Plate "warp" when building large area

[Jan_sh]

I am building floors for my next creation and am trying to construct a two-layer floor measuring roughly 24x24.

But I find it troublesome - it is like the plates fit poorly - they "warp" or bow a little due to tension created when clicking them all together. And it is like they won't stay together - gaps occur where they wont clutch.

Adding an extra layer of plates help somewhat - but are that really necessary? Have anybody experienced this - and perhaps have some advice to share?

This is examples of what I mean:

[L@go]

An easy solution would be to use smaller plates. The longer they are, the more likely they are to warp. It's a very common problem, unfortunately.

[Lego Otaku]

Also make sure all the pieces are completely into each other. Some large pieces may not quite snap completely together, leaving bits of gap and causing warping issue.

[TheOrcKing]

This seems to be a common occurrence with the very long and/or wide area plates which is frustrating to say the least and one reason why I miss classic baseplates in regular sets anymore. I wonder if this may be a reason as to why Lego uses a bunch of smaller plates and even bricks in place of a couple larger ones in most of their official sets.

[Modelmaker]

try using the smaller size baseplates that are like the large 32x32 plates with no connectors underneath (I don't know the proper name for them) either that or a rubber mallet to bang on them on a flat surface (steak tenderizer)

[G_phy]

：）

[Jan_sh]

It's a very common problem, unfortunately.

Ok - so not just me being my usual fumblefingered self then - good to know.

Thank you for your feedback all. I followed the advice of using smaller plates in both the top and support layers. That helped somewhat - although they only really stabilizes when a couple of walls layers are added.

It is a bit strange though - not the seamless precision fit one is used to from Lego.

try using the smaller size baseplates that are like the large 32x32 plates with no connectors underneath (I don't know the proper name for them) either that or a rubber mallet to bang on them on a flat surface (steak tenderizer)

Sorry, I don't know the plates you refer to. And I think I will respectfully decline your advice of pounding them with a mallet

Edited July 17, 2014 by Jan_sh

[Modelmaker]

like this part http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?q=3865 they are about 1/3 the thickness of normal plates.

the underside has dimples that studs don't fit into.

And i don't mean pound them just a tap will do and a rubber mallet won't harm the plates.

[antp]

Also make sure all the pieces are completely into each other. Some large pieces may not quite snap completely together, leaving bits of gap and causing warping issue.

Indeed, sometimes the large ones are surprisingly hard to correctly "snap" together.