LEGO City build series - planning a layout

Planning your LEGO city. Tips and tricks on designing a LEGO layout using modulars, official sets, and MOCs.

[@brickartisan]

Definitely agree with using the smaller/medium sets to expand the city especially when they’re on sale 😊

[@MrBookieboo]

Yeah, it's a super economical way to expand.

[@WelcometoEuphoria]

A suggestion for another video is how you worked out the train layout. This always seems to cause people trouble because of the space required for the curves if you want continuous running for your trains. Also how do you manage the different levels and access behind the upper levels. I know you've covered this in your previous videos but a consideration of this in 'planning' terms would be useful.

[@infinittrob9409]

As someone just starting to collect again and not having much to start on city building with this was very helpful. Mapping the space and knowing what you can do with it before just laying out buildings, as well as seeing the variety you have makes me excited to get started. Most informative and practical series on city building I've seen. Thanks so much!!!

[@MrBookieboo]

I'm so glad you've found this series helpful. Happy building!

[@litbrick_9094]

Space is always a factor for a layout. Planning is vital (love the old school paper btw!). That said, I think story telling adds so much to a city. I have found that even open backed facades with the right story telling can add so much depth and also are great focal points to trick the eye of the viewer. Again, you always have great tips and thanks for sharing them!

[@MrBookieboo]

So true!

[@1974xela_bricks]

Thanks for sharing 👍. I would be intressted in your train track layout.

[@MrBookieboo]

The trains are just two simple loops. For now . . .

[@PedrokasPT]

Very good series :) You have my favourite city from all KZbinrs that I follow - an inspiration for me ! Greetings from ....Portugal 🙂

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you very much!

[@douglasinwood1998]

The miniature prototype in Lego is a great idea!

[@MrBookieboo]

Thank you! It started out as a silly idea that ultimately really helped me visualize what I was trying to accomplish.

[@KaiserCoaster]

You're like the Bob Ross of LEGO Cities

[@MrBookieboo]

You're too kind, thank you!

[@gustavoleiva-larranaga]

Super cool! 🙌🏼

[@LKBRICKS1993]

Great video love this series very interesting thank you ❤️

[@MrBookieboo]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@petewakefield111]

Thank you for another great video! I'm super interested to know if it all evolved slowly or if you had a ton of lego and then created a city ? Ive been collecting for 4 years now and have a lot of the stuff for a city but it's totally overwhelming when I think of planning it all out. sometimes I wonder if its best to pack up everything and just start small in the space again? I charged forward collecting without giving much thought to how it might all fit together in the space I have. Lockdown hangovers lol! With the trains can you have them in a small space ???

[@MrBookieboo]

It started slowly for me, but quickly escalated. The city itself started on a shelf and then evolved into a couple tables and blew up from there. Moving to a new home forced me to consolidate and carefully plan the space that I have.

[@Kinegos]

I've been enoying all of your videos and been binging a lot. I'm in what seems to be a familiar situation. I have about a 9.5'x10' office that is my lego space + office. I've been trying to use it for my PC, my build station and my lego city and I just have gotten frustrated. So I'm trying to redesign it, and really love your setup and approach. I think I can reallocate a U-shape to the city of about 100" by 30-36" deep. I really want to add a train loop - which I have had no way to do thus far. And I really want to get away from shelving units which is where all my city buildings are now. Basically I have 5 or 6 3-4 building wide streets. My question is, with the tiered city, you seem to have access to get behind the layout (at least I think that's what you've said a few times). I'm wondering how bad of an idea it would be to build right up to the walls and not leave any room behind. When I did the math, I go from about 54 baseplates on my shelves, to only about 72 around the U shape (using 30" deep). I guess I was hoping for more lol. 40% increase is nothing to sneeze at. This city planning stuff is no joke. Thanks for your videos!

[@MrBookieboo]

If you keep the tabletops to ~30” or so (3 baseplates) you should be able to easily reach all the way to the wall. Anything deeper gets tricky for me. Most of my new layout is along the wall.

[@gustavoleiva-larranaga]

…Now I am curious which Modulars are you missing! 🤔😳🤓

[@deejaylegoz9323]

Great advice and vid! Definitely taking some of these to heart for my city. I have a question though, you and others have said those Ikea table are 3 baseplates deep, I was wondering how many baseplates length wise would that be?

[@MrBookieboo]

If I recall, they are about 6 and a quarter baseplates wide. They aren't quite as neat long-wise. Still, they are the best bang for the buck table solution that I have found.

[@jackiebak2132]

@mrbookieboo do you use the Lack tables from IKEA? We are in the planning phases of building our Lego room. I just discovered you (love your content!) and have been researching like crazy. I will search through your other videos as well, but was curious what tables & storage you use. Thank you in advance!

[@MrBookieboo]

@jackiebak2132 I used the Linnmon tables from ikea but had to switch to 3/4 plywood/solid core doors once I started adding more levels.