How to make MILS baseplates for buildings and landscaping.

[@MamaTeeHam]

I appreciate this video! I'm helping my 6 year old put his Minecraft villages together. They're built on those baseplates but they're so flimsy. He likes to carry them around the house to play but they're always falling off. Thank you again!

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

This video is okder and the prices of parts have increased greatly. I want to say doing this now, it is much cheaper to use 4 16x16 plates with 2x2 bricks on the underside.

[@MamaTeeHam]

@@BevinsBricksWorld Expensive indeed. I'll look for some 16x16 baseplates on Bricklink. Thank you!

[@SirBrickzAlot]

Finally getting around to building my first diorama, small medieval with 3 or 4 baseplates. Came back here for the expert tutorial.

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Thanks, glad this helps :)

[@taqresu5865]

I think one good tip is to perhaps color code the edges, especially if you're building a vast expanse of uniform terrain (like Hoth or Tatooine). For example, you could match blue edges with blue, red with red, green with green, etc. That's what I did for my Western Town display last year.

[@MATTYOGLE77]

This is the best and most simple explanation of this system I've seen. Thank you. I don't use this yet, but I'm considering it.

[@giovannielliot2710]

@Hamza Juelz No problem :)

[@charlesgwinter]

i have just started using the MILS system for my sets and MOCs. this is a great system to use and i do learn from your videos so much stuff. thank you

[@johnathansawyer8736]

Love the bonsai tree integration. To scale, that would be one BIG bonsai! LOL

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Lol, yes it would, I have it built in front of my skyscraper complex.

[@Nsbustin]

This video got my subscription to this channel two years ago. Excellent decision

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Thanks, I really need to update a lot.of these older videos. To be more quick flowing and informative.

[@Nsbustin]

@@BevinsBricksWorld my 6 year old son and I were making mils plates with this video. We've been making a small lego city together

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

That's awesome, one of the best toys ever as it brings families together :)

[@brucec3505]

I am just getting ready to start building Lego modulers. I just practiced making my first MILS plate. I love this technique.

[@yoyobenjo1]

Awesome that's slot cheaper than I thought. Thanks Daryl

[@dalepeterson2056]

That is was a clear explanation of the process and potential uses. It’s time for me to step my building skills. Thank you.

[@Blue_Steel86]

Would this work with those larger plates the 48 by 48 ones

[@EdThompson]

Thanks for the link to the base plates! didn't know you could get them anywhere for less than $7. what color 2x2's are the cheapest?

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Usually pink, orange and bright green as noone really builds in those colors

[@bigbrosbricks4488]

I know this could be solved with google, but what does "MILS" stand for?

[@visitfyldecoast]

Modular integrated landscaping system

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Oh I always thought it was modular integrated lego system

[@teamrarfan285]

@@BevinsBricksWorld SUCKS

[@teamrarfan285]

NOT

[@KaktusPlaysGames]

​@@teamrarfan285 JackSucksAtLife

[@TheDailyBrick]

That’s a super cool design! I might try to incorporate this into my modular city

[@TitanicTruths]

This actually helps me a lot. Ive started a large Lynnewood Hall custom lego model, and have been struggling a bit with some areas. Baseplates were one. I already have most of whats needed here, only need the 4x4 plates and technic parts really. Thanks, I will have to get this a try.

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Look up brick cash on bricklink as he is usually the cheapest place for 4x4 plates

[@mikeyil]

Lynnewood Hall in Elkins Park, PA?

[@EvansBrickhouse]

Very informative and great tips.

[@adrianvandrunen2210]

So if I were building the Palace Cinema, I would use red 4x4's instead of the grey ones in this video if I wanted to keep the colour scheme the same as the set?

[@adrianvandrunen2210]

Bevins Bricks thanks so much, now to find space to start...have the cinema, detectives office and the fishing shack...

[@caloutaro8532]

Hey Daryl!!! That a good type of base plate to ut in your city!! Thanks to share it!!🤘🏻😁🤘🏻

[@BenWoolwine]

I'm highly considering this style of road system when i move my city in the basement. All standard road plate now but I feel like future Speed Champion set will be 8 stud wide and they just don't fit right in my current city. At least not to my liking for scale. Keep the videos coming!

[@EvansBrickhouse]

Ben Woolwine I’m not a huge fan of 8 stud wide vehicles especially cars. Trucks maybe but what I don’t get is LEGO seems to be pushing 8 stud wide cars and trucks but the trains are still 6 wide. I always modify all of my trains to be 8 wide because you can put seats on both sides in passenger trains.

