A LEGO® Built Micro Scale Set of Longmont Museum, Colorado by Imagine Rigney

An originally designed set for ages 12 and up.
290 Pieces

Original Design ©2013  Imagine Rigney for The Longmont Museum, Longmont Colorado

LEGO®, the minifigure, and the brick configuration are property of The LEGO Group of Companies, which does not sponsor, own, or endorse this creation.

1. I made this micro museum entirely out of LEGO® bricks. There are no modified parts or custom parts. The tools I used were my favorite ones - my hands and my brain. I worked from photos I'd taken of the museum. In the second image on this page there is a small photo of the actual Longmont Museum for comparison.

2.  I designed this build as part of a presentation to the staff at the Longmont Museum near my home for an exhibit they are planning. The exhibit is about the art of LEGO®. I thought they would like to see their own museum built out of LEGO® bricks. I chose  to design it in micro scale, which is smaller than minifigure scale, because I wanted to show how a simple design can also be beautiful. Plus, other people can build it for themselves with the instructions at a reasonable price since they would not have to buy many pieces to complete it.  I had to make many choices during the design process in order to decide on the right part. For example, I removed rare pieces and replaced them with more common pieces that were more affordable. I asked for my Mom's opinion on a few of my design decisions and took them into consideration as I came up with the final build. 

3. I worked on this design at home. It is technically part of my schooling since I am homeschooled. I'm putting together a portfolio of my original LEGO® designs for a senior project. Building with LEGO® is a huge part of my life and eats up most of my time - it's kind of an affliction! The build and instructions took about one week to complete from start to finish.

4. This particular design taught me that it's not so easy to make a micro scale build of a structure. I usually like to work bigger. Finding the right piece to represent a life-sized element in a building was a challenge for the part inventory I house in my brain and my basement!  I am happy that it is an accurate, and recognizable, representation. It was a fun challenge which I hope will please the Longmont Museum staff enough that they decide to use it for their exhibit.

Step 1: Inventory

These are all the LEGO® elements you will need to complete this build. Links for each element will take you to BrickLink for an image of what the part looks like. You can order parts from LEGO® at the pick a brick online store or use parts in your own collection.

8 - Tile, 1 x 8, Black
2 - Tile, 1 x 1, Black
1 - Tile, 1 x 2, Black
1 - Plate, 2 x 12, Black
1 - Plate, 2 x 10, Black
3 - Plate, 2 x 8, Black
3 - Plate, 2 x 6, Black
1 - Plate, 6 x 16, Light Bluish Gray
1 - Plate, 6 x 10, Light Bluish Gray
3 - Brick, 1 x 1, Light Bluish Gray
1 - Brick, Round Corner, 2 x 2, Macaroni, Light Bluish Gray
2 - Brick, 1 x 2, Light Bluish Gray
1 - Plate, Modified 2 x 2 with Groove and 1 Stud in Center (Jumper,) Light Bluish Gray
6 - Tile 2 x 2 with Groove, Light Bluish Gray
13 - Tile 1 x 2 with Groove, Light Bluish Gray
6 - Tile 1 x 1 with Groove, Light Bluish Gray
1 - Plate 1 x 3, Light Bluish Gray
1 - Plate 1 x 4, Light Bluish Gray
6 - Tile, Modified 1 x 2 Grille with Bottom Groove/Lip, Light Bluish Gray
6 - Plate, Modified 1 x 2 with 1 Stud with Groove (Jumper,) Light Bluish Gray
4 - Plate 1 x 2, Light Bluish Gray
2 - Plate 1 x 1, Light Bluish Gray
2 - Plate 2 x 2 Corner, Light Bluish Gray
16 - Plate, Modified 1 x 2 with 1 Stud with Groove (Jumper,) Dark Bluish Gray
2 - Tile 1 x 2 with Groove, Dark Bluish Gray
3 - Tile 1 x 4, Dark Bluish Gray
2 - Brick, Modified 1 x 1 with Headlight, Dark Bluish Gray
2 - Brick, Modified 1 x 1 with Studs on 4 Sides
6 - Plate, Round Corner 4 x 4, Dark Green
3 - Plate 2 x 4, Dark Green
8 - Plate 2 x 3, Dark Green
2 - Slope 45, 2 x 1 Triple, Dark Green
5 - Slope 30, 1 x 1 x 2/3 (Cheese Slope,) Dark Green
4 - Plate, Round 1 x 1 Straight Side, Green
2 - Plate, Round 1 x 1 with Flower Edge (4 knobs,) Reddish Brown
22 - Brick, 1 x 2, Transparent Clear
28 - Plate 1 x 2, Transparent Clear
2 - Brick, 1 x 8, Tan
1 - Brick, 1 x 6, Tan
3 - Brick, 1 x 4, Tan
8 - Brick, 1 x 2, Tan
14 - Brick, 1 x 1, Tan
2 - Plate 1 x 4, Tan
7 - Plate 1 x 2, Tan
2 - Tile 1 x 2 with Groove, Tan
1 - Plate, Modified 2 x 2 with Groove and 1 Stud in Center (Jumper,) Tan
5 - Brick, 1 x 6, Dark Red
3 - Brick, 2 x 2, Dark Red
2 - Brick, 2 x 2 Corner, Dark Red
31 - Brick, 1 x 2, Dark Red
8 - Brick, 1 x 1, Dark Red
5 - Tile 1 x 2 with Groove, Dark Red
7 - Plate 1 x 4, Dark Red
4 - Plate 1 x 2, Dark Red
2 - Plate 1 x 1, Dark Red
2 - Tile 2 x 2 with Groove, Dark Red
1 - Panel 1 x 1 x 1 Corner, Dark Red

