About MOC philosophy

[Passatelli]

Hi all, I'm an adult fan of LEGO from quite a bit, but I know the meaning of AFOL since the last week, so I first ask all of you to forgive me:

1) If this topic is posted in the wrong section;

2) If I'm asking trivial questions, or questions that some other people asked two days ago (I tried to check before writing, anyway);

3) For my English.

Let's now come to the questions! I just discovered the amazing community of MOC on the internet, and in this week I've spent a lot of time watching beautiful works made by MOC artists, and now I'm starting to recognize the different styles and the common used techniques.

I was asking myself (and now I'm asking to you!) if there are some general rules to keep in mind creating a MOC with the LEGO bricks. For example:

a) In this works is commonly admitted the use of other objects than LEGO bricks? I suppose yes for the objects commonly used in the original LEGO sets, like string or tissue. And about the use of stickers or paintings, for example with the purpose of modify clothes of the minifigs? Personally I don't like too much this idea but I think I saw some beautiful works use it.

b) About the joining of the pieces, the MOC is intended to be quite stable (I mean, with not too many pieces disjoint one from the others), or in some cases this is intended not to be really playable, but as a scene for a photo? I'm asking this because in some works I saw a very strange arrangement of some group of pieces, but is possible that I do not recognize the technique used to assemble them.

c) Concerning the realization of the first little models, what are the suggestions for making effective the first ideas? Study before the project with the intent of have an estimate of what pieces are needed - maybe with the help of a software -, then buying the necessary, or try to focus the fantasy on the content of a decent LEGO collection?

Thank you for the answers, greetings.

[Sid Sidious]

Hi all, I'm an adult fan of LEGO from quite a bit, but I know the meaning of AFOL since the last week, so I first ask all of you to forgive me:

1) If this topic is posted in the wrong section;

2) If I'm asking trivial questions, or questions that some other people asked two days ago (I tried to check before writing, anyway);

3) For my English.

Let's now come to the questions! I just discovered the amazing community of MOC on the internet, and in this week I've spent a lot of time watching beautiful works made by MOC artists, and now I'm starting to recognize the different styles and the common used techniques.

I was asking myself (and now I'm asking to you!) if there are some general rules to keep in mind creating a MOC with the LEGO bricks. For example:

a) In this works is commonly admitted the use of other objects than LEGO bricks? I suppose yes for the objects commonly used in the original LEGO sets, like string or tissue. And about the use of stickers or paintings, for example with the purpose of modify clothes of the minifigs? Personally I don't like too much this idea but I think I saw some beautiful works use it.

b) About the joining of the pieces, the MOC is intended to be quite stable (I mean, with not too many pieces disjoint one from the others), or in some cases this is intended not to be really playable, but as a scene for a photo? I'm asking this because in some works I saw a very strange arrangement of some group of pieces, but is possible that I do not recognize the technique used to assemble them.

c) Concerning the realization of the first little models, what are the suggestions for making effective the first ideas? Study before the project with the intent of have an estimate of what pieces are needed - maybe with the help of a software -, then buying the necessary, or try to focus the fantasy on the content of a decent LEGO collection?

Thank you for the answers, greetings.

Using non-LEGO items like string is generally OK, as long as it is for something string would be used for (not just tying pieces together). Stability depends on the MOC. Some are very sturdy and are meant to played with, while others are very fragile and fall apart when touched. Usually they are a combination of both and are mostly stable but have some small parts that break off easily. Usually when I make stuff I just put pieces together at random until I get an idea and then make a MOC out of it.

