To mod or not to mod (not for squeamish readers!)

[Brickthus]

Within the community there is a wide variation of opinion about modifying bricks. This topic takes up a thread that emerged in the MOCs discussion, which I felt it was better to continue separately.

I'd like to outline my personal reasons for I allowing myself to move from being dead against modding :'-( to one who mods more than average :-D .

1. In 1997 I was interviewed by TLG for a job as a Technic kit designer, having sent in my CV (resume) a while earlier. One of the questions I was asked was whether I had ever modified any parts. I took that question as an encouragement to do so. I didn't get job for 2 main reasons: firstly I needed an art and design degree and secondly I knew only a few words of Danish and my interview nerves made even those a struggle! However, I took the encouragement home and that's when my modding career began.

2. TLG has a limited availability of moulds. Moulds cost a lot of money to produce and they have to be used a certain number of times, which means there has to the be market for that many parts of each type. A mould for some of the small, versatile parts I'd like to see (such as shorter Technic pins) would hold more parts than would a mould for 2x4 bricks, so the market for these parts would have to be great. Technic is already not the best selling theme, so it is doubtful whether enough parts could be sold in sets to make their production viable. This means that if I want a piece but TLG cannot make it for business reasons, I have to make it myself if possible. This is OK for parts that can be cut down from others, but not for custom moulds, such as BBB train wheels.

3. Having modded quite a few parts, some of the ones I've made are so useful that I've made 50 and would never look back. It's a choice between modding or being limited in what can be built.

a). The scenario of steam engine rods requires two liftarms to be attached, allowing them to pivot, with the whole thing being no wider than 8mm. No current Technic pin is short enough but modded ones fit the bill.

b) 16x32 baseplates are currenly only available in sets. I need 60 for my railway layout modules. Cutting 32x32s in half not only makes the baseplates available, but it's cheaper than buying 16x32s at their former spares pack price.

4. My modding is not without rules. I need rules to give modding a purpose:

a) The primary purpose of modding is to make useful parts that TLG should make but have not seen the light in order to make.

b) Since modded parts don't shine like normal parts, keep mods for aesthetics to a minimum. I've modded a couple of tiles, but little else on the surface.

c) Never modify any piece that is essential for completing a set; if you ever have to sell the sets, you'll need the parts intact. PaB and second-hand parts are fair game because second hand parts are sometimes damaged anyway, so you're getting a useful piece from a broken piece, and PaB and second hand LEGO has only the value you paid for the parts, no residual set value without instructions. The latter goes for baseplates too.

d) If possible test a modding method on a broken piece that doesn't matter before you test it on a piece you want both halves of.

e) Only ever use glue when repairing a broken piece (it may be necessary to break a rail point in order to motorise it).

f) Never use paint. Use the nearest LEGO colour of bricks if you are building a model of a real item.

And finally, here are the pictures of what I've modded: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=184131

Mark

[Ickelpete]

Personally I never Mod my bricks I always look for a different way to build rater than modding a brick to suit

and as you said I might need a part to complete a set.

The only mod I have considered was fitting a small compressor into an orignal style battery box but it never got past the thought stage.

[JINZONINGEN73]

I think literally EVERY mocer out there has had the inclination to modify a part.

But there's just something so WRONG about it.

I'd prefer Lego make parts right the first time than leave it up to the users to carve them up.

I could cite hundreds of examples where parts are thoroughly imperfect in design & could be snipped to be intelligently functional.

But this cuts down on what Lego building is to me.

I want to learn new building tricks by improvising with what I'm given.

Take this piece, which many a mocer cut down:

Understandable, but I see a part whose skinny, squiggly part must be hidden inside a larger housing.

Or maybe the other way around, the head hidden with the squiggly tail being the visible part.

And if I had cut it down, that piece then loses tons of mocing potential AND can never be used again in it's initial form.

I also hate when people jam stuff up into parts to make connections tighter, using such materials as Saran Wrap, whiteout, glue and paper.

What about just configuring things so they work? You know, taking some time to be clever?

Bah... don't mind me. I'm probably going to be the most vocal anti-modifier you'll see on here.

:-D

One of the worst things about modified parts... is when mocing contests ALLOW them.

Where's the fairness in that? I might as well just use chemicals to melt down all my parts and pour them into action figure molds I sculpted.

I'd like to see (such as shorter Technic pins)

That my friend would be a nightmare.

The smallest axles now already have certain "instant-death" parts where they can't escape from (which is why there's tiny slits on alot of connectors, so you might have the HOPE of inching it out after a few tight minutes with the head of a pin.

NEVER. HAPPEN.