[@shanemcqueen8103]

Yes they keep making Vehicles wider and wider

[@josephh9401]

Thanks for the video! Look forward to seeing the road plates to :) I’m also considering doing this to my city! Thanks for the inspiration. Keep going!

[@daithiocoinnigh]

Good value on the technique bricks

[@garygreenleaf2716]

I have a question how do you lock a winter village set like the Santa's visit set to this mil plate since the building is on angles.

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

You would place tiles and jumper plates on the top to lock it down into place.

[@josephsoutham5117]

QUESTION: I just built my first MILS system base plate. Do the 4x4 plates on top have to be the same color?

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

No

[@Nick56228]

I never tried Mils baseplates but is there a way that they can still connect with the new road baseplates?

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Yes I sell instructions on rebrickable and my website bevinsbricks.com to show how.

[@DenGio55]

Can I use the 32x32 baseplate that comes with the set, instead of the 4 16x16s? Hope that is not a stupid question.

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

No question is ever stupid 😀 and the answer is yes as it will save you on the cost to make the mils plate.

[@DenGio55]

Thank you so much!!

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Your welcome

[@seamarie3111]

Those are really cool. I can't help but look at the sides, though. For the exposed edges, you're going to see in there, and it makes me think of ways to finish that off, LOL! Maybe just pin some hill-like assemblies all the way around, that slope up to the city and also cover the edges of those MILS assemblies? Heck, I don't know, I've not even gotten into MOCS yet myself, but those MILS sides just kind of drive me crazy!

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

When they are on the edge of the table you just fill with black brick

[@seamarie3111]

@@BevinsBricksWorldMakes sense! 👍🏼

[@hans.lankamp]

Hi! Just wondering, is it still a MILS plate if I use random sizes of plates to fill it out? Of course making sure they are all still supported and stable.

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Absolutely, a really good cost saving way to make a mils plate is to use 4 16x16 off brand plates. For this I use these amzn.to/3mpc8yC and they are currently on sale.

[@Zabadak]

I totally agree. A very clever and solid system

[@johnnyferguson570]

Nice work. How do you marry these in with the road plates, given the road plate should be on top rather than the bottom if you follow what I mean?

[@LEGOMadness]

i will defo be using this so the new roadplates are the right hight

[@d4bricks889]

Well done awesome vidio. I use this system in my city ..brilliant. I just raise my city bace plates up with lego one brick high .

[@scottishdude9682]

Love the back drop. Where is that from?

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Here is the link www.amazon.com/dp/B01MT3RRAM/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_apa_glt_i_04PBNZ7HYSBFH29PS475?linkCode=ml2&tag=bevinsbricks-20

[@alphaomegazulu8451]

Thanks for making this video Daryl! Mils plates make complete sense and I didn’t realize you guys took it this far. However, its the best way to go about the surface of the table and future alterations. It’s hard to figure out exactly what bricks you need for anything such as your Airport Tunnel for the people that goes over the street. Would if Pick a Brick doesn’t have those Windows, do you put it off until they do have them? Then building hills and mountains as well as the train track to sidewalks, oh my! I should start ordering 5000x of each brick! Lol

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

I buy parts from Lego, Bricklink and brick owl just depends on what's cheaper and who has the most stock

[@rommelcruz8983]

Where did you buy the bulk order for the 4 x 4 gray plate?

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Brickcash was the place but his and everyone's prices have gone thru the roof scince this video was posted.

[@timedrifter]

Out of curiosity, where'd you go to find a bulk lot of that quantity of plates for that price? I looked on Bricklink and the only seller with that kind of quantity wanted 10x that price for them.

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Brick cash is who I use to get them thru. This is a old video and prices have climbed everywhere.

[@imariosf]

Nice video. I’m new to this Lego build and wanted to know why a gray top instead of green so that you can just buy green in bulk?

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Its whatever color works best for you depending on the build. Currently I do black tops as they are cheapest. But yes if it will be grass green, snow use white and so forth :)

[@charlesgwinter]

i converted a big railroad bridge to the MILS base standard. the original bridge turned out to be 5 MILS long by 1 MILS wide. when i move it will be easier to move.

[@charlesgwinter]

@@BevinsBricksWorld i am going out of my way to see what i can convert into the MILS format.

[@NedbLegocity]

I’m just starting out with my city... as such I’m not sure I Need that system right away. The price is surprisingly low though. Can you MILs the larger baseplate as well?

[@ajanderson1299]

I’ve searched all over and cannot seem to find an answer for the half baseplate (32 x16) for sets like the bookstore or assembly square. What would you do for modulars that utilize half plates? AMAZING work on your content 🙌🙌

[@ajanderson1299]

@@BevinsBricksWorld Got it, I'm on board with cutting them! Would you make a half (16 x 32) MILS plate for those types of modular sets?

