World Financial Center, NYC LEGO Model

rjb001 · #1 Posted **Jul 27, 2011, 7:20 AM**

Announcing my first large-scale skyscraper complex LEGO model:
The World Financial Center in New York!

Image Credit: urt.parsons.edu

A few rough estimates-

Estimated Completion: March 2012- May 2012

Estimated Parts Total Count: 15,000- 20,000 pieces

~1/650 scale

I plan to first complete the the four main buildings of the complex digitally and then in the flesh... or ABS/polycarbonate plastic rather

After that, I will begin work on the remaining attaching lower floors which allow access to all four buildings and then the grounds.

Originally, I considered designing the complex in a pre-9/11 state so that I could attach it to my previously completed former World Trade Center model. However, after much consideration, I decided that post-9/11 would be best as it's been nearly ten years since and besides moving on, making the model in a present state will allow for possible future addition of the new World Trade Center complex. This decision was also based on the unavailability of copper colored bricks for the rooftops because like the Statue of Liberty, the roofs have oxidized and turned a color that is most closely resembled by LEGO's sand green color.

Here's what I have so far in LDD:

3 WFC

2 WFC

Both together though obviously not facing each other at the same angle as they will be when completed.

Images from my Brickshelf gallery

Buildings 1 & 4 will be finished digitally soon.

WTCguy · #2 Posted **Jul 27, 2011, 2:08 PM**

Are you making the the Winter Garden? Can't wait till its finished!

UrbanImpressionist · #3 Posted **Jul 27, 2011, 3:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WTCguy

Are you making the the Winter Garden? Can't wait till its finished!

Same question. The whole 8-9 story base including the big copper HVAC exhaust too I hope.

rjb001 · #4 Posted **Jul 27, 2011, 4:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WTCguy

Are you making the the Winter Garden? Can't wait till its finished!

Yep! I'm still experimenting with physical bricks how it'll be done. Most likely I'll end up using a method that can't be replicated in LDD. And if it's clear enough, I'd like to add the details inside like the 16 palm trees and the stairs where the public can view the construction of the WTC.

DecoJim · #5 Posted **Jul 27, 2011, 7:12 PM**

Your LDD looks good so far. BTW: That is a lot of "headlight bricks"!

rjb001 · #6 Posted **Jul 29, 2011, 1:02 AM**

There are definitely a lot of headlight bricks! About 1,100 tan ones in those two buildings alone! Not to mention over 300 black ones underneath. I'll get some screenshots of underlying layers for you guys soon.

Does anyone know exactly what color the ziggurat rooftop of 4 WFC is? I'm assuming that it's also copper as the picture below shows signs of the green color of its neighbors appearing. I definitely don't think pearl gold would accurately represent the color here. Any tips/suggestions?

Image credit: pilotlist.org

WTCguy · #7 Posted **Jul 29, 2011, 1:31 AM**

Looks brownish but idk

UrbanImpressionist · #8 Posted **Jul 29, 2011, 4:20 AM**

I'm pretty sure it's copper too but hasn't really turned green as fast since the straight sides don't don't allow water to accelerate the oxidation process. It's 25 yrs old already and still very little green showing so I don't think it'll be green any decade soon.

rjb001 · #9 Posted **Jul 29, 2011, 10:09 PM**

Here's 4 WFC! I tried dark tan/sand yellow for the rooftop. I think there are several other colors that could work though.

I'll try out a few more. Stay tuned

jsr · #10 Posted **Jul 29, 2011, 11:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjb001

Here's 4 WFC! I tried dark tan/sand yellow for the rooftop. I think there are several other colors that could work though.

I'd take a little artistic license and go with sand green just to give the complex a more uniform look.

rjb001 · #11 Posted **Jul 30, 2011, 12:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsr

I'd take a little artistic license and go with sand green just to give the complex a more uniform look.

I was thinking that I should just go ahead and do that actually. I think that may also make it comprable to my upcoming Daley Center model becasue of the fact that I was looking to the future when I designed it. Meaning the reason I did Daley in reddish brown is because the type of metal on the facade is made to rust as it ages. That way my model will look more aged than it is now, making it more accurate every year.

I think using sand green would serve the same purpose for this one since it is copper like the others and will also eventually turn a sand green color.

NYCLuver · #12 Posted **Aug 2, 2011, 5:29 AM**

Looks great! I am jealous and wish I could do things like this!

rjb001 · #13 Posted **Aug 3, 2011, 12:37 AM**

There! I re-did the dome roof on 2 WFC as it was too vertically exaggerated in the previous design. I flattened it a little.

4 WFC also features a better looking sand green rooftop and was also shortened for more accuracy.

rjb001 · #14 Posted **Aug 14, 2011, 12:59 AM**

Hey guys here's an update since I haven't done one in awhile. I've started designing 1 WFC and I should be done with it some time this coming week. After that, I'll revisit 2, 3, & 4 WFC to remove headlight bricks where necessary due to the postions of some of the buildings' lower setbacks that have not yet been taken into account.

It's just been taking awhile for 1 WFC due to it's smaller dimensions, especially since I have to reengineer nearly everything on the inside and it's not so easy to start a totally different internal structure after I was on a roll with the other three buildings. But I'll definitely finish it soon

Right now (with only a few floors of 1 WFC done) the total piece count is at 10,300! To put that into perspective, that's as many pieces as about 2 1/2 of my typical skyscraper models. Typical meaning around 4,000 pieces

After I finish 1 WFC though, it'll probably be around 12,000 pieces. Needless to say, it's gonna be big!

rjb001 · #15 Posted **Aug 15, 2011, 7:46 PM**

Finished it earlier than expected!

Here's the underside of the buildings showing the inner cores. As you can see, I removed the necessary headlight bricks and underlying trans-dark blue plates to accomodate space for the setbacks that will be at those levels.

The method for the lower headlight brick facade is actually very similar to Spencer's World Trade Center facade technique. The main difference is that mine has the underside of the plates facing outward instead of inward.

Update: Just finished a checklist which puts the buildings at 10,927 pieces! Surprisingly, there are only 97 different elements used.

Sameh K. · #16 Posted **Aug 16, 2011, 4:16 PM**

Hey Rocco, its me Sam from MOCpages, it looks good so far.

KevinFromTexas · #17 Posted **Aug 17, 2011, 1:45 AM**

Great job. This is why I love the WFC. I've always liked the different roofs. It's a good example of post-modern roof designs.

rjb001 · #18 Posted **Aug 17, 2011, 6:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sameh K.

Hey Rocco, its me Sam from MOCpages, it looks good so far.

Welcome Sam! Great to see you hear!

marvelfannumber1 · #19 Posted **Aug 17, 2011, 9:27 PM**

Interesting project. Have you planned to build the pedestrian bridges too

rjb001 · #20 Posted **Aug 18, 2011, 6:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by marvelfannumber1

Interesting project. Have you planned to build the pedestrian bridges too

I'm planning on doing the two spanning west st: the north one (to the WTC) for sure. I'm not sure about the south one, however, because it basically ends in front of the pool where the Deutchse Building was deconstructed. If I do that one, it'll probably just terminate at the model's edge. That is, near the middle of the highway.

But aren't those bridges sort of temporary until the completion of the WTC? Does anyone know?

And as far as the bridge connecting 1 WFC to the rest of the buildings, I'll definitely do that one.