[WhiteHexagon]

I must admit I've never been tempted to mod. I see LEGO as a pure thing, it annoys me even when TLG create single pieces that could have been built using existing smaller bricks. But I supose they have the right to mod :)

I think splitting pieces because the smaller halfs are rare and hard to find is also just wrong, but I can understand why someone would be tempted when MOC ing. Hopefully the LEGO factory will evolve to a state where single part multiples are no problem to order. Even if they only did production runs every two months of more unusual bricks, I'm sure people would wait. Or if they had promotions requireing minimum order levels from the community. I know I would like buy bricks in this way, especially if the did some limited classic piece re-runs :))

Peter

[Grrr]

To me it is just a no-no. Having purchased quite a lot of used lego over time I find that modded parts are the bane of building existance (mainly because they are never done to the same level's of accuracy as lego, which often results in a situation were even with their intended modded use, they become incompatible. An example being persons drilling holes into standard bricks for technic pins - I have yet to see one line up 100%.

Having said that however, I am an absolute purist, even seeing yellowed bricks for their mocing value (great for those varied textures, particularly in castle building. The only time that I would consider modding a part is a situation whereby a broken (and not really useful) part can be converted into a smaller but usable part. This is comparitively rare however.

Vandalism is how I regard it - and painting bricks - don't get me started. It's *almost* as bad as gum and lego.

I for one am happy to use lego within it's limitations - and if not, would probably not use lego in the first place. I feel that competitions should hold this in regard.

[Hobbes]

Hmm...

The only LEGO parts I have no problem modding (i.e. cutting) are 9V track, especially switches. I haven't done it, though, me is too clumsy ;-) I rather buy them from a pro.

I have thought about modifying bricks, but never did, cos either I didn't build what I had in mind or built it in a different way. Since I'm somewhat impatient when it comes to "fiddling" I never went through all the trouble.

I think, for big models like we see on brickshelf/exhibitions modding isn't necessary. At that scale there's enough room for improvising or snotting away (which usually solves the problem). At a smaller scale I can understand that the thought crosses one's mind.

I'm impartial, I'd say. I haven't done it, I won't do it, but I'm not outraged when I see it, either. In this model I didn't even notice it until someone pointed it out ;-)

[alex54]

I'm a purist too, so to modify a part is not for me.

I think that it is harder but more interesting to find another way to build your idea than to modify a part, it is more that the LEGO spirit, IMO...

But everybody do what they want with their own bricks :-)

[JINZONINGEN73]

I for one am happy to use lego within it's limitations - and if not, would probably not use lego in the first place. I feel that competitions should hold this in regard.

My brain is incapable of understanding how competitions, especially ones with actual prizes, would even begin to THINK about allowing something like a moc with altered parts.

But some do, apparently created by people who I assume don't moc.

I can see allowing a moc who uses cut tubing, as pets tend to like nibbling on such parts. But once the person cuts it down to a point that Lego never released that color in... then they're crossing a line that's giving them an extremely unfair advantage over other competitors. Moc contests are supposed to be about building, not about also deciding how to alter Lego bricks. Same thing with those cutting tubing and axles down to a desired size that was never used in any set in any color period.

Snipping a long piece of tubing down to a size it has actually been officially released in that color as = ok.

Anything else is a slap in the face, whizzing on the other contestants.

It's really no different than the difference between a person who's ACTUALLY played a videogame to it's end, and a person who used a Gameshark/Codebreaker/ActionReplay hack device to make it easier. The person who played legitimately gets to see everything the programmers intended them to, as well as have to figure out puzzles and such that were placed before them, thus making them "better". Experience is the word.

One who cheated by altering values in their character or enemies more often than not misses the experience, misses the need to think things out & get better.

It's an identical issue with Lego building and cut parts.

You would NEVER see a videogame competition where one guy has to play it straight while the dude next to them is hacking in extra life and junk... it'd be a joke. It'd be a mockery of the word "competition".

[Unknown Artist]

I confess, I have cut parts and have glued parts. I have painted them and even made molds of them. Tell you what, I have never been entirely satisfied - they just don't looks as good as I'd like them to - they aren't Lego, if you see what I mean. That is why I only cut flexible tubes these days - and still prefer not to when I can avoid it.

I have no hesitation to modify a minifig, though. Especially when it involves sculpting a custom accessory or making a fabric cloak. When it comes to cutting a piece for a custom fig, I do so. I try to be careful, but I still have ruined a lot of nice parts this way, however the results are worth it, IMO you can see an example here.

I completely agree that MOC contests should not allow modifications - it's simply not fair, however, custom minifig contests are something else entirely. Anyway, just my 2 cents.

