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LEGO Missing Piece Checker

Rule out the usual hiding places first. If the piece really is gone, check the set piece by piece and leave with the element ID LEGO asks for, or a link to buy the part.

Checking

42181 VTOL Heavy Cargo Spaceship LT81

1,365 pieces in 178 part and color combinations.

Before you call it missing

Builders who report a missing piece often find it in one of these places. Tick each one off as you look.

Every bag and the box. Shake out each bag, check its corners and seams, and look inside the empty box.
Inside what you have built. Small pieces lodge inside tubes, under plates and between studs. Turn the model over and look.
The last few steps. Compare each recent step with its parts callout. A piece used in the wrong place earlier leaves you one short later.
Look-alike colors. 1 part in this set come in two colors that are easy to mix up; they are listed below.
The spare pieces. This set comes with 24 spare pieces, marked on each row of the checklist. One may be the piece you need.
The floor and your building area. Check under furniture, the chair and the edges of your building surface.

Look-alike colors in this set

These parts appear in this set in two colors that are easy to confuse. If you are one short in one color, check whether it went in where the other color belongs. Each color has its own element ID in the parts list at the back of the instructions.

Technic Axle Connector with Axle Hole [Reinforced] Black ×2 Dark Bluish Gray ×6 Black is darker than Dark Bluish Gray.

Piece checklist

Bricks Round and Cones 32 pieces

Cone 4 x 4 x 2, Axle Hole [Plain] Black Part 3943b Element 4143243 or 394326 ×4
Cone 1 x 1 [Top Groove] Trans-Light Blue Part 59900 Element 6514027 or 6337639 ×16
Brick Round 1 x 1 diameter Tube with 90 Degree Elbow (2 x 2 x 1) and Axle Holes (Crossholes) at each end Yellow Part 25214 Element 6253294 or 6173898 ×12

Technic Gears 20 pieces

Technic Gear 20 Tooth Double Bevel with Axle Hole Type 1 [+ Opening] Black Part 18575 Element 6346535 or 6093977 ×3
Technic Knob Wheel Black Part 32072 Element 6284188 or 4248204 ×3
Technic Turntable Small Base, 28 Tooth Black Part 99010 Element 6326620 or 4652236 ×2
Technic Gear 20 Tooth Double Bevel with Clutch on Both Sides Blue Part 35185 Element 6224999 ×2
Technic Gear 24 Tooth [New Style with Single Axle Hole] Dark Bluish Gray Part 3648b Element 6133119 or 4514558 ×2
Technic Gear 16 Tooth Reinforced [New Style] Light Bluish Gray Part 94925 Element 4640536 ×2
Technic Knob Wheel 45° Offset Light Bluish Gray Part 5405 Element 6469530 ×3
Technic Turntable Small Top Light Bluish Gray Part 99009 Element 4652235 ×2
Technic Gear 16 Tooth with Clutch on Both Sides Red Part 18946 Element 6100930 ×1

Plates Round Curved and Dishes 19 pieces

Plate Round 2 x 2 with Axle Hole Type 1 (+ Opening) Black Part 4032a Element 403226 ×4
Dish 3 x 3 Inverted [Radar] Light Bluish Gray Part 43898 Element 6070564 or 4568360 ×1
Dish 4 x 4 Inverted [Radar] Light Bluish Gray Part 3960 Element 4211664 ×2
Plate Round 1 x 1 with Solid Stud Trans-Clear Part 6141 Element 6514052 or 6240030 2 spares in the box ×12

Technic Bushes 19 pieces

Technic Bush Light Bluish Gray Part 3713 Element 6275844 or 6271817 2 spares in the box ×17
Technic Bush 1/2 Smooth with Axle Hole Semi-Reduced Yellow Part 32123b Element 6271167 or 3212324 1 spare in the box ×2

Bars, Ladders and Fences 17 pieces

Antenna 8H Whip Black Part 2569 Element 6265148 or 6164379 ×4
Bar 1L with Clip [Cut Edges and One Side Hole] [Full Clip] Black Part 3484 Element 6439039 ×1
Bar 3L Black Part 87994 Element 6185316 or 6093525 1 spare in the box ×1
Lever Small Base with Black Lever Black Part 298c02 Element 73587 1 spare in the box ×1
Light Cover 1 x 1 Round with Internal Bar / Bionicle Barraki Eye Trans-Orange Part 58176 Element 6507868 or 6171764 1 spare in the box ×7
Bar 6L with Stop Ring White Part 63965 Element 6170419 or 6081986 2 spares in the box ×3