Step 2: Creating the Base for the Museum

Step 3: Tile Around the Base

See the detail photo for placement of the 1 x 1 and 1 x 2 tiles. Fill in with the 1 x 8 tiles to cover all of the exposed black plates.

Step 4: Beginning the Foundation

Step 5: Setting the Sidewalks

Place each set of tiles as pictured. Double check your placement using the last photo in this sequence to be sure everything is in the right place.

Step 6: Foundation for Circular Center

These pieces will anchor the central part of the Museum.

Step 7: Planting Shrubs!

Step 8: Columns & Foundation

In some instances, arrows show the placement for pieces to help guide you.

Step 9: Walls to Support Circular Structure

Build up two little walls and place them.

Step 10: Building Up Columns and Walls

Arrows guide you for placement of the tan bricks that are not so obvious. The rest bring each of the columns up to two bricks high.

Assemble the front door piece and place it on and angle as shown.

Step 11: Adding Windows and Bricks

Double check brick placement before moving on.

Step 12: Lower Roof and Awnings

Plates used for the roof and awnings are dark green.

Step 13: Another Level of Walls

Take your time to be sure bricks and plates are placed in the correct locations.

Step 14: Walls Rise Higher to Frame Out Windows

Arrows guide your bricks to the right spots. Compare your placement to each photo as you go.

Step 15: Windows - First Set

Make six sets of these window components and place them as shown in the left side of the museum walls.

Step 16: Windows - Second Set

Make eight sets of these window components and place them in the right side of the museum walls as shown.

Step 17: Roofing - Part 1

If you're not quite sure where to place the first tiles, count the number of studs on top of the bricks on each side of the tiles in the photo. Then count them out on your build to locate the correct position.

Step 18: Roofing - Part 2

Place the red plates, then the green. Check the red, smooth tile placement against what's shown in the photo. Carefully place the macaroni brick and the clear plate as it's shown in the final photo. A "before" photo is shown so you can get your bearings before placing the pieces.

Step 19: Large Gray Column

This step looks complicated, but it's really not. The second to last photo is turned so you can view the side needed for brick placement. As you can see, you need to angle the entire finished column with the grilles facing out as you place it into the museum.

Step 20: Window Walls

Pay attention to each of the pieces used for each window wall. The top five pieces for each are exactly the same. The bottoms are finished differently. Be sure and place each one onto the museum in the correct place. Otherwise the roof will be crooked.

Step 21: Circular Roof Supports

Step 22: Front Window

Place the front window on an angle as shown.

Step 23: Circular Roof and Peak

If the front window is angled correctly, these pieces should fit perfectly. If you can't get them to line up just right the first time, don't worry. Adjust your front window and try again. Display your build proudly!