Blog
ZALUG at Comic Con 2024: Building Creativity, Brick by Brick!
This past weekend, we had the incredible opportunity to showcase our passion for all things LEGO at Comic Con 2024! From Thursday to Sunday, we engaged with thousands of Comic Con attendees, who stopped by our stand to get creative and build their own LEGO...
zaLUG at Fourways Mall, 2024
The recent zaLUG display event held at Fourways Mall was a resounding success, showcasing not only the creativity and talent of our members but also the strong community interest in the world of Lego. The display, which ran from 7 to 8 September 2024, attracted...
zaLUG at WRO 2024
This past weekend, zaLUG embarked on another exciting adventure, this time at the WRO event held at Curro Aurora School. It was a day brimming with innovation, camaraderie, and boundless imagination as we unveiled our latest LEGO creations to a captivated...
zaLUG at Medieval Fayre 2024
This past weekend, zaLUG had the incredible opportunity to showcase our creations at the annual Medieval Fayre at Greensleeves, west of Johannesburg. It was a day filled with creativity, community, and a touch of nostalgia as our intricate LEGO displays...
zaLUG at Sandton City, April 2024
Great news for LEGO™ fans in Gauteng as zaLUG (the South African LEGO User Group) headed back to the Sandton City Shopping Centre to exhibit a vast and varied display of LEGO sets and MOCs (my own creations) from 27 to 28 April 2024. Now an annual event on the...
zaLUG at Brickfair 2023
From 28 to 29 October 2023, thousands of LEGO fans descended on Menlyn Shopping Centre in Pretoria for South Africa’s premier annual LEGO fan event, Brickfair. And this year, it was bigger and better than ever before! In fact, such is the scale of this event...
zaLUG at Comic-Con Africa 2023
Could there be a better place to exhibit LEGO than at the biggest gathering of comic book, fantasy and sci-fi fans in Africa? zaLUG was privileged to again be invited to exhibit at Comic Con Africa from 22 to 25 September 2023. Hosted at the Johannesburg Expo...
zaLUG display event at Clearwater Mall 2023
Always a highlight on our annual calendar, zaLUG was delighted to once again be exhibiting at Clearwater Mall over the weekend of 26 and 27 August 2023. Fifty-nine members participated (with five new members displaying for their very first time) and managed to...
zaLUG display at Medieval Fayre 2023
At first glance, an event called The Magical Medieval Fayre may not seem the likeliest place to find a group of die-hard AFOLs (adult fans of LEGO®) displaying their love of the iconic plastic brick. But when you add zaLUG’s castle and fantasy special interest...
zaLUG display event at Sandton City
On 29 and 30 April 2023, zaLUG was very pleased to once again exhibit at Sandton City. This is the second year we have displayed at the shopping centre but this time we went a whole lot bigger! In fact, this was the largest Lego event ever in Johannesburg based...
zaLUG display event at OR Tambo International Airport
zaLUG was delighted to be invited by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) to exhibit at Africa's largest and busiest airport, OR Tambo International, on 25 and 26 March 2023. OR Tambo handles around 19 million passengers a year and is one of only four airports...
zaLUG at Comic-Con Africa 2022
zaLUG displayed at the third Comic Con Africa from 22 to 25 September 2022. Much larger than previous years, this year had something for everyone! zaLUG exhibited their fantastic builds and sets over four long days, and enjoyed every minute. With our exhibition...
zaLUG at Sandton City, March 2022
With our first in-person display event in more than 29 months, we exihibited at Sandton City on 26 and 27 March 2022. The exhibition marked the start of getting back into the swing of exhibition season with 22 tables filled with Lego goodness. Both exhibitors and the...
zaLUG Year end function 2019
2019 has been a been a fantastic year for zaLUG and to celebrate we had our annual xmas party on the 30th of November in Centurion.As typical South Africans, we had a braai (a better version of a barbeque for our international friends) as well as some beer and...
Brickfair 2019
Another year, and another Brickfair done and dusted! This year was a big year for Brickfair 2019, as the event became independent, and moved spaces from the mall basements of The Grove and Irene, to the clean airconditioned halls in one of the largest malls in South...