Wheels and Tyres 12 pieces

Tyre Offset Tread with Center Band 23 x 7 Black Part 61254 Element 4541455 ×4
Wheel 30.4 x 20 without Pinholes, with Reinforced Rim Black Part 56145 Element 4299389 or 4284946 ×4
Wheel 18 x 8 with Fake Bolts and Deep Spokes with Inner Ring Light Bluish Gray Part 13971 Element 6359807 or 6044729 ×4

Tiles Round and Curved 10 pieces

Tile Round 1 x 1 Black Part 98138 Element 6284070 or 6139403 1 spare in the box ×4
Tile Round 1 x 1 with Black Off-Center Dot/Circle/Eye Print White Part 98138pr0273 Element 6384891 1 spare in the box ×2
Tile Round 1 x 1 Yellow Part 98138 Element 6284577 or 6070714 1 spare in the box ×4

Tiles Special 10 pieces

Tile Special 1 x 1 with Clip with Rounded Edges Black Part 15712 Element 6335388 or 6066102 ×8
Tile Special Round 2 x 2 with Hole Black Part 15535 Element 6143850 ×2

Technic Steering, Suspension and Engine 7 pieces

Technic Steering / CV Ball Joint Female with 3L Axle Dark Bluish Gray Part 52730 Element 6261793 ×2
Technic Steering Wheel Pilot's Yoke [Closed Top] Dark Bluish Gray Part 49151 Element 6431478 ×1
Technic Steering / CV Ball Joint Male 3L Light Bluish Gray Part 52731 Element 6262968 ×2
Technic Universal Joint 3L [Complete Assembly] Light Bluish Gray Part 61903 Element 6335279 or 6321309 ×2

Large Buildable Figures 6 pieces

Large Figure Weapon, Barrel with 2 Pin Holes and 3 Axle Holes Trans-Light Blue Part 98585 Element 6503210 or 6248915 ×6

Plates 6 pieces

Plate 1 x 2 Black Part 3023 Element 302326 ×2
Plate 1 x 4 Black Part 3710 Element 371026 ×4

Pneumatics 4 pieces

Pneumatic Hose Connector with Axle Connector Dark Bluish Gray Part 99021 Element 6265669 or 6020189 ×4

Supports, Girders and Cranes 4 pieces

Support Girder 7 x 16 Black Part 79768 Element 6439563 ×4

Technic Bricks 4 pieces

Technic Brick 1 x 2 [2 Pin Holes] Black Part 32000 Element 3200026 ×4

Plates Special 3 pieces

Plate Special 1 x 2 with Pin Hole Underneath Black Part 18677 Element 6192309 or 6167497 ×2
Plate Special 2 x 2 with 2 Pin Holes Black Part 2817 Element 281726 ×1

Stickers 2 pieces

Sticker Sheet 1 for Set 42181-1 [No Color/Any Color] Part 10108368 Element 6484642 ×1
Sticker Sheet 2 for Set 42181-1 [No Color/Any Color] Part 10105337 Element 6462850 ×1

Technic Beams Special 2 pieces

Technic Beam Frame 11 x 15 Black Part 39790 Element 6295161 ×1
Technic Beam Frame 3 x 19 with 2 Center Cross Beams, 3 Openings Thick Dark Bluish Gray Part 67491 Element 6396964 ×1

Windscreens and Fuselage 2 pieces

Windscreen 10 x 6 x 3 Bubble Canopy Double Tapered with Square Front Cutout Trans-Black Part 10312 Element 6514105 or 6474470 ×2

Bricks Special 1 piece

Brick Special 1 x 6 x 4 with 4 Pin Holes and Opening Reddish Orange Part 49699 Element 6468285 ×1

Technic Special 1 piece

Technic Link 1 x 16 Red Part 2637 Element 6212053 or 4106933 ×1

Tiles 1 piece

Tile 2 x 2 with Groove White Part 3068b Element 6548263 or 306801 ×1

Tick each piece as you find it, or mark it missing.

When a piece really is missing

Ask LEGO

LEGO takes requests for pieces missing from a new set through its customer service site. The form asks for the set number and each piece's element ID, the number printed beside the piece in the parts list at the back of the instructions. This checker lists both.

Request a replacement from LEGO

Buy the piece

Mark a piece missing and your list links it to an eBay search for that part, which also covers pieces from older or second-hand sets.

Keep a record

Copy or download your missing list (the CSV opens in any spreadsheet), or print the whole checklist and tick pieces off on paper. Your marks stay in this browser, so you can check a big set over several sittings.

LEGO Missing Piece Checker

42181 VTOL Heavy Cargo Spaceship LT81

Before you call it missing

Look-alike colors in this set

Your missing list

Piece checklist

Technic Pins 553 pieces

Technic Connectors 212 pieces

Technic Beams 200 pieces

Technic Panels 110 pieces