[@Kavukamari]

I love modular builds

[@janktron]

So I'm thinking of doing the MILS plates out the gate for my Lego city. I've got a few more months until the construction finishes on my house so I'm trying to gather up as many pieces for the plates ahead of time so they are ready to go when I start building. is there any specific reason for using 4x4 plates on the top other than cost? And how important is the actual color of the plates on the top? I'm assuming the entire plate will be covered and not visible for any modular building so the color wouldn't matter, but please correct me if I'm wrong....I don't wanna waste a bunch of money on random colored plates if it's gonna be visible. thanks!

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

I do four by four plates because it seems to be the most rigid way of doing it. By that I mean it provides the most strength. You can use much larger plates it really doesn't matter as it still works. The biggest thing is do not ever go past four studs in between the supports underneath if you go with larger plate as then it becomes spongy. With me no the color does not matter because even on the Interiors of the building's, first floor I always tile just as I do all sidewalks as well. Not everyone does though so it's all about personal preference when doing buildings.

[@imariosf]

Awesome Channel, what color 4x4 plates would you recommend for the mils system to build a city? I know people say it doesn't matter but what color is more practical to save money in the long run?

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

The cheapest is probably gonna be black and it's probably the most practical as well as it hides easily.

[@GnomeMad]

Where are you finding 2x2 bricks and 4x4 plates for so cheap? I can’t find them anywhere in those quantities for the prices you described. Still a great tutorial and video.

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

This video is almost 3 years old and we've had record inflation. Plus everyone is doing this method now and has driven prices up as well. I was buying all my parts on bricklink.

[@dd_zzero6827]

Hello again Daryl. I hope you will see this. I have finally given in and going to MILS. At least for all the non road stuff. I have a couple of questions for you. Have you done a 48x48 base plate MILS? I have a bunch of large buildings on them. Is it recommended? I see a little bit of a bow when I made one. Also, why do you use the 1x4 technic bricks on the corners instead of the 1x2 with one hole? Is there a reason for this? Just trying to figure things out. Thank you for your time.

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Nice and welcome to mils. The 1x4 is just a preference as if I want I can use multiple clips but 1x2s are fine also. As for size the largest plate ive made was 4 48x48 and it holds together great for me. Look at my skyscraper bases the smallest is 2 48x48 baseplates used for 1 mils plate.

[@MageRedEyes]

Can I do thise technique for a bigger plate

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Absolutely

[@GhostHostMemories]

i'm looking to get into modulars. they come with a 32x32 base. Should I use that as the bottom base and get the 64 4x4, or get a random 32x32 for the base and use the included 32x32 as the "top" plate?

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

All depends on how much you want to spend. The cheapest way would be use the 32x32 it comes with and buy the Brickyard 32x32 plate for the top. amzn.to/3IUKhj4

[@nickturner4274]

So as a question please. Once you have built your Mils do you place your modular including the supplied flimsy base plate on top of the mils or do you build the modular on top of the mils without the green or white base plate. Excuse my terminology.

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

No you build a mils plate and then build the modular building unto the mils plate

[@johnathansawyer8736]

How much less sturdy would it be if I used 2, 16X32 baseplates instead of 1, 32x32? I have a few modular buildings and I'm thinking of just using those baseplates from the book store...

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

It would be equally strong. As the center row of Bricks will hold the 2 baseplates together

[@shanemcqueen8103]

What's your plan for the roads that's where I'm struggling I don't want to build my roads out of tile

[@shanemcqueen8103]

Straight roads aren't so bad it's the turns never look proper

[@shanemcqueen8103]

I have been trying a couple ideas for the road plates I will build some samples and share them

[@boogerwizard6319]

Thank you for this! Very helpful

[@wemustdissent]

That one light grey 4x4 plate in the field of light bluish grey plates was driving me crazy

[@DanielMentz_]

Hi, great video, where do you buy your lego bricks from?

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Bricklink and Lego

[@meinwerker5]

Its a great system and I might use it myself later. But was one of the 4x4 plates dark gray instead of dark blueish gray or was that a weird lighting issue?

[@getwirednen]

How/where do you buy your parts in bulk to build these MILS plates?

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Bricklink and lego pick a brick

[@whitewaterbricks1971]

Do you have an updated layout for using the 1x2 technic bricks as you mentioned in a recent video?

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

I will have to make a video to explain soon

[@trythistoo20001]

what is the number of the Technic Pin Connector to connect the 2 plates together

[@TeresaSurber]

Where do you purchase the pieces in bulk?

