Designing a modular dive shop
Posted by Huw,
Designing buildings that conform to the Creator Expert modular building standard defined by 10182 Cafe Corner 13 years ago has become very popular. In today's article by guest author Alex D, he explains how he went about designing a modular dive shop:
Since seeing Cafe Corner in a catalogue in 2007, I’ve perceived the Modular Buildings as the pinnacle of LEGO set design. At that time, I simply could not afford a set that expensive, making such sets all the more alluring.
A decade later, I was finally able to secure the Detective’s Office, so could appreciate the intricate details these sets have to offer in person. Then, a few months ago, the time had finally arrived for me to try my own hand at designing a modular.
Introducing - the Dive Shop!
Let’s dive in!
Starting with the Minifigures
This model contains seven characters, all sporting the classic smile print. The four above are all shop staff, while the remaining folks are customers or passers-by. Many of these are loosely inspired by folks I know or characters they are associated with.
The Deep Sea Explorers logo from the 2015 City range is reused here to denote the shop’s staff. More on that later...
Some keen-eyed readers may have noticed that the included dog is moulded in black, a colour not produced for any set. In fact, this pretty pooch was an exclusive build-a-minifigure accessory at LEGO brand stores. Due to the likeness to my dog, I just had to include her!
First Floors First - Level 1
The bright coral colouring of this floor certainly makes a unique statement amongst modular buildings. These walls are constructed as side-by-side columns, consisting of approximately 200 1x2 bricks in this vibrant hue. Imitating the look of tile, rather than brick.
The ubiquitous modular lamppost is seen here in an unusual shade. I decided upon using a black lamppost to easily distinguish my modular designs from the official ones when they are displayed next to each other. The planter box behind it adds visual interest and life to this area of the build. Notably, the new leaf piece clears the lip made by the 1x8 tile used here.
Nexo Knights tiles with a ½ stud offset make for a nice step up before the double doors. A buoy with a diving flag serves to grab the attention of those on the pavement. Typically, this flag is flown in an area where divers are currently in the water, alerting boats and other potential hazards to the divers’ presence.
The twin bike racks utilise part 6187, mounted sideways, capturing the iconic upside-down “U” shape perfectly. Just set it into the ground with some cheese slopes and you’re good to go! The 1x2x2 glass panes are used here to make space for the front tyre: it would have been too tight of a fit against a standard brick.
The decoration above the windows was inspired by the windows on Williams Hall at the University of Vermont. Their shape immediately spoke to me of the lovely new ¼ circle tiles, and once I remembered the 1x5 inverted bow brick, I got to work. Everything else branched out from those little arches. They pair with the doors in a way that insets the doors ½ of a stud behind the main wall, hence the offset front step. This ½ stud offset is utilised multiple times throughout this build, and it is one I recommend to anyone making a modular. This gives the walls and windows subtle definition without having a large footprint.
The interior features an antique checkout counter and a custom register. The orange fish next to the register is a nod to the LEGO Worlds video game, where the Scuba Diver character is unlocked by giving her the orange fish piece.
Behind the counter is the air tank filling system, complete with a compressor, a large air storage tank, and a filling station.
The grand wall décor is a reconstruction of the Deep Sea Explorers logo mentioned earlier; serving as an emblem for the shop. The edges are lined with the silver inked 4x4 quarter-round tiles to give this massive emblem a premium feel.
Along the rack of air tanks, a pressure gauge can be found at either end and a pair of what are known as 2nd stage regulators are in between them. On actual Scuba equipment, the second stage regulator is located just in front of the mouthpiece, and yellow ones are typically used as a secondary regulator, known as the octopus reg.
The equipment testing pool makes excellent use of the blue baseplate, covering it with transparent tiles. The pool is bordered by black 2-wide plates that represent rubber anti-slip mats.
The staircase consists of three large staircase parts, paired with some railings that Mike Psiaki could be proud of! The upper railing uses a 3-4-5 Pythagorean right triangle, while the lower rail is slightly more complex.
When calculating the size of the lower railing, the base length of the triangle was fixed at 10 studs, offset within an 11 stud footprint. Various heights were tested until the most reasonable hypotenuse was settled upon. The optimal height was found to be 12.5 studs, with a railing length of 16.006 studs. A 15-stud long rail with 2 end hinges (since each hinge connection is ½ of a stud out from the edge, they create the 16 stud length) seemed to fit within the tolerances afforded. The railings were then embellished with 1x1 brackets and round tiles.
Moving on up - Level 2
The left corner features a deck with colourful beach furniture. Located below the deck is the bold “Dive” sign, designed to evoke the look and feel of the dive flag. The sign uses plenty of SNOT bricks in seemingly random positions to form the mounting points for the lettering tiles. The tubeless underside of the 1x2 tile proves useful here, as can be seen in the following image:
The railing pole serves to lock the sign. The coral brick at the base of the pole prevents the red and black protrusion from being removed from the modified 2x2 plate.
