Brick Ferry MOC Guide: Two Decks and Working Vehicle Doors
Bottom line first: the hard part of a ferry is that it has to load and it has to open. Build the keel from Technic parts with a rib every 6 studs, use hinges and turntables for the bow ramp and the side vehicle doors, and lay the upper deck flat with SNOT.
Ferries link two shores, and they are one of the most functional subjects you can pick for a brick ship MOC. Unlike a cruise liner or a freighter, a ferry earns its appeal from transport: vehicles drive on, park, and drive off again. This guide takes you from the Technic keel up to the superstructure so you finish with a two-deck ferry that is genuinely playable.
Hull and Two Decks
The hull is the load-bearing base of the whole model. Build the internal keel from Technic parts, then skin it with standard bricks. The keel uses 2x4 Technic bricks cross-connected with Technic axle 3, with a rib every 6 studs — roughly 60 Technic parts in total, which gives a hull in the 30 cm class enough rigidity. Hand the bow's streamlined shape to curved parts: 6x10 and 4x7 curved boat-slope bricks stepped inward layer by layer produce a rounded wave-cutting line.
The two decks are the centrepiece of the build. The lower main deck is paved with 8 pieces of 16x16 baseplate as the vehicle parking area. The upper deck is installed sideways using SNOT (Studs Not On Top) so the brickwork gives a flat passenger floor. Fix the two decks together with 1x2 Technic bricks and Technic pins, and place vertical support columns every 8 studs so the upper deck does not sag under load.
Vehicle Door Mechanisms
Vehicles need to get on and off, so the opening mechanisms have to be reliable. The bow ramp uses hinge bricks: mount two pairs of 2x4 hinge bricks at the front of the deck, and build the ramp itself from 6x12 plates plus a studded grip plate, locked with a Technic pin when raised. To get a natural angle when the ramp is down, leave a 2-stud recess under the hinge so the ramp can lie completely flat against the quay.
The side vehicle door is a revolving door built on turntable parts: one 4x4 turntable with a 2x2 turntable top, turned 90 degrees to open and close. Do not forget a 1x2 stop brick on the inside of the door, or the turntable will over-rotate and throw the door out of alignment. In testing this mechanism opens and closes smoothly, and paired with a small construction vehicle model it lets you run the full load, dock and unload sequence over and over.
Superstructure
The superstructure has two levels: wheelhouse and passenger cabin. Enclose the wheelhouse with 1x2 transparent window bricks, use slope bricks on the roof for a forward-raked windscreen, and fit a 1x1 transparent round plate on each side as a navigation light. For the passenger cabin, alternate 1x4 transparent windows with white wall panels at large scale to create an open, panoramic feel. Stack 2x2 round bricks three high for the funnel, cap it with a 1x1 round plate, and add a Technic hose as trim — instant ferry recognition.
Propulsion System
A ferry does not need speed, but the propeller and rudder details still matter. Fit two three-blade propellers at the stern, running a Technic axle through the hull to a hand-crank gear inside: turn the knob on deck and both propellers rotate in sync, putting the mechanical side of the model right in the builder's hands. Insert the rudder as a 1x3 plate at an angle below the stern, leaving a 1-stud gap to the hull so it looks right and still turns freely.
FAQ
Q: How do I keep a ferry MOC hull from splitting apart? A: Use a Technic internal keel — 2x4 Technic bricks cross-connected with Technic axle 3, a rib every 6 studs. Then add lateral ties of 1x2 Technic bricks and Technic pins on the inside of the hull shell, roughly every 4 studs, to lock both sides together.
Q: What if the bow ramp does not sit flat when lowered? A: Check the orientation of the hinge bricks and make sure the hinge axis is parallel to the front edge of the deck. Build the ramp from 6x12 plates with a studded grip plate, add a stop under the hinge, and the lowered angle comes out naturally flat. Leaving enough recess space under the ramp also helps.
Q: Which parts make the side door rotate? A: Turntable parts. One 4x4 turntable with a 2x2 turntable top turns 90 degrees to open and close. Always add a 1x2 stop brick inside the door so the turntable cannot over-rotate and misalign the door.
Q: Roughly how many parts does the whole ferry need? A: It is a mid-size ship: about 60 Technic parts for the keel, 8 pieces of 16x16 baseplate for the vehicle area, plus a number of hinge and turntable parts. Gather the baseplates and Technic parts from your list first, then start building.
Q: The superstructure is heavy enough to distort the hull — what then? A: Swap the internal keel for a 2x4 Technic frame and cut down on solid bricks up top, using more window and plate parts to save weight.
With that, a fully functional brick ferry MOC is finished. From the SNOT paving on the two decks to the hinge and turntable mechanisms in the doors, every detail makes this ferry more than a look-alike — it moves. If you want to build your own brick ferry MOC, visit BrickPlan for the complete parts list and step-by-step instructions, and share your build with the community.