Subject:
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Spanning large areas
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.build.arch
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Date:
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Sat, 8 Apr 2000 15:44:37 GMT
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Most stock LEGO sets use large, thin plates to create roofs and second-story
floors.
In some cases (like Fort Legorado, 6769), they have created super-large
plates (black in this case) to do the job.
What happens when you need to span a LARGER area than this? Plates are only
so big. Also, it is often desireable to leave the back of a building open
to let in more light and to save on bricks. This makes the structural
challenge of spanning the roof (or adding an extra story) all the more
challenging.
I thought I'd share some of my techniques. I'd like to hear about ideas
you've had for solving this problem.
BOUND PLATES
This is the cheapest and weakest means of spanning a large area. Using this
technique, you simply attach a series of plates together by attaching
smaller plates above and/or below the main set. It is easy to span any size
or shape using this technique, but the resulting "roof" is very weak.
Generally, you can only put mini-figs or other small decorations on the
roof.
In this hotel model ( http://members.home.net/hmltn1/city2/hotel.htm ), I
used this technique for the large roof in the middle of the building. You
might wonder how the sky-scraper part is supported. This section resides
directly on top of the lower-story wall supports, so it is solid. The side
and rear portions of the roof are weak sections of bound plates.
CORBELLED ROOF/ARCH
This mechanism is based on a primative architectural technique called a
"corbelled arch." This method was used heavily by the Mayans in their
architecture. In this technique, bricks are successively projected at
greater lengths from the wall until they meet.
This technique is reasonbly strong, especially if you offset the projections
from one direction with an equal force from the opposite direction.
In my aqarium model ( http://members.home.net/hmltn1/city2/aquarium.htm -
See the third thumbnail picture on the bottom of the page ), you can see how
I used this technique on the upper stories to create a dome-like effect with
yellow 2x4's.
TRAIN CARRIAGES
The flat train carriages are stiffer than normal plates because they have a
thin flange that projects downwards. In my older castle designs, I used
these to support the lower floor.
Of course, this technique is only midly better than the "bound plate" method
and, given the expense of train plates today (I traded mine for other parts)
it is not recommended.
PRE-FAB ARCHES
LEGO introduced fairly large pre-fabricated arches a few years ago. These
are 1x12x3 and come in a variety of colors. They are available in fairly
reasonable qualities in sets like Knight Lords Castle (6097). These sets
make for pretty architectural facing, but they can also be used internally
to make strong architectural supports.
I used arches to hold up the entire upper section of my castle
http://members.home.net/hmltn1/city2/castle.htm ). The arches are able to
support a great deal of weight and they look pretty as well.
In my police station, I made much more subtle use of the arch
http://members.home.net/hmltn1/city2/polleft.htm ) . You can see the dim
outlines of a white arch behind the two greeen pointy windows (actually
space windshield pieces). In this case, I had two separate portions of the
structure and a wide gap in between. I wanted the gap open so that the
window could let light into the interior. The arch tied the two pieces
together and provided a strong support for the other 7 stories or so of the
building.
"MEGA-BRICKS"
LEGO makes a few 1-brick thick (rather than 1/3 brick thick) plates. Most
often, the largest of these plates come in green (like in the castle sets
6093 and 6097). These make strong, simple supports. The catch is that
green isn't always a desireable color for upper stories of a building. To
get around this problem, you can build your walls so that they are 1 brick
wide than the mega-brick. Right before applying the mega-brick, corbel out
1-stud (2x4's work well). Then, put 1xX's (like 1x12, 1x16, 1x8 ...)
around the mega-brick. This "hides" the green color, but you are left with
an extremely strong structural support.
TECHNIC BEAMS
Technic beams are useful for spanning because they can be bound together to
make extremely long, strong composit beams. The 8, 10, 12, and 16 stud
varieties are ideal for this. The simplest way to bind two beams together
is to lay them out in series, and the attach another beam using "pins" where
the other two come together. The newer "black" pins work better, but I
don't have too many, so I often use the "gray" variety.
I used this technique in many buildings including my bank
uilding( http://members.home.net/hmltn1/city2/midtown.htm ). The bottom
part of this building is much wider than the top part. The cool thing about
using technic beams is that I was able to combine them to exactly the length
I wanted. Also, I used red beams. This way, the ends can actually project
into the outer wall of the structure and they look just like normal bricks.
You can't see any trace of the beams in the final building, but the
structure is extremely strong.
Please respond with other techniques you have used to span large areas. I'm
always looking for new ideas!
If you want to see more of my models, here is the link to the main page:
http://members.home.net/bhamilto1/lego.htm
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Message has 5 Replies:
 | | Re: Spanning large areas
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| Hey Brad, You've got some great ideas there! Some of them occured to me (and probably to other people) before, for example I'm sure many people use the "bound plates" method. In fact, I usually use this method. But while building my inn I discovered (...) (24 years ago, 8-Apr-00, to lugnet.build.arch)
| | | Re: Spanning large areas
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| Nice list Brad. I have used some of these myself. One method I have used on occasion is as Shiri mentioned the "support line" which can be used to hold base plates as well as 1/3 high bricks (sometimes a few columns in the centre of the building (...) (24 years ago, 8-Apr-00, to lugnet.build.arch)
| | | Re: Spanning large areas
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| (...) I've worked on a different but similar problem, but haven't had time to finish up the write-up I started nor take accompanying pictures. Anyway, here is the write-up in it's current state, so excuse any areas where it still needs work: (...) (24 years ago, 12-Apr-00, to lugnet.build.arch) !
| | | Re: Spanning large areas
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| I think that the technic beams method is the best, but there's also another one you can use if you have lots of plates. First, make your roof shape out of plates: this is your roof's first layer. Use only plates of the same color as your roof and (...) (24 years ago, 12-Apr-00, to lugnet.build.arch)
| | | Re: Spanning large areas
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| Brad: Great List! Well, I tell you... this is an issue that I have thought about a whole lot. Most of my buildings are at least 5 floors (one is 20!), and most span at least 16, 32, or 48 studs. Thats a lot of floorspace! I have tried a lot of the (...) (24 years ago, 15-Apr-00, to lugnet.build.arch)
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