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Downsizing City Vehicles

SparkyHamSparkyHam Member Posts: 141
edited April 2012 in Building and Techniques
Has anyone had a go at modifying City vehicles released in the past 2-3 years, to be 4-studs wide instead of the standard 6?

I've been building a town based on Cafe-Corner proportions, and I find the majority of recent City Vehicles to be too large in proportion to the buildings. I've noticed vehicles are becoming more and more realistic in size relative to the minifigs, but the buildings aren't - it's a bit of a mismatch in my opinion. I've contemplated making the buildings larger to redress this, but this would require too much time, effort and money.

Instead, i'm thinking about downsizing the vehicles. I'd appreciate any thoughts, advice, examples from Those with more experience. Cheers.

Comments

  • StuBoyStuBoy Member Posts: 623
    No, I think the vehicles are great the size they are. The cars are 4 studs wide though, so maybe populating your town with more of those sets would be easier?
    http://www.brickset.com/detail/?set=3177-1
    http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=3648-1
  • SparkyHamSparkyHam Member Posts: 141
    Thanks for the suggestions - I like the little Smart Car, but I'm finding it a but weird how the wheels on the other cars kind if protrude out a bit.

    I just discovered that there are some tire treads that are only half the width of the ones in most of the sets, so I may see f I can find some of them.
  • CoolsplashCoolsplash Member Posts: 935
    As @StuBoy pointed out, pick out some nice cars and why not do them in different colours or simply MOC them up a bit :P I used to do this way back in past with my Classic town collection of cars :)
  • StuBoyStuBoy Member Posts: 623
    @SparkyHam Yeah I agree about the wheels protruding, that bugs me too. They've managed to nail trucks and vans, now they just need to sort out the regular car.
  • bluemoosebluemoose Member Posts: 1,716
    edited April 2012
    The new airline exclusive (4442 glider) has a 4-wide car, with big fat tyres, but the trailer has compatible slim wheels/tires (only two though).

    The design ID for the slim wheel is 4624473 ('flat silver'). Part number 93594 [bricklink]
    The design ID for the slim tyre is 4617848 (black). Part number 51011 [bricklink]

    There are lots of other compatible wheels -
    http://www.bricklink.com/catalogList.asp?q=Wheel+11+x+6+mm
    And other compatible tyres, e.g. -
    http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=50945

  • SparkyHamSparkyHam Member Posts: 141
    @coolsplash I just followed your advice and bricklinked a whole bunch of different colored parts for the Smart Car and the little red sports car in last years Mobile Police Unit set (7288). Thanks

    @bluemoose I'll have a go at putting some of the slimmer tires on existing cars and see how they look.

    Hoping the rumors are true about a City Parking Lot being released sometime : )
  • graphitegraphite Member Posts: 3,275
    ^ there is also a small 4 wide car kind of like the smart car in the 7939 cargo train and a 4 wide pickup truck-like vehicle in the 7642 garage.
  • CoolsplashCoolsplash Member Posts: 935
    @SparkyHam, my pleasure my friend. Do show us the pictures when you are done creating :)
  • StuBoyStuBoy Member Posts: 623
    I also noticed a nice little car in 7288 Mobile Police Chase for a bit of variety.
  • StuBoyStuBoy Member Posts: 623
    Also 3658 Police Helicopter.
  • The_Brick_BuilderThe_Brick_Builder Member Posts: 658
    edited April 2012
    IMO, the City vehicles are a bit too "cartoonish". For example, http://brickset.com/detail/?set=8402-1. Protruding wheels and minifig and car height. Its time for TLG to start making more 6-studs wide cars instead of 4-studs. Compare the 4-studs wide 8402 Sports Car to the 6-stud wide 7639 Camper.
  • soundczarsoundczar Member Posts: 21
    I have "solved" this problem by developing two separate layouts, creatively called my "four-stud" town and my "six-stud" town. Of course this all takes up a lot more space in the house!
  • GalactusGalactus Member Posts: 260
    Hoping the rumors are true about a City Parking Lot being released sometime : )
    You might want to take a look at this: http://www.bricksetforum.com/discussion/4566/lego-4207-city-garage-release-soon, but it's also with cars with protruding wheels.
  • SparkyHamSparkyHam Member Posts: 141
    edited May 2012
    You might want to take a look at this: http://www.bricksetforum.com/discussion/4566/lego-4207-city-garage-release-soon, but it's also with cars with protruding wheels.
    My goodness! The rumors are true! On closer inspection though I am wondering whether it's worth buying or whether it's better value to MOC it using the instructions as a template. The only vehicle that stands out is the VW Van. Thanks for the heads up.
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