From Ldraw to real MOC, Step by Step

[Tenorikuma]

I decided to build some ambitious MOCs by first laying out the design with software, and then using Bricklink to locate and purchase all the pieces. It's been a learning experience so far, so I thought I'd write about the process here.

The first model I'm going to build is a Forest Tower I've decided to build for the forest king and his men. This is actually the centrepiece of what I hope will be a large fortified outpost. I'm trying to avoid the look of typical castle MOCs and go for something a little more fantastic. The architecture is sort of a mix of Nordic and Japanese, almost elven. The bulk of the model is sand green, with dark blue roofing, reddish-brown timbers, and gold trim.

Here's the model being worked on in Bricksmith, a Mac building program that is Ldraw-compatible:

Here's what the almost-final draft looks like in LDview, an Ldraw renderer for the Mac:

Building an Ldraw model that actually works is challenging. You can't rely on the software to know how well pieces fit, and whether your construction is sturdy enough to hold together. It's also surprising just how limited some pieces are when it comes to colours. I kept referring to Bricklink's database to see what was available, and was surprised over and over to find that pieces I needed didn't exist in colours like brown or dark blue. A certain amount of revision had to accommodate this.

Once the model was finished, I used another app called Brickstore to analyze all the pieces used in the model and upload a wishlist to Bricklink. Then, from the Bricklink website, I began shopping. I ended up opening up some of the larger stores in parallel tabs, and, using the "show all parts in wishlist" feature, doing price comparisons and adding parts to the shopping cart of whichever store was the cheapest. Since this model has over 1000 pieces, it only made sense to buy each part from the cheapest source possible.

In hindsight, I should have focussed on buying from the fewest number of stores possible instead. I ended up purchasing from 12 different vendors, and a good 30% of my cost has gone into shipping. Live and learn.

At this point, about 70% of the parts have arrived by mail, and I've already begun the foundation. In doing so, I've discovered a few pieces I missed ordering (I definitely need a better way of tracking the parts I need), and I've had one slightly messed up order already — one vendor sent me mostly brown tiles instead of reddish brown.

To be continued…

[WhiteFang]

Very nice LDD. I love it so much, because you had made used of Forestmen. I am just wondering why did you use blue rooftop. Maybe, a little more green foilage will be better in order to illustrate more green into it. Good luck for hunting these parts you need. I will be looking forward to your final completion.

[LEGOMAN132]

Thats nice wish it it a set.

[Cakeman]

Thanks for sharing this history of how you did this - you also made me aware of some software i didn't know existed, for wich I'm very thankful :) But very nice touch to write about how things went and how you planned it, besides it looks like a great MOC. Interesting with the odd colors, I'd really like to see some pictures of the actual model that you have started building. Ohh, look - you wrote "to be continued"! So I guess it was already planned.

And a short question: my orders from bicklink have so far been ok so I have no prior experience with complaints etc there. How did your vendor solve the color-issue?

[BlueBard]

Wow, it looks very very nice, Tenorikuma! I really like the way you did the entrance stairs

[Asuka]

I decided to build some ambitious MOCs by first laying out the design with software, and then using Bricklink to locate and purchase all the pieces. It's been a learning experience so far, so I thought I'd write about the process here.

That´s a very fine idea and an interesting (and beautiful) project too!

And it reminds me only a very little of The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was...

Good luck on, and keep us informed!

[I Scream Clone]

That is a really inspiring design you have there Tenorikuma! I love the use of sand green and reddish brown. Not sure about the blue though. I also really love the stair design and the balconies are great. Perfect for the King or Queen to reside in.

I tried a similar thing to you a while back when I downloaded the instructions and parts list for the original Rep Gunship. I then ordered my parts from 5 diff sellers on BL and probably paid a lot more on shipping than i needed to.

Thanks for including us in this process!

[hopeso009]

The way You are going to do is really impressive to me.

I built quite a lot of MOC myself, I was once thinking the same as you but turns out I abandoned this thought.

