Gorilla MOC Review: 1,400-Piece Seated Ape in 5 Hours
The short version: this gorilla MOC nails the look. Roughly 1,400 pieces produce a 19 cm seated ape, the build runs about 5 hours at a moderate difficulty, and it suits intermediate builders who already enjoy animal MOCs. Value is solid overall. The one thing to plan for is the heavy demand for dark grey and light grey parts around the chest and shoulders — buy them in one go rather than in batches. The instructions come from the brickplan platform, and the parts list is split up by body section.
1. How Faithful Is the Model?
The face is the standout. Black round pieces with white highlight pieces give the eyes a real sense of focus, while curved slope pieces shape the brow ridge and muzzle into that unmistakable gorilla expression. The chest and shoulders alternate dark grey and light grey elements to build up muscle layers, and curved pieces along the back recreate the hunched seated posture. The arms braced on the ground keep the proportions believable. At about 19 cm tall it holds real presence on a desk, and the accuracy lands at roughly 90 percent.
2. Building Experience
The build moves through four stages: head, torso, arms and legs. The head is the hardest part — the brow ridge and lower jaw angles need careful alignment against the instructions. The torso uses SNOT (studs not on top) to lay the chest muscles in sideways, which is a small hurdle for newcomers. The instructions call out colour-coded steps and multiple viewing angles at the key moments, so following them gets you to the finish in about 5 hours. Nothing needed reworking along the way, and the whole process felt smooth.
3. Value and Verdict
The model uses around 1,400 pieces, and with domestic (non-LEGO) parts that works out to roughly 350 CNY, with dark grey and light grey elements accounting for the largest share. Compared with animal MOCs of the same size the price is reasonable, the special-piece count is low, and replacing missing parts is easy. Taken together, it is a high-fidelity, playable design that works well on a bookshelf or as the opening entry in an animal collection. Here's hoping brickplan follows up with a matching jungle base.
FAQ
Q: Where do I download the gorilla MOC instructions?
A: Search for "gorilla" on the brickplan website. The listing includes high-resolution step views and a parts list broken down by body section. Registration lets you download the PDF free, and you can zoom in for close-up views.
Q: Is this gorilla MOC suitable for beginners?
A: Starting from zero isn't really recommended, because the head and torso both involve sideways SNOT building and there is a genuine learning curve. Build one or two animal MOCs first, then take this on — it takes about 5 hours.
Q: How big is the finished model?
A: The seated figure stands about 19 cm tall and is about 14 cm deep. A 16x16 stud baseplate gives it the most stable footing, and it stands out clearly on a desk or in a display cabinet.
Q: What does it cost to gather all the parts?
A: Around 350 CNY, with dark grey and light grey plates making up the biggest chunk at roughly 200 CNY of that. The instruction page on brickplan lists every part, so you can tick off the grey pieces you already own and order only the gaps.
Q: Can it be displayed with other animal MOCs?
A: Yes — the scale sits well with other animal MOCs. Pair it with brickplan's lion and giraffe designs for an African savanna scene; the overall effect is stronger than displaying it alone.