What do prefer: sets or MOCs?

[Ralph_S]

A couple of days ago I upset some people in another thread by comparing building sets according to instructions to something a ten-year old can do; this as a very brief explanation about why I don't particularly like it. This was interpreted by some people as me being snobbish, probably because they felt it implied that I think that set builders are on the same level as ten-year olds. I didn't mean to imply anything.

For me personally this hobby is largely about building. Whenever I got a set as a child I'd first build the model according to the instructions. Even though my own little constructions weren't anywhere near as nice as what you could potentially get in a set, I loved designing my only little things so much that sets would never stay together long. My room wasn't filled with sets, it was filled with things I built myself. Very little has changed. I love to look at an object and to figure out how to represent its shape using LEGO parts and how to make certain features work. That is what challenges me and I derive satisfaction from looking at something I built. I simply don't get that satisfaction from building somebody else's design. Sets can be very nice, but for me at the end of the day they are parts packs and I care little about building them or about what they look like.

What has changed is that by now I've reached a point where I feel most of my MOCs are actually nicer than what you can get from a set. Most sets are designed so that a ten year old can build them and consequently there are a lot of limitations to what their designers can do in terms of details and construction. There are also limitations on the parts count, because the cost has to be kept low enough. As a hobbyist I'm not similarly limited. I can put a lot of effort and parts into making things more detailed and more accurate.

None of this has anything to do with me being snobbish, wanting to be admired or wanting to somehow feel special; it is simply what I like doing. With this background, I hope you can understand that I think that if you are sticking to sets, you are depriving yourself of a lot of fun.

I know a lot of people do prefer to build sets rather than MOCs, but I have a hard time understanding why. You might think your MOCs aren't as nice as a real set, but is that a reason to stick to sets? Is it the end result that matters most or the fun you have whilst getting there? So, a question: do you prefer to build MOCs or sets or both and why?

Cheers,

Ralph

Edited January 12, 2010 by Ralph_S

[Big Cam]

I am a conflicted soul.

I am a collector so I buy sets and I keep them separated in baggies.

BUT, I have a bunch of old LEGO's from when i was a kid and those are all mixed together and I live just building. I have lots and lots of cool new parts from all my Star Wars sets but I can't bring it to myself to dump them all out into a big bin and go build crazy. I feel like I'd never get them organized again.

SO I am listing myself as a sets person but in reality, I wish I could have a duplicate of every set I own so I could dump it in a bin and go MOC crazy.

[Follows Closely]

My kids and I put sets together, it is a great way to spend time together, and it strengthens their interest in Lego. I as an AFOL have no interest what so ever in putting a set together myself. It is all about MOCs for me.

...I wish I could have a duplicate of every set I own so I could dump it in a bin and go MOC crazy.

Buy some second had Lego. In the past 6 months I have purchased 200+ lbs for around $3 a lbs.

[brickzone]

I prefer my MOCs - but Lego's sets of recent years in particular, I often like to keep as they are (or modified) to combine with MOC elements.

Some sets I consider more just parts, e.g. the entire Fantasy Castle theme, almost all of which I have and have disassembled for parts, much as I liked having them displayed for a while. The only thing to survive was the siege engine from the Tower Siege set. I might rebuild the Skeleton Tower to modify as an entrance into some evil castle - it is pretty cool looking in my opinion.

By contrast, I have kept pretty much every City vehicle as is - although I can do nice vehicle MOCs (and yes, perhaps more realistic than Lego's own) I really love the style of recent Lego City vehicles and I find pretty much all of them "cute". There are some exceptions - I have no need for Heavy Hauler, the Fire Boat or the cargo ship from Harbour set (the hull I intend to use for a small cruise boat).

I think that I'll stick with modifying the modular buildings. I like them too much to disassemble them and use them as parts. I have enough parts to do my own without disassembling the official ones, and I have no qualms about stealing the odd part if necessary.

Some sets I have kept intact as I'd not like to have them mixed up in my collection - e.g. a pristine set of the Prisoner of Azkhaban Hogwarts (I just love the cute design of it). Also the Adventurer's Dragon Fortress. I will probably use these in a custom scene at some stage (obviously Harry Potter specific for the former) and/or modify them too (taking care to keep the original parts inventory together again when disassembling). I have indeed disassembled and used for parts pretty much all my other Harry Potter and Adventurers sets, though I liked them enough to get as sets rather than spend the money on just random Lego. I will probably resurrect some to do modified scenes based on the original set.

I was pretty enamoured with Agents, partly I guess because I would have loved it as a kid, but also the humour and over-the-top style appeals to me. I've kept all the smaller vehicles intact to use along with any larger custom MOCs, although I did make a smaller Agents helicopter MOC and modify the turbocar to incorporate a pullback motor. Also I have Volcano Base parts all kept together for now as it is on the agenda to modify and expand it (although I have a lot more in the pipeline to get through before I get back to that).

I've kept my 90s Space Lego intact partly out of nostalgia and collectorism - but I intend to haul some out to use in Space MOCs (e.g. space bases) or to modify.

