Cutting panels (heresy)

[Erik Leppen]

I just read your post three times nerdsforprez, only to realize that you are completely correct.

I voiced my opinion on this, but in fact, my opinion on this doesn't matter. Actually, this is simply not a topic for me :) In retrospect, I was actually pulling a Stop having fun that derailed the discussion. So, sorry for interrupting.

I do not retract my comments, but I do stand corrected. Thanks for expressing your thoughts here, @nerdsforprez.

[nerdsforprez]

  For what it is worth I really would be interested into looking into any potential association with being a "purist" or non".." and building skill.  My hunch is that those that are focused on building within a set of rules and garnish some form of pleasure from that (and the comparative value that comes with it) only do so because they actually have a dog in the fight.  In other words: they are talented.  They derive "fun" from competing skills against others because they actually have skills.  That is not to say that non-purists can't also be talented builders, but just a little curiosity of mine.  I would venture a hypothesis that purist builders, on average, would be more skilled than non-purists.  Personally, I very much respect purists and really enjoy what they bring to the table all while being fully aware I don't belong to their ranks.  I hope they respect that my consuming eyes are needed for the emotion that i think eventually passes everyone in a hobby, or art, music, etc.; that of feeling relevant (at least when there is an opportunity to do so).      

Oh and the stop having fun plug was perfect   Classic conundrum of the differing perspectives of creators versus consumers.....  

 

 

[letsbuild]

I like the idea of modifying parts. I use lego to develop my mechanical skills, and I regularly 3d-print parts to achieve a goal. Unfortunately, 3D printing is weak(ish) and difficult to clean up, so I usually just stick to regular parts. For me, Lego is a platform to develop skills without restricting a user. With such a basic dimensional system, it is incredibly easy to develop your own parts.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't mind the modification of parts. My goal is to learn and adapt. I like the idea of cutting panels, though I would rather 3D-print my own than do it. I understand certain limitations of 3D printing, such as the fact that many people might not have access to it, but as long as you're achieving what you can with what you have, you're on the right track.

Edited March 4, 2019 by letsbuild
I realized I didn't make a point.

[Attika]

4 hours ago, nerdsforprez said:

  For what it is worth I really would be interested into looking into any potential association with being a "purist" or non".." and building skill.  My hunch is that those that are focused on building within a set of rules and garnish some form of pleasure from that (and the comparative value that comes with it) only do so because they actually have a dog in the fight.  In other words: they are talented.  They derive "fun" from competing skills against others because they actually have skills.  That is not to say that non-purists can't also be talented builders, but just a little curiosity of mine.  I would venture a hypothesis that purist builders, on average, would be more skilled than non-purists.  Personally, I very much respect purists and really enjoy what they bring to the table all while being fully aware I don't belong to their ranks.  I hope they respect that my consuming eyes are needed for the emotion that i think eventually passes everyone in a hobby, or art, music, etc.; that of feeling relevant (at least when there is an opportunity to do so).      

 

I feel a bit schizophrenic  I build both ways. It is up to the actuall build, what you trying to accomplish with it. I may not be purist, but most of my builds are. The others, well I like experimenting too.  I suppose, as long as the modification it stated (nevermind titled) it should not cause a trust issue. Very nice handling on the situation btw.

However this last bit that I've quoted is a slippery slope.  Especially when peace has just broke out.

On the post @Ctan. It is a really nice cut. Did the first attempt succeed, or any casualties? 

3 minutes ago, letsbuild said:

I like the idea of modifying parts. I use lego to develop my mechanical skills, and I regularly 3d-print parts to achieve a goal. Unfortunately, 3D printing is weak(ish) and difficult to clean up, so I usually just stick to regular parts. For me, Lego is a platform to develop skills without restricting a user. With such a basic dimensional system, it is incredibly easy to develop your own parts.

Fair point, if builders get to put in labeled cages, I guess I'll join yours...

[Ivorrr]

My eyes bleed when looking at this.

Maybe one day I will change my mind when in desperate need for a particular part/colour but still...

[KD123]

Interesting read.  Very skillful cutting.    I respect all viewpoints.  

Ctan now I really want to see what you are creating ?. 

[Johnny1360]

Worked out pretty good, looks like the real deal, good job on the modification. I honestly have no feelings on the matter of someone modifying their own pieces, to each their own I suppose. Me I wouldn't do it because I am trying to build a respectable sized collection and I would hate to modify a part only to need it later in its original form. I also enjoy trying to accomplish something with only what's available. When I first came out of my dark age I naively thought I would just buy 5 or 6 sets and build anything I wanted, thanks to free online official instructions from LEGO. Oh what a laugh, now with over 300 sets I still don't have all the parts I want or need. TLG does a very good job of making sure every set has a certain amount of not so common parts. So I very much understand the concept of parts modification, just not for me. Still well done and looks like it came straight from LEGO factory in its present state. 

[Ctan]

I just dropped an idea how to cut bigger panels to smaller size using simplest tools. Maybe someone will find it useful. That's all. Discussion about "pure" lego etc. is really interesting but I think there should be other topic dedicated to this.
Everybody know that lego have limits. Like everything in life. You cant use electric kettle to melt steel.

Splitting people to purists and non purist is useless. Sometime it's a need to do someting and when you have a wall that you cant jump over you can also break it or leave it to find other solution.

 

I have reuploaded pictures in correct size.

On 3/4/2019 at 7:05 PM, Attika said:

On the post @Ctan. It is a really nice cut. Did the first attempt succeed, or any casualties? 

