do you read through the instruction book before buiding?

[happymark]

somehow, I feel that building by following instruction is kinda 'anti-creative'.

sometime, I just feel I was building without brain/mind. although it worked but feel bored for the process.. :(

[Legoman of War]

I would guess by your question you are referring to building sets. I would think there isn't to much creativity involved based on the fact that it is an established set. I follow the instructions as I usually build with my two boys and I want them to learn to pick up instructions and don't just dive right in.

If it is creating a MOC or something, I still use references to help get the effect I am looking for. (Not that I have done much as I am a newly refound AFOL) I use this site along with several others and a couple books I have to help me.

If I missed your question then........nevermind.

LMW

[Vindicare]

That's a big ol' negative. I'm a by the book kind of guy.

[Henchmen4Hire]

If I like the set then I follow its instructions and then improve it. If I don't like the set to the point that I don't even want to bother with instructions, then I wouldn't have bought the set in the first place

[Big Cam]

That is a great question, I flip through it really quickly and sometimes I stop on a page to study what is going on, but for the most part, I follow the instructions. I mean it's a set for a reason.

[Syn]

I don't read through it before building, I build as I read through it, and if I don't like something or think it looks better another way I change it.

[prateek]

To me, building by the book is too easy, so I often build speculatively, and periodically check the instructions to see if I've done anything wrong.

[Andy D]

I always build by the book. I don't yet know how I would build a large set just from the photo of the finished model. I always find something I can use, an "ah ha" moment about something the designer did that was unexpected.

Andy D

[brickmack]

I usually build while reading through the instructions, though sometimes (usually just with smaller, under 300 part sets) I just look at the pictures on the box and build based on that. I usually get it mostly right that way, and generally the errors still look better than the original.

[happymark]

thank you for the reply!

I think I am in the stage that following instruction to build the set would not satisfied me (for some sets).

maybe that's the beginning of serious MOCing..

actually nowadays my kids build most of the sets by instructions.

I am a little worried about the negative effect..

I would guess by your question you are referring to building sets. I would think there isn't to much creativity involved based on the fact that it is an established set. I follow the instructions as I usually build with my two boys and I want them to learn to pick up instructions and don't just dive right in.

If it is creating a MOC or something, I still use references to help get the effect I am looking for. (Not that I have done much as I am a newly refound AFOL) I use this site along with several others and a couple books I have to help me.

If I missed your question then........nevermind.

LMW

[Haltiamieli]

I don't read through the instructions before I start to build, because to me that would spoil the fun of building by instructions and speculating what's coming next and how the end result will be achieved. Usually I follow the rules precisely, unless I spot some detail that's easy to change to something I like better (expecially if making the change after the whole building would essentially recquire first ripping the whole model apart). More often I just leave the modification work after I have completed the instructed build and have had time to notice what I like and don't like about it.

[dr_spock]

I like to read and build as I go along step by step with sets. For MOC, I go by trial and error.

[ibecks]

I try not to spoil the 'surprise' of how certain elements of the building process are done. For example, I'm currently Bricklinking Cafe Corner and I've had to make some decisions on colour swaps for rarer pieces. I've gone through the PDF instructions to see whether it matters what colour the brick is, always trying not to look at it in too much detail, so it'll be a fresh experience when I finally do get to build it.

But I do always build from the instructions.... although I'll make a mental note if I think there's another way to build a particular part and maybe rebuild it later.

[Gijserman]

I don't think I could build a set without following the instructions, except when it's a really simple set maybe..

[lightningtiger]

Good question also, but this tiger goes by the book....especially if it's got new parts or lots of small parts which if you screw up....rebuild city then !

Though MOCing is generally from my twisted mind or based on some LDD creation as a result of my twisted mind !

[TheLegoDr]

Like many others before me, I read through the book as I build. I'm sure I could look at the picture and build the set and have few mistakes, but I don't feel like challenging myself for my hobby when I am challenged enough at work all day. So I go by the book and if I am not satisfied with the end result, I will rebuild it how I want to. But I normally build it the right way once at least.