How to Build a LEGO Modular Building (Tips & Tricks)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 มิ.ย. 2024
- In this video, we discuss how to build a LEGO modular building for LEGO fans new to MOCing (my own creation) and want to try their hand at building a LEGO expert modular-style building.
I share tips & tricks of how to get started with this project.
Check out the video links below:
How to Build a LEGO Corner Modular Building - • How to Build a LEGO Co...
Building a MOC from Start to Finish - • Building a MOC from St...
Detailing a LEGO Kitchen, Living Room and Ground Floor - • How to Build an Amazin...
Detailing a LEGO Bedroom and Bathroom - • How to Build the Inter...
Detailing a LEGO Garden - • Building an EPIC Lego ...
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At Small Brick City, we want you to realize your dream of building a custom LEGO city, regardless of the space you have.
This channel explores creating amazing Lego displays and custom cities with official sets, modified builds, MOCs (my own creations), small build video tutorials and how-to videos.
Visit smallbrickcity.com for more detailed info and resources on how to build a LEGO city, even if you have a small space.
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I thought Lego have released 14 modular buildings.
Building your own modular is a lot of fun but it's very hard. Depending on the level of detail you want.
You are right. It is 14 as of 2019. Thanks!
Could any of you guys please see my Lego moc house and tell me how it is?
Q9
@@Lego_Life they are awesome!!!!
@@nitr0pand467 thanks! didn't even remember I commented this! I kinda think I look like a view beggar here tho😂
I did realize that you had switched out the bench and lamp stand on the restaurant. Nice tips!
Thanks! I've done so many small changes that I can't even remember the original unless I check original images :-P
I love this video because I've always wanted to build my own modular but have no idea where to start. I especially like that you pointed out the door+brick+plate+tile as reference for the wall height. Sooooo helpful! Thanks so much and keep up the awesome work, JC!
Great! Glad it helped! Thanks!
Hi JC,
This is a very good and clear explanation of the basic structure and dimensions of a modular build. Although one can achieve a lot with trial and error, it is always useful to have the basics explained to help the learning curve.
The bit about the height, especially getting the stairs to the right height, is always difficult to get right so it's really good to have it explained.
It might also be worth mentioning that the reason you lay down an outline in plates first is so that you then have the height to tile the floor and the courses start above the pavement / sidewalk. if you have internal walls they should also sit on a plate so that their heights align with the external walls, and you should generally connect the internal walls with the external walls for stability.
Some of the other main characteristics of a modular build that you didn't mention in this video might be worth including in your next one:
- the sidewalk on the front (which you mentioned) is usually tiled (and conventionally is tiled in 2x2 plates to provide continuity between buildings)
.
- modulars should be able to sit side by side with other buildings and that's why they generally don't have windows on the side.
- they usually have a mechanism for attaching to each other using the technic bricks with a hole and the technic connector, which makes buildings more stable and keeps them in alignment.
- corner builds can fit a building on each side and can usually be fitted on the left hand or right hand corner (you will probably cover this in your corner build video).
There is also the feature of official LEGO modulars which is that you can readily add more storeys, because the upper storeys are designed so that they can be 'cloned' by copying the design and they sit on top of each other; the outside profile and the stairs (whether internal or external) always align.
Of course with a MOC you don't necessarily have to do that.
Colours for LEGO Buildings
It might be worth considering a video on the basic colour palettes that are suitable for buildings.
LEGO is very inventive with colours and their official modular sets are good at introducing new colours.
But the basic colours like greys, browns, tans, and of course black & white are very prevalent. Then you have the more striking colours like the olive green, sand green, sand blue and even oranges and sand red. To me the 'Friends' colours look out of place on a building although some pastels like pink and yellow can work for certain styles of building.
It can be a bit frustrating when you're building if you don't have a massive selection of all types of bricks in all different colours. But it doesn't matter too much if the colours aren't right when you are developing a design, because you can always try out different layout and design options with the bricks you have, then replace them with a more colour-coordinated set of bricks later.
Of course it helps if you have a colour scheme in mind for the building, and most buildings do not have lots of different clashing colours but have a restricted palette. So if you're trying to create a 'realistic' looking building it's usually worth choosing the more 'realistic' colours which LEGO have introduced over the years. It also helps if you look at the colours that are available for the parts you settle on, to assist you in selecting a colour palette that works with your design.
Great series, keep up the good work!, look forward to the next ones!
Thanks Max for your detailed thoughts and insights as usual. Very good points and I have incorporated them in my vid on the Corner Modulars that was just released and gave you a shout-out! I appreciate your time and effort in commenting.