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

From Lego and Bricklink.

[@BlackGloveBricks]

You convinced me! I'm switching over to MILS. Actually not as expensive or complicated as I feared it would be.

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

No they're not as bad as everybody makes them out to be as long as you're finding discount parts.

[@BlackGloveBricks]

@@BevinsBricksWorld Hey, even at retail. If you're serious about your display, and you can afford it, this is the way to go.

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Absolutely

[@roberttroidl7230]

That will help me a lot thank you

[@CassieKingHines]

Where do you buy your bulk lot bricks?

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Bricklink and Lego, although you can only do a max of 999 from lego at a time.

[@CassieKingHines]

@@BevinsBricksWorld thank you. I have encountered that limit. Haven’t bought from bricklink. I will check it out.

[@IDIRIEAIM]

Dang. Okay Bevin. I'm a total noob AFOL at 31 and feel dumb for asking, but its bugging me before spending cash. What color of gray do you prefer for the top of these plates?

[@Dylanm849]

I’m reconsidering disassembling all my Modular’s just to use this

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

You just have to trasfer the first floor. Its rather easy :)

[@johngarrett7438]

Will you be building the modular buildings on to this plate system?.if so I will have to rebuild all of my modulars.uhhhh

[@johngarrett7438]

@@BevinsBricksWorld nice,had me worried for a second there.ill be waiting for your video.☺️

[@emongwapo7586]

Is it okay to use alt lego for base plates?

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Absolutely you can even use off brands for the plates on top.

[@IsaiahSalvagno]

Where do you buy lego just brick link? Or everything from eBay and Amazon

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Primarily bricklink, brickowl and Lego pab online.

[@peterjohn1927]

Thank you, its great!

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Your welcome

[@christopherwilliams3113]

Do you have to use the large base plate? Because I have the Corner garage and I want to use the base plate for that set and build the MILS with that but I cannot find that base plate on Legos site by searching the number in the manual.

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

A Mils plate is built onto a standard base plate yes

[@terrymccullough3677]

Where do you buy bulk lots?

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Bricklink and lego pab

[@kylem9503]

Thanks for sharing!

[@christopherclack1712]

Daryl, Thanks again for another great tutorial. I just made 17 MILS baseplates for my City and converted a couple Modulars, I happened to have quite a few large plates (16x16) and used them. Next ones, I will be using my extra 4x4's, so timing was perfect. Also loved the lighting explanation. Is there a reason for using the 1x4 Technic corner over the 1x2 that Lego typically uses in all their modulars?

[@slymercenary6500]

Hey just new to the MILS way of building. Can you use any size plates or is the 4x4 the best way to go? I was going to use the same number of supports as you have used, but just using the plates I have available. Any comments would be welcome.

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

You can use any size plate it's just from my experience 4 by 4 plates provide the strongest base. But I do know some of my members even use the 16 by 16 plates and do like you state which is still separate the 2x2 bricks underneath by two studs.

[@cyberbrick8775]

How could I use the Mils plate system with a sub way under it?

[@tawnyadumond5383]

How do you deal with MILS when it comes to a modular that uses 1 1/2 base plates, like ghostbusters firehouse and town square? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

I just double up the base of the Mills instead of one 32 by 32 you use two so your Mils plate is 32 by 64

[@tawnyadumond5383]

@@BevinsBricksWorld Thanks :)

[@St.F-ShihtzuPhoto]

Hello. I‘m from Germany,and I really like to know where do you buy your bricks so cheaply?? Steffen

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Bricklink

[@St.F-ShihtzuPhoto]

Thank you

[@anfieldlad70]

Can I just point out that the 1 x 4 Technic bricks are not called Technique bricks - these are two different words. The correct pronunciation is Tek-Nik

[@DREvans-hn2fh]

Does this prevent warping?

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

It makes a very strong stable base to build on.

[@frankb4231]

Where do you order from? I was on the lego website and I’m at $27 without base plate

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Bricklink is where I buy most parts. Keep in mind also Lego has had 4 price hikes since this video was posted.

[@rimmidesign1556]

Well explained!!!

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Thanks

[@cjromero7064]

Hello Bevin, quick question. Where do you get your pieces.

[@cjromero7064]

@@BevinsBricksWorld thanks a ton. Great video!

[@josephd27]

Did you bulk buy the 32x32 base plates sir?

[@Hanoveur]

64 of the 4x4s? (Kept waiting for you to give us the number)

[@nbalivemobileawesomeness4481]

How many are you going to do on your table

[@paulgizewski4487]

What is the point of the 2x3 on the sides? Why cant u just add 8 more 2x2s?

