Starting a large scale moc

[Dutch]

Hi,

I need all your help. I am planning a large clone base moc but I don’t know were to begin. Do I draw the moc on a piece of paper? Or something like that. So when I got the design how do I figure out what bricks that I need and so then I need to know how to order the bricks from bricklink?

Thanks for looking.

Oh mods I hope this is the right forum.

[Commander Flash]

What I usually do is just start building. If it doesn't look right to me, I try again.

If the "spontaneous build" method doesnt work, then atleast draw a rough sketch of the base, draw pieces you will use for parts and start building. That is what I did with my Z-95; look at it, draw it, write pieces I need, start building

[paintballman413]

ok.. here's what you do, if it's going to be a scene from one of the movies. go online and find pictures of the scene and search more in depth. anyway if it's a custom. start from the inside then work out ward. that way you can look at the MOC once it is completed. if it's not how you liked it just move stuff around or take it off and restart. that's what i did for my train layout. but that's diiferent. what you just read is all i can give you , soo... goodluck with your layout thing

oh.. the bricks. I either go to bricklink.com or go to lego.com and do the pick a brick. trust me do the bricklink, it's wayyy... chaeper. and yea... good luck

Edited July 10, 2009 by paintballman413

[Modulex Guy]

Well, the best way to probably start is to do a mini section of what you want to build, kind of like a sample section, and multiply from there.

When I was building my stadium, I built a mini section of stands and duplicated it on a large scale.

As for ordering from Bricklink, do you have an account? You need an account to buy from bricklink and a way to pay for orders such as PayPal.

Also, as for how many pars you need, make a rough guess and order more than you think you would need.

For example: I need 50 1x2 brown plate, I would order 200, just to get extras.

[Peppermint_M]

There are two methods.

Method the first: Have an idea, fixed or changeable, in you mind and grab all the parts you could possibly need. Have no issue with taking apart MOCs and Sets for parts, unless you can find a substitute. Then you sit and build until your MOC is built.

Method the Second: Draw every possible view of it that you can. Figure out which part is where and how many of them you need. Then start buying the parts then decide when you can start building it.

[Commodore Hornbricker]

If you are talking multiple base plates big then what I do is a drawing that shows the base plate layout and then I decide what type of structure each plate will have and then I start building one plate section at a time. I order bricks as I need them usually one structure at a time.

[puddleglum]

If you are talking multiple base plates big then what I do is a drawing that shows the base plate layout and then I decide what type of structure each plate will have and then I start building one plate section at a time. I order bricks as I need them usually one structure at a time.

If you know already that you're going to need to buy parts from BrickLink, you can start building a prototype of your base, not worrying about having the right colors. So you should be able to build a good section of it just using the parts you have, only it will look like a 5-year old made it because the colors will be all whacky. From there, you can order the parts in the correct colors from BrickLink.

[Dutch]

Thank you all. I have a small prototype for the wall but now I need to know what color it should be light gray or dark gray cause this is for a clone base moc.

[Peppermint_M]

Another thing I have been trying with a medium sized project is just sketching what it should look like, then figuring out what lego shoud be put where to make that look.

One MOC is a fun WIP that will take me as long as I like, the second I have been planning down to the last detail at 1:1 scale on AutoCAD LT, for a part count and shopping list and hope to start buying parts later in the year (after Legoland PaB in september, and the clearance tent...).

Would like to find out which method works best for you!

[Spyder]

Thank you all. I have a small prototype for the wall but now I need to know what color it should be light gray or dark gray cause this is for a clone base moc.

Personally, I would make it light bley, because that just seems to go better with the Republic colors. As for how I build my MOCs, I just start building. If I don't like how it's going, then I start over again. If I am building MOC based off something, then I just look up a pic of it online, and then think of the pieces I need to make it. If I don't have the pieces already, then I usually don't make it.

Edited July 11, 2009 by Spyder

[Captain Green Hair]

Look up reference material like pictures, books and what not.

Sketch up the thing, so much trhat you can walk around in it in your dreams.

Then start planning:

-How many pieces will i need?

-What type of pieces do i need?

-How big a budget do i have?

Then ask yourself if it is doable. (Little doubte should be overcome)

Planning is the key.

[sologuy369]

clone killer,

An idea:

Maybe a training room.Such as wand pieces(sticks)with helmets or droid head(if you get it to work)on it.

"Shout down those droid heads!"

[desultor]

Great question. I like that there's so many different answers!

MOCs intimidate me, so I've been limiting myself to re-working the parts from only one set. For example, right now I have a slow going MOC-in-progress using only the parts from my King's Castle. It's on my desk at work, with the rest of the pieces in a drawer.

...and hope to start buying parts later in the year (after Legoland PaB in september, and the clearance tent...).

Wait, what's this?

[Peppermint_M]

Clearance tent? Pick-a-Brick?

My family takes a trip to Legoland Windsor once a year and I buy sets on clearence in the shops and in a large tent hidden behind one of the attractions (JCB challenge the last few years) full of last seasons gear and older sets. The Pick-a-Brick is in the big shop.

Edited July 15, 2009 by Peppermint_M

[martinsuper]

How large is your MOC going to be?

My current (and constant) project is the harbor I want to build.

So, the first step was to identify the parts of the harbor, how they would look, and how big it would all be.

The dimensions of the harbor are 4 feet by 8 feet. So I used a peice of plywood, and made a table for the harbor. I used primer, and then had Menard's color match the paint on a LEGO blue baseplate.

After that, I decided to build my harbor in three section. The first would be the entrance consisting of a fort/breakwater, a lighthouse, and a walkway to the lighthouse.

The second sections would be the docks, and the third section would be correctly incorporations LEGO sets into the overall display.

After this is all done, I am going to build another table, build a bridge out of LEGO to connect the tables, and build a trading post/town, with barracks, more forts, etc...

The final part will be making a country scene with crops that also will be an excellant location for battles and the such.

-Super