LEGO NPU: Capes & Cloth Edition
While primarily made from plastic, LEGO pieces come in all shapes and sizes, and materials. If you are looking for a more flexible option for building a MOC masterpiece, look no further! Today we’re taking a look at how capes and cloth have been used as NPU (Nice Part Usage) in LEGO MOCs.
Just cause it’s fabric doesn’t mean it isn’t a LEGO piece…
Cloth is a Classic
Fabric elements have been around for a long time. The first LEGO pirate ships back in the late 80s had the first fabric elements. The famous Black Seas Barracuda was so popular, it was produced a second time and then was reimagined as a LEGO Ideas set!
Absolutely Beautiful!
LEGO took a few years to make capes for minifigures, with the first one used in the Dragon Knights castle subtheme in the 90s. Up until then, minifigs had to use a hard plastic cape (that look to be quite uncomfortable!).
Which one looks better? I’ll let you decide.
Nowadays, most elements made of a fabric of some sort are capes, sails, flags, or dragon wings. Now, let’s see what crazy builds have utilized fabric elements in clever, goofy, and brilliant ways!
Wings & Sails
First up, we will explore the wonderous creations made by Jayfa, one of a pair of brothers who won LEGO Masters Australia this past year! Starting off, we have the Cloud Beast.
I love the personality this creature has, amazing color choices too!
Notice the vibrant green all around the body? Those are none other than Ninjago dragon wings. The reptilian pattern adds a touch of extra color and some interesting shapes that plastic pieces can’t easily replicate. Oh, and the lips are using the extra sprue attached to element 6355, a common plant piece.
His most recent creation is this beautiful rendition of Master Oogway from the Kung-Fu Panda franchise.
An ancient tortoise & master of Kung-Fu
The sash Oogway wears originated in another Ninjago dragon, released way back in the Skybound season. It looks as though it was designed specifically for this turtle and not the original dragon.
Next up we have Eero Okkonen who built this Bea on the Beach for New Elementary’s Cloth Fest last year. The sail used as a wrap is from the Friends Sunshine Catamaran, and now I was some ice cream!
Cape Madness
Enough about dragon wings—let’s move on to capes! Capes are a bit more versatile because they are smaller and people tend to have more of them to experiment with. Like in this MOC, for example. Sullivan Manning used a bunch of different capes to create this comfy-looking tent! What a nice little bonsai tree too—I quite enjoy this little scene!
Looks cozy in there, huh?
Next up we have Nick Wild, the sly fox from Zootopia, which looks amazing as Vlad Lisin’s entry for Bio-Cup 2020. He used two dark red capes to perfect Nick’s sneaky expressions! This whole build just oozes pure NPU, from the Boba Fett constraction torso elements on the ears to the Krana mask on his nose.
NPU EVERYWHERE!
Last up in capes we have Woomy World’s Libra Dragon, another MOC built for Bio-Cup 2022. The light blue capes add the perfect expression to complete the dragon’s look.
Go Big or Go Home
Lastly, we will take a look at some of the largest cloth pieces available—the capes from the Star Wars construction line. Jake Sadovich has captured the best Jawa ever created thanks to the diligent use of five Obi-Wan capes and what had to be a load of patience.
Finally, we have one MOC that brings it all together: La Tomba Dell’angelo. The beautifully named MOC features a few different cloth elements to make a truly unique build. Builder Cody Avery used the skirt worn by the Star Wars buildable figure Chirrut Îmwe as a sash and robe. The decaying cloth on the table uses a tattered sail from the Silent Mary pirate ship and the flag from the Durmstrang Ship.
Bio-Cup produces some of the craziest builds you’ll ever see!
That wraps up our latest NPU round-up! Sew, the next time you’re sailing through your LEGO collection in search of inspiration or a wing and a prayer, take a peek at your cloth elements and get creative. Who knows, you just might already have the perfect piece (of clothing) you need to be a more cape-able MOC builder!
Best of BrickNerd - Article originally published February 1, 2023.
What are your favorite MOCs that use cloth LEGO elements? Let us know in the comments.
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