Max Clark how long did it take to write that?
Holy shit I spent less effort on college essays, impressive and intuitive.
@@hp5898😂
Huge help! I've been building sets for awhile now and wanna build my own modular and your vidoe helped me enormously decide where to begin! Thank you for your time and your help. I live in a rural area so no Lego store to part out so the next step is to list and order parts so I can get started. Thank you take care and keep posting your wisdom is appreciated!
Some very helpful tips, most of which I was doing already, but it's always good to have ideas reinforced 😉
We will need to do an advanced video for you. I just need to find an advanced LEGO builder.
Well done. I particularly like the part at 9:30 where he says, 'do what I say, not what I did'. No really, a great vid for newbs.:)
I am just starting my city layout and I found this extremely helpful for thinking ahead and getting things established. Thank you for sharing your insights. I am always trying to learn techniques. Awesome.
Thanks a lot! Glad the video was useful. Look out for the next modular tips vid soon!
Very helpful & interesting.
Thank you for explaining this so well.
You are most welcome!
This will come helpful in the future when I get started on a city.
Cool. Thanks!
This is very helpful. Thank you 🙏
Thank you so much this is so helpful
16x16 plates ae the way to go for more compact cities.
I've recently started a city on a 3x6 table. Bought two modulars to get us started (bookstore and assembly square) and already had the infinity war buildings. Decided to adjust everything thing to fit on 16x16 plates.
To accomplish this I reduced the size of the modular side walks to 3-5 studs and put the light gray curb tiles on the road plates.
I also lose the back alley and any interior stairs which I don't really miss, and depending on the building a few studs worth of depth.
I also bought generic road plates from Amazon and cut 5 studs off the sides, the 6th remaining stud row holds the light gray tiles as the curb.
You made a video that I have longed for. That is, a tutorial video guiding me to build a MOC modular building, in particular the way to put stair to connect two floors. I failed many times before. But now, I am confident to do so and will try again. Thanks a lot.
Awesome! I will do another video on stairs soon. Thanks!
Really useful advice for all Brick Builders. Great work!!🌸
these videos are so helpful tysm!
OMG i got a like YAY!!!
This video was very helpful. Many thanks.
You are welcome. Thanks!
Yes great tips there to lay out the footprint and get those steps in early becaues everything need to be build around that.
A good budget option is the lego creator 3 in 1 modulars
They don't have rare parts so getting the parts on bricklink should be cheaper
Fantastic video mate loved it. Some great information for a starter like myself. Subed and liked
Great video! Another tip is just to get started. I think a lot of people get flustered and don't know how to get started. Best thing is to just build and build. I started building single and dual floor modulars of popular shops like Apple store, Nike store, etc... and now its pretty easy for me to get started. However I don't think I'll ever get up to the level of detail an official Lego set offers.
Yes, good tip! Thanks! "Just do it!"
I was able to modify the interior space of my Market Street modular by moving the stairway from the center to the far back wall as well as redoing the bricks around the window on the top level just make more interior room for furniture without affecting the building itself and it worked.
I agree there is little internal space in the Market Street so that sounds like a good solution!
thx for the tips
Great video 👍🏻
Great job on this video!
Thanks Wai!
Thank you for this video. Very educational. Not sure I’m ready to build my own, but now I have an idea of what it takes. Cheers.
You are welcome! Check out my other vids for simple modular buildings as a start. Thanks!
Will do. I have you saved if I ever get to that point. Still have many of the Lego modulars to build and place somehow, along with a theme park. Have my work cut out for me. Cheers.
Hello from Saga, Japan.🗾Thanks for this very useful tips on building your own designs. The hardest parts is actually having the pieces you need and in the same colors as well on all sides or just 2 sides. haha😅 you just got a new subscriber.👍
i like how you put the vets office above the pet shop it fits nicely
Awesome!
Thanks!
This is exactly the video I needed. Want to start with MOC's now that I've built 4 modular buildings. But no idea where to start since I've been amazed at how a piece originally meant for something else, fit with random other pieces to create something completely new. Like the hammers to create roof decoration on the Assembly Square.
Awesome! Glad you found value. I agree how creative people can be with the LEGO parts. You will love the Ninjago City for that alone.
Very good video! I know I’m late to the party, lol! But these videos on modular builds have become my bible when it comes costum buildings
Really helpful!! I’m now dismantling my first self built modular to ensure it conforms 😂. X
Cool! Thanks!
i dont have enough peices
awesome!
Thanks!
Nice tips!
Thanks!
