Pittsburgh Downtown build, how to/parts needed? Integrating with a train layout?

[markm75]

Hi all, new here and i’m trying to find out where some have built “downtown” pittsburgh, specifically the how to and the parts needed.

So far i started with this:

Play Ball! – Lego Pittsburgh Update 8
byu/dijon_moneyear inlego

I’ve also seen some shots from the home garden show.

I did see this guide here, but its not quite the same:
https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-93663/zandecreates/pittsburgh-architecture/#details

Is there one more in line with the likes of the first reddit link or the home garden show display out there somewhere?

I’d like to build that and integrate with off the shelf lego builds + lego trains in a train platform, that leads into the question of, are there any guides on at least the platform build? (have an old lionel 2×6+ boards 12’x6′ on hand, but i’d like to go more modular or easy to tear down, less heavy, and 12×12, 12×6 feels too small).

Any pointers or tips here?

Thanks in advance

[Josh]

bricklink.com will be your best source for parts.

something like that will certainly take a lot of parts and time if you don’t have any to start with. It’s also very customizable, as builders usually just go with what they’re inspired to do, without thinking about other users wanting to be told exactly what they need to do to create an identical copy, you know?

[Bob Grier]

Hi @markm75, I did the downtown Pittsburgh microscale MOC that I assume you saw pictures of from Home & Garden. I’ve attached a few here for reference that you can hopefully zoom in on to get some ideas on how I did different buildings and bridges.

I can tell you that my MOC has evolved over the past 4 years, starting with something as small as a single baseplate (10″x10″) and getting reworked and expanded numerous times over the years. My suggestions/advice for you starting out would be:

* Pick a size for your platform that you can work with, both in terms of where you will have it displayed at your house and how you can both get it out of your house and transport it if you want to display it at shows. Mine is on a 49″ x 35″ piece of plywood (the size was set by what will fit on my Foosball table), and it’s built in modular sections that I can easily separate to get it out of my house and reassembled quickly. The three rivers make idea dividing points for the modules.
* Pick a scale and try to stick to it. My city is now at approximately 1″ = 200 feet but it wasn’t always that way and some of the evolution it’s gone through has been to get it to scale.
* Plates work and look much better than bricks when building at microscale. It will cost more to do this, but the buildings will look better and more realistic.
* Google maps is a great resource for getting both a birds-eye and street view of specific buildings.

Feel free to reach out if you have questions, and I’d be happy to help out if I can. Happy building!!

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[PLAYINGWITHECHOES]

Hi Mark,

I like the idea of the Pittsburgh city with trains. You might want to consider foreshortening perspective techniques if you want to add functional Lego trains to your city scape diorama. Lego trains are generally larger 6w and 8w builds whereas the city builds you see like Bob’s are Microscale. So an old trick from model trains when combining things of different scales is building the big stuff up front and then putting the smaller scale stuff in the background like it’s on the distant horizon. So maybe something like a Station Square platform with downtown seen from across the river for an idea.

There’s also non-motorized micro scale trains people make with Lego too, that are 1 stud wide which would work within the microscale city footprint. There’s plenty of ways to do with minifigure rollerskate parts, bricks with studs on sides, and brackets. I’ve heard some people use magnets to make them go with a chainlink under the city baseplates and I’ve also heard some companies like Brick Track offer tile parts with tracks inked on that might be helpful at microscale.

[Tim]

If you are looking to build full size buildings, I have some experience in that. You can look at the 2025 Home and Garden pictures in our Gallery for pictures of my downtown buildings. I am currently working on several more and hope to have at least one more new one done in time for November’s Ultimate Brick Show. My latest is the Keenan Building (currently named Midtown Towers) located at 643 Liberty Avenue. It is the building with the red dome.

[Author]

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