NPU. Nice Part Usage. This is a phrase that most LEGO builders love to hear. It means they have used a LEGO element in a new and unexpected way, yet it perfectly fits the overall model. It is kind of like using that one vocabulary word in a sentence that is the PERFECT word you are looking for, albeit not the most common.

In LEGO, the elements themselves are our vocabulary. They are the words we use to compose masterpieces of custom models—and achieving a genuine “NPU!” compliment is one of the grandest joys a builder can experience. It means we made you look twice, consider the thinking that went into the creation, and perhaps showcased a new way a part can be used that you never imagined before.

o0gers cyberpunk bike - Zyrkowski Surge X500.jpg

A while ago, I was fortunate enough to see some WIP-pictures of a futuristic bike that Swedish builder Oscar Cederwall (aka o0ger) was working on. I was instantly intrigued with the build as he had incorporated an old inverted train canopy in the front (believe me, that is not an easy piece to fit into a build…)—which just seemed to fit perfectly! I had to look twice when I realized that the interior of the front-wheel was lined on the inside with minifigure handcuffs for the rim, making the wheel seem like it was hovering in front of the bike.

Some time went by, and I had almost given up hope of seeing the final model. Then one day he revealed the finished thing and I was blown away. The presentation was stunning. The photography was on-point. It was easy to imagine this motorbike cruising in a futuristic world.

I’ve come to know o0ger as a builder who loves using pieces that most of us keep in the “don’t-know-what-to-do-with” bin, and this build did not disappoint in that regard. Aside from the big inverted train canopy that makes up most of the front section, there is even a Duplo action brick in the back which just seems to have been made for this specific build. I almost didn’t notice it at first because I was distracted by the white X-Pod lid used as the rear wheel. If any build exudes NPU, it is this one.

But enough of my rambling, here’s a description from the builder himself:

“I've actually wanted to build a futuristic motorcycle for quite some time now. I considered a few different types of tires but in the end, I settled for the standard motorcycle tires because they work best with the x-pod lids, which I love. The first thing I put together was the wheel assembly for the back of the bike. I didn't know how to attach the back tire with the bike, and I tried many different things. I had bought the Duplo Train Action Bricks from LEGO Bricks and Pieces a while ago, wanting to use them for an antenna array on a spaceship, but suddenly it struck me that they would be perfect for the bike. After that, it was just a matter of finding a way to connect them.

Then I had to figure out the front of the bike. I wanted it to look really sleek and smooth so I tried different cones and other similar parts, but nothing really worked. In my bin of “big white parts” I have quite a few airplane fronts so I tried them as well, but it didn't look quite right either. Then one evening (after giving up for the umpteenth time) I walked past my children’s city layout and saw the high-speed passenger train. I realized at once that the front piece would fit perfectly! (Editors note: Stealing from children is not condoned by BrickNerd—except if you REEEALLY need the part.)

Another thing that took some experimenting was the hubless front wheel. I really wanted it to have a gray or silver rim but nothing I tried seemed to work. I thought about cutting a hose lengthwise and use it as a rim, but I would never have been able to make such a long straight cut. Then I thought of clips. I tried clipping parts to the tire, but that didn't look that good. Finally, I just started looking through my minifig accessories for parts with clips when I noticed the handcuffs. I tried them, and they fit perfectly.”

Aside from the bike itself, o0ger also made a figure to go with it. He built it as his entry to the Space Jam contest going on right now, specifically the Grandmaster’s New Champion Category.

The figure is a thing of NPU beauty with plenty of articulation (and proves once and for all that Galidor is the theme in which LEGO reached its true peak). Take a look at the figure, using an Allegra Galidor head for the human element, a Scala swimsuit for the hair ribbon, and some cleverly used Technic and tires for the rubber shoes.

Once more, here are the words of the builder himself:

“I really like Allegra’s head from the Galidor theme. I think it's one of the most detailed large heads LEGO ever made. I've used it once before in one of my first MOCs but I wanted to use it again for a more detailed character. Since I knew I wanted to use the head, I had to sculpt the character from the top down. So I started with the upper torso and went from there.

Galidor is not the same scale as the buildable figures (constraction) so most of the armor pieces just look wrong. Instead, I had to use other parts that were a bit bigger, like Bionicle masks for the shoulders. One thing that took a lot of experimenting and time were the feet. It's so easy to go for the high heels when you want a female character to look powerful, but I didn't want to follow that route. I just don't think a deadly fighter would wear high heels. So I needed to design flat feet that looked good. I started putting tires around different parts to see what could work as a sole. A Technic cam had the perfect shape and fit snuggly into a tire. It also has several connection points, so I'm really proud of that shoe design.

I tried many different types of weapons, but building a realistic gun at this scale is surprisingly hard. It wasn't until I incorporated some Modulex into the gun design that I got the right level of detail.”

These two builds are great examples that there is no such thing as “bad” or “too specialized“ LEGO pieces. It’s all about finding new and creative ways to look at things—to find the NPu—and it is something o0ger does better than most in my opinion. (And more importantly, you can never go wrong with a combo of Galidor, Modulex, X-pods and a large train canopy, right!?)

For more insight into the building process behind the motorcycle and the figure, I’ve linked to the builder’s personal WIP blog.

What are some of the Nice Parts Usage you have seen in a LEGO model that blew your mind? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.