You guys know all the ups and downs we’ve experienced with our LEGO chairlift. A labor of love, indeed, especially since Mr. Family Brick and I are not traditional engineers by any means. Can’t tell you the number of times we’ve torn down our ski lift or repositioned it just to figure out the magic that made it work in the first place.

Which is why I want you to check out the video of this LEGO Ideas submission. It looks like someone has finally put their mind to it and created a fully functional, minifigure sized LEGO chairlift!

Description of the LEGO Chairlift

The LEGO Ideas Chairlift submission is the brain child of Brickeric. In his LEGO Ideas submission, he writes:

Do your minifigs love mountains, like I do?
Would they like an easy way of getting there?
Here is my solution: a working chair lift.

Why I built it

When enjoying the views in the Austrian Montafon valley, I got the inspiration for using pneumatic hose as “cable” and T-connectors to attach chairs.

Bulding details

• The big wheels were quite a challenge (have to be round as well as strong). However, in hindsight they were fairly easy to build.
• The main part of the construction is actually the long bar between the stations. It ensures there is tension on the cable, and provides stability. Since it hinges at the stations, it also provides flexibility in the height/angle of the whole construction.
• The bases have to be ‘thin’ (to avoid the chairs bumping into them) as well as stable. That’s why I chose these particular pieces for that; they allow a technic axle inside to provide the stability.
• This consists of 1485 parts. 16 carts are connected to the cable, using 24 parts each.
• Four friendly attendants ensure safe entry and exit for all your minifigs!

Play options:

• By putting the mountain station on an elevated surface, the lift becomes operational. It is then operated by turning the lever attached to the mountain station wheel.
• The base of that same station has an opening to connect whatever driving force you’d want to use. For instance, you can use that to provide manual operation without needing the lever on top. Or, connect a motor; one hidden inside a mountain, for example.
• I expect this could be integrated in both summer and winter (village) setups. Removing the stations from the bases and integrating into `something else´ is straightforward.
• The height (altitude) of the mountain station is adjustable. Same holds for the angle off the lift, thanks to the hinging bar.
• The length of the lift is adjustable. Use longer or shorter hoses, or reduce the number of chairs by removing some of them. Off course, the length of the black bar has to be adjusted accordingly, in that case.
• Running fully horizontal is possible by adjusting the ground station a bit (lower the wheel, basically).
• Finally, the direction of rotation can also be changed (by swapping 2 parts in every chair).

So What Do You Think Of It?

There are so many reasons why I love this build…

Size is the correct scale

One of the things we dislike about so many of the potential chair lift ideas out there has to do with the size of the model. While minifigures are so small, most of the motorized solutions tend to have large bases or large gondola cars.

This build appears to be secure and stable with a more appropriate size matching the minifigures, which is great in our book!

Build Uses LEGO Parts

Another thing we love about this build is the use of the pneumatic tubes. We struggled to find a solution for the cable and opted to use LEGO chain. We also tried to use the string that comes with fire hoses, but the weight of our cable cars was always too much for it.

With the chain, we add a certain level of complexity due to needing the correct amount of tension. Without it, cable cars fall off if it is too loose or pop off if it is too tight. The pneumatic tubes don’t seem to be having any of those problems in the video.

The Wheels Give Minifigures a Smooth Ride

Our LEGO chairlift can sometimes appear a bit violent. Where we used strictly technic gears and larger wheels, he built a larger wheel mechanism. It appears to allow for the minifigures to circle around without flaying. Our design certainly could benefit from the smoothness he achieved with his build.

Honestly guys, I couldn’t love this more!

Fantastic set! Would easily give it 5 stars. We recommend you go vote it up into the 10K club for consideration!