Along the front wall, plenty of 1x2x5/6 SNOT bricks mount both the bowed bricks that make up the siding and the grey trim. The window and door assemblies employ a technique that I learned from building set 70831 Emmet’s Dream House, although it has previously appeared in set 10185 Green Grocer. The black angular plates and tiles located just beneath the angled section of each window are offset outward by ½ of a stud to align the angled edge. Part 32028 then fits in the gaps left by this assembly, nicely integrating the window baskets into the frame. An autumn leaf is tucked in behind the intake for a climate control unit. Placing debris in realistic places such as this gives LEGO architecture a more “lived-in” feel.
The inside of this wall is decorated in an elaborate black framing. The frame is integral to securing both the bay windows and the exterior grey trim. Don’t be afraid to build around necessary mounting points. Sometimes this method merits interesting designs!
Continuing the nautical theme, a shipping barrel holds a pair of torches, essential for night or cave diving. A treasure chest can be found displaying a generous assortment of fins, neatly arranged along a 3m bar. A waterproof camera can be seen next to a red diving helmet, preserved in excellent condition from a childhood Ferrari set.
The climate control unit and twin lighting implements cover up unsightly artefacts of exterior construction. A miniature version of set 60221, Diving Yacht, can be seen in one of the windows. The lobster piece mounted above the doorway both enhances the nautical theme and serves as a nod to my favourite scene from the LEGO Batman Movie.
The back wall hosts twin wetsuit racks, complete with BCD units. Typically stored separately from the suit, the Buoyancy Compensator Device acts as a mounting point for most of a diver’s equipment and contains sacs that inflate and deflate to adjust buoyancy.
To ensure proper suit sizing, a single-occupant fitting room is located behind the white double doors. A small bench is located inside, and the interior is accessed by removing the 6x8 slope forming the extension’s roof.
One incredibly special micro build is located on a small table left of the fitting room. I’m sure more than a few readers will be able to pick out the set here. This modular served as the perfect place to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of its respective theme.
To Top it All Off - The Roof
I’ll just cut to the chase here. The roof houses a brand-new technique. I discovered that, by using the 6x8 trapdoor element 92107 and the 1x2 train ladder 4175, large ladders such as part 30095 can be stowed away and deployed. They lock and unlock with a satisfying “CLICK”. The rung of the large ladder fits nicely between the rungs of the train ladder, with no pressure being applied once in the locked position. As an added bonus, the lower section of the large ladder nestles nicely into the protrusions at the base of the train ladder.
The access hatch itself imitates those found on submarines, adding some fun aquatic theming to an otherwise dull roof. A broom and dustpan are included to clean up the accumulating fall foliage with a simple mounting rack. I rather like the dustpan’s effective use of only 2 parts.
The antenna is constructed from a variety of unique parts. From a plethora of Exo-Force hands, to a Technic figure’s ski pole, to the recoloured hilt of Kylo Ren’s lightsaber. I was quite pleased with how all of these seemingly random shapes fit together cohesively.
Back it Up - The Backside
The windows on the fitting room consist of 1x2 plates, distorting the ability to look in through them. Their high mounting position doubles down on these efforts for minifig privacy. An air conditioning unit can be seen on this extension as well, with an identical twin located near the pond.
Making further use of the blue baseplate, the shop has a fully detailed backyard right on the waterside - a perfect spot for minifigs to try out the gear purchased inside! The surrounding terrain is adorned with various smooth rocks with grass in many shades of green, giving the impression that proper lawn care has not occurred in some time.
A series of square windows line the upper half of the ground floor, placed to give the impression of a converted industrial building. The second floor is designed to look as though it was preserved historically, while the ground floor looks freshly renovated. The aforementioned “brick tiling” enhances this distinction. Such details serve to give the building a history and help to tell a story. This is something I learned from the wonderful visual storytelling in set 10246, Detective’s Office.
The included frogs liven up the waterside setting, while referencing a diving joke between a fellow AFOL and I. Whether it’s making a dive shop or a haunted house, I guess LEGO builders share an amphibious sense of humour!
That’s a Wrap - Closing Thoughts
So, why exactly did I settle upon making a dive shop? I’d call it the right mix of inspiration, knowledge, and meaning.
Those windows on the university building were the ignition to my inspiration. I simply had to recreate them somehow! Some ideas will just hit you in the face, so to speak, and it’s incredible when they can be built like this.
When designing a model to look and feel believable, one must use competent knowledge of the subject matter. I frequent a local dive shop, have taken a Scuba diving course, and have researched Scuba gear on a casual level for years now. Don’t shy away from researching what you don’t know. I spent a whole evening in the middle of the design process looking up filling station setups and various compressors. The Internet is an amazing source of reference material for authentic designs, and ought not to be wasted.
Meaning is the glue that holds all of this together. Inspiration can be fleeting - Sometimes a neat idea is just that. Knowledge can be cold - If the subject matter does not mean anything to you, you won’t enjoy applying the knowledge. Meaning makes the inspiration stick, and turns the knowledge into fascination. My fascination with Scuba catalysed many of the pivotal events in my life, and I am grateful for that. Those experiences drive me to go further, to manifest that inspiration and knowledge in places like this.
