Today, I’m going to talk about three pieces that LEGO doesn’t make, but other brands like Cobi, Gobricks (Pantasy), or Sluban do. They're not complicated, but they represent a radical innovation compared to current building techniques.
1. Plate with studs on both sides
This piece with studs on both sides is very common in Cobi and Sluban builds.
This piece is the one that makes the biggest difference in builds, and it is essentially a plate with studs on both sides.
It comes in 1x1, 1x2, 1x4, 2x2, and 2x4 formats across various alt brick brands. Despite what you might think, the clutch is excellent, and allows all kinds of interesting builds.
LEGO's current methods to achieve this double-sided assembly with their pieces don’t work nearly as well.
To the left, two LEGO bricks with studs on the sides. To the right, two Cobi plates with studs on both sides.
The greater thickness of a LEGO brick compared to that of a plate makes them much more difficult to work with.
2. Brick with anti-studs on both sides
Hollow pieces in 2 formats.
These pieces are basically the opposite of the previous ones. They are 2/3 the height of a standard brick and have the particularity of being hollow, with anti-studs on both sides.
This allows you to build with the studs facing downward in both directions. It's not as useful as the last piece, but it still has lots of interesting applications.
2. Mini tube
Cobi calls these "pin sleeves" but really they're just little tubes.
This is the 'least LEGO-like' piece of them all. Essentially, it works like a removable stud. It is the same size as a hollow stud, but twice the height. This allows you to attach it to the underside of a standard piece, giving it studs on both sides, as seen in the image below.
If you want to see examples and applications of how these three pieces work, check out this video we’ve prepared for the most curious builders, which inclues a few more examples:
The two brands that use these pieces the most are Cobi and Sluban. In our Top 10, you’ll find several fun builds to expand your knowledge of building techniques!