MOC - House by the Sea

[Toadtorrent]

Instruction manual cover for my House by the Sea

How to MOC the hard way... Well not really...but pretty close. Please be gentle...this is my first real MOC ever and certainly my first real topic posted in a Lego forum so I'm not sure if my style of post is in-sync with how things are done here...but hey, I'll give it a go.

I will be the first to admit that I'm not the greatest free builder...but I have fun and that's what it's really all about. What I am great at however, is diving head first into new challenges whenever I can find them and this MOC initiative presented one.

I wanted to get a nice thank you gift for friends who are loaning us their house by the ocean and I thought given that there are 2 families involved and both have kids, what better thing to give than a Lego version of their house?

Building a model is easy...too easy for me to undertake...so I thought to myself, how can I make this harder for myself...much harder?

Step 1 - Triple the Quantity

• Why build a model once when you can build it three times?
  
• Assembling 3 sets requires significantly more effort for gathering parts, bagging, and redundant activities
  

Step 2 - Design Virtually

• I designed starting with LDD as that's what I first discovered on this forum
  
• I quickly realized the limitations of LDD for brick selection
  
• I discovered Universe mode thanks to this forum, and that opened up some more doors and made things CLOSER to what I wanted...but thinking I would buy this directly from LDD through Lego, I tried to stick to the basic selection of elements and colours and created a "what-if" parallel model with different coloured elements and a few different bricks "just to see" what things COULD look like to determine if going the Bricklink source for parts was worth it (i.e. whether or not the end product justified 12 orders through BL for used parts that would be a gift)
  
• The building started getting confusing and hard to manage with the different layering of parts (e.g. landscaping, base house, roof, furniture, etc)
  
• I then discovered *.MPD files and had to reorganize and rebuild the project for better instruction production, and logical model assembly
  
• The ordering option through Lego from LDD with the WRONG colour selection priced this kit at over $750 each. OK...I like to think I'm relatively generous, but 3 kits x $750 = a lot of mojitoes!!
  
• I discovered LDraw, MLCad and LPub and had helpful responses from folks on this forum and a couple other sites to get me up and running using those tools
  
• I decided the benefits of used BL parts in terms of price and design were infinitely worth this route
  

Step 3 - Make the Model Reproducable

• It's been said before, creating instructions so someone else can build the kit is hard
  
• I confirm...it's really time consuming
  

Good instructions require conceptualizing sub-components, and separating and bagging parts for a more enjoyable assembly experience

Step detail using LDraw Helper Files

• Assembling instructions from LDD are easy...relatively...but they kind of suck
  
• Assembling what I hoped to be GOOD instructions was quite hard
  
• I was inspired by Jurgen's instructions HERE
  
• Instruction creation involved learning LDD first, then LDraw, MLCad, POV-Ray, LPub and already knowing apps like Paintshop Pro, Photoshop, etc
  
• Once I figured out how to manipulate the images in the CAD environment, I had to do some additional image work using a bitmap editor, and integrating these modified images in LPub
  
• The door sample above illustrates the kind of features I put in the instructions to make assembly less confusing
  
• Kudos to the excellent LDraw tutorials HERE
  [*}Super-Kudos to the awesome MLCad tutorial HERE
  

Use of brick painting to make understanding step differences clearer

• I got feedback from my beta testers (family) that the modular building using lots of white bricks made it hard to see what bricks were added
  
• The picture above shows instruction enhancements which involved temporary brick painting of parts Green to show what is added in the current step and how it looks after completion
  

Have to have a couple fun elements in the build

...when nature calls

Step 4 - Build it and They Will Come

The house without roof parts

Trying to create density on the 32x32 baseplate with some sand, rocks, water, grass, and a birdhouse

Bedrooms with furniture inspired from some searching on Brickshelf

The BBQ in brick vs virtual form

Living room and kitchen

Front entrance

The completed house

The model is a pretty accurate repro both in terms of exterior and interior design and colour with some liberties taken with the furniture colour scheme.