To any aspiring LEGO architects out there: Build that which inspires you, and that which holds meaning in your life. From there, it takes hard work and passion. If you can do all of that, I’m sure that you will be left with something truly special.
Alex offers a modular design commissioning service. Find out more here.
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16 comments on this article
I'd love to see this as a real set
There's a huge amount of work and very nice details.
But I think the pinnacle of LEGO set design is not Modular Buildings, but replicating as close as possible a real building.
I can see this as an Idea project, well done.
I think what I love most about this build is that it feels so *real*; looking at the interior photos, I could almost believe I was right there in an actual shop, rather than looking at a Lego replica, it so effectively invokes the relevant atmosphere of such places. Though I'm no expert in the subject matter, I can tell that your knowledge of it really shines through; the whole place feels absolutely believable. Really spectacular work! :D
Thank you for sharing, modular buildings are fairly tricky to build let alone design. My favorite was the Parisian Cafe Lego 10243, as this had so many new ways of portraying classical architecture in Lego as well as so much detail inside and out.
One of the difficulties seems to be finding a new exterior design which has not being done before, and I like your arches although it reminds me more of a Regent Street store front. The blue curved slope pieces for the vertical roof tiles are an interesting technique. Detailing the interior is also difficult, I especially like the pool, air tank re-filler, dive suit mannequins and roof top submarine escape hatch. I would be tempted to place an inflatable boat 30086 on the inside black wall above the pool.
I know nothing about scuba diving, so whether or not the details are correct doesn't matter to me. But it is still an amazing build and worthy of a place in line with all the official Modulars. After all, I know nothing about the finer points of detective work nor hairstyling either, yet the Detective's Office is still my all-time favorite Modular.
Cinda cool!
I kinda wish Lego would release more Modulars in a year, like 2, because a full year between releases is long... I've looked into fan-made ones to fill the void, but then there's a HUGE increase in price: one I was looking at would cost no less than 1500 dollars, if I am to believe the buying features on Bricklink. At that price point, I might as well just buy one of either Cafe Corners or Market Streets that I'm missing, in new conditions...
I wish there was a cheaper way to build custom modulars. It's the main thing preventing me from getting into that part of the hobby, and I'm sure I'm not the only one... And building a piece pool just in case those pieces get used later in a MOC sounds like a very risky investment...
No offense, but this would not even catch enough attention at Ideas Place. .. to me alternate build (modular Corner Museum) to 10214 Tower Bridge by InyongBricks is the Pinnacle what can be done .. Just built a couple of days ago, there are a very few "blind spots", that could be easily ammended given that you have xtra spare bricks at hand .. mostly the tiled tops of the floor sides using 1x1 slopes instead of fixed 1x 6 flat tiles or so.. but that is given and limited by the axiom that you do not need any single other brick than what you find it the 10214..
https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-11989/InyongBricks/10214-tower-bridge-alternative-build/comments
that is the Masterpiece that set up the benchmark to any other MOC modulars for me.
@The_Toniboeh , @Felix_Mezei , @Lordmoral , @AustinPowers , @AlexYush - thank you all so much for your kind words!
@ambr - I just googled the Regent Street store. I totally see it!
@BionicleJedi - The atmosphere was totally what I was going for here. Your comment just made my day!
@Phoenixio - LEGO's own bricks and pieces (not pick a brick) service offers a very robust selection of currently in production parts with an approximate 3USD shipping price no matter the order size. Not sure on Canadian price, but it should be similar. The shipping is what really gets me when I'm building a large MOC on bricklink, so I hope this helps.
@legolover777 - Totally! A one story build would be a more budget friendly option and many buildings don't need more than one floor. It may actually give yours an edge in the ideas review as it would be more distinct from the official yearly modular, giving it a proper place in LEGO's marketing strategy. My build above only has 2 stories anyway!
@legolover777 -Nice! I did martial arts training for a year, and I totally agree on the decision for a one story build there. A lot of wide open flat space is needed there, and a staircase would just cut a large chunk of that out.
@legolover777 - Don't worry. It's no contest. Two totally different subject matters. Sounds cool to me!
Great article, I enjoyed reading the walkthrough of your design.
What a wonderfully thoughtful design. It struck a particular chord with me as it represents the intersection of two of my favorite hobbies: LEGO and diving! The little details are especially clever. Thanks for sharing. Do you have an Instagram account I can follow?
Outstandingly neat!
@Train_of_Thought_Creations said:
" @Phoenixio - LEGO's own bricks and pieces (not pick a brick) service offers a very robust selection of currently in production parts with an approximate 3USD shipping price no matter the order size. Not sure on Canadian price, but it should be similar. The shipping is what really gets me when I'm building a large MOC on bricklink, so I hope this helps."
So I took a look at their shop, that I had used before for a few replacements, but not for MOC considerations... And they actually don't have quite a few of the pieces I was looking for. That and it takes forever to enter the pieces for a MOC, and you can't stop for more than 10 minutes before getting logged out and losing your cart entirely. The prices did look more adequate, but that's a huge setback for whoever finds a MOC online and wants to reproduce it. Hopefully there'll be some form of integration with Bricklink now that they own it?