Awesome! I love all of the modulars LEGO has made, but sometimes LEGO just doesn’t make everything I want! So sometimes I’ll just modify the sets to accommodate my needs, (the detectives office was a good set for doing that) but other times I’ll just build them on Digital Designer, and hope to get them! I definitely want more modular sets though because they always actually cost less than mine, and they look way better!
Yes, it is true, the modular sets will generally be much cheaper than buying parts just for a custom mod. So work with what you have!
you put so much love in your TH-cam channel small brick City my favorite channel on you tube so many great ideas for my City lots of creativity cool mocs tips tricks and Inspiration for my own City sice i watch your Videos i re moc and modifide my creator 3 in 1 houses and build litte Storys into the Rooms thank you
Thanks so much! You are very kind and thanks for the support!
Actually, I think you could start even smaller and just try to get an 8x8 building as tall as the other modular buildings. I had to realize the hard way that the official modulars are around 25-35 bricks tall and that each floor is much taller than the traditional door elements (which is five brikcs tall) in fx the Brick Bank. Secondly, there's the question of having enough bricks, which is definitely an important part of getting started as well. If you don't have enough bricks, you'll need to stop all the time to find more. Other than that, I agree with the stuff you talked about here - the height issue is always something that can be difficult to overcome! Thanks for sharing this and keep up the good work!
I agree small builds help if you are just starting or have a lack of bricks. However, for "expert" modular buildings specifically, I think that is too small a footprint to work with the practice all the build techniques to fit in doors, windows, stairs and internal details. The half modular size gives enough space and allows you to work with less bricks - although I agree it is still a lot of bricks! Thanks!
Small Brick City agreed! I guess I was thinking more about the amount of bricks rather than the techniques :-)
Great video! Left a like ;)
Thanks a lot!
Nice video! I think the issue with doing modulars in 16x32 is that the building ends up being small, 16x16, and I don't think that allows for more space.
Nice! I'm building my first MOC now - not a building though, but nothing less than the Mines of Moria ;) - but it was still a useful video!
Thanks JC I've pick up so much of your tips watching these tutorials but it more like multi colour bldg at min as we don't have a large collection of any particular colours yet.
I'm thinking of doing a vid on a mini city build for people who do not have a lot of parts.
@@SmallBrickCity yes that would be so great for me
Cool
I’m gutted that I missed out on the pet shop, it’s amazing
Nice idea with the veterinarian at the pet shop modular building. I've made the same months ago.
Greetings
Cool! Thanks for sharing!
What is best lego packs/products that i can buy so i can make custom buildings and more ?
I know my comment is too late but i only found this video is helpful and I understood every word you says
Have you guys created an updated version yet or is this the latest one that I can use?
Finally a lego video not made for kids
Thank you!
Cool video
Thanks!
God I started my LEGO city when I was 6 and still forgot about a hospital I'm 12 now tho. Btw the stairs needed to be a little bit more high but it's okay
Yeah, this is for demonstration purposes only. Thanks!
Hi JC - I'm trawling through your old videos because I was unable to watch them when you made them. You have sparked the beginning of an idea (for lego ideas) and I'm coming up a bit lost how to go about developing it. Is there any way I can message you privately?
I need to take a look at the instructions I have tried to build but all of them that I tried to build myself always end up looking bad and how do you keep stuffed color coordinated?
There are 2 things. One is colour coordination and the other is a good aesthetic design. To start, copy designs, that is the easiest way to improve. For colours, google colour coordination or colour matching (not related to LEGO) to build a vocabulary of what colours go together. Or use recommendations and build from there.
Nice :))
Thanks!
One more thing, the stairs are the exact same height as the door. The top step is at the same level as the door frame. They should both be 6 bricks high.
Man, it sounds like I'm just complaining here, but that's not my intention. Keep up the good work.
No worries. I probably was not clear. In the context of the vid, it is shorter than the door when the door is on the layout 1 x something plates. And, also once the additional bricks are placed on the doors.
@@SmallBrickCity Hi, yes, when you build your modular, as you said, you always build a couple of bricks extra on top of the door, and then you need to extend the stairs. This is done in all modular buildings. And there are many different techniques used to do this. But this is a very good starter video.
Very nice video man! I think this is going to be really helpful :D
Thanks a lot!
I am looking for a camera for my lego channel what do u use/ recommend Preferably budget
FINNALY
AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS OF RESEARCH
A modular with a bathroom
Haha... you will realise all my MOCs have toilets unless they are too small. Toilets are quite a big deal in this channel.
you need the 2x1 Technic brick to make a proper modular
Fax
I wouldn’t be concerned with pleasing people you find on internet and TH-cam , most of them are just passive enthusiasts , be concerned with how You Yourself thinks your Work has been done and. Enjoy what you have done.
