Hi all you MOC:ers!

I'm returning to LEGO, after years of absence. Technic and specially MOC's of cars, bikes, etc... and now even busses, thanks to HallBricks, are my biggest interest. When my son gets a little bit older, I guess I will also start getting interested in LEGO City and so on... :)

As I'm from the time of studs and are struggling a bit with the "new" studless bits, I have some questions... Specially to the master MOC:ers as Madoca, HallBricks, Thirdwigg, Lipko, brunojj1, Boratko and all you other guys who build amazing MOC's.

1- Do you make your designs with LEGO bits, or start with digital designs? Any recommendations?

2- What kind of programs do you recommend for digital design? Preferably not for Windows, but what a heck, I guess I can boot up a virtual Windows if needed.

3- Where do you buy your parts? I guess that many of you have to buy parts for you creations? I've been looking at bricklink.com, but haven't bought anything yet.

Thanks in advanced!

//swegoof

Edited April 8, 20168 yr by swegoof

3. Bricklink is the top site.

Edited April 8, 20168 yr by gotoAndLego

3. Bricklink is the top site.

Depends. For a lot of parts, the Lego website is excellent as well: low shipping rates and new parts guaranteed.

As for building, it largely depends on the theme and the size of the MOC. Some small-sized MOCs can be built without digital help but a large complex (mechanic or design-wise) Technic MOC certainly can't do without.

1- Do you make your designs with LEGO bits, or start with digital designs? Any recommendations?

Both. Digital design is good when you need to determine which pieces and quantities you will need. Mechanics could be also designed virtually, but I'd reccomend to build them from bricks first, and if they work adding to your digital model.

2- What kind of programs do you recommend for digital design? Preferably not for Windows, but what a heck, I guess I can boot up a virtual Windows if needed.

LEGO Digital Designer, MLCad. LDView for showing how it looks:

3- Where do you buy your parts? I guess that many of you have to buy parts for you creations? I've been looking at bricklink.com, but haven't bought anything yet.

Brickling mostly, sometimes auction services.

1- Do you make your designs with LEGO bits, or start with digital designs? Any recommendations?

Definitely both. Because digital building and physical bluiding are best for different things, you get the best outcome by mixing.

What I often do is, I build with normal bricks, run into a problem, then fire up MLCAD. I bring the digital version up-to-date with the physical version, and try to solve the problem, and test it with real bricks. If it works, I continue. This problem can be anything.

Problems best solved physically: aesthetics, rigidity (designing a strong frame), suspension, linkage-based mechanisms, things involving lots of weird angles

Problems best solved digitally: gearboxes/function switchboxes, cramming many independent drive axles into a small space, gear-based mechanisms, things involving right angles mostly

In general, problems best solved digitially are those where you want to put parts in a space that isn't fixed in place yet. I.e. first place axles/mechanisms, then add bracing. You can't do that physically; you need the bracing first otherwise it falls apart.

Sorry for replying a bit off-topic. My son wants to build this design. Would it be an option to share the LDD-file!

Thanks!

Edited April 8, 20168 yr by Didumos69

1. I always building from bricks while im prototyping. And while polishing - i prefer bricks too. But sometimes, when i got idea and don't have time or possibilty to get my bricks - i using LDD for quick sketching. Just to memorize my idea better. Never used all that LXF files that i saved)))

1) Most physically but I use even digital, especially when I'm not at home and I can't use bricks.

2) For Mac user there is Bricksmith, similar to MLCad, and works with the same parts (.dat files). I tried to use parallel desktop for install MLCad, but it was too slow, so I work with Bricksmith. LPub for instructions.

3)Bricklink or Legoshop for the parts available (mainly PF motors).

I usually design with physical parts. I have tried LDD, but I have not used it enough to become experienced and as a result it takes me much, much longer to use LDD than just getting bricks out.

My typical design process has several steps...

1. What do I want to build?

2. How do I want to build it? This process usually takes several days just to get started as I do a lot of design in my head and try to see what has been done to give me ideas on how to do it.

3. I then start putting things together, sometimes from my in my head design, sometimes by modifying what others have done.

A lot of my building is a trial and error process, particularly with Technic. I like to look at parts I have available and try to find different ways of assembling to achieve a result.

Besides all this I like the tactile feel of bricks instead of digital representations.

I have a lot of respect for those who design digitally, but it's just not me.

Just MHO, YMMV,

Andy D

Edited April 8, 20168 yr by Andy D

Wow, thanks for including me in the masters' list, I don't know how I earned this, maybe with the folding bike?

Anyway, I almost always start digitally (Lego Digital Designer) but I prototype with real bricks very early and in small modules. So I switch between digital and real building often, and I usually switch when I get in a deadlock with something (and that happens frequently).

And what Erik Leppen said.

Parts from mostly new sets, sometimes bricklinking but only in my country because I'm a bit nervous about delivering and because I'm not allowed to give my workplace's address for this purpose. I also buy parts in some Lego shops (there are more and more of them but it's more expensive than Bricklink).

I remember Paul(I think it was crowkillers) saying something about not all technic parts not being true in real life, but they were in digital.

Sorry for replying a bit off-topic. My son wants to build this design. Would it be an option to share the LDD-file!

Thanks!