Comic Con Africa – 24-27 October 2019
Comic Con Africa celebrated their second annual convention in style at Gallagher Estates on the long weekend of the 21st – 24th of September.Much larger than previous years, this year had something for everyone! Including the all the Lego Fans.That’s...
Clearwater Mall LEGO Exhibition, 24 and 25 August 2019
The zaLUG Clearwater mall exhibition has once again came and went, and considering some of us are still recovering from all the excitement, I think we can call it a resounding success.While all the members showed off their fantastic models, it was the introduction of...
World Robotic Olympiad – Tshwane University of Technology – 3 August 2019
It's that time of the year again when the kids of Gauteng compete in the World Robotic Olympiad. This year as the amount of entrants increased, the usual competition was split into two parts, with a Gauteng South and Gauteng North event. The event...
World Robotic Olympiad – Steyn City – 27 July 2019
It's that time of the year again when the kids of Gauteng compete in the World Robotic Olympiad. This year as the amount of entrants increased, the usual competition was split into two parts, with a Gauteng South and Gauteng North event. The event at Steyn City...
Improving STUDIO renders
Getting digital builds to look good is always a mission and although Bricklink has gone to great lengths with their renderer.. it can be better. Inside the render engine The engine has 5 light presets: Building Mechanic Asteroid Dawn Piazza Building and Mechanic uses...
Springs Mall LEGO Exhibition, 27 April 2019
It’s a brave person who makes the long journey to the other side of the boerewors curtain, but zaLUG are those brave people, and we did trek. All the way to Springs on the far, far east of Gauteng. Getting up before the sun comes up is old hat for the members who’ve...
Brickfair Pretoria, 27 and 28 October 2018
WRO Exhibition, 29 September 2018
We exhibited at the Nationals of the World Robotic Olympiad on 29 September 2018 in Pretoria.
Clearwater Mall LEGO Exhibition, 25 and 26 August 2018
With another successful display event at Clearwater Mall we’re a bunch of tired, but happy luggers. Two days is a long time for a display event, and I’m sure many people aren’t aware just how tiring sitting there and talking to people who are eager to ask questions...
LEGO Store Sandton Pick-a-Brick Elements
Information about the Pick-a-Brick (PAB) stock in the Sandton City LEGO Certified store.
Information from both the store, as well as bricklink.com information correct as of 30 and 31 July 2018.
What are your Classic Space LEGO sets worth?
Most of us have our first LEGO memories in Classic Space sets. We took a closer look at what these sets from the late '70s and 1980s are worth.
Discover the Bugatti Chiron!
Build, experience and display this quintessential super sports car, featuring aerodynamic bodywork with an active rear wing, spoked rims with low-profile tires, and a detailed cockpit with movable paddle gearshift. Celebrate innovative engineering and design from one...
zaLUG Integrated Landscaping Standard
The zaLUG Landscaping Standard (LS) is a standard, modular way of doing landscaping to facilitate large collaborative displays. The zaLUG landscaping standard is based on http://www.abellon.net/MILS/. Please read it for a better understanding of what a landscaping...
Paul’s Parts – Building a wall
Brick walls can often look quite boring. Using the following SNOT elements, walls can be given a bit of character. In different combinations the above elements can be used to create a variety of SNOT elements. SNOT elements allow us to add parts to the side of wall....
Pop’s Toys display event | 24 and 25 March 2018
Our first display of 2018 took place in Benoni at Northmead Square. Pop’s Toys hosted us and the weekend proved to be a great success. For two days, LEGO fever took over the mall and the foot traffic never stopped; once again showing the love that people have for...
Pop’s Toys display event | 25 and 26 November 2017
Pop’s Toys Lego exhibition Northmead Square Benoni by Linda Lier 2017 has been an exciting and busy year for zaLUG. We celebrated our 1 year anniversary as an RLUG (registered LUG), had many social gatherings, various building projects and we took part in 5...