[Ralph_S]

I don't think your questions are trivial. I think many builders follow a certain set of self-imposed rules on what they build -some in excruciating detail- and every builder has a different way of doing things.

a) Let me give you an example of excruciating details: I know people will cut flex tube and pneumatic tube only to lengths that have been used in sets and who will only use string from sets. I'm a bit more flexible. Flex tube and pneumatic tube is fair game, but otherwise I don't cut or modify parts. I also don't paint parts. In principle I should be able to take a model apart and be able to build something else with the parts. I use custom stickers and for a long time have been using non-LEGO plastic to make cockpit canopies for my aircraft models (although I've been having a purist streak lately).

b) I normally don't play with my models. I look at them as scale models with some added functions. My cars have wheels that turn and doors that open, my aircraft have wheels that retract and wings that fold, for instance, and I'd like them to be reasonably sturdy and do like the bits to be connected somehow, but some bits of my models can be very flimsy nonetheless. I don't think it's a problem. I enjoy building things and looking at the things I built, but that's about it. If I'd have spent weeks painting, sanding and glueing a plastic scale model of an airplane, I'd also wouldn't want to play with it.

c) I've been building for most of my life and I have a reasonable idea of what I have in my collection and of what it takes to build the things I might want to build. I plan my models, usually in my mind and sometimes using a drawing. I don't use CAD for anything other than making the odd instruction now and then. I choose what I build and what I buy based on those plans. I've got a way of doing things that works for me without using CAD and feel that adding CAD to my design process only needlessly complicates things. I gave it a try more than a year ago, and found it a mixed bag. I'm not sure what a good way is to start if you don't have experience or only a small collection, so there is little advice I can give on that.

Cheers,

Ralph

[Darth Dino]

Hi

everything really depends on your own priorities. Some Lego purist might never touch anything else than Lego stock parts, some others might paint only a few parts that are not available in the color of their need (e.g. Anio's famous Sebula Podracer USC). Some focus on functionality, some on style and design. Only the best can manage both :)

I think in general it is also theme based - Star Wars fans have more the focus on scale and design (e.g. greebles) than those that like technic. On the other hand you can still impress the whole community of Lego technic with something really ugly but with unique functionalities. A MOC for kids is different as a MOC for the display shelf.

Dino

Edited October 25, 2011 by Darth Dino

[lightningtiger]

Quite valid questions 'Passatelli', I feel it's up to the actual builder how his or her creation is brought to life.

In the pirates arena - homemade sails and rigging are very common. For me in town, stickers...custom ones I live for - they give an id to each creation.

I don't believe in using non-Lego product (except Brick-arms...sadly I don't own any ) in my creations and only twice have I painted Lego...due to the fact a particular wheel rim wasn't in yellow and a train I was building had to be a special colour of red.

Lego is an art form, like painting and photography there are different kinds and styles....it's up to the artist which style, etc., he or she chooses.

Brick On !

[mikey]

This is a really interesting topic as everyone will have a different rules which they base their building on, in essence I think its the first part of the whole My Own Creation expierence.

a) I like the fixed palette of bricks that can be used, so I don't modify bricks and only use the elements as they were originally made. I like the idea that this fixed group of elements can be combined in so many different ways, for me to alter the elements kind of ruins the elegance of the system. I do enjoy browsing creations that are customized heavily, but it is not something that I would enjoy creating.

b) I like that when I build something it is potentially playable, even though I don't really play with it! I just like the idea that if I wanted to play with it I could, which is pointless really as I never keep anything built once finished. So I tend to go towards stability, and not use techniques which are very delicate.

c) I use software for most of my initial ideas as it gives me a rough outline, and I would recommend trying software out as all the packages are free, so you have nothing to loose seeing if they work for you.

[lorax]

These are really good questions, and as you can see from the answers so far, there is going to a range of philosophies.

a) I mostly use Lego, but I do own (and sometimes incorporate) megabloks figures (but not the bricks), brickarms and brickforge pieces. *I even recently bought a K'nex mario figure to potentially use*.

b) I build and let my toddler play with what I make, so I generally make things that are strong and playable. Part of the joy of building for me, is to see them enjoyed and played with afterwards.

c) I don't use any software for lego planning, sometimes I will print out photos of buildings with interesting elements or do some rough paper and pencil sketches, but I generally just build.

[dr_spock]

Good questions. Depends on what you'd like to do.

