Breaking down a MOC

[Paul B Technic]

For those who design and build MOCs, a couple of questions:

- Do you ever break down a MOC to reuse the pieces?

- If so how long do you keep the MOC built?

- How do you decide when / if to break down a MOC?

I have built a few of late but am thinking of breaking some of them down to reuse the pieces.

[Wodanis]

For me, I made a MOC Octan Modular Gas Station last summer and this year a modular police station (still work in progress). I consider these to be 'sets'. I specifically bought the pieces for each and store each separately from my other spare parts. I have no plans on reusing them as I liked being able to create these design in LDD and making them a reality.

If I had more money I'd buy numerous parts and reuse them when MOCing but as I don't have that luxury yet I have to stick to my plan. :)

[KringlesBricks]

The only deciding factor when it comes to breaking down a MOC...I ask these question:

"Once destroyed, can my imagination ever re-build this again?"

"Is it just too beautiful to destroy?"

"Does it fit nicely into my town layout?

If I need pieces that are in the model...I'd just buy more rather than destroying what I just created.

Even if I take a picture, the picture doesn't do it justice.

[Criga88]

Hi Paul, here's my point of view:

• Yes, I do break down MOCs to reuse the pieces.
  
• It depends, I have a couple that have received only minor updates over several years and quite a few that I grow tired of within the week.
  
• If I absolutely have to build something else and the parts are already in a MOC that I am a bit tired of, it's coming apart but a lot of my military MOCs will have a use in the future, so I keep them built. City vehicles don't tend to last as long because they use a lot of coloured parts, which I don't have too many of.
  

Lastly, and most importantly, before I do break down any of my MOCs I ensure I have them built in LDD so that I can rebuild/update them in the future.

[Xyver]

That depends on the MOC.

If I don't really like it, or it was built only for a special, once-off purpose, it won't last long before it's pulled apart to be reused. Other MOCs, especially modular sized buildings, tend to last as long as the fit into my town.

As long as the MOC is useful, and I still enjoy looking at it, it will last. Same as for official sets really.

[dr_spock]

My answer is also depends. If I don't want to keep it together any longer, it will be parted. There are times I wished I didn't disassemble and had to rebuild from photos and memory.

[MikroMan]

It really depends, when building small vehicles or vignettes, I display them for a week or two, then cannibalize it for parts. If I'm building something large, I'm more inclined to keep it together and separate.

[monsinjor]

After I build something and take the pictures, I gave it to my kids to play with it. Then, I break everything to single pieces, sort it into their boxes and start to build something else. Maybe two or three trucks stays on the shelve but on them are pieces I have extra such as windshields, wheels etc. So, they stay there just because to fill the empty space on the shelve. I have the list of things what I want to build so I always need the parts. If I need something that I already build ih the past, I'll rebuild it.

[MikroMan]

After I build something and take the pictures, I gave it to my kids to play with it.

Seems like an efficient way to break a MOC down into parts

[bjorkan]

Answer is mostly yes, but I always make photographs of disassembling process for more complex MOCs as, in reverse order, they serve me as building instruction.

[-Horizon-]

-Every time, I don't build Modulars so I build something, take a picture, disassemble it, and build something else.

-I keep a MOC up until I stop being lazy and sort the pieces.

Edited July 3, 2014 by lego3364

[kinggregus]

I usually keep just my latest MOC and break down all older MOCs for three reasons:

1. I do not have much display space

2. I do not want to be limited part-wise when I build a new MOC. I want to use my resources to the maximum

3. I truly love sorting bricks (I know this is weird)

[eurotrash]

I consider my MOCs (and even the official Lego Modular buildings) to be transient. They'll be kept around untouched for a while, but they'll get recycled if:

• I think I can improve the design
  
• I need the pieces for something even more awesome
  
• I'm running out of space
  

I keep images on Flickr of most my older buildings for reference but so far I have no remorse about the wanton destruction.

As for some numbers I've built and posted 31 different MOCs in Eurobricks over the last two and a half years - and there's currently only 12 still standing. It's Lego and you can always rebuild!

[SalvoBrick]

My answers:

- I break down a MOC if I don't like it anymore and I need the pieces

- If I'm really satisfied, years. If I'm not really satisfied, only a few days

- I usually modify a MOC, but if I can't fix it, I destroy and rebuild. If the MOC is redundant (a similar building or vehicle already exists) I break down it and reuse the pieces.

I have MOCs that lasts years with little or no modifications, and other ones that lasts only a few weeks.

If you think that the new MOC can be better than the old one, break it down!

Edited July 4, 2014 by SalvoBrick

[Mutant Orc]

As many have said, it depends. I keep MOCs until they get 'dull' and I start to think of nice uses for the parts. Sometimes I think of something even better than a good MOC I've already got built so smash that MOC, that I otherwise I'd have kept, to get the parts.

So it's mainly part orientated.

If you like a MOC and you've got a design in there that you're proud of or something, then take photos of it and of any special building technique you've used in it, before scrapping it. I do a fair amount of that.

[Pate-keetongu]

I hardly ever break down MOCs instantly after photographing. It matters on few things: How much I like the MOC? Are there LUG exhibits coming where I could display them? Do I have enough shelf space? Usually I keep my MOCs built from few months to few years, nowadays longer than before as I have more parts. Usually the MOCs end up "rotting" on the shelfs with time whenI take parts from them to new creations, and when they start looking too terrible I break them down completely.