Finally there is Indy - I have used some of the sets for parts, but again I intend to modify or use the vehicles - particularly the Jungle Cutter. Also the two large sets (Temple Corridor Escape and Temple of Crystal Skull) I intend to "kit bash" into some insane huge tomb/temple MOC with a lot of custom expansion and joining of the components.

So all in all, my purchase and use of official sets is partly out of appreciation of the design of Lego sets, partly out of being a collector, partly nostalgia, partly time-saving (expands the MOCs with little work), partly to bring out the best in the sets and MOCs and partly for parts, modifying and "just because".

[escortmad79]

MOCs mainly for me, it's more fun to design & create your own buildings from scratch

[LegoDad42]

I like both equally. I was big into traditional model building kits with glue, paint, decals...attaching motors to tanks...love buidling WW II battleships, etc.

Then I got into Lego many years later with my son. Great to build kits together and have lot's of fun and spend time.

What I like to do now is modify the Lego kit's we put together...adding more elements, building things larger, making them look nicer with chrome bricks and even trying to improve on what Lego already did with any particular set. Combining 2 smaller sets to make new vehicles with Star Wars kits is a good challenge and a lot of fun to do.

[MetroiD]

MOCs all the way, without a doubt.

Building a set is an enjoyable experience and in each set there's something special which makes you happy, just like a little boy. But ever since I've come out of my dark ages, I just don't see the point in building and keeping sets as they are as an adult. Yes, many of them are brilliantly designed and look wonderfully, but I still have much more fun building this on my own than rebuilding LEGO's designs. So whenever we buy a new set, we build it and then we take it apart in a day or two to use the pieces for MOCcing purposes.

It's not always been this way for me, actually. When I was a kid, I had a town layout with quite a few official sets in there - in fact, most of the larger sets were left intact (which is probably one of the reasons why my white and grey bricks are now yellowish). I enjoyed "arranging" my town but I never thought of taking all my sets apart and building something different out of them. So my MOCs were rather limited in size with the biggest of those probably a classic-town-style "recreation" of that beautiful Ristorante set (from the early 90s). It's only after so many years that I've finally discovered the joy of MOCcing.

Our first town MOCs and especially our few semi-modular MOC (the Flower Shop) were built before we had an official Modular set and that's why they're not half as detailed - however, I still enjoy looking at our Flower Shop much more than the Green Grocer, for example. The feeling that you've actually put your own thoughts and ideas into a project makes it totally different - and while not necessarily bigger or better, it is almost always dearer. At least that's the case for me. So I don't know how much longer we'll keep our modulars intact...

As to vehicles - LEGO have been doing a great job in recent years, but that's one of the areas where I wouldn't even think of using/buying a set just for its value as one. For example, I love the cement mixer, the recycle truck and the caravan. None of them will stay in their original look in our collection though. Instead, I've already decided which real-life models I'll base my renditions of those vehicles on, and I only need the sets for a few valuable bricks here and there.

[Ralph_S]

Thanks for the replies so far. Keep em coming!

Two of you mention that building sets is something you can do together with your children. I didn't think of that, probably because I don't have children. I can imagine that that's fun though.

Cheers,

Ralph

[MetroiD]

Two of you mention that building sets is something you can do together with your children.

And partner! MOCcing together still beats building official sets though, at least for the two of us. Especially seeing as we both know precisely who does what best :)

Now that I think of it, I guess we'll keep the Modulars and just add furniture instead. Our town will be inspired by those sets anyway, so I don't see why we shouldn't leave them as an homage to how it all started...

[ProducePrincess]

I'm a Moc person , i've never been able to keep a Set build for longer than two weeks. I kept my dwarves mine intact for 4 weeks but that was only because i modded it quite a bit.

I remember when i was 6 i got the old SW Falcon and i couldn't even finish building it because i had taken sections of the ship and placed them around my lego city for buildings.

I a'm by no means a set collecter but maybe when i'm older i will try and rebuild some of my sets to display.

[Darth Hawken]

I am a MOC person and a set person. I normally keep my star wars sets as they are mostly ships, intact but end up dismantling my other sets for pieces to make a MOC. My approach to MOCs is take what pieces you need off any set but if you like the set put the piece back once you are finished with it or replace the brick with a similar piece.

[Peppermint_M]

Oh, this is a hard one.

I am a MOCer through and through but recent output from certain themes has been fantastic.

I certainly buy sets for parts and minifigs but some I have been reluctent to take apart because they look so good. When I was younger I barely ever kept a set together for a few days and built as much as I could.

So I am mixed, leaning towards MOCs.

[Sir Fred]

I always build a set properly at least once after acquiring it, even if I do it just to make sure all the pieces are there. I find it relaxing to just follow along with the instructions. However, within a few days I find myself grabbing more and more parts from the new set for whatever it was I decided to do that particular day. Someday I want to build all my Castle sets as per the instructions just to see what it looks like set up, but I know that day is a long way away. In short I usually start off with the set following instructions then move towards a bunch of small MOCs with the occasional decent sized one.

