Notes on Scale

Lego scale is not consistent between height and width/length. Just compare minifig proportions to human proportions and you can see this. Lego scale is often thought to be 1:42 to 1:48 depending on use. Sometimes, you have to go with “what looks best” or adjust sizes to fit the commonly available parts.

In general, RenLUG uses a 1:48 scale standard for lengths for our trucking and shipping lines.

RenLUG typically rounds real life measurements to the nearest even number of studs:

• 6 x 16 studs = 20′ shipping container
• 6 x 32 studs = 40′ shipping container
• 38 studs = 48′ trailer, most common in flatbed versions
• 42 studs = 53′ trailer (common size for boxed trailer, this is the size of the new 60440 Lego Delivery Truck Trailer). Our newest warehouse will accommodate this size going forward.

Other sizes seen in Lego sets:

• 6 x 12 studs = equivalent to 15′
• 6 x 24 studs = equivalent to 30′

Lego Trains with ISO shipping containers

• 4 wide standards – 10170 TTX Intermodal Double Stack Car (2005)
  • full size – 4 studs x 16 studs x 13 plates high – 1x in set
  • half size – 4 studs x 8 studs x 13 plates high – 3x in set
• 4555 Cargo Station (1995) also had 4 wide containers
  • half size – 4 studs x 8 studs x 12 plates high (missing top plate) – 3x in set (2 open containers, 1 closed)
• 6 wide standards – 10219 Maresk Container Train (2011)
  • 6 studs x 16 studs x 19 plates high – 3x in set
• RenLUG uses both 4 wide and 6 wide containers in a variety of sizes, with 6 wide being our most common size.

Train Bases, single piece

• 6×24 (6584a & 92340, 92088)
• 6×28 (4093, 92339) – Larger Pallets 4×8 — 3x fit on 6×28 train bed with spacers/tiedowns
• 6×30 w. IR receivers (55455)
• 6×34 split level (2972, 87058), will hold 1x – 6×16 in center drop

Truck Standard

• 3221 Lego city truck & 7848 Toys R Us Truck – 6 wide tractor trailer
• Trailer is 32 studs long—would hold 2 containers if flatbed

• Boats of similar size
• 60254 Lego Race Boat Transporter (2020) – lime & red
• 60085 4×4 with Powerboat (2015) — orange & black
• 4643 Power Boat Transporter (2011) – yellow, white, & red

Containers Lengths

1:48 scale – 4 studs is approx. 5’

• 10′ = 8 studs
• 15′ = 6×10 – Open Containers that hold 4×6 pallets are 6×10
• 20’ = 6 x 16 studs – 19 plate height was used in 10219 Maersk Train from 2011. In real life, these are typically 8’-6” tall (17 plates) with a high cube version available at 9’-6” (19 plates).
• 40’ = 32 studs 
• 45’ = 36 studs 
• 48’ = 38 studs (47.5’)
• 53’ = 42 studs (52.5’)

Container Heights

• 8’-6” containers = 19 plate high
• 9’-6” high cube containers = 21 plates high
• Both containers will have tiles as the top layer. 

Brickmodel Railroader has good plans for various containers.

Pallets & Containers

• Pallets Standard – 4×6
• Pallets Large – 6×8
• Container – 6×16 *works on trains, trucks, & cargo boats = 20’ container
• Container – 6×8 = 10’ container

Airport

• 60169 Airport Cargo Terminal w/ Pallet Rack (2017), 7992 Container Stacker (2007) & 7994 City Harbor (2007) all use same sizes
• 60336 Red Cargo Train & 60198 City Cargo Train
• Pallets—4×6 =this size fits the standard pallet racks for warehouse
• Open Containers that hold 4×6 pallets are 6×10 = 15’
• Trailers for 6×10 containers are 6×20—two are pulled together
• 6×16 trailer will hold 2x 4×6 pallets with spacers/tiedowns
• Larger Pallets 4×8 — 3x fit on 6×28 train bed with spacers/tiedowns