I hope you guys like it...it's been shipped off to the recipients.

[Tamamono]

Very nice house, Toadtorrent! Not only have you created an amazing MOC of a real house complete with lots of details, you've also made professional looking instructions to go with it! Great job; I'm sure your friends will love it.

[Artifex]

In one word: awesome! The MOC is itself amazing, and so are the LDD and the instructions! I'd buy this set if Lego were to seel it!

[lightningtiger]

Excellent work 'Toadtorrent', with instructions no less - good one !

Though two issues, one is the passageways are a little narrow and secondly, no door on the toilet ? Please, if I'm sitting somewhere reading the newspaper I don't need people watching...I'm not a particular English pop star with a thing for cops and crashing cars into shops - Wham !

Brick On 'Toadtorrent' !

[Pandora]

That is an incredibly kind, generous and thoughtful gift for your friends!

It is a delight to read your post as you describe in depth the various stages of your build(s) and helpfully point out pitfalls for those who may wish to follow in your footsteps. It's also great to hear that you received so much information and advice from EB, too!

The build itself fits very well with the real life examples you showed in the opening picture, and there are some great interior and exterior details - I particularly like the bird house and BBQ you've built, and the sand and rocks are simple yet effective ways of showing the seaside. The fact that you've gone to the trouble to fully furnish the house - again I particularly like the larger bed and the refrigerator - will show your friends how much thought you've put into their gift.

I really enjoyed reading about your process, and seeing the completed model in brick form. I think you've definitely earned yourself a Mojito!

[L@go]

Wow - talk about going out of your way to create a gift! Very nice, and a very good idea.

[drevim]

Thanks for sharing this. In a word, awesome!! I wish I had the patience to create instructions like that....or a MOC that detailed

[AussieJimbo]

Very nice creation and great work on your instructions.

I really like your idea of giving a complete set with instructions and box art as a thank you present. I'm sure the recipients will be thrilled.

:classic:

[Toadtorrent]

Thanks all for the positive feedback. When you see some of the amazing MOCs on this site, it seems so simple but I still thought was effective for the gift.

@lightningtiger - it's true about the door. I couldn't be bothered to add doors as it would have changed the room dimensions so much and I wouldn't have been able to fit things on the 32x32 baseplate without effecting the symmetry and outward balance of the house.

Decisions / compromise / decisions / compromise...it was an ongoing battle.

For anyone reading this contemplating a similar project...I have to say seeing a printed, bound manual and your project together is pretty rewarding...a lot of work...but rewarding.

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

That is really good!

There's nothing better than a well-made modular building ...the external details are great (love that bbq!), but the internal furniture are a masterpiece (I have to copy your bathroom ) !

Amazing first MOC ...keep on!

[22kane]

Excellent work all around. Not only is the MOC a great work but the instructions are perfect. That was really cool of you to make a gift like that. Outstanding work!!

[Ecclesiastes]

Really like your toilet design!

[The Lego Wizard]

Can you explain LDraw, MLcad and lpub?

[sonicstarlight]

This is simply incredible! While the design itself is on par (or better) than the official Creator houses, the fact you also made a full set of professional quality instructions is simply above and beyond. I would also like to know more about the specific process - you mentioned everything you had to learn and use to generate them, but any more insight you would be willing to share, especially a little step-by-step process with either words or images, would be hugely appreciated!

Again, really great stuff!

[Toadtorrent]

...especially a little step-by-step process with either words or images, would be hugely appreciated!

Thanks for the feedback!! Perhaps I will make a thread on how I made the instructions...it was a pretty interesting process.

[LEGO Guy Bri]

Great build 'Tt'. It looks great inside and out. Excellent job on the instructions as well, they look like they came out great. Fantastic job

[Locutis]

Wow, that is quite impressive!

You would almost think this is an official Lego set based on the details, and your instructions.

I think you gave a wonderful gift as it shows you spent a lot of time and effort to create something truly spectacular.