The Big Move

[Joebot]

Hey everyone,

Remember that old Simpsons episode where Homer becomes the Garbage Commissioner, and Springfield becomes so polluted that they have to pick up the entire town and move it a few miles down the road? Well, I just went through something similar. For the past few weeks, I've been slowly moving my entire Lego town of Fluxington from one room in our basement into another room. I thought you all might like to see some pictures.

Here's the empty destination room. My wife and I built a room addition on our house, and the basement addition was designated as the new Lego room.

Here you can see the ceiling tiles half-finished, and some of the drywalling done.

This picture shows Fluxington's old location, and the partially disassembled table.

Here's the table reassembled in the new room, with most of the town relocated.

And here's a few finished pictures, with everything (mostly) put back together.

I'll try to get some more detailed pictures up on my website soon. Thanks for reading!

[Legostein]

Hello there!

That is a really huge layout you're having there in the basement. Congratulations on a successful move. As I like boats, ships and harbors very much, I am particularly interested in the water imitation you are using. This looks extremely good, and I'd like to know what material you are using there.

Greetings,

~ Christopher

[Rapseflaps]

Holy rubber awesome, Batman.

That's a pretty sweet city. Congrats on the succesful move!

[aawsum]

I am particularly interested in the water imitation you are using. This looks extremely good, and I'd like to know what material you are using there.

It looks a bit like plastic or glass, with a blue colorization.... but indeed, a very nice solution

I also see some very nice mocs, like the baseball stadium, and the skyscrapers

I am interesting in seeing some more impressions of your layout, maybe something how you integrated the trains (I see a lot of heigth differences), and there is also a castle in the back.

BTW, why did you choose not to do something with the walls, it looks really cold in your basement, also the the sets you put against the wall would have looked better with a nice wall behind it. Also it looked like your previous lego room was a bit bigger, or am I mistaking'?

It looks really good, again,I will be waiting for the other pics

[Big Cam]

OMG, that's insane!! You have an awesome wife.

Do you plan to paint the cement walls or add any sort of wall? The move looks like it had zero casualties??

[shackleton]

I really glad your move went so well. I recently moved and had to dismantle most of my city and transport everything to our new house. There is no greater experience than seeing an entire room you can fill with LEGO. My move had a few casualties but thanks to lots of pictures before the move I reassembled them fairly easily, I hope the same goes for your move. The cement walls definately need a coat of paint or something. We are all LEGO artisans and need a space that inspires us. Congrats on your move and I look forward to some detailed pics.

[Joebot]

That is a really huge layout you're having there in the basement. Congratulations on a successful move. As I like boats, ships and harbors very much, I am particularly interested in the water imitation you are using. This looks extremely good, and I'd like to know what material you are using there.

The ocean is made of two separate tables. The lighter blue one is simply plywood that I painted to match the Lego blue as closely as possible. The second, darker blue one (the one closer to the camera) is an 8 foot by 3 foot sheet of blue plexiglass. There's actually an "ocean floor" beneath that one, where I have all my Divers stuff and my son's Spongebob stuff (here's a better picture of it).

I also see some very nice mocs, like the baseball stadium, and the skyscrapers

You can find some more pictures of the baseball stadium here.

BTW, why did you choose not to do something with the walls, it looks really cold in your basement, also the the sets you put against the wall would have looked better with a nice wall behind it.

Basically, time and money. I finished two of the foundation walls with drywall and paneling, but those were the existing foundation walls, and they were really dirty and ugly. All the remaining exposed concrete walls are new construction, so they don't look quite as bad. I simply didn't have the time and money to finish all of that right now. I may do it someday. As for it being cold, the room is heated, so it's actually quite comfortable in there!

Also it looked like your previous lego room was a bit bigger, or am I mistaking'?

No, the new room is bigger. It's hard to see, but there's more space behind me from where I took that first picture.

OMG, that's insane!! You have an awesome wife.

Indeed I do!!

[Legoliner Pilot]

Hi, I have some questions for you...

1. What is the best way to elevate a 9V train? I see you used many huge black antenna-tower-like black parts to support the trarcks. Adding to this, how do you make a an incline without bending the track?

