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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchTo build an oversized wooden LEGO-style minifigure that moves like the original, make the joints—not just the silhouette—the priority. Simon Begg’s Make: project gives a measured 1:6.25-scale design with turned head and arms, dowel connections, and a multi-part leg mechanism. Its most demanding work is fitting the legs so they move freely without sacrificing the figure’s proportions.
What this project makes
Begg’s design aims to reproduce the movements, clips, and operations of a standard LEGO minifigure at 1:6.25 scale. He selected that scale because a 50 mm-thick body suited the timber he had available; at that size, the figure’s hand can also hold a real LEGO minifigure. The dimensions below are from Begg’s Make: tutorial, published August 12, 2021, and updated October 13, 2022. They describe his project rather than a universal LEGO specification.
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Make: labels the project “Time Required: >16 Hours,” “Difficulty: Moderate,” and “Price: $30–$40.” These are the publisher’s estimates, not independently verified time or cost figures; actual expense depends on timber, tools, and local availability.
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Choose timber and prepare the tools
Begg used different woods for the components, plus veneer for the face. His material choices and advice reflect his build: he identifies timber density as a key consideration for dowel joints that should fit snugly without binding, and suggests choosing a yellow timber for the head if available, with contrasting colors for other parts.
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| Part | Material and dimensions in Begg’s build |
|---|---|
| Head | Huon pine; turned to 60 mm diameter by 70 mm tall |
| Body | Australian red cedar; 100 × 80 × 50 mm |
| Arms | Australian red cedar; turned to 32 mm diameter by 75 mm long |
| Legs | American walnut; 90 × 45 × 45 mm |
| Leg plate | American walnut; 95 × 48 × 13 mm |
| Face | Veneer scraps; Begg used walnut veneer |
| Joints and assembly | Dowels and glue |
Plan for the tools named in the tutorial: a wood lathe, bandsaw, linisher or belt sander, palm sander, drill press, Forstner bits, and utility knife. The operations also call for calipers, a skew or gouge, a plug cutter, a thin blade, a hole saw, a 10 mm drill bit, and a chisel. The tutorial does not establish tested hand-tool substitutions, so confirm that your equipment can make the required accurate bores, turned parts, and cuts before starting.
Build the head and face
Turn the head and bore its connection
Turn Huon pine to a 60 mm diameter and 70 mm height. Begg describes using calipers and a parting tool to control dimensions, then shaping the radius with a skew or gouge. Drill a 30 mm hole underneath for the body connection.
Cut and attach the facial features
Begg used walnut veneer for the eyes and mouth. He punched out the eyes with a plug cutter and cut the mouth by hand with a utility knife, then sanded the edges and glued the pieces with PVA. Clear tape helped him hold the features in position during gluing. He notes that even small changes to the face proportions looked wrong to him, so use a measured layout rather than placing the features by eye.
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Rank #2
- INCLUDED - Minifig Shown with accessories
- SMALL PARTS - Figure Measures less than 2 Inches tall. - Not Suitable for Kids under 6 years of age.
- PACKAGING - Comes sealed in a small LEGO box
- Authentic LEGO Figure
Shape the body and make the head joint
Cut the body profile from the 100 × 80 × 50 mm stock with a bandsaw, then sand it. Position the arm holes centrally across the body’s width and near its top. Drill two 30 mm holes underneath for the legs.
Make a top dowel to match the 30 mm hole in the head, but reduce the dowel to 29 mm at its top so the head can slip on. Drill a 30 mm hole in the body for that dowel. Check the fit before finishing: the head should seat on the connection without being forced.
Turn the arms and assemble the hands
Make the bent arms
Turn each arm as a tapered cylinder with a rounded top. Cut partway down at a 67.5° angle, rotate one piece 180°, and reglue it to create the 135° bend. Drill the hand and body-connection holes. Begg notes that the arms have a flat spot, a detail that can be overlooked if you focus only on the rounded profile.
Rank #3
- Collectible: This is a LEGO Minifigures Series 26 Robot Butler 71046, a highly sought-after collectible item.
