Ultimate LEGO Worldbuilding and Architecture

About the Author .................................................................................ix

About the Technical Reviewer .............................................................xi

Chapter 1: LEGO: Past, Present, and Future ..........................................1

Introduction ...........................................................................................................1

What I Want You to Get from This Book (the Takeaway) ........................................2

The History of LEGO ..............................................................................................4

Places to Purchase LEGO Bricks Affordably ........................................................19

Sorting Bricks ................................................................................................21

A Word About Technic ....................................................................................56

Conclusion ..........................................................................................................59

Chapter 2: Planning in LEGO Virtually with Architecture:

The Model Before the Model ...............................................................61

Building with LEGO in a Virtual World ..................................................................62

Stud.io .................................................................................................................62

The Left Menu ................................................................................................64

The Right Menu .............................................................................................65

The Top Menu ................................................................................................66

The LEGO City ......................................................................................................68

LEGO Architecture ...............................................................................................71

What Is It That You Want to Build? .................................................................73

How Much Space Do You Have to Work With? ...............................................73

Should You Make a Smaller Scale Model First? ............................................74

Creating a 100 Å~ 144 LEGO Base ........................................................................74

Conclusion ..........................................................................................................81

Chapter 3: How to Build a Strong LEGO Base That Is Ready for

Expansion ...........................................................................................83

The Reality of Ground Level ................................................................................83

Creating a Next Level to Your Solid Base ............................................................85

Building a Ramp ..................................................................................................93

Support for the Ramps ........................................................................................98

Creating New Terrain ........................................................................................101

Conclusion ........................................................................................................107

Chapter 4: Creating a LEGO House and Any Other Multistory

Building ............................................................................................109

Constructing a Basic LEGO House .....................................................................110

Doors ...........................................................................................................112

Windows ......................................................................................................115

The Slow Way of House Construction: Brick by Brick .......................................118

The Roof of the LEGO House .............................................................................131

The Fast Way of LEGO House Building: Panels and Other Pieces ......................143

Panels ..........................................................................................................144

Cylinders ......................................................................................................146

Support and Roofs .......................................................................................147

Fences and Stairs ........................................................................................148

Conclusion ........................................................................................................158

Chapter 5: Smaller Scale: Creating LEGO Furniture and More ..........161

LEGO Minifigs ....................................................................................................161

Working Within Your LEGO House Space ...........................................................163

Form Follows Function ................................................................................163

Conclusion ........................................................................................................182

Chapter 6: Cars and Trains, Designing Anything with Wheels

in LEGO .............................................................................................183

Basic LEGO Techniques for Vehicle Constructions ............................................184

Dodge Charger SXT ...........................................................................................187

A Brief Section on Trains ...................................................................................199

Conclusion ........................................................................................................199

Chapter 7: LEGO Planes, Helicopters, and Boats ...............................201

Constructing Planes ..........................................................................................203

So, You Want to Build Bigger LEGO Planes? ................................................226

Helicopters ........................................................................................................228

Boats .................................................................................................................235

Conclusion ........................................................................................................237

Chapter 8: Setting Sights for the Stars: Building

LEGO Spaceships ..............................................................................239

Spaceship Building 101 ....................................................................................240

LEGO Base and Landing Gear ......................................................................241

The LEGO Spaceship Bridge ........................................................................244

Rooms .........................................................................................................247

The Back and the Top ..................................................................................254

Conclusion ........................................................................................................258