I think as a content creator, it is important there is a balance of both. :)
Nice video👌
What works for me is building according to what LEGO City needs and not on size. Where did you purchase the large brown baseplate from?
Thank you for sharing✌💛☺
Got it through Bricklink. Or, it could have come from the Detective's Office as I switched that to green.
@@SmallBrickCity Thank you😊
So plate, 6 bricks high, and then plates and top w tile w 2 jumpers?
I've seen so many custom modular buildings and none can quite match the level of detail that the Lego ones have. However there are a few good ones out there I've seen.
LEGO has great external details and architectural most of the time. Interior details can be better but they are restrained by part cost so it makes sense.
Some off the pieces on your modular buildings are either replaced or missing.
These are good tips but Im building a police station on a 16 by 16 for my city but I dont have to many tiles for the top floor but Im done building it just no tiles
why is the refigerator broken? (15:50)
Damn your good
Thanks. You are very kind.
Do you happen to have instructions for Peter Parker's apartment posted anywhere?
I just have 2 questions:
1. Does it matter what colored baseplate I use?
2. Does the sidewalk need to be 8 or 9 studs wide?
Hi, there is no real rule. Personally, I like grey base plates for buildings but even LEGO gives brown, light tan, green or even red for base plates. I would say it is more important if you are representing outdoor terrain. For the side walk, again no standard but a guide can be a 1 x something long tile for the curb and then three or four 2 x2 titles in (so 7 or 9 studs).
Small Brick City thanks
On the pet shop apartment building on the left, which set does that blue door come from?
Great video too
@@Ninevehh Thanks! That door has appeared in 125 sets. See www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=60623&in=S
@@SmallBrickCity thanks! Idk why I've never seen it before lol. Once again thanks.
You guys are lucky lego sets like that in our country is very expensive thanks for liking it my first time lol
Sorry to hear that! What country is that?
Philipines
A set is 22 000 cash its very expensive
Can you make more videos
Where do you get those ladders? are they out of multiple pieces???
the brown ones in the buildings
@@ELValenin They are made from 1 x 4 railing pieces. See this th-cam.com/video/DbKsDq8JFd0/w-d-xo.html
Building your own modular is very hard. You have certain standards you need to have and to make them look "flush" with other modulars you'll need to have a eye for detail. You really should first "model" your modular in a cat-program like Stud.io (or LDD, many more available)
Sorry this is off topic, but what's the name of the intro song?
Hi, it is actually a piece of production music from a sound library that was paid for. I honestly can't remember the name of it. Sorry!
@@SmallBrickCity Miss you
I have a Lego City with buildings of 8x6studs
why does the teal on the diner look like sand green?
Probably just the lighting and camera settings.
How do you buy half baseplates?
You can buy through Bricklink.com or cut 32 x 32 base plates into half.
Wuauaauauauauaiaiwwwwww great video
Thanks!
Your Diner set is green? When I got mine it was the normal teal color
Maybe it is the colour of the video.
Thanks I was pretty confused lol
Building a sanctum sanctum tomorrow
Hytry
Is it just me or at 11:30 that white thing above the blue door look like an upside down bat
Wait is it pronounced “mod-ler” or “mod-jewel-er”
Mod-jewel-er is correct. Mod-u-lar if you are a rebel.
I guess I'm a rebel
Ha
@@SmallBrickCity Rebellion against the combine!
Pepe's Pizza modular review please
Look under my LEGO MODs/ MOCs playlist and look for the Sanctum Sanctorum review.
I'm sad to say that I don't have any Modular building sets. 😑
2 + 2 = 4 - 1 IS FRICKIN MESS QUICK MATH
haha
@@SmallBrickCity i didnt know that your goin to notice it but he ill take it xd
My useless opinion...skip the stairs. They take up so much space that would be better used for interior decor and such.
And it's not like you can use them 😃
Is this trevor Noah
😂
@@SmallBrickCity i’m sorry I’m not trying to be offensive but I love the video
And I think I subscribed
@@domred1583 No offence taken at all! I can't speak for Trevor though!
@@SmallBrickCity lol keep making those videos
I am sad 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I don't have the right peices
Maybe the "tips and tricks" should be called "tips and bricks"
True!
DisStream is not a good ytber
Yeah 😒
@@SmallBrickCity yeah...
This guy talks to much
Agreed!
The way he pronounces 'modular' causes me physical pain.
Please pronounce modular correctly
awesome!
Thanks!