- Packaging: Comes in a sealed 'blind' bag, adding to the excitement of unboxing and revealing the mystery figure.
- Authentic: An officially licensed LEGO product, ensuring high quality and attention to detail.
- Versatile: Can be displayed alone or combined with other LEGO sets and minifigures for creative building.
- Portable: Compact size allows for easy transport and play on-the-go.
Make the hands and wrist dowels
Turn a wrist dowel with two diameters so it fits into both the arm and hand. Drill into the side of the hand for the wrist dowel and glue it in. After the glue dries, drill out the center of the hand, cut two openings at the front, and sand the lower radius. Fit and test the parts before final assembly so the hand can move without binding.
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Shape matching leg pieces
Use a template to keep the legs consistent. Bandsaw and sand the profiles. Start the dowel recess with a hole saw, enlarge it for the dowel with a 10 mm bit, and chisel the remaining recess flat. Begg recommends waiting to sand the leg taper until after assembling the mechanism; leaving material to adjust gives you a chance to correct the fit.
Pay attention to the proportions: the legs taper outward, the feet are as wide as the bottom of the body, and the tops of the legs sit a few millimeters underneath it. The leg mechanism is not flush at either the front or back, and the legs need a cutout to house the middle disc.
Rank #4
- Each mystery bag contains 1 of the 16 characters available in this collection. If you purchase more than one mystery bag, you may receive 2 or more identical minifigures
- Collect this exciting new series of LEGO Minifigures characters and create new and wonderful adventures
- Have fun trading minifigures with your friends to complete your collection
- Every minifigure comes with one or more accessories, plus a display plate and a collector leaflet
Build and align the center assembly
Make the center block to the required thickness. Turn two body dowels to the same diameter as the head dowel and glue them into accurately drilled recesses; Begg used epoxy. Shape the underside curve and central disc, then fit the disc’s dowel tenon into a mortise in the block.
This is the hardest part of Begg’s build because accuracy determines whether the legs can move. Dry-fit the block, dowels, disc, and legs, and adjust the fit gradually. Check movement through its range before committing to final sanding or finish; a joint that looks aligned but binds in motion needs more fitting.
Sand, test, and finish the moving parts
Sand until the assembled moving parts operate as intended. Begg says to leave the parts a little loose because lacquer tightens the fit. He sprayed lacquer for protection and used beeswax on some joints to help them move. Apply finish with the joints in mind, then recheck articulation rather than assuming a smooth exterior means the mechanism is free.
Best Value
- Included - Photographer Figure with Long Lens Camera 📷 and Cool Minifigureland Logo Tile!
- Authentic LEGO Parts - Exclusive Item From LEGO City Set
- Small Parts - Figure Measures 1.7 Inches tall. - Not Suitable for Kids under 5 years of Age.
- Loose - Comes in Loose Pieces ready to build. No retail Packaging
- Authentic LEGO Parts
How this differs from other giant wooden LEGO figures
Not every oversized wooden LEGO-style figure is built for the same result. Jackman Works describes a different design made from one 8-foot pine 2×4, scaled from measured dimensions, with each leg assembled from four glued pieces to provide enough material. The available description does not establish its joint complexity or whether it poses like Begg’s articulated figure, so treat it as an alternative construction approach rather than a direct performance comparison.
Bourbon Moth Woodworking’s video “Making a Giant LEGO Man | Ultimate Lego Build,” published December 10, 2020, is another documented approach. Its result description names tools and supplies including sandpaper, a trim router, oscillating sander, square, tape measure, safety glasses, drill and driver, track saw, and finishing products; it is not the measured step-by-step source for the dimensions in this guide.
The official LEGO Wooden Minifigure 5007523 is a separate retail product, not this custom woodworking project. LEGO’s US product page describes it as an FSC-certified oak figure at five times standard size, over 7 inches (20 cm) tall, with adjustable plastic hands, LEGO bricks, and a booklet. The page displayed a $99.99 price and “Sold out” when checked; availability can change.
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