[SuvieD]

I usually won't modify a perfectly good part. Old and cruddy parts a perfect for change though. I have made some exceptions. I have cut some parts that were not worth keeping in the original state as they were unusable for what I wanted. Parts like cattle horns had to be cut until the recent introduction of the viking horns. Cutting baseplates is fine also as it merely the difference in that you cut it that way verses some machine doing it. But destroying some basic parts like plates, slopes, arches, tiles or bricks does not sit well with me. Doing so often completely weakens the piece from durable to a must be cautious as this will break if you look at it sternly.

I do think that if you need to modify a part such as in the train example you gave then I say go for it though. It is your toy, build with it how you want to!

Most of the common sense parts are being introduced in the last few years with an emphasis on the smaller ones like the new slopes. I see this as a continuing trend.

My newest parts to mod are the weapons from last years bionicle playsets. They were designed to work with the one piece molded figures and as such are mostly cruddy. I few little cuts though and they are looking very space-agey and nice. Plus some of the ends look like nifty scifi blasters, so I get two great weapons instead of one.

[JoeMI6]

I would never mod bricks probably. Especially nothing like cutting. There are times when I've wished I could do so, but it seems like too much of a messy process. I've painted parts of figs before. The results haven't been that bad. But I only do it when there isn't really any other option.

So overall I'm pretty against it, I try to keep stuff as purist as possible. Lego is lego and was designed to be built and played with in it's produced form.

So play on!

[optimus-convoy]

I'll admit, when I was young, I used a red perminent marker to draw a red cross on a panel piece. And I've slipped some tissue between some ball/socket connections.

But other than that, I've never modded Lego, and don't like the idea of it. To me, Lego is about working with what your given and learning to use parts in new ways.

[Brick Miner]

1. In 1997 I was interviewed by TLG for a job as a Technic kit designer, having sent in my CV (resume) a while earlier. One of the questions I was asked was whether I had ever modified any parts. I took that question as an encouragement to do so.

im acutally really surprised they asked you this... if i was TLG, i would be way more concerned about NOT-modding. i mean, you were interviewing for a techinic set designer, not a piece sculpter. i could understand the sculpter... having plastic manipulation exprience would be preferred.

but if you were designing sets, i would think they would want you to find creative ways of using existing bricks, not mod out of despiration :-X

--------------------------------------------------

as to the topic, i would NEVER mod... and have never considered it. i do love making stickers, but i don't see that in the same light as defacing bricks.

however, i do wish i could make all original elements as prefectly as redbean !!! alas, graphic design and illustration is my strong point, not sculpting :-(

- BM

[Darth Doggfather]

The only thing I ever modded, and ever will mod, is removing the ironsights from the classic grey rifle.

[Jipay]

1. In 1997 I was interviewed by TLG for a job as a Technic kit designer, having sent in my CV (resume) a while earlier. One of the questions I was asked was whether I had ever modified any parts. I took that question as an encouragement to do so.

im acutally really surprised they asked you this...

- BM

I'm not. I saw a documentary a while ago about TLC. They were showing how they encouraged their employees to use existant pieces. So I guess they were asking if he was creative enough to stick to actual pieces implicitly lol

[natelite]

i think painting is fine. :-P tlc sometimes for unknown reasons will not make parts in that color, so what are we suppose to do? for eg, the silent strike is made up of dark blue and medium blue pieces. it just plain sucks. if i can mod, i would paint the medium blue pieces to dark blue for better consistency. as long as the paint is done professionally, i really have no problem with painting. for eg, would any of you have an issue with the chrome gold c3p0? it's done so well, you can hardly tell it is non-lego. :-P

if you can't get the right paint color and don't own an airbrush, then i would say no!!! :-) but if you have steady hands and does an excellent job at painting...go for it!

[Zarkan]

For me, only painting parts is okay. I don't like seeing parts cut up and rebuit, as it kind of ruins the whole idea of being creative and finding a non-mod way to build something difficult. Painting is okay for me, but I prefer it to only be used when making custom minifigs (think starwars). I'd never try to modify a part, as I wouldn't want to damage it permanetly, when there were dozens of other, much better uses. ;-)

~~END~~

[Mister Phes]

1. In 1997 I was interviewed by TLG for a job as a Technic kit designer, having sent in my CV (resume) a while earlier. One of the questions I was asked was whether I had ever modified any parts. I took that question as an encouragement to do so. I didn't get job for 2 main reasons: firstly I needed an art and design degree and secondly I knew only a few words of Danish and my interview nerves made even those a struggle! However, I took the encouragement home and that's when my modding career began.

This slightly off topic, but I'm curious to know what was on your CV that got you as far as the interview?