SNOT Building Technique: Complete Guide to Studs Not On Top
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What SNOT (studs not on top) building is, the geometry that makes sideways sections line up, the bricks and brackets that make it possible, and how to keep sideways sections strong.
SNOT, short for studs not on top, is any LEGO building where studs face sideways or down instead of up. Turning a section 90 degrees or flipping it over gives you smooth faces, fine detail and shapes the stud-up grid cannot make. It works because of one ratio, and once you know it, most SNOT techniques are just ways of making the numbers line up.
The geometry that makes SNOT work
Studs sit 8 mm apart, a plate is 3.2 mm tall and a brick is 9.6 mm tall. So one stud is as wide as 2.5 plates, and two studs are as wide as five plates are tall. A sideways section built two studs deep lines up with five plates of stud-up building; one built one stud deep leaves a half-plate gap you have to fill. These figures are documented by fan references such as the Brighton Toy and Model Index.
The parts that turn studs sideways
- Brick 1 x 1 with headlight (4070). Its side stud is recessed by half a plate, and the square cut-out on its back works as an anti-stud, so it can also mount sideways (Brick Builder's Handbook). That half-plate recess is exactly what fixes many half-step offsets.
- Bricks with side studs. Brick 1 x 1 with stud on 1 side (87087), with studs on 2 sides (47905) and studs on 4 sides (4733), plus the longer Brick 1 x 2 with 2 studs on 1 side (11211) and Brick 1 x 4 with 4 studs on one side (30414). Unlike the headlight brick, their side studs are flush with the face.
- Brackets. Bracket 1 x 2 - 1 x 2 (99781) and its inverted version (99780), Bracket 1 x 2 - 2 x 2 (44728) and Bracket 1 x 2 - 1 x 4 (2436) turn a plate's worth of studs through 90 degrees, pointing out or down.
- Jumper plates. Plate 1 x 2 with 1 stud (15573) and the 2 x 2 jumper (87580) have one centred stud, shifting whatever sits on them by half a stud.
- Clips and handles. Plates with clips, such as 61252 and 63868, and plates with handles, such as 26047, attach parts at angles the grid cannot reach.
Common SNOT techniques
Sideways panels
Build a section stud-up on its own, then mount it on side studs or brackets so its face points outward. Size it in multiples of two studs deep so it meets the surrounding wall, or shim the difference with plates. This is how smooth walls, tiled floors set on edge and detailed facades are usually made.
Upside-down sections
Flipping a section puts its smooth underside or its studs facing down. Inverted brackets and bricks with studs on opposite sides let you hang it from the structure above. It is a common way to finish the underside of an overhang or a ceiling.
Half-plate and half-stud offsets
When a sideways detail sits half a plate out of line, the headlight brick's recessed stud or an extra plate usually fixes it. When a detail needs to be centred between two studs, a jumper plate shifts it half a stud.
Technic as a connector
Technic bricks such as 3700 take pins and axles sideways, which gives a strong side connection and the option of a hinge. Our Technic integration guide covers these parts.
Keeping sideways sections strong
A sideways panel often hangs on only a few side studs or brackets, so it is usually the weakest part of a model. Anchor it at both ends and at points along its length, tie it into the structure behind it, and keep load-bearing walls stud up. The structural engineering guide covers bracing in more depth.
Learning from official sets
Large Architecture landmarks and LEGO's modular buildings use sideways sections throughout their facades. LEGO publishes building instructions free on LEGO.com, so you can study where a set uses brackets and side-stud bricks before you buy it.
Notre-Dame de Paris: a large Architecture landmark with a detailed facade, towers and spire.
Trevi Fountain: sculpted facade and water detail in a mid-size Architecture set.
For more detail techniques, see greebling and nice part usage.
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