<p>Lack of chains should not be a showstopper for such a project, as any flexible, non-expandable material can work instead. You may use LEGO strings, like those included with Spiderman sets with the tubular grip sections or the plain one: <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/akokn.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/akokn.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>Or in their absence even plain, 3rd party string can work, either tied to, or gripped between LEGO bricks: <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/CT4lp.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/CT4lp.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>I have had success with rubber bands and pneumatic tubing as well, so grab anything suitable and start building :)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-08T16:09:01.813Z
2021-06-08T16:09:01.813Z
zovits
<p>Tensegrity Sculpture by JKBrickworks has <a href="https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-39994/JKBrickworks/tensegrity-sculpture/#details" rel="nofollow noreferrer">free instructions</a>. Here you can also get a full list of elements you need to build it.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/c3JiW.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/c3JiW.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>Rebrickable has <a href="https://rebrickable.com/mocs/?q=tensegrity" rel="nofollow noreferrer">few more</a> &quot;tensegrity&quot; models. All come with instructions and part lists as well as estimated part costs. Example for the model shown above:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/1bfSl.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/1bfSl.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>As for acquiring parts, there are multiple ways. If you are looking to purchase missing elements only I would suggest the following options (in no particular order):</p>
<ul>
<li>LEGO PAB (Pick A Brick) online store</li>
<li>LEGO B'n'P (Bricks and Pieces)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.bricklink.com/v2/main.page" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Bricklink</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.brickowl.com" rel="nofollow noreferrer">BrickOwl</a></li>
</ul>
<p>Each creation/MOC on Rebrickable has a &quot;Buy parts&quot; tab, which uses Bricklink and BrickOwl shops. Or you can use the &quot;add to wishlist/wanted list&quot; options available for Bricklink and BrickOwl from the Inventory tab.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-08T08:04:21.483Z
2024-09-03T13:03:51.280Z
2024-09-03T13:03:51.280Z
Alex
<p>My daughter saw some beautiful and interesting <em>tensegrity</em> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tensegrity" rel="noreferrer">tensional integrity</a>) LEGO models on the <a href="https://www.brothers-brick.com/2020/05/05/the-art-and-science-of-lego-tensegrity-builds/" rel="noreferrer">Internet</a>:</p>
<p><a href="https://www.brothers-brick.com/2020/05/05/the-art-and-science-of-lego-tensegrity-builds/" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/QZ8DB.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/7eaaX.gif" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/7eaaX.gif" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>and she would like to get one for her birthday.</p>
<p>We've got a few Harry Potter LEGO sets at home, but the only chain I've found was from &quot;Hungarian Horntail Triwizard Challenge - 75946&quot;, and it's probably too long.</p>
<p>What would be the easiest (=fewest sets) or cheapest way to get the required bricks and chains?</p>
<p>I live in Germany, and I've found a custom set with original bricks for 30€, for the simplest model.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.flix-brix.de/alle-original-lego-teile-fur-das-moc-tensegrity-sculpture.html" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/xNbbR.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>I really like the yellow castle above, as well as the Ninjago one. Does anybody know how much it would cost to build them?</p>
<p>Finally, this one (<em>The Impossible Apartment Complex</em> by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_X2jEbhH5a/" rel="noreferrer">Jeff Friesen</a>) also looks really cool:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/bVfSu.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/bVfSu.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>Any hint would be welcome!</p>

<shopping><design><moc>
Simplest/cheapest way to build a tensegrity model?
Eric Duminil
# Simplest/cheapest way to build a tensegrity model?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-06-08)

My daughter saw some beautiful and interesting *tensegrity* ([tensional integrity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tensegrity)) LEGO models on the [Internet](https://www.brothers-brick.com/2020/05/05/the-art-and-science-of-lego-tensegrity-builds/):

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/QZ8DB.jpg)](https://www.brothers-brick.com/2020/05/05/the-art-and-science-of-lego-tensegrity-builds/)

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/7eaaX.gif)](https://i.sstatic.net/7eaaX.gif)

and she would like to get one for her birthday.

We've got a few Harry Potter LEGO sets at home, but the only chain I've found was from "Hungarian Horntail Triwizard Challenge - 75946", and it's probably too long.

What would be the easiest (=fewest sets) or cheapest way to get the required bricks and chains?

I live in Germany, and I've found a custom set with original bricks for 30€, for the simplest model.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/xNbbR.png)](https://www.flix-brix.de/alle-original-lego-teile-fur-das-moc-tensegrity-sculpture.html)

I really like the yellow castle above, as well as the Ninjago one. Does anybody know how much it would cost to build them?

Finally, this one (*The Impossible Apartment Complex* by [Jeff Friesen](https://www.instagram.com/p/B_X2jEbhH5a/)) also looks really cool:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/bVfSu.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/bVfSu.jpg)

Any hint would be welcome!

**Tags:** shopping, design, moc


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-06-08. Score: 17 | Accepted answer

Tensegrity Sculpture by JKBrickworks has [free instructions](https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-39994/JKBrickworks/tensegrity-sculpture/#details). Here you can also get a full list of elements you need to build it.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/c3JiW.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/c3JiW.jpg)

Rebrickable has [few more](https://rebrickable.com/mocs/?q=tensegrity) "tensegrity" models. All come with instructions and part lists as well as estimated part costs. Example for the model shown above:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/1bfSl.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/1bfSl.png)

As for acquiring parts, there are multiple ways. If you are looking to purchase missing elements only I would suggest the following options (in no particular order):

* LEGO PAB (Pick A Brick) online store
* LEGO B'n'P (Bricks and Pieces)
* [Bricklink](https://www.bricklink.com/v2/main.page)
* [BrickOwl](https://www.brickowl.com)

Each creation/MOC on Rebrickable has a "Buy parts" tab, which uses Bricklink and BrickOwl shops. Or you can use the "add to wishlist/wanted list" options available for Bricklink and BrickOwl from the Inventory tab.


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-06-08. Score: 14

Lack of chains should not be a showstopper for such a project, as any flexible, non-expandable material can work instead. You may use LEGO strings, like those included with Spiderman sets with the tubular grip sections or the plain one: [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/akokn.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/akokn.jpg)

Or in their absence even plain, 3rd party string can work, either tied to, or gripped between LEGO bricks: [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/CT4lp.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/CT4lp.png)

I have had success with rubber bands and pneumatic tubing as well, so grab anything suitable and start building :)


---

