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COLTC, the Central Ohio LEGO Train Club, has come up with a modular hill
standard. The goal of this standard was to provide more height-variations into
layouts, and increase the number of running trains.
There are a variety of ways these modules can be used. On completely flat
layouts, they can be used at the inside of the layout, either as a section, or
as a full closed circuit. Trains can run on top, but also inside the hills. Make
an end-cap module, and the train comes out a tunnel, running on the layout for a
bit, and elsewhere dive back in. One could run the train in a flat section
outside, and hide it in another section.
On layouts that have different table levels, they can form transitions between
the levels. The standard (see below), is equal to the height difference of our
adjustable tables. The backsides of hte modules are uniform, so if visitors look
from the back-side, it will look nice as well.
The standard:
Sections are build on 32x32 baseplates. Corners consist of 3 baseplates in an
L-shpe, forming either an inside or outside corner (see folder for examples).
Other modules are full multiples of a 32x32 baseplate.
Height: modules are 16 bricks tall, measured form top of baseplate to top green
level. If a track is on top, there is an additional plate between track and
green. Use a light bley plate, 10-wide, so it looks like gravel ballast. The
plate also stabilizes the top brick level.
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/brickbuy/COLTChill/coltchill04.jpg
Side view. On the right, 1 row of 2xX black bricks. On the left, keep 3 studs
free. For each level, decrease the hill by 1 brick (on average), so on top the
hill is 14 bricks wide. Train track is elevated by 1 plate, and starts 4 studs
from the side. The back-wall is solid black, 2 studs open between wall and
track. At level 14 there is a technik bricks w. hole, so modules can be
connected. The track inside will connect the modules on the bottom.
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/brickbuy/COLTChill/coltchill05.jpg
Back view. Black 2x2 pillars, with 1x8x2 arches. form each pillar, a 1x12x3 arch
connects to the back wall. top level is all green.
Modules can be placed back-to-back, as nothing sticks out, forming a solid hill.
Inside, it is best to make them pretty solid, so the can be transported in a
trailer, duplo and junk bricks work just fine.
Key parts needed for a single baseplate module:
5 1x12x3 arches black, 4 1x8x2 arch black, 1 baseplate, lots of green and black
2xX bricks. Top level is best to use some large green bricks (8x16) Some black
inverted 45 degree slopes: 4 x 1x2 and 6 x 2x2. Plates for under train track.
Modules can be plain (allowing for houses etc to be put in front of them, or can
be whatever. Also, only the sides need to adhere the the standard, the module
can go in and out in the middle, as long as it is back to the standard where it
connect to other modules. It can also be used for harbor scenes, so trans run
behing concrete walls, and/or on top. They can be build relatively fast as well,
a plain 1 baseplate module can be build in ~20 minutes when you have all the
parts at hand.
I’m sure I forgot to mention things, feel free to ask/add.
Have fun!
on behalf of COLTC,
Paul Janssen
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Message has 4 Replies:
 | | Re: Modular Hill Standard
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| I love it! couldn't have posted this at any better time! I have just recently have been trying to figure out my train/town layout and I dont have much room to work with and ive been thinking of a way to add multiple trains to my already cramped (...) (18 years ago, 5-Feb-06, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
| | | Re: Modular Hill Standard
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| (...) Snipped (...) Paul, how thick are you tables? We use mudular tables that can be adusted in hieght and stacked apone each other to acheive some vertical change. But our tables are 6 brick thick. To allow a train to run under a stacked table we (...) (18 years ago, 6-Feb-06, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
| | | Re: Modular Hill Standard
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| (...) Awesome. I like the way this works, but I have one question. I am probably just confused but... when this: (URL) connects to this: (URL) as in this: (URL) doesn't the train in the concave tunnel (left side of picture) hit the wall of the (...) (18 years ago, 7-Feb-06, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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