Upgrading old LEGO® sets
28 October 2026
A familiar LEGO® set can be the start of a new building project. By using different shapes, colours and details, you can give an existing model a surprising new look. You don’t necessarily have to change the entire design to do this. With small sets and polybags in particular, a few well-chosen pieces can make a big difference.
We’ll demonstrate this using the LEGO® Santa polybag 30573. This Santa Claus gets a makeover using a combination of newer and different pieces. The recognisable Christmas character remains the starting point, but his appearance gets a fresh update. A fun building idea for the festive season!
Why upgrade old LEGO® sets?
Over the years, more and more LEGO® pieces with unique shapes and connections have been released. Think of compact curved bricks, inverted curves and small clip-on elements. These allow you to add detail in ways that might not have been possible with an older design.
Even pieces that have been around for a while can produce surprising results when used in a different way. So it’s all about the combination: which shape suits your idea and how can you incorporate it into the model?
An older set makes for a good starting point. The foundation is already in place, and you can specifically explore how a different shape or colour affects the overall look.
Santa 30573: a small polybag with scope for change
The Santa polybag 30573 was released in 2019 and consists of 67 pieces. Father Christmas is built from LEGO® bricks. This means you can adapt his design piece by piece.
For our version, we’re using six different pieces in black, red, white and Light Nougat. This combination matches Santa’s recognisable colours whilst also allowing scope for different curves and details.
The beauty of such a small model is that every adjustment is visible. A different line or a subtle difference in colour can already affect the look of the entire character.
We’re using these parts for the Santa makeover
For the customised Santa, we’re combining the following parts and colours:
- - 5841 in black: a 2 x 1 curved roof tile with a recess.
- - 5847 in red: an inverted 2 x 1 curved roof tile with a recessed stud.
- - 67810 in white: a customised 2 x 2 x 1⅓ brick with a curved top.
- - 5264 in Light Nougat: a 1 x 1 round plate with a clip on the underside.
- - 78666 in Light Nougat: a 1 x 2 inverted half-arch.
- - 37352 in red: a curved roof tile measuring 1 x 2 x 1.
Below you’ll find the black 5841, the white 67810 and the red 37352 from this selection.
What makes this combination interesting?
This selection brings together different types of curves. The curved parts 5841, 67810 and 37352 offer different possibilities for the exterior of a model than straight bricks. The inverted shapes of 5847 and 78666 make it possible to incorporate a curve on the underside as well.
Part 5264 adds a different type of connection: a small round plate with a clip on the underside. Such a compact connecting element can be useful when you want to attach a detail to a matching rod.
By re-examining shapes and connectors, you’ll discover more possibilities than if you simply replaced a colour. That’s exactly what makes customising older LEGO® models so much fun.
Want to customise an old LEGO® set yourself? Start small
First, choose which part you want to change. With a built character, you could look at the face, the clothes or the silhouette. With a vehicle, you could start with the bonnet or the bumper. A small house, for example, takes on a different look with modified roof edges.
- Choose one goal. Decide whether you want a rounder shape, a sleeker finish or more detail.
- Compare parts. Look at shape, colour, dimensions and how they’re attached.
- Adjust one section at a time. That way, you can clearly see the effect of the change.
- Check the construction. Ensure the parts fit securely and that moving parts remain free to move.
- Look at the whole design. Check the model from the front, side and rear to assess the proportions.
Also take a photo before and after making adjustments. It’s often only when you see them side by side that you realise just how much difference a few parts have made.
From Father Christmas to vehicles: more possibilities with polybags
Polybags are straightforward projects for experimenting with this sort of modification. The model is compact, and you can quickly compare different versions. Our Santa is a festive example, but the same approach works for small animals, vehicles and buildings.
An animal can be given more character with a different snout. A car takes on a more modern look with a sleeker body. With a miniature house, different windows or roof details can actually create a classic look.
You decide how far to take it. Sometimes a single modified detail is enough; sometimes a small change develops into a completely unique version.
Give your LEGO® model a new look with ToyPro
At ToyPro, you can search for individual LEGO® parts by part number and then choose the right colour. This is handy when you want to make a specific modification, such as with our Santa 30573.
Browse the individual LEGO® parts at ToyPro and discover which shapes suit your next building idea. A familiar model, a few targeted adjustments and a fresh perspective: sometimes that’s all you need for a surprising result.
Discover all Lightailing light sets here
Receive the weekly ToyPro newsletter and stay up to date on the latest news about ToyPro and LEGO®, MOCs and much more. Discover LEGO®
Successful! ToyPro will keep you updated from now on. Welcome to the club.
