Lego: Mapping

My original plan was about four times larger than I have available … my tabletop is four baseplates wide (baseplates are 25 cm/10 inches a side.)

The first thing that told me I’d be biting off more than I could chew was realizing I’d need about 45 baseplates.

The sheer work involved in building them and the cost were the next considerations. I reminded myself of the premise.

“Bosley and Co are building their accommodation on an island that nobody wants, surrounded by wetlands.”

The cost of the wetlands alone would’ve been beyond the scope of the project. Transparent light blue 1×2 tiles are 22 cents each in my scene.

I decided to go back to my original idea. Instead of covering seven baseplates with swamp, I’ll make one, at most two, swamps and move them around as needed.

I’m not sure yet what I’ll do about the deep water river channel. Two baseplates already but including with the channel, places for large ships and small boats to dock. As seen below:

Deep water channel

Lego: Future Projects

Image from https://www.integratesustainability.com.au

One of my future ambitions is to one day, using Lego, construct an Australian bilby, near its burrow with the Currawinya Bilby Enclosure Fence in the background.

A good few years ago now, I was involved in raising funds to build that enclosure. Seeing the ABC’s feature on it a couple of years ago, it seemed to me a good subject for a future Earth Day celebratory build, or alternatively to celebrate National Bilby Day, which I just now discovered is a thing. September 8th, if you’re interested.

But my bilby build will have to be for next year, or thereabouts. A lot to learn in the meantime.

In preparation, I’ve started to learn how to do some animal builds, of which this little bird (one of a pair) is one. [Lego set 40522] Nice plump body, I thought. I can learn something from that, maybe adapt it to become a bilby body? Or maybe not.

In this case I am quite taken with the way the curvy bits are shaped, and internally how all those shiny bits are attached. Also the little wings are quite moveable and can be angled as liked.

People in the know will see that the base/terraforming is not complete, and Pretty is just perched on it. No way can my ‘weak old fingers’ clip together the turn-table thingy that the two little birds sit on. That will have to wait for a visitor.

[One thing good to see is how well the scenery backdrop works, this is part of the eventual town diorama]

Link to feature: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-25/wild-bilbies-found-outside-currawinya-fence/100628724