[Etzel]

For me this is an easy choice. I definitely prefer MOCs.

I do build the sets from instructions when I first get them but after a week or so they all go down the same road of destruction

Sets are part packs to me and even if some of them are extraordinary good, like 10193 MMV and 10197 Fire Brigade, I can't resist taking them apart and use the pieces for my own creations. And for the same reason I never keep my MOCs assembled for longer than a week or so either. I need to have the parts at hand when the inspiration strikes

I might not be good at MOCing all different kinds of objects and therefore I sometimes use official designs when I'm building something I have little experience of. But I always change some parts and try to give the object a unique look (like I did with this MOD of 6240 Kraken Attackin'). If I don't do that, I don't feel that it's "my" LEGO creation. Maybe I'm just a sucker for attention and therefore wants to be able to take credit for my LEGO creations

[blueandwhite]

MOCs for me. I do have some sets on display, however it's the MOCs that I take real pride in. I respect that people like to collect and display sets, but I have no interest in it personally. The real appeal of MOCs to me is that they are unique to the builder who created them (unless the design was borrowed). That personal touch makes MOCs far more interesting than conventional sets.

I see set collecting as being very similar to army building. It's a hobby for some, but it doesn't appeal to me personally. I do have a few standout sets I've kept built for display (the Falcon and CC sets being examples), but most sets for me are simply a source of bricks. Even if my MOCs are not particularly great, they are my own. A set is simply somebody else's design. I know that my Falcon is no better or no worse than the 100s of other Falcons out there. It's just not that special. Any reasonable person can put one together if they have the time or money.

[L-space]

Well, my collecting half just likes to build the sets while looking at the drawings in the instruction booklet and then figuring out where the left over part was supposed to go.

Then there is the other half that likes to take the set LEGO designed and tries to add more detail or simply making it bigger.

The final half then really likes to build, mostly from inspiration or example, something that LEGO just wouldnt make because there is no market for it or it would just be to expensive.

So in the end I do it all, sets, modding and moccing, depending on the circumstances and my needs.

[lightningtiger]

Hey it depends on the theme or how I feel if I build a set as is or go MOD crazy 'pimping it' or doing a totally different MOC.

If a set is well designed I leave as is, but if I think it's crap well what can I say ? rebuild time !

This year the sparkies and fuel truck will remain untouched in the MOD arena, but other sets might not be so lucky !

[RileyC]

Its a hard question but I prefer sets. I think its because they are official sets. There are some great MOCers out there but I like sets better

[Front]

I have a lot of ideas for mocs, but the limited time I have building is spent on new sets. Mocs take a lot of time, and I do hope to be able to be creative in the future.

I've only been AFOL for little more than two years, and kind of lack ability to moc effectively. I struggle to find the time building all the sets I buy, so a lot is just boxes.

But whether I build now, leave a box unopened, take the set apart and sort the bricks, or do a moc. I will have the bricks for future enjoyment, and that's what counts for me.

[Commodore Hornbricker]

I love to buy sets. For a long time I kept the parts for a lot of my favorite sets together in bags and segregated from the rest of my collection but then as I began to MOC more and more I have gone away from that. I have a block of CC set buildings assembled because they are so fantastic and one of my Eldorado Fortress sets is also assembled because I love that set. Other than that I love to buy new sets because sets = parts and parts + imagination/reserach + effort = MOC's. I do like knowing I have this very heavy container full of instruction books though....

[Ricecracker]

It's very close, and after reading some comments, I think I'd lean towards MOCs.

I only buy sets to keep together if they're beautifully designed and on sale - For example, the only two I've kept built are the Boeing Jet and the Minifig Death Star. Granted, I do sometimes build sets just for fun then break them apart. I do buy many, many other sets, though those are parted out and never built.

MOCs. That's what I do. That's what Lego is all about me. I feel I can express my creativity better, and, like Ralph said, I can show different techniques better and be more accurate to my subject matter.

With the best sets; I go, "Oh, cool!" but with the best MOCs, I go, "Wow, that's awesome!"

[David Thomsen]

I would love to be able to make the kind of MOCs I find on this forum, but the truth is I just don't have the time or the resources. My time is stretched far too thinly already between work, my girlfriend and a project I'm working on. I barely have time for Lego as it is.

I voted for 'sets', not because I prefer to build them, but it's all I can really do. The exception is my Pirates collection, where I pool all the BrickMaster and Advent Calendar pieces together to make rickety pirate structures. But they're usually just thrown together randomly.

[dr_spock]

I can handle both. I enjoy building sets and MOCs. It's Lego after all.

[prateek]

I prefer building sets, because I get a special feeling inside that I don't get from MOCing, but I did choose "both" from the poll.

[Big Cam]

Buy some second had Lego. In the past 6 months I have purchased 200+ lbs for around $3 a lbs.

I'll have to look into that, my problem is I want good pieces, not regualr bricks.