LUGNET News : ~19/plasticity/overview


Andreas Stabno / plasticity / overview

Overview

Dedication

For my beautiful wife, Becca
whose profound faith and love
are pure joy and inspiration

Acknowledgements

First, I would like to thank the designers of The LEGO Company who conceived the ideas of the official models that are arranged in my city. Next, a special thanks goes to the countless individuals of the global LEGO® community who in one form or another inspired many of the techniques and ideas on these pages. I remain very grateful to those who have helped me acquire various pieces and sets, and without whom this whole effort would not have been possible. I am always amazed at and appreciative of the continuing patience of my family when I submerge into one of these projects. And most important, thank you God for opening my eyes to the simplicity of beauty and for beginning to teach me the wisdom of children.

Of Musical and LEGO® Expression

Over the years I have learned to appreciate the many ways in which the fans of the brick express their skill. Without a doubt I have not begun to perfect the fine art of design, engineering, and construction. Instead, I have developed the skill of arranging. In a way, the components of this hobby are similar to those of music. The success of a musical performance calls for cooperation between the composer, arranger, performer, producer, and audience. Likewise, an attractive LEGO® display involves cooperation between the modeler, arranger, builder, exhibitor, and audience. Let’s create well!

Design Notes

During the summer months of 2000, I took down my original town layout in order to make room to finish our basement. With optimal use of space, I was able to fit a few more tables into our basement, and so the new design for PlastiCity took shape. As you can see in the Track Designer layout below, I worked with a number of limiting constraints:

Design optimal use of table to floor space with adequate access to layout
Use most if not all of my monorail and train track as well as street plates
Develop multiple rail loops for unattended operation
Provide full connection of all parts of the layout
Ensure minimum of 20H monorail level when crossing train rails
Minimize monorail supports and train track conflicts with street placement
Showcase most of my town models
Allow for display of MOCs
Create interesting vignettes
Provoke the imagination
Have fun

Blueprint

Click on image for enlarged picture.

This layout was designed with Matt Bates’ Track Designer program as found on his Train Depot.

Welcome to Plasticity!

The pictures on this page intend to provide a brief overview of the city. Although the layout was meticulously planned for overall integration and smooth transportation, you’ll discover that the city can be broken down into several distinct areas. Feel free to explore these aerial views before delving deeper into the plastic realm.

Click on thumbnails for full-size pictures.

View of the Work and Water areas	View of Water area with Play zone in the background	Outlook over the switching yard to the Play area

The airfield adjoins the main residential zone	Reverse angle of Air and Home zones	The ‘burbs. ‘Nuff said.

Into the Woods	A glimpse of the downtown Work sights

And without further introduction, the plastizens invite you to enter their city. I hope you will enjoy your stay, and if you have any comments or constructive criticism feel free to email me.

Now stop reading, and enter the areas in the menu bars at the top or bottom of this page.

Enjoy well,

Andreas Stabno

Primary content in this document is © Andreas Stabno. All other text, images, or trademarks in this document are the intellectual property of their respective owners.