what needs a good instruction?

[efferman]

Hi folks

some peoples want instructions for my RC Mods, and most of this people seems to be beginners with a small spare part count.

an example: my 8109 RC mod instructions contains a full english partlist with Bricklink part numbers.

one of the interrested people has no skill in english so he can not identify the Parts or using Bricklink.

1.) should a good partlist have Bricklink and Lego Part numbers. Or be the numbers (tlg and bricklink) are the same?

2.) should the partlist have pictures instead of english desription?

3.) should parts be marked which are not contained in the original set?

next point is the battery box and other special parts. iam using the recheargable battery instead the stock battery box.

4.) should i design my mods with possibility to use the battery box or should i make simply a reference to the AAA battery box?

5.) should i design my models, if possible, without special things like bionicle parts which i used in my 19 wide tandem axle?

6.) is a LDD (extended)version of the instruction a good idea?

7.) Have you any other idea what is neccessary for a good instruction?

thanks for sharing your time

Edited January 7, 2012 by efferman

[allanp]

Hi folks

some peoples want instructions for my RC Mods, and most of this people seems to be beginners with a small spare part count.

an example: my 8109 RC mod instructions contains a full english partlist with Bricklink part numbers.

one of the interrested people has no skill in english so he can not identify the Parts or using Bricklink.

1.) should a good partlist have Bricklink and Lego Part numbers. Or be the numbers (tlg and bricklink) are the same?

2.) should the partlist have pictures instead of english desription?

3.) should parts be marked which are not contained in the original set?

next point is the battery box and other special parts. iam using the recheargable battery instead the stock battery box.

4.) should i design my mods with possibility to use the battery box or should i make simply a reference to the AAA battery box?

5.) should i design my models, if possible, without special things like bionicle parts which i used in my 19 wide tandem axle?

6.) is a LDD (extended)version of the instruction a good idea?

7.) Have you any other idea what is neccessary for a good instruction?

thanks for sharing your time

1) The numbers are not the same. You could have both numbers, one TLGs in red, and bricklinks in green.

2) Pictures are always better than words!

3) That would be helpful, maybe you don't need the repeat the parts found in the original set.

4) I guess either way would be fine.

5) That's a nice axle! If you need to use those parts then use em. Having the picture and both part numbers should make it easy to get the right parts.

6) If you mean the auto instructions tool then probably not a good idea.

7) Spend lots of time on them. Never use any form of auto instruction tool, they are good for reminding the designer of something how that something went together, but for a beginner who has also never seen it, no good. You'll have to do them manually. Doing them properly can be a long and painstaking process so make sure you have the time and patients for it

[efferman]

4) I guess either way would be fine.

ok, both possibilitys

6) If you mean the auto instructions tool then probably not a good idea.

yes it was my intention, but iam a noob in LDD. currently iam testing it at my 9395 RC mod.

7) Spend lots of time on them. Never use any form of auto instruction tool, they are good for reminding the designer of something how that something went together, but for a beginner who has also never seen it, no good. You'll have to do them manually. Doing them properly can be a long and painstaking process so make sure you have the time and patients for it

thats a good hint. currently iam rebuilding my 8109 with my instruction, and some Steps are too big or not clearly to see what is happen. so i will redo the instruction with some improvements in visibility.

[DLuders]

@ efferman: Thanks for sharing the 6.5-MB, 99-page PDF Building Instructions for your motorized Lego Technic 8109 (with Remote Control modifications).

"Q1) Should a good Parts List have Bricklink and Lego Part numbers? Or are the numbers (TLG and Bricklink) the same?"

A1: As a minimum, Bricklink parts numbers should be provided. People will only need the Lego Element ID if they are making parts orders via "Lego Direct" (Lego Customer Service).

"Q2) Should the Parts List have pictures instead of English description?"

A2: A Technic newcomer could look up the Bricklink parts (one by one) using your Parts List, but yes it would be easier to see pictures of those parts too. Perhaps you could consider placing your MOC on Rebrickable (which generates a pictorial Parts List for your mod).

"Q3) Should parts be marked which are not contained in the original set?"

A3: This would be nice, or you could just make a single photograph showing the needed extra parts.

"Q4) Should I design my mods with the possibility of using the [rechargeable] battery box, or should I make simply a reference to the AAA battery box?"

A4: Not everyone can afford the Lego Power Functions (PF) Rechargeable Battery Box, but the similarly-sized AAA PF Battery Box is affordable. I would not limit your mods just to use the standard (full size) PF Battery Box, since it is a lot larger and heavier.

"Q5) Should I design my models, if possible, without special things like Bionicle parts which I used in my 19 wide tandem axle?"

