Legos

While traveling by train across the German countryside just a couple hours ago, and looking at some ugly modern European buildings between Mannheim and Frankfurt, I got an idea that one could make apartment, office, and other types of buildings,in Z scale, using Lego blocks.

You could get them new or by the sackful at flea market and garage sales. raid the Kid's toybox!

If you paint and weather them as well as add details or even paper, wood or other sidings, and other kit-bashes, I think you could make some major buildings that would be strong, lightweight, strait and squared, and fast to build. Not to mention some interesting parts that could be used for vents or machinery or whatever.

Maybe this could be turned into a contest,see who can take some Legos, kit bash with them and make a nice modern building, in Z scale. Please tell me your thoughts on this!
Kelley

Kelley,

I just happen to have a 1 by 2 Lego on hand It measures 16 mm long x 8 mm wide x 10 mm high. I don't know how that compares to Z scale. Hopefully someone can do the math here. If the size is comparable to Z, the only problem I see with using Lego is dealing with the obvious joints. Interesting idea

Well, it's easy to do the maths on this (if you stay metric):
16*220 mm long x 8*220 mm wide x 10*220 mm high
so in Z it's: 3520mm L x 1760mm W x 2200mm H or 3.52m L x 1.76m W x 2.2m H
multimply by 3 to get approximate size in feet

When I was at a Lego's store last week in downtown Disney, I saw those great new architectures designs.

shop.lego.com/ByTheme/Leaf.aspx?cn=627&d=70

Unfortunatelly they are all out of scale, even with each other.

The SOLOMON R. GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM kit would be the closest one, with it's 1:405 scale

The Space needles is about 1:835 scale, and the Sears tower is about 1:1800 scale

Ben

HI again
I am not talking really about using the Lego windows and doors, and building Lego kits out of the box for using in Z scale..
I am saying ..think outside the box...use the different sizes blocks to make different buildings or the inside shapes of the buildings, then use Z scale doors and windows that are framed to fit gaps in the blocks.
I see all kinds of modern buildings with the outside as panels or big blocks. And since these are permanent one could cut and sand or fill gaps or drill or paint or use different contour sidings in Z scale, out of styrene or plastic.
I guess I will have to put my money where my mind is and build something and show what I am talking about. Unfortunately I will be sent to school again in the States for another 4 week course (I will again be in Bay Area so if anyone needs something from Germany they need to let me know now!!)

Kelley wrote:

(I will again be in Bay Area so if anyone needs something from Germany they need to let me know now!!)

Kelley,

What do you have access to in Germany? I'd be looking for older style figures mainly, but maybe some Kibri buildings, too. Please let me know. TIA

About the Lego buildings, I know exactly what you're talking about, especially when you talk about putting siding on the buildings to hide where the blocks come together. I don't have time to work on anything like that these days, but perhaps others do

I think you can use some of the small blocks as they are.. There are gaps in some of the buildings I see around here..maybe somebody can measure the gaps as tell me what they scale out as? That might be the most important factor.
I have not seen any old time figures unless you want some from Trafofucse and I can see what they have in stock. I would need to order them tomorrow

Kelley,

Trafofuchs takes PayPal and I can order from them directly. I was thinking you might have a local hobby shop that might sell Z stuff. Thanks for your offer

Only standard Faller Kibri Marklin Preiser stuff.You can get a box with whole German village in it

Hi Kelley,

I already have most of my village, but there are a few Kibri buildings I'd be interested in. I'll email or PM you so we can talk privately