by ffilz » Tue Nov 07, 2006 1:55 pm
Will do once I have a chance to catch my breath (since NWBrickCon, I've been focusing on a new relationship - after I finish sorting my current unsorted LEGO, I may have a bit more time for building because I'm gonna be doing a lot less buying, of course the lady will also be claiming a bunch of my time).
The slight awkward bit about the standard is that it doesn't quite match up with the Base8 cliff height. I think the main wharf surface height is the height of a log brick plus two plates (but I have to verify that).
Hmm, other than that bit that's not sure, I might as well give the rest of the standard...
The standard wharf module is a 32x32 baseplate. The wharf should come close enough to the front to interface easily with other wharfs, and of course it should have a wide enough street to interface well. You can gain extra depth by extending your wharf out onto the water in front, either along your whole length, or by piers. Between wharf modules is an 8 stud wide street. The backs of the modules should either mate to a BPB surface, or to the height standard (perhaps I can go back and add a layer of plates to mine which I think brings it up to the cliff height).
The wharf module was originally built to interface to the BirckFest 2002 modular castle town which had 32x32 blocks with 8-stud BPB streets (street level at 3 plates, NOT the 4 plate roads that might be more common with the Base8 BPB standard - however, the 1 plate difference is not at all a hassle, and the streets conveniently line up with the Base8 standard of road locations at edges of modules).
Buildings could be built on smaller 16x16 or 16x32 plots, however, you then have to be careful how you overhand. A 16x16 may overhang on two sides. A 16x32 can overhang on the 16 stud sides and one of the 32 stud sides.
Now you might wonder how the wharf height transitions down to the BPB height in back. I simply built sloping roads. The backs and sides of modules should be presentable in case there is a BPB street butting up against your module.
Larger modules:
A larger module should in general preserve the 32x32 block, however, you may want a very large building. Larger modules must in general include the dimensions for internal roads (even if they leave them off). So larger module sizes include:
32x72 (2 blocks plus a road in the middle)
72x72 (4 blocks plus roads in the middle)
32x112 (3 blocks plus roads in the middle - this is the size of my current wharf scene)
Intregral roads:
You may add roads to the size of your module. A module might thus become 32x40, or 40x40, or 48x40, or 24x32 (16x32 module with road along one side).
Integral roads are a great way to make a cleaner transition from wharf height to BPB height.
Back blocks:
Blocks for the portion behind the main wharf are welcome. They may either be at wharf height, or BPB height, and may provide transitions and integral roads.
CCC Risers:
Modules which allow CCC buildings to be placed on top at wharf height are welcome.
Possible additions:
Canals and rivers:
Canals and rivers leading through the wharf area are most definitely welcome. If you stay at wharf height, water courses should be a canal. Canals could be 8 studs or 16 studs wide. Modules that adapt a canal to a Base8 BPB stream or river are welcome.
A 16-stud canal will need additional planning if you want to make smaller modules.
Beaches:
Modules that drop down to BPB height and have a Base8 BPB beach interface are possible.
Frank