LEGO Set 10348-1 – Japanese Red Maple Bonsai Tree: Alternate Builds & Creative Mods

The Japanese Red Maple Bonsai Tree (10348-1) is one of those rare LEGO Botanicals sets that feels like a calm breath. A gentle canopy, elegant branching, and a compact footprint make it a perfect desk companion—and an inspiring parts pack. With just a few hinges, curved slopes, and leaf elements, you can push this bonsai far beyond its official model: sculpt dramatic silhouettes, change the season, or even reimagine the tree entirely. Below you’ll find a curated look at what the community has already created using this set—true alternate builds that use only the parts from 10348, plus clever “mods” that tweak the original with small changes for a big impact.

For builders who love technique, the branch geometry in 10348 is a playground: ball joints let you fan out the crown, clip-and-bar connections enable subtle angles, and wedge plates help you “paint” leaf clusters with depth. If display is your priority, you can go wide and windswept like a coastal pine, or tall and layered like a temple courtyard maple. Prefer seasonal variety? Swap densities and angles to move from spring blush to peak crimson fall. And if you’re chasing uniqueness for your shelf, play with negative space—open gaps through foliage, lift a single heroic bough, or spiral the trunk as if shaped by years of pruning. The builds below show exactly how far a small tree can grow when you treat each piece like a brushstroke.

What’s Inside: Alts vs. Mods (Quick Guide)

• Alternate Builds (MOCs): Complete new models built only from parts in 10348-1.

• Modifications (MOCs): Enhancements to the official bonsai, typically using most of the set and sometimes a few extra parts for styling changes.

Gallery & Instructions

Alternate Builds

Japanese Maple Phoenix

Designer: Kostack
Get the instructions: Japanese Maple Phoenix

Modifications

Red Maple – Tan Branch (Mod)

Designer: lolQwertz
Get the instructions: Red Maple – Tan Branch

Japanese Maple Tree – Fall, Bushier (Mod)

Designer: ryan1172
Get the instructions: MOD – Japanese Maple Tree – Fall – bushier

Build Tips (Optional Inspiration)

• Silhouette first: Pose the trunk and main limbs before adding leaves. Step back often to check the tree’s “gesture.”

• Leaf layering: Stagger leaf plates and vary angles to avoid a flat canopy. Think clusters, not lines.

• Negative space: Intentional gaps make the crown feel airy and realistic.

• Seasonal color blocking: Group red tones densely at the tips to suggest late autumn; open the canopy for spring.

Happy building—and enjoy turning your 10348 bonsai into a miniature art piece all your own!