Firstly because I don't use my VISA card for internet at all. ( I don't trust the internet for money. ) So I cannot buy on bricklink.

Secondly because I found out (like what you found out) quite a lot of colors in LEGO have very limited parts made. Most available parts can be found on "black", "red", "yellow" but for the rest of colors (blue, grey, dark grey, brown, & etc), LEGO did not make all range of parts for these colors...this makes me feel frustrated on designing MOC, sometimes some parts really simply doesn't exist but in MOC it cannot be simply replaced with other color.

Thirdly building MOC in software = wasting time, because...it takes a lot of time to rotate and move....operate the computer. I would prefer to do it by hand (much more time saving).

Therefore finally I developed the way of MOC is simply build it with all bricks available around myself...(may be wrong color)

then after built, check if it is available for me to change certain "unmatched" colored bricks to other color.

Usually it takes me the shortest time.

e.g. I am doing a MOC of a pig, I knew the color should be better to either "pink" or "orange". However I don't have pink or orange color parts at all. So I built it with yellow color.

[iamded]

This is one awesome MOC, Tenorikuma! I love the (IMO) Elven look to it, and the colours are nice as well. I can't wait to see this in bricks, I hope everything works out well!

~Peace

[Tenorikuma]

Thanks for the replies so far. Hopefully the rest of my pieces will arrive in the next day or so and I take a photo of the model in progress.

Regarding Colours:

I originally wanted the roof to be dark green (regular green seemed too bright), but that 1x4 wedge plate doesn't come in dark green yet. Perhaps I'll experiment with other colours within this "theme" later on. Since it's fantasy-themed, I want to keep my model fairly colourful instead of using grey and black a lot like real castles do.

Cakeman:

The vendor who gave me brown tiles instead of reddish-brown tiles hasn't responded to any of my emails, even though he is very prompt at filling and sending orders. I've simply re-ordered the pieces from another store and won't use his services again. Fortunately, the pieces were only a few cents each. The feedback I leave will warn other buyers about him.

WhiteFang:

I love the Forestmen too, and I just hope I can get my hands on my old minifigs (they're still back in Canada) when I assemble the forest king and his men.

hopeso009:

Bricksmith is quite easy to use once you get the hang of it, but I like the idea of using substitute colours and designing by hand. Maybe I'll try that for smaller MOCs. For a MOC like this, I just don't have enough loose Lego period.

Edited August 25, 2008 by Tenorikuma

[Duke]

This is really excellent, I have to say I don't normally enjoy looking at Computer designs of models, but I can certainly make an exception for this. It's just such and intricate and beautiful model . Are there any details planned for the interior? Looking forward to seeing this progress.

[Teddy]

dear Tenorikuma,

that is one nicely designed forest man house.

Done entirely in LDD! Very nicely, and beautifully done I must say.

Too bad to hear of your troubles with rown and brown.

30% shipping costs that is a lot!..

Just makes me wish lego would lower their prices at s@h.

Are you planning to make some scenery around the house to obscure its location to the knights?

Kind regards,

Teddy

[Sir Dillon]

This is a really cool looking tower Tenorikuma. You've added some nice structural details, especially in the wood framing. Your solution for the steps is also quite clever and good looking.

Personally, I think dark blue is a great colour for the roofs. It gives a nice contrast from the green but still seems to fit with the overall colour scheme.

I look forwards to seeing this in brick!

[Brick n Brick]

Wow! Thats a pretty amazing creation. I love the light green colour contrast with the wood! Excellent job.

[Lt. Col. Thok]

That is an excellent creation! I hope to see the finished product.

[posades]

Just wondering if this MOC ever got completed; the design is amazing, too bad Tenorikuma never got around to uploading some pictures.

[Captain Blackmoor]

I love this. Lots of nice details and SNOT techniques ( like the stairs )

I can't wait to see this creation build in real Lego bricks.

Does it have any interior?

[Matn]

Wow, you've got a great design there. I really love the colours, it works so perfect and the used techniques are awesome. It's really something new and innovative, I hope that it'll be able to work it out to a real MOC.