A5: I personally think that Bionicle pieces offer a TREASURE TROVE of useful Technic-like parts. There are many cool parts that could (and should) be incorporated into Technic models. One can use Lego SYSTEM bricks too -- a Technic model does not have to use 100% Technic parts all the time.

"Q6) Is a LDD (Extended mode) version of the instruction a good idea?"

A6: A Lego Digital Designer (LDD) .lxf file is appreciated, but it is difficult to use for Technic MOCs (mainly because of the difficulty in meshing gears). Zblj is the best Technic LDD builder, and his skill increased with practice. LDD Extended Mode offers the greatest variety of bricks; when TLG releases their LDD update in ~11 days there may be more Technic parts in the LDD (Extended Mode) Parts Pallette.

"Q7) Have you any other ideas what is necessary for a good instruction?"

A7: Your photo-sequence Building Instructions are very clear. I think that they are perfectly adequate as-is. ANY BUILDING INSTRUCTIONS are welcome -- most people don't make them at all.

Edited February 5, 2012 by DLuders

[Alasdair Ryan]

Well as a cadder myself how can use all the programs i would recommend SR3D, its much better than LDD,SR3D files are compatible with mlcad files with that in mind you can use Lpub which is a program just for making

instructions.With Lsynth (mlacd-addon) you can add flexible parts to your models.

[efferman]

1.and 2.) ok, my next instruction will have both numbers and pictures instead the description. And i have signed in in rebrickable and will test it with my offroad hotrod instructions

3.) it is on the to do list

6.and alasdair)CAD is not my favourite i test out only the posibilitys.

Edited January 7, 2012 by efferman

[Alasdair Ryan]

Efferman your file is not working.

[efferman]

ok, i have changed the link to the picture instruction

[Alasdair Ryan]

Thanks Efferman,

That first step is not a very good one,as you have to bend two 4 axle's with stops into the holes.

Edited January 7, 2012 by Alasdair Ryan

[efferman]

i know alasdair that it is a "ilegal" technique, but iam and the parts have no problems with it.

[efferman]

Hi folks

a whole sunday with searching numbers results in this partlist. Only the lego number for the blue rubber belt is still missing. (Edit: i have found it)

I have tried to use so much original parts as possible. The builder has only 225 parts to buy. these parts will be photographed later, when i redo the instruction, to show the new part colours and fix some bugs.

can you please tell me your opinion about the partlist?

Edited January 8, 2012 by efferman

[Alasdair Ryan]

Your parts list is great,athough i do not have the set,I think it will be even better with pictures.

[Jurgen Krooshoop]

Hi Efferman,

I've been making instructions and parts-lists for some time, so here are my thoughts:

1. I make instructions with MLCad. I use Brickstore software to create parts-list files from the MLCad-file. You also might consider contacting Rebrickable to have an online-parts list.

2. I use as little text as possible. Not everybody understands english, and pictures are universal.

3. Yes, it's quite usefull which additional parts are needed. The are lots of people who don't have spare parts, only constructed sets.

4. If possible, use the normal battery-box. But if building-space is limited, the AAA-box is a good replacement of the Rechargeable one. I really like the rechargeable battery-box, I can advise it to everyone, but I realize, it's very expensive and a lot of buildiers don't have it.

5. Yes, avoiding rare parts is a good idea.

6. I don't use LDD.

7. A way to contact you if people have questions.

[efferman]

thanks for your thoughts

1.)after try out LDD and SR3D , i will not make CAD instructions. It takes more time than make a partlist manually. and as far as i know rebrickable want a partlist from the moc which is generated by CAD. so this is not an option.

2.) if i have text, iam using english and german. but i reduce text to a minimum.

4.) ok, maybe i could invent a adapter to give an option for everyone.

7.) very good idea. i will add my efferman.brickshelf@freenet.de e-mail address in the instructions

[technicmad]

1.)after try out LDD and SR3D , i will not make CAD instructions. It takes more time than make a partlist manually. and as far as i know rebrickable want a partlist from the moc which is generated by CAD. so this is not an option.

Importing the parts list from a CAD file is the easiest way to add a MOC to Rebrickable but not the only way. You can also add them manually via the Part Picker, or if you have a list of the parts in an easy to access format (eg a spreadsheet) just email it to me when you submit the MOC and I will process them for you.

[efferman]

Importing the parts list from a CAD file is the easiest way to add a MOC to Rebrickable but not the only way. You can also add them manually via the Part Picker, or if you have a list of the parts in an easy to access format (eg a spreadsheet) just email it to me when you submit the MOC and I will process them for you.

is excel a "easy to acces" format for you?

[technicmad]

is excel a "easy to acces" format for you?

Sure!

[efferman]

i have sent you the partlist of my offroad hotrod in a excel 97-2003 file. i hope bricklink part numbers are ok

Edited January 12, 2012 by efferman