How to Make Custom LEGO Military Minifigures: A Step by Step Guide

To make custom LEGO military minifigures, pick a body and a color scheme, then add a helmet, a vest, a weapon and extra gear like a backpack, and finish by putting the figure on display. In the video below I challenged myself to build a custom LEGO military minifigure in just 5 minutes, pulling parts straight out of my parts bin. This guide walks through the same six steps using the helmets, vests, guns and gear we make in house in Fall City, Washington, so you can build your own soldier, operator or a whole custom LEGO army.

Shop the parts for your custom LEGO military minifigure

SHOP CUSTOM LEGO MILITARY →SHOP HELMETS →SHOP VESTS →SHOP CUSTOM LEGO GUNS →SHOP MINIFIGURE PARTS →

Military Assault BodyShop nowMilitary HelmetShop nowKevlar VestShop nowClassic AR RifleShop nowHeavy BackpackShop nowMinifigure Display StandShop now

Step 1: Choose the figure and a color scheme

Every build starts with the figure itself: a head, a torso with arms and hands, and legs. In the video the first thing I did was settle on a color scheme. I found a dark tan torso and some dark tan short sleeves, and right away I knew the whole figure would be dark tan. Dark tan is pretty easy to work with, so it is a great first color if you are new to building custom LEGO soldiers. Then I matched it with light flesh arms, hands and head.

To skip the hunt through a parts bin, start with a printed body. The Military Assault Body gives you the torso and legs of a frontline rifleman, and the Military Uniform Body gives you a clean, ready for duty uniform. Printed camo legs like the Classic Camo Legs and Digital Camo Legs upgrade any figure, and a printed head like the Green Marine Head (Frown) adds a stern face. Want a head start? The Urban Operator and Midnight Operator come fully built, and you can swap their parts too. Every one of these is Custom Printed on Genuine LEGO Parts.

Military Assault BodyShop nowMilitary Uniform BodyShop nowClassic Camo LegsShop nowDigital Camo LegsShop nowGreen Marine Head (Frown)Shop nowUrban OperatorShop nowMidnight OperatorShop now

SHOP MINIFIGURE PARTS →SHOP CUSTOM LEGO MINIFIGURES →

Step 2: Pick a helmet or hat

Headgear tells you what kind of soldier you are looking at. In my 5 minute build I was torn between a boonie hat and a generic military cap, and I went with the boonie hat because it looked a little bit cooler and a little bit different. For modern operators, the Military Helmet (a fast helmet) and the Advanced Combat Helmet are both night vision compatible, and the Ballistic Helmet gives a modern military look. The Boonie Hat is a classic for jungle patrols, snipers and recon teams, and the Military Cap is a clean field look for officers and soldiers. Add the Tactical Headset for a comms operator look.

Military HelmetShop nowAdvanced Combat HelmetShop nowBallistic HelmetShop nowBoonie HatShop nowMilitary CapShop nowTactical HeadsetShop now

SHOP ALL HELMETS →

Step 3: Add a vest

The vest is what makes a minifigure look tactical. All BrickTactical vests fit on custom LEGO minifigure torsos, so you just slip one on over the torso. The Kevlar Vest gives soldiers, police and operators a protected look, the Blank Molle Vest is a clean base for modern military builds, the Tactical Vest V3 gives a modern operator look, and the Combat Vest adds a rugged, kitted out feel. Pick a vest color that matches or contrasts your uniform color from step 1.

Kevlar VestShop nowBlank Molle VestShop nowTactical Vest V3Shop nowCombat VestShop now

SHOP ALL VESTS →

Step 4: Choose the weapon

In the video my figure ended up with an overmolded AK47 in gunmetal and brown, and I mentioned I might swap it for more of a long distance rifle to turn him into a sniper. That is the idea for this step: match the weapon to the job. The Classic AR Rifle suits modern military and special forces, the AK47 Rifle is a go to rifle for military and modern combat builds, the Scoped MK18 Rifle is a compact carbine with a mounted scope, and the M4 Rifle w/60 Round Mag adds an extended magazine. For a sniper, grab the BT110 Sniper Rifle, and give every figure a sidearm like the BT17 Pistol. Every gun clips right into a standard minifigure hand.

Classic AR RifleShop nowAK47 RifleShop nowScoped MK18 RifleShop nowM4 Rifle w/60 Round MagShop nowBT110 Sniper RifleShop nowBT17 PistolShop now

SHOP ALL CUSTOM LEGO GUNS →SHOP RIFLES →SHOP PISTOLS →

Step 5: Add extra gear

Small gear is what makes a figure feel finished. I found a dark tan backpack during my build, and it added a little bit of heft to the figure and made it look cool. The Heavy Backpack works with BrickTactical vests that have studs on the back, and the Radio Backpack turns any soldier into a radio operator or squad leader. I also gave my figure a cigarette, and the Overmolded Cigarette is three colors of plastic molded together into one piece (a prop only, and we do not endorse smoking). One quick tip from the video: once the weapon and gear are in place, swap them between hands so your figure is right handed.

Heavy BackpackShop nowRadio BackpackShop nowOvermolded CigaretteShop nowTactical HeadsetShop now

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Step 6: Display your custom LEGO army

Once you have one figure you like, it is easy to build a whole squad the same way. To show them off, the Minifigure Display Stand holds 72 minifigures in a neat layout, the Minifigure Display Case is a clear case for protecting one favorite figure, and the Crate has a removable lid, so you can stash gear inside and use it as a prop in your base or supply drop scene.

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Custom LEGO military minifigure steps at a glance

Tips for better custom LEGO soldiers

• Pick one main color first: a single uniform color like dark tan makes every other choice easier.
• Match the gear to the role: a boonie hat and a long range rifle read as a sniper, a fast helmet and a headset read as an operator.
• Do not overload the figure: a helmet, a vest, one primary weapon and one or two gear pieces is usually enough.
• Try a 5 minute challenge: set a timer, grab parts from your bin and see what you come up with, just like in the video.

SHOP CUSTOM LEGO MILITARY →SHOP HELMETS →SHOP VESTS →SHOP CUSTOM LEGO GUNS →

FAQ

How do you make custom LEGO military minifigures?

Pick a body, head and one main uniform color, then add a helmet or hat, a vest, a weapon and extra gear like a backpack or radio, and finish by putting the figure on display. BrickTactical makes the helmets, vests, guns and gear for every step.

Do BrickTactical vests fit custom LEGO minifigures?

Yes. All BrickTactical vests fit on custom LEGO minifigure torsos, so you can slip one on and build out the rest of the loadout around it.

Can I add night vision goggles to a custom LEGO military helmet?

Yes. The BrickTactical Military Helmet and Advanced Combat Helmet are night vision compatible. Night vision goggles are sold separately.

What colors work best for a custom LEGO soldier?

Pick one main color and build around it. Dark tan is easy to work with, and our helmets, caps and hats come in 20 color options so you can match tan, olive green, black and more across the whole figure.

What are BrickTactical helmets, vests and guns made of?

They are made from ABS plastic, the same type of plastic used for building bricks, and sized to fit standard custom LEGO minifigures. Every piece is Injection Molded in the USA, in house by BrickTactical.

Can I build a custom LEGO military minifigure quickly?

Yes. In the video above Payton builds a full custom LEGO military minifigure in 5 minutes from a bin of parts. If you want a figure that is ready right away, grab a fully built operator like the Urban Operator or Midnight Operator.

Keep building your army: custom LEGO WW2 minifigures, custom LEGO WW2 guns, custom LEGO SWAT gear and custom LEGO zombie hunters.