Traction Cities, Mortal engines (modular design)

From top left anticlockwise: chassis frame, Wheels/tracks, gut/mining tool/savaging tool, tiles(i.e. building).

This system allows a vast range of cites/towns to be built from effectively the same parts. Each city contains the 'chassis frame' a basic structure common to all sets, though varying sized will be available.
So far the following components have been designed:
Chassis::
-4x4(tiles)
-3x3(tiles)
Traction::
-Wheels
-Tracks
'Core'::
-Gut (for 4x4)
-Mining head (for 3x3)
-scavenging system (for 3x3)
-Fuel drill & refinery
Tiles::
-Semi-Detached houses
-Corner shop (pictured)
-Shopping street
-Flats
-2 types of generic factory
-Pottery kilns
-Steel works
-Park
-Town Hall
-Mansions

Though This list seems quite long, it is still growing as I design more parts.

Above is a picture of Lego London, This is a concept model and would be one which requires several sets combined to make (mostly as it contains an incredible 12,060 parts and would hence cost in the region of £/$400+ to purchase). It uses 6 M motors to operate all its functions (which includes the operating Jaws).

The Idea is to sell this product in a series with a varying range of size of the towns.
The 4x4 cities costing around £120, and the 3x3 cities at £80. Smaller villages would be on sale which contain a small chassis and one or two tiles. There is also the potential to have the 'city tiles' sold separately at £5 each.
In addition there is the potential for a 7x6 city (like the one on the main image) but this could cost near £400, so I would suggest a extension set to turn a 4x4 into a 7x6 to be sold instead.

Another point would be for images in the back of the instructions and full instruction online to produce accurate models of cities found in the books.

One of the main features of these models is the extreme miniature details in the structures. The most noticeable is the change quality of buildings as you move up the structure. On the first tier are a series of cheap compact housing, for all the residents of the eaten cities, which are nestled between the huge factories that also occupy the layer.
Next on Tier two there are the houses for the poorer ,permanent, residents of the city, each one has its own small garden, there are also; schools, pubs, shops and factories on this floor.
On the tier up, you get more spacious semi detached houses, with more sizable gardens, in the center, though, are some more houses from the floor below; this floor also has a 'aero-port'.
Then there is tier 4, on this there is mostly just large mansions of the wealthy, a couple of smaller houses are also up there for the marginally less well off.
Finally on tier 5 there is the town hall, and a large park. The final part to make these vehicles look better than the industrial giants they really are.

There are may details on these models that you will notice as you look at these models closely, these include:
The cutting machined in the gut-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bh-designs/7461084968/in/photostream
The elevators-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bh-designs/7461120228/in/photostream
The mini airships-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bh-designs/7461119570/in/photostream

This is a drilling town, admittedly not the prettiest of models, but it does show the diverse and complete range of models that are producible. One of the features is the fuel carrying blimp in the port. In the books, these towns will go off to seek oil, they are owned by larger cities which they will have a constant connection with via the blimps. Towns like this are invaluable to Tractionists (the people who live in traction cities) as it allows the cites to continue unhindered and less dependent on eating smaller towns.

Thanks for reading, and remember, please support.

Please visit my Flickr page to view more images of designs for this project:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bh-designs/