My vision at the start of this experiment was to create a portable, modular, multi-level, fully Lego sculpted scene for use with the PNLTC train layouts.
Layout compatibility didn't seem too hard at first since us plywooder's are so flexible. However, it proved to be more difficult than I had anticipated to get an interesting track plan that would fit on a single module (3x6 baseplates) and that would match the allowable entrance and exit locations.
The result of this project also had to fit within my brick budget. Now, I have quite a few bricks, but when you go sculpting large areas, you burn through brick at an alarming rate.
The end result, as usual, was made up of many compromises. To get an interesting enough track plan on two levels, I ended up making a slightly non-standard table. My module is 4x6 baseplates, slightly larger than PNLTC standard of 3x6. But it is still interconnectable with our existing tables.
The track plan is much more boring than I had originally envisioned and the layout to only two levels. Essentially, it came down to a two track passthrough on the main level, and a separate oval on the second level.
So now let me show you the outcome of my experimental project and you can tell me what you think: kimsbricks@attbi.com
Here is a straight on shot of the front of the module. The track in the front is at the main table level and the second level (with the main part of the town) is 18 bricks higher.
This shot is actually higher than you would normally view the scene (unless you're 7' tall that is :). Here you can see the upper oval of track coming out of the yellow train station. It proceeds around the corner, across the bridge and behind (through) the red building (a furniture factory). Here it turns and continues behind the bank (the white building behind the furniture factory) and on around behind the rest of the buildings on Main street till it comes out at the train station again.
In the lower part of the picture you see the main line coming through, crossing the little stream and continuing on. It has a little spur that services the loading dock at the furniture factory. The other main line is toward the back of the module and goes through a tunnel under the town.
You can see the tunnel opening for the second main line, just below the yellow train station.
These are just the overview shots. I have much more detail on the buildings and various features of the module.
Well, I'd love to hear your opinions of how this experiment turned out. As for me personally, I have mixed feelings.
I am pleased with the overall outcome of the experiment. I like the look and the effect the multiple levels provide. However, to embrace this fully would require more standardization. We can place this module any where in a layout we want, but that is only because the rest of the layout is so flexible. As more modules are made with fixed entrances and exits, you begin to approach a more fixed layout, like the GMLTC sculpted birckscape model. Don't get me wrong; I love the GMLTC sculpted layout. But it does have some drawback on the side of flexibility and the amount of brick it requires to add to the layout. With the plywood model, the layout can be fresh and new for each event. Buildings and designs can rotate in and out freely. As you move to a sculpted layout, it planing increases, and changes must be coordinated in content and timing.
I still have a vision of some kind of modular pieces where you could re-design the sculpting between shows. However, I found that when you design two pieces of landscape to go next to each other, that is about the only place they look right - next to each other. The building modularity seems to be a good move. I have used many of these buildings in layouts that don't include the sculpted base. So there is some hope for the modular approach.
As for transport; I had wanted to save space by being able to break the module down into parts and stack them in boxes, then stack the boxes in my car. However, each pieces is more delicate than I would like, and they are not regularly shaped enough to stack efficiently in boxes. So it takes many boxes to pack all the pieces. Add to this the significant setup and breakdown times for a module of this size and complexity and I'm not sure it comes out ahead. It might have been simpler to make it a single unit and just slide it into the back of my car. I probably couldn't have gotten it to LLCA that way, however, because we shipped everything down.
In summary, I haven't given up on the modular idea, but I'm not sure this is the right compromise.
Even with all these short comings, I am pleased with the look of the module itself. It has proven itself in several big shows and I wouldn't be surprised if I do more. But it may be a while.