 2/3 Leafs (6507837) and firmed into place again with Plant, with 3.2 Shaft, 1.5 Hole, No. 1 (6235080).
| Image | Element name | Element number | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAMBOO LEAVES 3X3 | 6270003 | Add to cart |
 | OUTER CABLE 72MM | 6409912 | Add to cart |
 | PLANT, W/ PLATE 1X1, NO. 1 | 6229130 | Add to cart |
| LIMB ELEMENT | 6266964 | Add to cart |
| PLANT, W/ 3.2 SHAFT, 1.5 HOLE, NO. 1 | 6235080 | Add to cart |
 | PLANT, W/ 3.2 SHAFT, NO. 1 | 6388070 | Add to cart |
 | FINGER LEAF | 6347460 | Add to cart |
 | LEAVES 3 ELEMENTS | 6269048 | Add to cart |
| ROUND BRICK 1X1 | 4211183 | Add to cart |
| PLATE ROUND 2X2 W/ VERT. SHAFT | 6313506 | Add to cart |
 | PALMLEAF, SMALL | 6269040 | Add to cart |
 | LEAF 4X5X1 2/3 | 6507837 | Add to cart |
Floor
The jungle floor is made up of simple 1×2, 1×3 and 1×4 bricks peppered with lots of smaller 1×1 bricks and rounded bricks (3062) and 1×1 Bricks with 1 Knob (6062574) all placed on their side. Placing them all on their side creates a smoother surface with the only studs visible being from the 1×1 Bricks with 1 Knob (6062574), which act as connection points for general plants and smaller trees, or as the anchor points for the bottom end of the taller hose-built trees to attach to that hold up the canopy.
The parts used for the floor are generally reddish brown but with some dark brown and dark green bricks mixed in there to help visualise the muddy appearance and create a generally darker floor to help contrast the light-and-shadow effect that the canopy above can create.
| Image | Element name | Element number | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROUND BRICK 1X1 | 4211183 | Add to cart |
 | BRICK 1X2 | 4211149 | Add to cart |
 | BRICK 1×1 | 4211242 | Add to cart |
 | BRICK 1X4 | 4211225 | Add to cart |
 | BRICK 1X1 W. 1 KNOB | 6062574 | Add to cart |
 | BRICK 1X3 | 4211220 | Add to cart |
All of the pieces above and more can be found at Pick a Brick at the time of writing.
Don’t forget to check out our tips for composing and lighting your jungle build in a realistic and effective way. Two of last year’s LEGO City jungle exploration sets are still available at LEGO.com if you’d like a jumping-off point (or minifigures and animals to populate your build): 60426 Jungle Explorer Off-Road Truck and 60437 Jungle Explorer Helicopter at Base Camp.
Support the work that Brick Fanatics does by purchasing your LEGO via one of our affiliate links.