The zaLUG Castle Project
Castles have always been a mainstay of Lego’s various lines, dating back to the yellow castle 375-2 all the way up to it’s current iteration Nexo Knights ( With many long time Lego fans reckoning that it's a weird combo of castle and space lines, with the colours of...
Brickfair 2017
You know those light-hearted news stories that feature at the end of a news bulletin? The ones that follow after all the serious, depressing news? The stories of interesting people doing wacky things? You know the ones – you watch in amazement at the kinds of crazy...
Build your own mini Helicarrier
Hey LEGOholics The S.H.I.E.L.D Helicarrier is such an iconic vehicle and a really cool set, but we don't always have the space and cash for such a monster. Introducing the mini Helicarrier! It's a fun (and cheap) little build that we can all add to our collections. To...
Clearwater Mall display event | 26-27 August 2017
The best part of a LEGO exhibition is the public. The sharing of heart-warming stories and reminiscing about the funny moments, are the highlights of the post event discussions. How many kids asked to touch the LEGO? What were people drawn to in your display? Did...
BUILDING TIPS: #7 MINILAND FIGS
Howdy LEGOlogists! Today we are talking figs of a different kind. Miniland is the scale and style that LEGO uses for their displays at their themeparks and are completely brick built. Building one is easy and customizing is a lot of fun, so let's get to it shall we.....
BUILDING TIPS: #6 RAINBOW POOP
Howdy fellow brickers! Quite a lot of times MOCs with real potential turn into heaps of rainbow poop, where it could have been a WOW.. is now just a Meh. Why does this happen? It all comes down to colour choices and the abundance of it.. so today we get into one of...
BUILDING TIPS: #5 SNOT FLAT SQUARE
Ola ABSaholics! Today's quick building tip is really quick, but it will help you solve quite a few problems when you need to build in different directions. You will need: 1 2x4 plate 4 1x4 plates 4 1x2/1x4 angle plates (bracket) STEP 1 Take a 2x4 plate and add 2...
Display event: Lilliputs, 6 to 7 May 2017
During our second display event for 2017 and a first as zaLUG for Lilliputs, we had a great opportunity to display inside the the Rosebank Mall and the members really showed class with some great displays. As always the public was very excited and loved interacting...
BUILDING TIPS: #4 SNOT CUBE
Yes, SNOT Cube.. although it sounds like something a 4 year old would construct it'snot (I know that joke is lame but it's the best one I've got). On with the building! You will need: 4 Travis Bricks 6 2x2 plates 1 2x2 jumper (alternative bottom) 1 2x2 round tile with...
Paul’s Parts – Finding parts for your Monochrome Minifigs
Finding those elusive parts to complete your monochrome minifig can be tricky. What follows is the method I use to see if I have the parts in my collection to complete a new colour. A minifig consists of quite a few parts that will have to be found. A Torso...
Paul’s Parts – Introduction to Monochrome Minifigures
For this installment I thought I’d quickly try introduce Monochrome minifigs. Monochrome minifigs are minifigures constructed out of unprinted parts of one colour. Collecting them can be a fun and rewarding journey. As they are not an official theme it is not always...
BUILDING TIPS: #3 CIRCULAR BASES FOR MINIFIGS
Hello again! If you are anything like me, then you love your minifigs but building little 8x8 square bases/vignettes for them are very.. square. With series 17 on our doorstep let's get right to it shall we.. you will need: 8 1x3 curved slopes 4 1x2 plates 4 1x2...
Building tips: #2 Pine Tree
GREETINGS LEGOHOLICS! For those of us who ordered a bunch of flower stalks or bought a couple from George.. let's put them to good use in building a pine tree. You will need: A bunch of flower stalks a bunch of Travis bricks in Reddish Brown 2 or 3 1x1 round bricks in...
Building tips: #1 Tiles flush with wall
Howdy Brickers! Over the next couple of months we will be posting some quick building tips to help your builds. From simple techniques to complicated ideas.. we will try and cover them all. So to start you off here is #1: Tiles flush with brick built walls. This works...