2. Where did you get your airport shuttle? The least I can find it for is for $275.00 USD. Did you order the train and track separately, or what?

Your city is very big, almost like a megapolis. Everything is perfect!

[Milan]

This look awesome. My friend has big Lego room, but it is nothing compared to yours. Wow, really fantastic!

[tedbeard]

I simply didn't have the time and money to finish all of that right now. I may do it someday.

Looking at those blank walls all I can see are simple murals in the style of LEGO box art with blue skys and puffy clouds. Hopefully you will get a chance to do something like that to really make your tabletown pop.

[Commodore Hornbricker]

That is serious business. I like how you posted the pictures in reverse order! I saw the first couple and thought, that doesn't seem like a big deal...ofcourse a few pictures later I had to scoop up my jaw. Wow big job. I hope you didn't break anything.

[Joebot]

Hi, I have some questions for you...

1. What is the best way to elevate a 9V train? I see you used many huge black antenna-tower-like black parts to support the trarcks. Adding to this, how do you make a an incline without bending the track?

There are two rules to making train inclines:

1) Don't make the incline steeper than 2 plates per piece of track.

2) Changes in the angle of incline (i.e., from flat to incline, or from incline to flat) should have a one plate difference.

You can find more details on an old website called Matt's Lego Train Depot, that was one of the first online sources of Lego information. It hasn't been updated in years, but there's still tons of good information in here.

Elevating your trains is great because it eliminates a lot of issues with trying to integrate roads and tracks. You just jack the train up OVER the roads, and it gets rid of a lot of problems. The downside is that it takes a ton of bricks. But, you can use basic 2x2s or 2x4s to do it.

2. Where did you get your airport shuttle? The least I can find it for is for $275.00 USD. Did you order the train and track separately, or what?

Years ago, I traded for it with some dude I met on the old rec.toys.lego newsgroup. I traded away a bunch of Castle sets (if I remember right, it was the Guarded Inn, King's Mountain Fortress, and Forestman's River Fortress). No regrets on that trade. I love my Airport Shuttle!

Looking at those blank walls all I can see are simple murals in the style of LEGO box art with blue skys and puffy clouds. Hopefully you will get a chance to do something like that to really make your tabletown pop.

Oh man, I never thought of that. That is a terrific idea!! I just wish I had an ounce of artistic talent ...

[marvinblue]

Hi there! That's a fantastic layout! I think my wife will have to get to know your wife so they can discuss Lego rooms. (mostly your wife convincing mine to get me a room!!!

[Marko]

Wow and I thought that I have big room for LEGO . First I planned to build a town in my jacuzzi room, but built it in my sons room. My wife made me move it out from there. So I gave up my office room to accommodate my town in a smaller scale as the room was smaller than my sons room. And moved my office to the room with one tiny window and ventilation noise. And you man get a whole hall for the LEGO ...

Lucky you

oh I forgot I like the way your mountain has built caves. Is it up somewhere for closer view as well?

[tedbeard]

Oh man, I never thought of that. That is a terrific idea!! I just wish I had an ounce of artistic talent ...

I bet you could do the clouds pretty easily using a sponge to dab it on. Some mountains might be possible as well since they would mostly be silhouettes. If it was me I'd probably let my 7-year old daughter do it since she'd do it better than me.

[Tom Bricks]

These are some inspiring pics, in a week or so I'm moving my Lego to a new room too. I can't wait to finally have a room just for Lego!

[aawsum]

There are two rules to making train inclines:

1) Don't make the incline steeper than 2 plates per piece of track.

2) Changes in the angle of incline (i.e., from flat to incline, or from incline to flat) should have a one plate difference.

These 2 rules are the basic, but I must say, do not be afraid to try something else.

I have an incline of my RC track of 1 brick per piece of track.

So it goes like 1plate-2plates-1brick-2bricks-3bricks and then bring it down in the same scale.

I use RC trains with 2 motors, and the are able to stop and start without spinning the wheels.

BTW, that other photo's you shared are really great, you have some fantastic mocs

[ACCURATEin]

Awesome city!

That is probably one of the coolest house additions one can do being an AFOL.

I look forward to seeing more developments.