Changing How I Build

[arc26]

I have recently been trying different building techniques (e.g. having someone dictate instructions (very fun & confusing), mixing up all numbered bags), and it seems that I just want to prolong the build experience, as it's the most fun part.

Now I'm considering building a set one step per day, but that seems a bit extreme in larger sets. If there is another thread on build techniques, please point me to it. Otherwise, feel free to share a fun build technique! Thanks

[GallardoLU]

some people like to pre sort everything, this makes the build itself quick, but overall time can be quite long (specially for large sets as sorting pieces can take a lot of room). I have in the past opened multiple sets into 1 pile and then given instructions to myself and wife. we then build from the pile which is quite fun since we often fight over the same parts when a certain one becomes harder to find. and just cause the thought popped into my head, you could try building with just 1 hand, I imagine that would be quite comical and challenging too.

[Frostyfeet]

I always put all bags in one big pile. Its just more fun

[neonic]

I always put all bags in one big pile. Its just more fun

Sounds familiar. I did that, when I was a kid too. Just open the box, rip all the bags open in empty them in the box or something like that.

Get the instructions and ... having fun.

[LEGO Guy Bri]

some people like to pre sort everything, this makes the build itself quick, but overall time can be quite long (specially for large sets as sorting pieces can take a lot of room).

I think I prefer this method, sort by color, over mixing them into one pile. I built the Green Grocer from a single pile, and I couldn't tell you how many times I got stuck for what seemed like minutes, looking for one, less common, piece. I started the VW T1 Camper Van the same way until I grew more and more frustrated. I sorted the parts and had little trouble the rest of the build. Both were 2nd hand sets, so that also added to the stress of "are all the parts really here?". I think I'll stick to sorting large sets that don't have numbered bags

[Sid Sidious]

Here's one technique I'm fond of.

[Gnac]

Take photos as you build.

[dulsi]

For the small sets, me and my brothers would try to build them without looking at the instructions. Just using the pictures on the box. For a larger set that could still be fun but you might not reproduce the exact build since much more of the build is hidden from your view.

[welfycat]

For the small sets, me and my brothers would try to build them without looking at the instructions. Just using the pictures on the box. For a larger set that could still be fun but you might not reproduce the exact build since much more of the build is hidden from your view.

Alternatively, you could let yourself look through the instruction book once and then build from memory - could even add a "phone a friend" feature where someone gets to look up part of the instructions and describe to you what needs to go where. (Nah, that's kind of silly :D )

I'm fond of the dump everything in a pile and build from there, but if you'd like to prolong your building experience, bricklinking larger sets can certainly do that. I just finished Bricklinking R2-D2 (the ~2000 piece UCS one) and it took close to a month between digging through parts that I already had, making bits that I could as pieces arrived in the mail, and then searching everywhere for things I was "sure" I had and then having to make another bricklink order. It was fun! (Actually, it really was fun, no matter how sarcastic that sounds.)

I've also found that I'm much more willing to say "Nah, I want to do it this way instead" when I'm Bricklinking sets and making modifications to designs that Lego has made.

[rodiziorobs]

For me, a part of building any set (under 500 pieces, say--otherwise it gets unwieldy) is building it once by the instructions, then dismantling and doing an alt build using only those same pieces.

Also, I have to build something completely different as the alt build: i.e. a wheeled vehicle becomes a spaceship or building etc. instead of another wheeled vehicle.

Then, if I liked the original model enough, I take apart the alt build and try and build the original again from memory.

For small sets, in-the-bag building is a fun challenge (but tedious), or if I buy multiples of a set (such as polybags) to build the first from instructions and the second without.

Edited January 23, 2016 by rodiziorobs

[paul_delahaye]

I like to mix all the bags up, finding the parts is all part of the fun of the build, especially with a large Technic set. I don't want to spend £100+ and the set is built in 2-3 hours. I want the experience to last.