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Plate versus baseplate height - how to align them?
I've just started setting up a little town layout, and was planning on making a bottom layer partly with printed road baseplates, and part with regular 32x32 plates. But then as I was setting it up I realized (d'oh!) that these are different heights, so I can't build over them seamlessly. Do people have a good way of aligning them? I searched the forum and found some ideas involving building up a base underneath with 1-2 layers of bricks... but I have nowhere near that many bricks for the entire table! Is it possible to find some foam or something of the correct height to lift the baseplates up to plate height? Wondering if others have a nifty solution for this. Sorry if it's a noob question!
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but... that requires you to have extra base plates lying around...
So, it does mean adding some extra stuff underneath-- but keep in mind that that "stuff" can be whatever you want. So you could also do this:
Or you could use bricks underneath, or what-have you.
DaveE
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Waxman-180-Pack-Cream-Round-Multi-Surface-Protection-Felt-Pad-Kit/3658196
Or maybe just some felt from a fabric store could be glued to the bottom of the baseplates to adjust the height
One layer of foam underneath the baseplates is enough to raise it to approximately the same height as a regular plate. Not visible underneath unless it's at the edge of your display (mine are baseplates in the middle, surrounded by regular plates). On the right is a plate, on the left is a baseplate with a layer of black foam underneath:
I didn't glue it on or anything, just set the baseplate on top of the foam sheets. They were very easy to cut to size with scissors. Not going to give you aerospace level precision or anything, but good enough to keep my little bicyclist from getting a flat on the bump! Thanks again for all the ideas.
Most of the baseplates in my city are the Brickyard ones sold on Amazon. They are really nice and they are real plates that are sturdy and can attach on the bottom. Colors range from "quite close" to "perfect" match with real LEGO, and they are cheaper. Plus LEGO doesn't even make blue baseplates anymore (which baffles me). Nor do they have 32x32 light gray, if I recall. The baseplates are the one official LEGO product I'm really disappointed in, though I guess it's too late for them to change now.
Anyway, because I use the LEGO road plates I have the same issue where I need them to line up for sidewalks and stuff. I've found 4 thin pieces of cardboard to be about right. The pieces that come with the brickyard baseplates are perfect. I also use cardboard from standard frozen pizza boxes (Red Baron, Digiorno, etc.). Cut them to size and you can't even see them. You probably wouldn't want to use corrugated cardboard as it may get crushed and uneven (I often have to put a lot of weight on the roads as I lean over the table to reach things in back).
I had forgotten all about these silicone mats. I don't like them as much as real baseplates, but they are good for covering large areas inexpensively and could be used as the bottom plate in @davee123's suggestion above. Note that they have System studs on one side and Duplo studs on the other, so the entire surface would have to be covered to get everything on the same level.
datsunrobbie said: Interesting, but they look like an awkward size (like 37 studs wide) with a big lip. Probably would take a lot of cutting. Not sure it would be cheaper than plates either. $25 for what is about 3 base plates of area, I think.
I padded the difference using unused crossroads (thanks TLG, for shipping them for free with my much needed straights).
It really just seems like like they do it because they can in order to exploit us. Doesn't seem very green, either, to just make tons (possibly literal tons) of crossroad plates no one will ever use.