Potions Classroom, first stab!
May. 11th, 2024 02:15 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
gingerwitch.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
acciobrickContinuing what is now a tradition, I've tried to reverse engineer the lego Harry Potter Potions Classroom build on mecabricks, and I've come reasonably close. The neat thing here is you can see how it folds together. Key things to note,
1) I didn't bother too much with the hinges where I can't see what they're doing anyway; I'll just wait for the instructions to sort them
2) There must almost definitely be a rail piece under the chalkboard to facilitate sliding the module into the new Great Hall set, but again, too much guess work is involved as to what goes where at this point.
3) not all parts are available on mecabricks, and some substitutions have had to be made in the digital model. they've been documented over on the build's mecabricks page.
4) the validity to some of the criticisms of the modules: a) what do you do with the modules you remove, particularly as they aren't stackable? b) unlike the lavatory, corridor and Huffepuff common room, you can't see the inside of the Potions Classroom when it's folded together.
The digital model on mecabricks (LJ won't let me embed the 3D viewer, so you'll need to either click through to use it on MB (first link) or click the second link to use it here). Both versions allow you to spin and turn and shrink and expand the build for better viewing.
https://www.mecabricks.com/en/models/AbjpwxRX25y
https://www.mecabricks.com/en/player/AbjpwxRX25y
The set, open at the outset:
For comparison, two views of the original, actual lego build for which I have neither a parts list nor instructions, but I'm not going to let something trivial like that stop me. Substitutions notwithstanding, I think I came pretty darn close to the official set:
Back to the model, let's pack it up and fold it closed, shall we? Still fully opened, first the ingredients shelf attaches to the wall and the desks (easily detached) are stored on the centre base piece. (This is an earlier version, where I tried the 1x1 cheese pieces deployed at a 90* SNOT rotation (studs not on top) for the window arches, which also requires a bracket and most likely a 1x3 tile with a single stud, which doesn't exist yet, or a less elegant mix of 1x1 tiles and plates. meh. Black Falcon pointed out that could more easily be solved with 92946, and I believe they're correct; it reduces the total piece count required and doesn't depend on anything new, hence the update to the build. Confirmed new pieces in this set have been reserved for the very excellent flask and cauldron smoke. Yes! 🙌):
Closing:
Fully closed, the door still provides "access" to the set, and Snape's lectern is stored on the 2x2 Jumper in the rear archway:
Covers for the potions ingredients most likely would have caused issues with what you can store, nevertheless, it feels like those are a bunch of pieces that are going to get lost. I've solved that by purchasing hundreds of small plastic zipper baggies, but that means you need to "set up" scenes like this when you display them. Had they made the shelf with a second / third tier, it could have been used to keep things in place while granting greater clearance. Doing so would have meant either a permanent shelf the ingredients bench slides under for storage, or expanding it in width so it has the space to hold its own top. I can see why neither option was considered an improvement. (And hey, the baggies work.)
I am really digging that small footprint, simultaneously, open it's a reasonably satisfying result. (I still think it could use a hinge point or two more to get the proper shape, but let us not be small minded! 😉) Nice compromise as a whole, well done designers.
1) I didn't bother too much with the hinges where I can't see what they're doing anyway; I'll just wait for the instructions to sort them
2) There must almost definitely be a rail piece under the chalkboard to facilitate sliding the module into the new Great Hall set, but again, too much guess work is involved as to what goes where at this point.
3) not all parts are available on mecabricks, and some substitutions have had to be made in the digital model. they've been documented over on the build's mecabricks page.
4) the validity to some of the criticisms of the modules: a) what do you do with the modules you remove, particularly as they aren't stackable? b) unlike the lavatory, corridor and Huffepuff common room, you can't see the inside of the Potions Classroom when it's folded together.
The digital model on mecabricks (LJ won't let me embed the 3D viewer, so you'll need to either click through to use it on MB (first link) or click the second link to use it here). Both versions allow you to spin and turn and shrink and expand the build for better viewing.
https://www.mecabricks.com/en/models/AbjpwxRX25y
https://www.mecabricks.com/en/player/AbjpwxRX25y
The set, open at the outset:
For comparison, two views of the original, actual lego build for which I have neither a parts list nor instructions, but I'm not going to let something trivial like that stop me. Substitutions notwithstanding, I think I came pretty darn close to the official set:
Back to the model, let's pack it up and fold it closed, shall we? Still fully opened, first the ingredients shelf attaches to the wall and the desks (easily detached) are stored on the centre base piece. (This is an earlier version, where I tried the 1x1 cheese pieces deployed at a 90* SNOT rotation (studs not on top) for the window arches, which also requires a bracket and most likely a 1x3 tile with a single stud, which doesn't exist yet, or a less elegant mix of 1x1 tiles and plates. meh. Black Falcon pointed out that could more easily be solved with 92946, and I believe they're correct; it reduces the total piece count required and doesn't depend on anything new, hence the update to the build. Confirmed new pieces in this set have been reserved for the very excellent flask and cauldron smoke. Yes! 🙌):
Closing:
Fully closed, the door still provides "access" to the set, and Snape's lectern is stored on the 2x2 Jumper in the rear archway:
Covers for the potions ingredients most likely would have caused issues with what you can store, nevertheless, it feels like those are a bunch of pieces that are going to get lost. I've solved that by purchasing hundreds of small plastic zipper baggies, but that means you need to "set up" scenes like this when you display them. Had they made the shelf with a second / third tier, it could have been used to keep things in place while granting greater clearance. Doing so would have meant either a permanent shelf the ingredients bench slides under for storage, or expanding it in width so it has the space to hold its own top. I can see why neither option was considered an improvement. (And hey, the baggies work.)
I am really digging that small footprint, simultaneously, open it's a reasonably satisfying result. (I still think it could use a hinge point or two more to get the proper shape, but let us not be small minded! 😉) Nice compromise as a whole, well done designers.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-05-12 05:37 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2024-05-12 11:39 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2024-05-13 03:54 pm (UTC)My fingernails will Not survive the suspense!!!
(no subject)
Date: 2024-05-13 11:07 pm (UTC)(I think you missed it. 😆)
(no subject)
Date: 2024-05-14 07:25 am (UTC)FOUND IT!!!