LEGO Skylines

[rjb001]

I was looking around on the LEGO website and I saw a new Harry Potter set due out in January 2011. There are 3 different buildings in the set, one of which is a Gringott's Bank model which features new white 2x2 round bricks with a vertical profile pattern. After one look I thought- FREEDOM TOWER SPIRE! Take a look here and tell me what you think.

...Now granted it doesn't have the cool polygon-ish pattern that the real thing does but it's the closest and coolest looking pieces that could be used to make the spire. Plus I think it would give the spire a heavier look than the old one atop WTC 1 which is how it's supposed to be.

[1ajs]

that looks sick its going to be a highly saut after part..........

[Nightsky]

Some Lego models here are really impressive. I didn't have the opportunity to do this with my Lego I had in the eighties.

[jsr]

Originally Posted by rjb001

So when's the actual LEGO Architecture Rockefeller Center gonna come out?

Perhaps it's this?



credit: Brickshelf User grogall

[rjb001]

Originally Posted by jsr

Perhaps it's this?

Wow! If that's the real deal then that's pretty sweet. I imagined it looking just like that actually. Either that, or a larger version of just 30 Rock. Only time will tell though... I'm guessing it'll be any day before hi-def pictures are released now that one's been leaked (that is, if it is the actual model).

[rjb001]

I decided to have a little fun while waiting for the rest of my pieces to come for my version of Spencer's Trump International.

Click here for the image. It comes out really big and I don't want it to get annoying.

I'm not sure what to call the "red thing" going up the side, but I put it on there to resemble the one that was actually used during the tower's construction.
I also borrowed Spencer's crane designs from when he made his Burj Khalifa. They were yellow in real life but I think you get the general idea!

[jsr]

Originally Posted by rjb001

I also borrowed Spencer's crane designs from when he made his Burj Khalifa. They were yellow in real life but I think you get the general idea!

You should borrow my yellow crane design or better yet, use real life Trump Tower crane operator Ken Derry's photos to inspire your own.

[rjb001]

Originally Posted by jsr

... or better yet, use real life Trump Tower crane operator Ken Derry's photos to inspire your own.

Nice pictures! How does this compare?! There's nothing a few used Star Wars pieces can't do!

I had to go in my house's crawl space to find my LEGO Christmas decoration box to get the yellow hinge pieces from some stars I made for the top of my mini LEGO Christmas tree and Eiffel Tower set!

[jsr]

image from: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=4729928

I don't really understand the gaps between the tiles on the front of 30 Rock. Looks odd.

[vid]

Technical limitations. There are no elements with the right dimensions to fill in those gaps.

[Ex-Ithacan]

I hope you guys don't mind me posting this, but I stumbled on this at youtube. It's way too long, but there are some interesting parts (no, I didn't watch it all).

If this has been posted before, disregard.

• Video Link

[jsr]

Originally Posted by vid

Technical limitations. There are no elements with the right dimensions to fill in those gaps.

I don't see what's driving the design to be forced into that situation in the first place. Even-numbered studded plates sideways are very friendly when integrated with vertically stacked bricks and plates.

[rjb001]

Originally Posted by jsr

I don't see what's driving the design to be forced into that situation in the first place. Even-numbered studded plates sideways are very friendly when integrated with vertically stacked bricks and plates.

Spencer's right. The gaps are easily avoidable. A simple rearrangement of the 1x1 side stud bricks can eliminate it. If the second from the top 1x1 side stud brick was placed behind the second highest stud space of its connected tile, it would get rid of the gap beneath it. This method would've also gotten rid of the highest gap.

[rjb001]

Also, LEGO Digital Designer 4 is now available! You can now bend and manipulate strings and other flexible elements. Sorta like this

As far as Universe mode goes, I figured out that you still activate it the same way as before.
See this thread

But still no wedge pieces for my 3 WTC digital model.

[jsr]

Originally Posted by rjb001

Spencer's right. The gaps are easily avoidable. A simple rearrangement of the 1x1 side stud bricks can eliminate it. If the second from the top 1x1 side stud brick was placed behind the second highest stud space of its connected tile, it would get rid of the gap beneath it. This method would've also gotten rid of the highest gap.

It's there for some oddball LEGO design rule. It wouldn't be released in this form otherwise. Still, it's enough to be visually distracting and detracts from the model IMO.

There's some more odd gaps going on at the bottom of the setback siding on the 630 Fifth Avenue (International Building) too.

[2WTC]

Originally Posted by DecoJim

Interesting article. While this builder's skyscrapers are pretty impressive, his claims to have developed a structural system are perhaps less impressive.
I could be wrong but it seems that Lego technic beams connected together using the multi-studded 1x1 bricks would not hold up very well under tensile stress (which may result when a force acts upon one side of the building - some beams are under compression others are under tension). UNLESS THEY ARE GLUED!

I make no pretense that I construct my structures in a prototypical manner. In fact they are probably built in a method closer to that of the older masonary high-rise structures such as the original Monadnock Building in Chicago (it has very thick load-bearing walls).

Real skyscrapers are not required to be portable. Mine do have to be and this would be a major problem if the building was constructed with a frame and curtain wall. The question would be: How to separate the frame into portable sections and still maintain strength?

* * *

I am not the only one building large Lego skyscrapers for display in a train layout. Here is a shot I took of part of the Central Ohio Lego Train Club layout at the 2005 NMRA National Train Show in Cincinnati:

Skyscraper buffs should be able to recognize some of the buildings or at least the city.

I live here! I've seen these and they are amazing. I love the LeVeque Tower!

[rythym]

Simply filthy. Keep building and posting. Truly gifted.

[Flamesrule]

This is truly amazing.

[rjb001]

My Chrysler Building model (based off of Spencer's original) is on display at the Northbrook Court LEGO Store in Northbrook, Illinois.



No specifics on exactly how long it'll be there. Probably a month or two. But if you're in the area check it out!
For address and more info look under the news section on my MOCpages homepage.

[rjb001]

Found some more pics of the Rockefeller Center.




Looks like there's only one of those "visually painful gaps." In the previous pics it looked like there were two. Also, it doesn't look like there's enough room for the second highrise that's attached to 30 Rock behind it....