Virtual Lego Models of SB Houses

[Dr Colin Wells <cwells@physics.otago.ac.nz>]

I know in the past that there has been some discussion in this group about
using Lego blocks to model SB houses. I tried this and got frustrated
because I [I mean my kids ;-) ] didn't have enough blocks.  Now I have found
the solution, virtual lego blocks.  There are a number of CAD programs
around that let you build virtual lego models right on your computer. The
one I'm experimenting with at the moment is BlockCAD by Anders Isaksson. The
web URL is: http://user.tninet.se/~hbh828t/proglego.htm.  The program is
freeware and can be downloaded directly from Anders' site. Not is request
that you send him a lego block as token payment for all his hard work.

The 'standard' lego block - the thick one with 8 studs on the top (2 rows of
4) is not really thick enough to simulate a 2 string bale accurately to
scale but would be okay for a slim 3 string. So if you 'build' using
standard blocks your model will end up being a bit flat.  Also standard lego
doors and windows are not really tall enough - original Lego people were
obvisuoly not modelled on Barbie and Ken. The nice thing about BlockCAD is
that you can create customised blocks, windows and doors etc. A 'standard'
Lego block is about 32 mm long by 16 mm wide by 9.5 mm high. That's close
enough to 1 1/4" by 5/8" by 3/8" for you imperialist North Americans. To
model a 2 string more accurately the height needs to be 12.5 mm (1/2"). That
scales reasonably well to a real bale that is 90 cm long by 45 cm wide by 36
cm high (36" by 18" by 14"). In BlockCAD the 'standard' block is 80 by 40 by
24 units (some arbitary unit) so you need to increase the height of the
block (Z dimension) to 31 units to preserve the scale. You need to do a
comparable rescaling for other types of blocks (halves are really useful)
and doors and windows.

I'm still thinking about how to do a really nice roof - Lego rooves tend to
be a bit 'clunky' - I haven't actually got to the roof on my model yet. But
even without the roof it is a great way to visualise how to lay out the
walls in an optimum way. With BlockCAD even once the model is complete you
can pull the model down layer by layer to see how each layer was set out.
Hope this helps.

Cheers Colin

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Dr Colin Wells
Senior Lecturer
Energy Management Group
Dept of Physics, University of Otago
PO Box 56, DUNEDIN, New Zealand
Phone: +64+3+479 7752
Fax:     +64+3+479 0964
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