It is unfinished model of refreshed 8829 Dune Blaster for LUGPol contest. It was not built from bricks, so might need some tweaks, (like adding flex tubes as a roll cage) but here's your file:

http://bricksafe.com...r/misc/8829.lxf

Have fun :)

Edited April 8, 20168 yr by M_longer

In the last few years, I more or less always started with LDD version of my models first. Its much easier to see the parts and the techniques you will use, but it gets complicated when you get more into the dynamic stuff such as levers, gears, suspensions and so on. For those I can make the simple mock ups with real bricks and adjust the LDD model accordingly. After everything seems to be good digitally I rebuild the model in real bricks and usually also change the build on the go. Lastly I update the LDD file to match the real one and do some last chnages to the model.

Edited April 8, 20168 yr by Zblj

It is unfinished model of refreshed 8829 Dune Blaster for LUGPol contest. It was not built from bricks, so might need some tweaks, (like adding flex tubes as a roll cage) but here's your file:

http://bricksafe.com...r/misc/8829.lxf

Have fun :)

Thanks a lot! I'm sure we can make something out of this.

General reply, no one forgotten...

Thanks for all you answers so far!

I will definitely install MLCad/Bricksmith and maybe even give LDD another go. It has been really helpful so far, to read all your answers. Please, keep sharing your points of view, this is both getting more inspired and motivation levels are getting higher.

In general, problems best solved digitially are those where you want to put parts in a space that isn't fixed in place yet. I.e. first place axles/mechanisms, then add bracing. You can't do that physically; you need the bracing first otherwise it falls apart.

That is really good advised! As I have struggled trying to fit everything in place, just to have to disassemble and reassemble only because I have to move a piece or add/remove one. As I said before, I'm struggling a bit with the studless bricks.

//swegoof

Wow, thanks for including me in the masters' list, I don't know how I earned this, maybe with the folding bike?

Hehe, don't be so modest! I had not seen your folding bike until now. It looks really cool. But I'm in love with your Audi RS5 DTM. So much, that I'm thinking of buying all the bricks for it on bricklink, just to build it and put on display in my office.

//swegoof

As already written so I do like to agree with it! For me both are important, I mean digital and physical building. One can't do without the other, well at least IMHO.

Some solutions are better designed digitally and some aren't. That is when I start building with actual bricks. One advantage of digital building however is that your work space does not get messy... :laugh: ...and no sorting afterwards!

In the end building with actual bricks/parts is the most fun, I do like to establish that..

I always built physically because my MOCs are more functionals than aesthetics, usually machines and have to be tested several times. I use MLCad and bricklink but just for new parts of the year because I build and destroy so I don't need too much parts.

Ditto to what has already been said. Also...i am no pro... But I have built things in large scale. If you are building in such a scale, software programs cannot tell you how the model will function of hold up under extreme weight, so if building something large by software, you will have to keep that in mind

I usually design with physical parts. I have tried LDD, but I have not used it enough to become experienced and as a result it takes me much, much longer to use LDD than just getting bricks out.

My typical design process has several steps...

1. What do I want to build?

2. How do I want to build it? This process usually takes several days just to get started as I do a lot of design in my head and try to see what has been done to give me ideas on how to do it.

3. I then start putting things together, sometimes from my in my head design, sometimes by modifying what others have done.

A lot of my building is a trial and error process, particularly with Technic. I like to look at parts I have available and try to find different ways of assembling to achieve a result.

Besides all this I like the tactile feel of bricks instead of digital representations.

I have a lot of respect for those who design digitally, but it's just not me.

Just MHO, YMMV,

Andy D

I second that too :)

I'm happy to hear that you liked my bus!

1. During the design process, I work almost entirely with real parts. I think it's much easier to see how the functions work in that way, and also how well the model holds together. When I built my bus, I used digital tools to design the brick built parts though.

2. I use LDraw and SR3D when building virtually, even though I am a Mac user, so that forces me to have Windows installed. I have tried out the Mac version of LDraw but I feel like I'll never get used to Bricksmith's interface, I think SR3D and MLcad are much better.

3. I buy parts both from Lego Bricks & Pieces and BrickLink. The prices for more uncommon parts and newer parts tend to get quite high on BrickLink so I usually buy that kind of parts directly from Lego if it's possible. The shipping prices are also quite low at Bricks & Pieces.

Edited April 8, 20168 yr by HallBricks

I don't use any CAD program for the design work.

Sometimes, I use MLcad to draw up some of the completed mechanical designs to use in presentations.

1. Personally I find it easier to work with physical parts. Plus my eyeballs don't feel like they want to pop out of my eye sockets from staring at the screen.

2. I use LDD under Windows if I am entering a contest that requires LDD entries instead of physical builds.

3. For parts, I buy sets, Pick A Brick, Bricklink, LUGBULK, fellow LUG members.

Since you're new, I'd suggest to try both digital and phsyical and see what works best for you.

I personally think that building physically is better, because you can test the portions of the build as you go, so you immediately know that something needs reinforcement or has to much friction, etc. And bricklink is the best site to get pieces from. I have made plenty of orders, with 100% satisfaction (the only mistake was getting double of a piece).

Can't stand designing digitally, only physically, like to touch what you are doing..