What if we could go bigger?

After the fun of both the Melbourne and Sydney Lego shows we got to thinking... What's missing from the display - if we could build anything we want what would it be?

We spent some time thinking about our youth and our dreams of building skyscrapers, but, due to lack of bricks, we always ran out before we could reach those dizzying heights.

Now, as adults, with a few more dollars in our pockets as we think about what we would love to build, we think a skyscraper might be the thing. Is there something from our research we can draw upon for inspiration?

During our research we came across this fantastic advertisement from the 1960s. 

Wouldn't it be great if we could build a large-scale skyscraper? Maybe a hybrid of the building in the above advertisement and the real-life Chrysler building?

The Chrysler Building, New York

We got to work on a prototype figuring out the scale and size, from there, we can figure out what pieces we need.

The four layers in the prototype, these will be replicated in layers until we reach those dizzying heights:

  • Bottom layer will have 49 layers

  • Second layer will have 21 layers

  • Third layer will have 13 layers

  • Top layer will have 8 layers

In terms of the prototype design we're happy so far with the scale and size, but in addition, the build must take into account these three factors:

  • it must have structural integrity to stand securely upright (even on slightly uneven display tables),

  • it needs to survive transport (usually in a bumpy trailer),

  • it needs to be configured and reconfigured easily and quickly in the bump in and bump out of events.

The proposed height is approimately 1m high and here's how many pieces we require:

White bricks 2 x 4 = 200
White bricks 2 x 6 = 116
White bricks 2 x 8 = 572
White bricks 2 x 10 = 48
White bricks 1 x 2 = 616

TOTAL PIECES = 2,369

White plates 4 x 8 = 52
White plates 6 x 8 = 8
White plates 4 x 4 = 1

Trans bricks (with bottom tube)
1 x 6 = 48
Trans bricks (with bottom tube)
1 x 4 = 40
Trans bricks (with bottom tube) 
1 x 2 = 668

An early version of the prototype - we would eventually use white bricks but we used what we had on hand for the planning phase.

The four layers in the prototype

The bottom layer taking shape - seven down, 34 to go. The bottom layer will be 41 in total.

The side view of the bottom layer.

The bottom layer completed (back view) 41 layers and 48 cm tall

The top, second and third layers complete - 40 layers in total

The final building - 84 layers in total, 95cm tall (note the minifig for scale)

A close-up of the front doors.

Such a fun structure to build, 2,369 pieces and around ten hours of building (including the prototype, inventory and ordering of pieces).

But we can't have just one skyscraper for our display, can we? That would look a little odd, perhaps we need another three or four more to set the scene?

In total these are the buildings in the display. Let’s add another 4 to the list and see what it looks like:

  1. The White and Trans Apartments

  2. The Hotel

  3. The Tiny House

  4. The Tiny House with the curved roof

  5. The Cafe

  6. The Kiosk

  7. The Church (#309)

  8. The Small Store (#210-2)

  9. The ESSO Filling Station (#310)

  10. The Fire Station (#308)

  11. The VW Dealer (#307)

  12. The VW Garage (#306)

  13. The Garage (#236)

  14. The Red and White Apartments

  15. The Police Station

  16. The Blue Apartments

  17. The Sanitarium Factory

  18. The Hospital

  19. The Empire State Building

  20. ??

  21. ??

  22. ??

  23. ??

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