#6: Main Roof

 

 

The Roof That Drove Me Crazy

Next Time, I'll Master Everything First!

Before I tackle another roof, I'll make sure I’ve practiced every construction method and tile experiment first!

Overly Optimistic Roof Choice

When I picked the 1918 Changhua Station, I thought, "Hey, most of its roof is flat! No attic, no curves, no towers—should be easy, right?" Oh, how wrong I was.

I started the roof on 11/20 and struggled all the way to 12/29. Huge surface area, multiple layers, different slopes, and the nightmare of jerkinhead roofs. Oh, and each side had tiny extra roofs, just to make things worse. The angles weren’t even symmetrical! Just thinking about it gave me a headache.

Failed Assembly Attempts

I tried a modular approach—building the roof structure first, then installing it. Disaster. The studs didn’t align, the clamps were too strong, and when I tried to remove a part, I nearly lifted the entire building.

The side looked architectural, but was incredibly unstable. In the end, I discovered that part 50029 let me install the roof like a removable lid—sturdy and easy to detach. Using 32124 (1×5 Technic bricks) finally solved the issue.

Endless Angle & Proportion Fixes

I didn’t check my photo references carefully enough, so the roof proportions were all wrong. The side was too narrow and tall, and the platform roof was completely off. Had to redo everything.

Late at night, in total frustration, I tore it apart and rushed to buy a rare 50-stud baseplate. After rebuilding, the side proportions finally looked right—only to realize the front was now crooked! No time to fix the central roof, but at least the whole thing looked balanced.

 

The Nightmare of Roof Tiles & Slopes

I considered tiling the roof but gave up—pressing down 1×1 or 1×2 tiles would’ve driven me insane. Instead, I used 30504 and 6106 slope pieces to hold up the second-floor roof. Thank goodness I had them in my parts bin.

 

Lessons Learned

• Get proportions right, or prepare for endless suffering.
• For big, steep roofs, avoid studs—Technic parts are lifesavers.
• Never underestimate the number of roof tiles. You’ll be placing them forever.

Despite the chaos, I finally finished it. Next time, I'll be way more prepared before taking on another roof challenge!

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See Final Work in Display: The Timber Terminal – Changhua’s Golden Age Station 

01 Recreating - 02 Coloring  - 03 Parts Inventory  - 04 Karahafu Roof  - 05 Colombage Skill  - 06 Main Roof  - 07 Steam train  - 08 Vintage Bus  - 09 Tree and Shelter  - 10 Final