Need Help With City Layout!

[Uriakai]

Here comes my problem. I was thinking about starting a lego City (MOC) and my biggest problem is the baseplates and layout. When i saw the price of the road baseplates,i fainted (Almost), Like how much do i need to pay just to make some roads!? is lego crazy? Ive also searched on Bricklink, and still, prices are high, even if i find them cheap, i cant buy them because the seller only has one of them! and when i find alot of them (over 50) they cost like 7-8USD, its crazy. I also need those Green (Or Gray) baseplates to put buildings on, but they are also very expensive, dont want to use like 100$ on some baseplates and the worst thing is that every seller has his own "Cart", so i cant buy things from multiple sellers.

Is there a cheaper alternative? I saw a video on youtube where a dude made roads from Duct tape and two-sided tape, its nice, but i am scared that it will look bad in my layout. Ive heard about the "Tile" thing, but it will cost even more for the tiles than the road itself (And i need another baseplates to put the tiles on). Lets say i found out how to get the roads, but what about the normal Baseplates? What is the cheapest shop/store i can buy them?

Hope you can help me, in any way.

[Trainmaster247]

I would like to know that to I need some to.

[Dhivael]

Honestly the best prices for road plates are S@H. Occasionally, and I stress VERY occasionally, I've found them at TRU during the BOGO sales, that's when I try to stock up. I've worked it out and for my layout it seems like tiles are more useful, but also more expensive.

[mediumsnowman]

I've tried, there's just no real good way to get mass baseplates. VIP points can be good for stuff like that, and occasionally I'll add a plate or two atop another purchase. It seems cheaper if you don't buy them all at once

[LAKAbricks]

Here in Denmark, some supermarkets and toy stores offer 25-40% discount on LEGO now and then. Maybe it is also the case in your area. Keep your eyes open - and be fast. It might be a popular offer.

Some people brick build their roads, though I guess it is also quite costly, but it can be done mainly with standard bricks.

I prefer baseplates/roadplates and have been lucky with good offers in the stores. I just wish the designs would not that different as they have been through times. But that is a complete different story

Edited March 17, 2015 by laka

[alois]

It seems that you want to build your city all at once. But take your time. Start with one building on one baseplate, then another, then a piece of road, and so on, and spread the costs over a couple of years. But it will cost you serious money to build a Lego layout, there's no way around it. Or stick to cardboard.

[lightningtiger]

I use 8x16 tiles in dark bluey grey and then a mix of 1x4 white and DBG tiles for the centre of the road......plus lots of 48x48 base plates.......ouch, almost as expensive but at least I can have as many T-junctions and straight sections as I like.

[gazumpty]

I am also in this predicament, however Im looking to brick build my roads and incorporate my re-built modulars into that system. I dont mind base plates but I want more options when customising my streetscape/ landscape.

There was some great posts on here...I think from ER0L..on the topic of brick built roads.

If anyone knows where these post or links are, I would be grateful also.

[peedeejay]

It seems that you want to build your city all at once. But take your time. Start with one building on one baseplate, then another, then a piece of road, and so on, and spread the costs over a couple of years. But it will cost you serious money to build a Lego layout, there's no way around it. Or stick to cardboard.

I suggest the same. I wouldn't start by buying all baseplates for your final layout. Try to change your plan in that way that you will be able to increase the size of the city step by step.

[Rob1321]

Exact same situation here. My layout will be fairly small and it's $150 dollars for the road plates alone.

[tedbeard]

The only thing I can add is find a LEGO Users Group (LUG) and join up. LUG members are a great source for finding local deals or pooling efforts to save shipping etc.

[SearchFunction]

I would probably skip on roadplates entirely and look into making something from supplies from the model railroad community or buy some cloth/carpets and make something from that. Something akin to what Lego do themselves when marketing sets like http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/lego/images/a/a9/60042-1.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20131111002025

[CoolerTD]

LEGO is expensive )

If you want to build cool city you should spend a lot of money. I build my city for 5, may be more years, and I do not know how much I have spend )

For example, only 40 white baseplates costs me more then 1000 euro

You may try to build city in microscale

[Col. Brik]

As others mentioned.

Find a Lug group and talk with them about getting base plates. They will have good suggestions.

Just bite the bullet and spend the money.

Build slowly and with great detail with what you have. Take your time. It has taken me 7 years for my layout. Three tables 4x8 foot and one 6x6 foot. Lots of garage sales, bulk buys, getting a deal at a great moment and other used and new purchases.

[elleana]

Generally with this (as with most things in life) you get what you pay for. Baseplates cost more than duct tape (I've never heard of anyone using duct tape for roads actually!) but will look much better. Brick built roads will cost more (but not as much as you think - black bricks are decently cheap on Bricklink) but will look much, much better.

[crossmr]

An alternative http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=105830&hl=

and I saw a guy on youtube who uses duct tape.. it wasn't too bad.