[TUTORIAL] Big problem require Big hats !

[Guix]

Do you like Lego ?

Do you like Big hats ?

Do you like Lego WITH big hats ? 

I was wandering on Bricklink when I saw these cute little pirates from Lego Junior (4+). You know them ?

The "big but not so big" figures from Lego brand reserved to kids.    

They are big, a little bit goofy, with tiny ears and nose ^^

I wondered if I could use them to customize my own Minifigs...  They cost literaly nothing and they have nice hats ands accessories.

12 minutes ago, Guix said:

I wondered if I could use them to customize my own Minifigs...  They cost literaly nothing and they have nice hats ands accessories.

 

I got these ones for 0,27 € each... 3 minifigures for less than 1 € !!

12 minutes ago, Guix said:

I got these ones for 0,27 € each... 3 minifigures for less than 1 € !!

OK ! Sensitive soules, avert your eyes ! We're going to take some model kit pliers then cut all the parts we need... 
Say goodbye to your Minifigs !

Edited September 27, 2024 by Guix

[Guix]

28 minutes ago, Guix said:

OK ! Sensitive soules, avert your eyes ! We're going to take some model kit pliers then cut all the parts we need... 
Say goodbye to your Minifigs !

Snap ! Snap !

Remove all the plastic you can... After cutting the head, you can easily remove the yellow parts inside the hats with a pliers.

13 minutes ago, Guix said:

Remove all the plastic you can... After cutting the head, you can easily remove the yellow parts inside the hats with a pliers.

Now, there's just a plastic circle and a plastic stem inside your hats.

THEN, the tricky part...

You will need a drill for the rest of this Tutorial ! With an abrasive head, slowly remove the plastic stem inside the hats... (I used a wireless drill from Action because they can be recharged on USB-C and you can choose the speed).

Edited September 27, 2024 by Guix

[Guix]

15 minutes ago, Guix said:

THEN, the tricky part...

You will need a drill for the rest of this Tutorial ! With an abrasive head, slowly remove the plastic stem inside the hats...

I begin with a cone head, then use a ball one to be sure removing all the yellow plastic.

At this point, the hat is still too big for classic Minifigures. But it already fits well !

If you just want to display your pirates, you can stop there. But if you want to play...

Just now, Guix said:

If you just want to display your pirates, you can stop there. But if you want to play...

I used a hot glue gun to fill all the gap inside my hats.

I putted 2 - 3 drops in each to be sure.

Then, I waited a minute....

 

3 minutes ago, Guix said:

I putted 2 - 3 drops in each to be sure.

Then, I waited a minute....

After 1 minute. The glue is still hot and maleable, but it's ok to put the hat on a Lego Minifig !

Be sure to use a Minifig you don't want anymore because the glue it's still warm... Be careful !

I puted mine on a classic Lego then wait again (5 minutes).

9 minutes ago, Guix said:

I puted mine on a classic Lego then wait again (5 minutes).

After 5 minutes, try to remove the hat from your little helper.

For mines, I go left to right then slowly made circle with the hats. They pop off pretty easily !

My little helper feels fine so I can continue with the others hats !

As you see, when the hot glue is cold, it's the same pattern as a classic Lego hat !

[Guix]

And VOILA !

You now have a big hat (Lego Junior) with the inside pattern of a classic Lego hat !

Grab your favorite Lego Pirate Minifigures (old or new) and some ornements for your new hats !

We're going to an adventure into the wild deep dark forest !

[Yperio_Bricks]

Golly gee shucks!

Viewer discretion is advised    

Great job! A dashing pirate needs a fine big hat. You are a true butcher master surgeon!

[Guix]

Thanks !

Hope it can be usefull to someone !

[YellowFrog]

Innovative technique, but too brutal for my liking.

[PxChris]

Not my beloved 4 Juniors pirates!!!! 

But, in all fairness, the end results are pretty dang fun!

[F1stzz]

That's certainly a creative way to wipe all the Junior Pirates minifigs out of existence and make their prices absolutely skyrocket for collectors   I get that it may have been cheaper for you personally to demolish these LEGO 4+ figs than buying a big & cool third-party hat, but this ain't it, if we're being honest 🤷🏻‍♂️ The process itself def has to be a lotta fun tho 

[Guix]

On 9/29/2024 at 5:12 AM, YellowFrog said:

Innovative technique, but too brutal for my liking.

A little thought for the Lego 4Juniors, who died for a good cause...

On 9/30/2024 at 3:59 PM, PxChris said:

Not my beloved 4 Juniors pirates!!!! 

But, in all fairness, the end results are pretty dang fun!

Exactly !

We have to see the positive !! And big hats on little guys are always fun

 

On 10/1/2024 at 1:09 PM, F1stzz said:

That's certainly a creative way to wipe all the Junior Pirates minifigs out of existence and make their prices absolutely skyrocket for collectors   I get that it may have been cheaper for you personally to demolish these LEGO 4+ figs than buying a big & cool third-party hat, but this ain't it, if we're being honest 🤷🏻‍♂️ The process itself def has to be a lotta fun tho 

That's true !

BrickWarriors (and others brands) hats are fun but it's the good size for the minifigure. And.. I don't know... I'm not a big fan of their models.

I always loved the
95222pb01 Lego piece (Blackbeard, Davy Jones, Flying Dutchman's hat). It looks fancy and majestuous !

I wanted to have more of these oversize hats for my pirates.

 

 

 

In Bonus, Lego 4Junior are a limitless source of lightgray hook for minifigure !

[evancelt]

This is great!

[Guix]

On 10/5/2024 at 2:02 PM, evancelt said:

This is great!

Thank You, big hat fan !

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

Totally cool! The "snap snap" part is really fun!

Very nice big hats!

[Guix]

21 hours ago, LEGO Train 12 Volts said:

Totally cool! The "snap snap" part is really fun!

Very nice big hats!

Thanks !!

[Dreamweb]

I saw the effects of the procedure long ago in this Lugnet thread, I wonder if you're familiar with this or did you just come up with a similar idea?

Anyway, this is just too radical for me, as the procedure is destructive, as opposed to, e.g. the hull swapping which I once described. The fact that I don't own any of the ugly 4+ figures does not help either.

Edited October 8, 2024 by Dreamweb

[Guix]

9 hours ago, Dreamweb said:

I saw the effects of the procedure long ago in this Lugnet thread, I wonder if you're familiar with this or did you just come up with a similar idea?

Anyway, this is just too radical for me, as the procedure is destructive, as opposed to, e.g. the hull swapping which I once described. The fact that I don't own any of the ugly 4+ figures does not help either.

Seriously ?

It hurts me that you would think that... I am a Vassal with 44 posts and this photo is from 2004 (20 years ago).

I swear to God I have never heard of this gentleman and his photo.

I thought, in good faith, that I was the genitor of this Tutorial !!!

 

However, when we see the 4+Junior pirates and their big funny hats, we only want one thing.................................... Put them on classic Minifigs !

It's totaly normal that other people had this same idea. I just wanted to propose a solution to achieve this.

[Dreamweb]

39 minutes ago, Guix said:

I am a Vassal with 44 posts and this photo is from 2004 (20 years ago). 

No worries mate, I meant no disrespect. This is quite normal that several people would come up with a similar idea over the years. Actually, this happens quite often with LEGO. Perhaps I would try it if I had any of those big figs.

[Guix]

18 hours ago, Dreamweb said:

Perhaps I would try it if I had any of those big figs.

You should !

They cost nothing and the procedure is easier than expected.

I don't even know what to do with this giants hats but I'm sure they could be fun in a diorama !