Pops Display Event
On the morning of March 25th 2017, AFOLS all around Gauteng, woke up bright and early to the sounds of their alarms. Though sleepy and desperately in need of our morning coffee, we shared a common feeling of excitement. An excitement that can only come from thought of...
zaLUG at Brickfair 2016, Irene, Pretoria
Brickfair 2016 was a great weekend! 18 members of zaLUG brought their amazing custom creations and interacted with the public for 2 days straight! More members who couldn't make it came round and spend some time looking at some awesome designs. There was a total of 71...
LEGO® Photography
I had some requests to get a photographer to come and speak to us at our LUG meetings on how to photograph your MOC's. It is a really fantastic idea and I am busy looking into getting a workshop rather than just a 30min talk. Photography courses tend to be expensive...
zaLUG is a RLUG!
Today was a good day! A really good day! It was an amazing and humbling privilege to announce at our LUG meeting that zaLUG has received an RLUG status from The LEGO Group! To see people sit upright in their seats and the change in their faces was something quite...
Benoni Child Welfare Field Cleanup
On Saturday 27 August 2016, members of zaLUG donated their time to help the Greater Benoni Child Welfare to clean up the open field next to the house. This field was scattered with rubble, broken glass and trimmed tree branches. The members walked the field to pick up...
PAUL’S PARTS #3 (August 2016)
New Parts This issue I thought I would highlight a new part that arrived in August. Part Number: 26047 First Appeared: Ninjago Current Colours: Black This new part looks to be another in the range of new parts that will allow...
zaLUG 2nd Meeting
We started our second meeting bursting at the seams as we had much more members than at the 1st meeting. LUG business was mainly taken care of by exco member Iain followed by an update regarding upcoming charity events by Clark. The educational talk was by Tony Graham...
Tony’s presentation on LEGO® geometry
Following requests from some of the zaLUG members, we've uploaded Tony's presentation on LEGO® Geometry. Quite interesting to understand LDraw Units (LDU), exceptions, studs not on top (SNOT) building, slopes, offsets, jumper plates, microstriping and...
Newsletter 2
Welcome to our 2nd Newsletter. It is now 4 months since we sat around a table across from Pops Toys discussing the formation of zaLUG. It was on that day that I met Iain and Clark for the first time. It has been a great ride so far and we have achieved so much more...
zaLUG at iTech LEGO® Day
iTech Plus hosted an AFOL display for the public at the Riverside Boulevard Shopping Centre, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa. The event took place on Saturday 30 April 2016 on a beautiful autumn day. Even though it was held over the Easter long weekend, the AFOLS showed...
zaLUG 1st Meeting: 29 May 2016
On Sunday 29 May, zaLUG had its inaugural meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was a beautiful day and the attendee total exceeded our wildest dreams. The day started with Joe welcoming everyone and giving LUG feedback, updates and statistics. Iain and Clark...
List of LEGO Abbreviations
A AFOL: “Adult-Fan-of-LEGO”. Pronounced to rhyme with “hay-foal”. AFFOL: “Adult-Female-Fan-of-LEGO” (See also FAFOL and SHEFOL.) B Bignette: a large LEGO creation (larger than a Vignette, but smaller than a Diorama). Billund: Billund, Denmark. Headquarters and...
zaLUG Juniors
To ensure to longevity of the LUG we have to ensure a constant pool of new builders coming through. We want to start a new section to the LUG aimed at our younger members. The exco cannot run this section of the LUG and want to offer it to anyone who have a passion...
Paul’s Parts #2 (June 2016)
New Parts This issue I thought I would highlight one new part that arrived in June. Part Number: 23443 First Appeared: Volcano Explorers Current Colours: Black Very similar to part 11090, first appearing in 2013, it has a bar instead of a clip. These two parts...
Paul’s Parts #1 (May 2016)
Being our first issue I thought I’d look at a few parts that made their first appearance last year. Part Number: 19121 First Appeared: Elves Current Colours: Lavender, Sand Green, Pearl Gold, Black Part Number: 20309 First Appeared: Friends Current Colours: Tan, Sand,...