Absolutely, I think of every set that way. The base plates are the infrastructure layer, the main body of the model is the domain, and the little special pieces are like adapters or connectors that let the different parts talk to each other. When I’m planning a build I first sketch the high‑level shape, then I break it into sections—those become my modules. Each section snaps together on its own, just like a class in a clean architecture that only talks to its own interfaces. The snap points are the dependency injections; you can swap a piece on without breaking the rest of the model. I also keep a separate stack of “plug‑and‑play” pieces for future extensions, so I can add a new feature without touching the old structure. It’s the same process I use when refactoring code—keep the core stable, add new blocks in a way that doesn’t disturb the whole system.

You’re right, the base plate should stay modular. I usually keep the infrastructure split into a few small, interchangeable boards, so I can swap out a power unit or a transport system without touching the whole design. And I’ve started labeling my adapters with version numbers, just in case I need to backtrack. It’s a lot of extra work, but it saves me from that “I built this, now I can’t change it” headache. Speaking of headaches, I’ll grab a snack before the next snap—my hands need a break!