1. I tend to use only Lego. Although lately I've acquired some brickarms and started arming my Fabuland characters.

2. I build more to be playable and survivable in my kids' hands.

3. I don't use software. I have an idea in my head and build from there. Software seems like extra work.

[SilentMode]

Here's my take:

1) As far as elements used in building an MOC I only use genuine LEGO parts, although this might change as I'm prototyping some of my own right now. I sometimes add other elements (such as BrickArms weapons and BrickForge accessories) for decoration. I stick with the limitations of parts only available in certain colours, apart from minifigure customisation I haven't painted parts. Occasionally I roll my own stickers.

2) mostly ties in with 3), but in general I build things to fit their purpose. If it's a building I want it to be stable; if it's a vehicle I want to build in such a way that, if it does come apart, it can easily be reassembled.

3) Sometimes I sketch ideas first, and sometimes I jump onto LDD and play with virtual parts. Even better, if I have them to hand, I experiment with bricks in my hands. The very first stage is to get the overall shape of the model, figuring out how to implement the different features given the parts. Depending on the idea I might use reference photos.

[Moz]

a: I only use Lego parts, but I do modify them occasionally.

b: I try to be quite robust models, definitely able to be played with. Since I build Technic models that are usually powered, this is necessary otherwise when working they would leave a trail of parts behind :)

c: I design a little in CAD, usually after prototyping some or all of the model in real life. Mostly I use CAD when I haven't got the parts, or not enough of them - I planned my tip truck bins this way, while deciding exactly what panels and slopes I needed. Then bought 240 1x5x6 red panels, 60 16x6 red plates and 30 16x2 plates. It would be quite expensive to change that design now.

Since I build almost always with Technic parts, I sometimes cut axles either into lengths that are available from Lego, or more rarely into other lengths (my current project uses 3.5 long axles in the drive system). I am a bit of a colour purist, so I buy 12 long axles and cut them into 3/5/7/9 long axles, so I get the odd number lengths in black (3 and 5 long are available in black but rare and expensive). Before the odd number lengths were available I made my own that way. I also have a few black pin friction with the centre ring ground off so I can use them to hold a half width liftarm to each side of a full width one. Similar to the 3/4 long pin, but sticking out both sides. I also buy from Bricklink certain parts that are available in odd colours but are rare. Those I save up for and only use in the final assembly stages of a model.

The other thing that happens with larger, powered Technic models is that parts get broken or worn. That's modifying the parts, but it's not something I like. Especially at shows where a model often runs continuously for hours or days, some parts inevitably wear out. In that situation I sometimes use silicon grease to reduce wear, but it's very hard to clean off parts so usually I end up throwing them out.

[brickmack]

A. Mostly just a matter of personal preference. I don't use non-LEGO myself, though many good builders have. I also don't modify parts, because I find it a fun challenge to build using only LEGO parts, and because most modification is too permanent (I've got a rather large collection, but I still often find myself running out of parts I need a lot, so if I started cutting up my parts and stuff I would have less to work with from the original parts)

B. I generally prefer to make my MOCs stable, so I can swoosh them around. Sometimes when I (attempt to) make bigger things, I don't care as much about stability since they won't have to move much.

C. I never particularly liked any of the LEGO design software, so I almost never use it, unless I'm trying to figure out a technique that I don't have parts for so I know what to order. On occasion I draw stuff, but usually I just get a rough idea and start building from it, or a few times just taken a cockpit and started building parts onto it that seemed to fit well.

Edited October 26, 2011 by brickmack

[Hrw-Amen]

I only use LEGO parts with the exception of stuff like string and some stickers I've printed out, but no other make of bricks.

I like my MOCS to be sturdy, although this is not always 100% possible, but I do like to be able to play with them, especially the trains. Most of my MOCS are train or buildings to go around them so are quite solid.

I have tried LDD but have found it a little awkward and sometimes the bricks seem to have trouble fitting into place. Generally whilst I can see some people would like it and it could be useful for getting a list of parts needed, I don't really like it and prefer real blocks.

As for inspiration I useually go for something I can find in a book or know from experience. I recently built a steam train which I had a black and white photo of in an old book. I just copied it as nest i could and took about a month fiddling with ideas to get everything to the detail I wanted.