LEGO SET 71810 - Alternate build | Young Dragon Riyu

May 5, 2025

When you open the box of Young Dragon Riyu, you’re really holding the seed for dozens of entirely new creations. Rather than building the set as designed, imagine reclaiming its 132 brightly colored elements—slender slopes, smooth curves, and trans-neon highlights—and re-assembling them into entirely different beasts, warriors, or flying machines. With a bit of creativity you can turn Riyu’s wings into gigantic mech arms, her tail into a soaring glider, or even shrink her down into a playful baby dragon and matching mini-glider.

Unleashing Mechanical Power
Swap Riyu’s organic curves for armor plates, pistons, and rotating joints, and you have a full-size Dragon Mech, ready to stomp across any battlefield. By reorienting hinge pieces and layering curved panels, you can create a towering humanoid robot that still feels true to the original dragon.

Soaring into New Skies
The wings and tail sections that once formed Riyu’s back can be refitted as swept-wing airfoils and rudders, producing a sleek Ninja Glider. Add a streamlined cockpit for a pilot minifig and you’ve got a high-speed interceptor that’s a far cry from the set’s original serpent form.

Playing with Scale
Don’t be afraid to shrink things down: by redistributing the small plates and tiles you can build a “Baby Riyu” that sits comfortably in the hand, complete with tiny fold-out wings and a matching micro-glider accessory. It’s a fun way to explore how shape and color can convey character at different sizes.

Stretching Your Imagination
Finally, consider blending motifs—fuse the angular shapes of a mech with the soaring silhouette of a dragon, or convert Riyu into a mythical creature that straddles both worlds. The only limit is how far you’re willing to push your part inventory.