How to build a brick excavator
To build a brick excavator, lay two long gray tracks bridged by three yellow bricks, add a yellow back block, a tall blue cab and a yellow roof, climb yellow bricks up high for the digging arm with the longest yellow brick on top, then hang a black bucket down the front. 18 pieces, 4 steps, ages 4–6.
The excavator build at a glance
| Pieces | 18 (7 kinds) |
|---|---|
| Steps | 4 |
| Ages | 4–6 |
| Colors | yellow, light gray, black, blue |
| Finished size | 15 × 6 studs, about 5.8 cm (2.3 in) tall |
| Special pieces | None: plain bricks |
Parts you need
5× yellow 2×4 brick
5× yellow 2×2 brick
2× light gray 2×8 brick
2× black 2×2 brick
2× blue 2×2 brick
1× yellow 2×8 brick
1× black 1×2 brick
Step-by-step instructions
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1 Tracks and body
Lay two long gray tracks, then bridge them with three big yellow bricks!
Find: 3 yellow 2×4 bricks, 2 light gray 2×8 bricks
Did you know? Excavator tracks spread the weight so the heavy machine doesn't sink into mud.
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2 Cab and heavy back
Add a yellow back block, a tall blue cab, and a yellow roof!
Find: 2 blue 2×2 bricks, 2 yellow 2×2 bricks, 1 yellow 2×4 brick
Did you know? The heavy back part is called a counterweight. It stops the digger from tipping forward.
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3 Long digging arm
Climb yellow bricks up high, then add the longest yellow brick on top!
Find: 3 yellow 2×2 bricks, 1 yellow 2×8 brick, 1 yellow 2×4 brick
Did you know? The top of an excavator can spin all the way around while its tracks stay still.
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4 Black bucket
Hang two black bricks down the front — the bucket scoops the dirt!
Find: 2 black 2×2 bricks, 1 black 1×2 brick
Did you know? Big excavator buckets have sharp metal teeth to bite into hard ground.
Questions parents ask
How many pieces do you need for a brick excavator?
18: 5 yellow 2×4 bricks, 5 yellow 2×2 bricks, 2 light gray 2×8 bricks and 4 more kinds. The full list is in “Parts you need”.
Are these excavator instructions free?
Yes. Every step is on this page.
What if I’m missing a color?
Use a brick of the same size in another color. The shapes hold the model together; the colors are only for looks.
