City street module concepts

[Cumulonimbus]

I hope this is the correct place for this topic If not, feel free to move or merge to a more appropriate location.

The new City road system has stirred many emotions and I get the impression that most reviewers are not positive about the changes. I must admit that I haven't read the comments here on EB about the changes. Anyway, my curiosity was triggered to see if I could correct some of the drawbacks of the new system. So I tinkered in LDD and came up with two concepts for improved street modules which I would like to share with you: On the left is a 16x16 module with a baseplate rim and one tile thick "islands". The one on the right is also 16x16 studs wide, two tiles thick as is the Lego version, but with different cutouts on top and below. You should image both as a single moulded piece, similar to the Lego version.

The first one's main selling point is the compatibility to the existing base plate ecosystem. The channels in the middle allow for continuous lines. Obviously, some holes for tile extraction should be provided. The biggest drawback is the fact that there is still no answer for curved roads. Combining three of these modules could look like this: (on the left the additional tiles are highlighted in light grey for clarity, on the right is the same piece but in the correct colours. Note that the center line is offset to one side, this could be corrected by making the central channel just one stud wide instead of two.

The second concept looks like this: Again, the added tiles are shown in light grey on the left. On the right a piece of bike lane, a white line and grass is added, all at street level. However, this concept doesn't address the base plate compatibility. issue The main advantages are the addition of curved tiles in the corners and connection between modules from below. Obviously some new tiles need to be made to fill in the space around the curved tile, but this seems doable.

What do you think, is there any value in these concepts, are the Lego version better or are base plates the only way?

[koalayummies]

41 minutes ago, Cumulonimbus said:

The new City road system has stirred many emotions and I get the impression that most reviewers are not positive about the changes.

I don't think we can conclusively confirm a majority opinion as internet comments are anecdotal. Its the phenomenon that those with a negative view or experience about something tend to vociferate more than those with a positive view or experience.

That said this is a cool alternative that you've created! They absolutely have a value in concept. We have a great many options; from the old city road plates which are still out there, to fully brick-built, to a sort of hybrid like your design. Everyone should be able to find a solution that works best for them. Nice work.

[BrickSixty]

I think the new road plates are getting a lot of negative reviews and comments based on people having pre-existing builds that don't mesh well with them. There is the obvious higher cost to area of them versus the older road baseplates and there is the lack of compatibility with base plates that annoys some obviously but also I think there are a lot of people with developed city displays who are in a situation where switching their streets over to the new road plates would be a huge effort and a potentially huge cost if they need 30-60 of that new $25 set. Aside from full switching over I imagine there are also people in a position where using the new road plates in new sections of their city would mean an awkward or just unfitting join between old and new.

I think when we look at weather thus new system is good or not we need to consider this is a simple first test wave and there is potential for more flexibility and features as time goes on. Also I think there are other uses that have not been very openly explored. I'm personally looking to get some in the next 6 months and do some test building even though it is at first obvious they won't work with the module system I have been working to develop for a few years. I'm considering giving them a good try and if they work then they work but if not I will try using them elsewhere such as for landing pads for Star Wars displays or warehouse walls or walls between rail lines and houses. I honestly think they have a lot of potential for B type uses in many many ways.

For your concepts now the first one is an interesting idea and you are right that something like that could really appeal to people who use baseplates. Personally I have avoided baseplates like a plague since you have to put everything on a baseplate or nothing if you want heights to match nicely and there to be no weird flexing in builds. For the second one I don't immediately see what you did the center cut out for other than using that curved title which only looks like it works for 90 degree bend street corners which seems a rarity. Also I'll not your design and the lego design couldn't attach to each other without adding another layer of plates or bricks below. I'm also thinking when you fill in that middle space with tiles it could look a bitch patchy but I have not tested enough varied tile use to know if that would look odd or not. 

I don't want you to think I'm being really negative here because I don't intend to be but I'm looking at the new Lego parts and your designs from just my perspective and I'm also thinking TLG would want to stick to a single system so maybe if you adjust your concepts or come up with some others that work with the new Lego ones you could help us to get more new variety. For a curved road maybe all we need is a single 16x16 road plate that has the road surface curve around on the outside with an open stud section outside of the curve.