Product Idea |

Laputa: Castle in the Sky: Tiger Moth

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Let's go back to 1986. Laputa: Castle in the Sky is a fantastic anime film created by Studio Ghibli. Ever since I watched the movie for the first time, I’ve wondered why no LEGO sets have been made based on this amazing film. So, I decided to take on the challenge myself by creating the pirate ship from the movie, the “Tiger Moth.”

The Planning:

To start, there were a few key features I wanted to incorporate into this MOC (My Own Creation). The propellers at the back should spin when the model rolls on wheels, the interior should be accessible, and the small glider on top should be able to unfold and detach from the balloon.

The Building:

I began with the base to create a strong, stable structure that could support the large balloon on top. At the same time, I designed the mechanism to spin the propellers at the back. This was challenging, but I made it work.
Next, I moved on to the main body of the build, aiming for a design as accurate to the movie as possible. I had to scale it slightly smaller than minifigure scale, but there’s still space for multiple minifigures inside and outside. As you might expect, the cockpit was another tough challenge—it needed to connect seamlessly to the main body while staying stable. I also designed an interior for the cockpit, though unfortunately, the roof isn’t removable.
Then came the most difficult part: the balloon. I tried various methods at first but ultimately chose the SNOT (Studs Not on Top) technique. This section needed to be as stable as possible, so I constructed a solid structure with technic bricks and liftarms to support the balloon. I placed modified bricks on the sides of this core structure to make the SNOT technique work and then added rounded side panels to enclose the balloon structure.
With a few additional details, my Laputa: Castle in the Sky "Tiger Moth" MOC was complete. This journey took around three months, with a lot of real-life modeling and setbacks. In the end, it turned out to be one of my best models ever, and it’s only getting better—I promise!

Why This?

Why would this make an amazing LEGO set? First of all, it’s not only about the functional features but also about the ship’s unique, majestic appearance. It’s visually impressive even when stationary. And for all fans who have longed for a Laputa set, this would be a fantastic opportunity to finally have a model they can enjoy in their own homes.
I had so much fun building this set, and I hope you’ll consider giving it a chance to become something bigger than it is now. Thank you for your time.

Dimensions:

  • Length: 88.1 studs = 79.6 cm
  • Width: 87 studs = 78.5 cm
  • Height: 44.8 studs = 39.8 cm

Pieces:

  • 3036 parts
  • Main color: Reddish brown


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