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

You can do that, this is just how I do it.

[@jraglob5924]

Thank You!

[@YouGoneMad]

Bevin, I haven't even selected all the bricks yet, and already at over $30, thought you said this was $5 worth of bricks to make one MILmisunderstand

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

No it was 20 to 25 if you buy them at the prices I was paying. But due to inflation and all the prices that have been on the rise the costs are much higher now.

[@YouGoneMad]

@@BevinsBricksWorld So I simply misheard. Even still. When you pay $150+ for most of these Modulars, what's $25 or even $30 for a created baseplate with that much strength and functionality for lighting! Even cheaper still when it is a $300 set like my very first building, The Daily Bugle! I have viewed enough MULS content to say I will be STARTING my city off right...with MILS plates used at the beginning of every build from here on out, so that my Daily Bugle is the ONLY building I ever has to transfer to MILS Plate!

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

To me it is definitely worth the investment. But as I do tell everyone it is an expensive upfront investment to start. The key is take your time collecting the parts.

[@YouGoneMad]

@@BevinsBricksWorld LEGO = $$$. Always has, and so do many other hobbies! We enjoy this, and thus go the dollars! We have better roads than real cities too, so our dollars are being better spent on LEGO Roads I think!

[@YouGoneMad]

You should make this easy on some of use builders and offer some "Pre-Built MILS Plates" on your store! Wink-Wink, Nudge-Nudge!

[@sambeaumont395]

Is Technic Tech-nique? Or Tech-nick?

[@anfieldlad70]

Exactly, two different words - Technic and Technique.

[@richardgoodman2869]

Where are you buying your bricks from at that price? Thank you!

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Im always looking for deals and prices constantly change. For this video everything was bricklink. But I also use brickowl and legos pab and bap

[@richardgoodman2869]

@@BevinsBricksWorld Thank you, the lego store puts limits on things.

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

999.on pab and 200 for bap orders but you can make multiple orders

[@djdynieldaniel1395]

And whst is it for?

[@samuelturnerakabjornflamer8225]

Hi Daryl, how did you come by the MILS base plate system? Second, can you tell me where I'd go to write a federal grant to build this way? Totally cool system, just not for us poor boys. LOL!

[@jasonschlierman412]

I'm just starting to get in to this and have a question I hope someone can explain to me. What are the pros/cons with using a 48x48 base plate instead? Does it have to be 32x32? Thanks.

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

You can use 48x48, if your building your own roads its no issue at all. If you use fhe road plates youll need 2 48x48 for the roads to match up.

[@jasonschlierman412]

@@BevinsBricksWorld Ok, I think I get it. The 32x32 plates match up better with the new LEGO roads, yes?

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Yes but you can still make them work with 48x48 also.

[@ben_nerf_lego]

next time i buy a modular building i am going to build it on this plate

[@MrJbeaste]

Where did you get your bricks for so cheap? It's gonna cost me over 30 dollars to build this plate

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Inflation, this video is 3 years plus the fact that everyone is using mils now has driven parts prices up. I bought all my parts from bricklink.

[@MrJbeaste]

@BevinsBricksWorld ok I figured that was it. Love your builds. Good sir keep it up.

[@garrymcconnell]

do you sell pre made MILS plates?

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

No as I dont think people would want to pay the price for them.

[@sambeaumont395]

What does MILS stand for?

[@sambeaumont395]

Bevins Bricks I look forward to the tutorial on the road segments.

[@BrickBakery]

Great! Neat guide! I think it's a really interesting system but I just can't get it over my heart to do this to the official modulars. So, as long as my city has those, I'm not going to make the MILS system. Congratulations on reaching 7,000 subs - that's fantastic! You'll reach 10,000 in no time :-) Thanks for sharing this and keep up the great work :-) Oh, PS: Does this mean that you won't be using roadplates anymore?

[@BrickBakery]

@@BevinsBricksWorld Ahh, I see! It's going to be very interesting to see what you come up with in the future :-)

[@seamarie3111]

I don't think I could do that to my modulars either, especially after the hard work I put in building them! I love the looks of the system, but can see some drawbacks, like having to convert existing builds. I'm also not a fan of all the gaps you can see between the bricks separating top plates from the bottom baseplate. I might try it out sometime, though!

[@QueDiablos666]

What “MILS” means? :)

[@Conner._.Anderson]

Technique?

[@543210mono]

Nice

[@ThomasHalways]

What is a MILS?

[@BevinsBricksWorld]

Modular integrated landscaping system. :)