No casualties, I'm scale model builder. I'm rather experienced in case of cuting plastic ;)

 

On 3/4/2019 at 6:50 PM, letsbuild said:

I like the idea of modifying parts. I use lego to develop my mechanical skills, and I regularly 3d-print parts to achieve a goal. Unfortunately, 3D printing is weak(ish) and difficult to clean up, so I usually just stick to regular parts. For me, Lego is a platform to develop skills without restricting a user. With such a basic dimensional system, it is incredibly easy to develop your own parts. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't mind the modification of parts. My goal is to learn and adapt. I like the idea of cutting panels, though I would rather 3D-print my own than do it. I understand certain limitations of 3D printing, such as the fact that many people might not have access to it, but as long as you're achieving what you can with what you have, you're on the right track.

I can say the same but I don't have a 3d printer, I prefer rather traditional solutions ;)

 

On 3/4/2019 at 11:28 PM, KD123 said:

Interesting read.  Very skillful cutting.    I respect all viewpoints.  

Ctan now I really want to see what you are creating ?.

a tank chassis with 4 speed gearbox, 2 buggy motors and RC lipo battery (stepped down to 9V). It work pretty well even if it's not powered from Lego stamped battery ;D I hope that current is without Lego stamp.

(Designed to clean up my son Duplos from the carpet)

GMK6400 in WHITE! Yes, there are 20 pieces without LEGO stamp....

 

On 3/4/2019 at 10:06 PM, Ivorrr said:

My eyes bleed when looking at this.

Just close your eyes, press backspace and it's done :D
Seriously.. It's a pice of plastic worth 1 EUR. A toy. Not a diamond or other holy grail.

 

My statement:

I use 99-100% Lego parts in my creations. I modify parts and I don't feel bad about this. When part is not available in color I like I modify or ordering it from other than Lego source. I don't feel bad about this.  
I do not stick to any limits or other well known truths. All limits exist only in mind. Seriously. :)

Edited March 8, 2019 by Ctan

[TeamThrifty]

On 3/4/2019 at 11:46 AM, nerdsforprez said:

So again, there is a purist versus non-purist issue......

Beautifully put. 100% in agreement.

One thing i do find interesting is there's a sub-faction that isn't black and white. Purists that permit some 'low grade' cutting of axles for example.. Purists, but a different sort of purist. And then there are non-purists who draw the line at cutting panels*.. There's as many opinions as there are people i suspect. Disclosure of modifications is the key as @nerdsforprez detailed so well.

(*Fairly sure this is how religion started! Different groups, same imaginary friend, except one thinks he's the son of god and the other thinks he is god. Boom! another war...)

 

 

[grum64]

I’m not a MOC builder so I don’t have call to modify parts or use those of a non-LEGO origin but that’s not to say I haven’t done so. Admittedly the modification was only slight but, slight or otherwise, a modification it was. I hated getting it done and only did so as I could find no adequate way to accomplish my goal otherwise.

Let me see if I can cobble together an explanation that a. Makes sense (no guarantees ) b. Doesn’t involve you needing to book a day off work to read

A couple of years ago a Cousin saw a LEGO version of a car he was (and still is) restoring. As he liked it so much and his 50th birthday was on the horizon I decided, with the original builders kind permission, to build him one.

The real car had chrome rollover hoops and I wanted the model to have as them also so flexible axles/pneumatic hose etc., were out of the question. I asked my Uncle, an engineer, to make them from brass rod which he did and I then had them chromed. As you can see below they look great. The problem was how to mount them.

As those of you who are still awake can see from the last picture the hoops were mounted in three places each requiring a different part to hold it, a 3062 1x1 Round Brick with Open Stud, an 85861 1x1 Round Plate with Open Stud and a 3794a 1x2 Modified Plate with Stud. The 3062 was fine for one ‘leg’ as it was nice and deep, but the parts for the remaining ‘legs’ didn’t have that depth to sit in and be held adequately in place.

WARNING: Some of you may want to skip the next paragraph as it contains descriptions of parts being modified that you may find disturbing.

It was at this point that our brand new cordless Dremel made its first appearance. With a suitably sized drill bit selected and secured in the chuck, Jakes youthful hands guided the 12v LEGO killer toward the respective parts and he proceeded to let it devour its way through the closed bottom of the stud hole on the top of each and straight down & through the stud on the plate underneath. I then had some nice deep holes to hold the rollover hoops tightly in place.

Disclaimer: Although this was something of brutal act I can assure you it was it done with the utmost care and consideration for all parts involved. 

In case you’re wondering, the finished model wasn’t posted at the request of its owner. He has though given permission to use the cropped pic above.

 

Edited March 8, 2019 by grum64
Typo. Punctuation.

[Attika]

7 hours ago, Ctan said:

No casualties, I'm scale model builder. I'm rather experienced in case of cuting plastic ;)

My bad  I should have figured it from the tools at the first place. Cosmetic surgery, done by an expert. 

[allanp]

These panels look very good. The skill of building within current Lego parts catalog is one thing, but the skill of creating your own parts should also be respected. It can be argued that there are different levels of Lego purism. In it's purist form I would define it as building using only components sold by Lego. But then there's also the question of is it something Lego themselves would do? This offers more freedom as Lego create and release new parts all the time, as well as releasing parts in new colours, chrome plating parts and creating new stickers. As Lego do this I think an argument can be made that creating new parts as you have done is also purism, just not in its most pure form. It's not an argument I myself would necessarily agree with, but Lego moccing purely for your own pleasure is about having fun, not competition, so who cares if I "approve". Talking of stickers, one method Lego often uses is to recolour panels with stickers. 

Edited March 9, 2019 by allanp

[iLego]

I find it funny that the purists who  scoff disdainfully at such modifications are largely silent about sbrick, buwizz etc.