[VIDEO] Getting better at LEGO Technic

[shadow_elenter]

Hey builders,

I made a video about how to get better at building with LEGO technic, and I wanted to post it here so it might help some of you guys.

Jim helped me with some of the research and Sariel even provided me with a few copies of his book to give away!

 

[dtoerien]

Thank you for going to the trouble of arranging and making this - good advice, although at this stage in my life, time is in short supply.

Regards, Darryl 

[HeresJohnnny]

What an excellent video with top tips!! Cheers buddy

[KD123]

Right on!  Thanks for creating such a  positive video to help others to improve their skills.  

 

 

[Bublehead]

I agree with everything you say in that video.  One thing I would add, if you are really serious about developing a design, do not give in to the "it's good enough with the bricks I have" mentality. If a better solution is out there and you lack the bricks to build it, then go get those bricks! I say this with a caveat-  if you can't get the bricks for what ever reason, do not despair. Lego is not a race to be won or a process to lament about. Build what you can with what you got and think of ways to do the job using even less parts than your current solution.  There is nothing more frustrating than to see the answer to a problem and be shy that one piece that would let you finish the solution and move on.  Save your pennies and move on to another problem and solve that in the meantime while waiting to get the parts you need. And never be shy about making something better, even if that means taking a model completely apart to put a 3L pin instead of a 2L one.  Happy Building.

BH

[allanp]

Great video with great tips. Some tips I would add:

Let it go! If you are building a MOC and you can't get everyone one of your 37 planned functions in there then it's ok to drop a function or two. Better to have a complete MOC with 35 functions that work well than an incomplete MOC with 37.

Change things up. Many people will start building an off roader by building the axles first. But have you tried building the outer body first? It's likely that the end product will be something quite different, and the decisions you make regarding functionality will be different if you start somewhere different and maybe you'll surprise yourself!

Ask others what they would like you to build. My 2 year old nephew loves buses right now, but a bus for him to play with would have to be tough, no parts can be pulled off without removing something else first, and my dad said I should build a car crusher! So there's two ideas. A tip within this tip is to not get too hung up on the subject matter, on the what it is to be built. I've seen great MOCs of lawn mowers and crap MOCs of supercars. It doesn't really matter what it is, it's the how you make it. So if someone says you should build a London taxi, it may be good to challenge yourself every once in a while to build something even if it's not a concept that inspires you immediately. 

[Lakop]

Interesting video. For years I never had the parts to build other sets that came along, now it seems I have so that's what i'm doing. Colours will differ but I hope to pull it off. I want to adapt and improve and add more functions. The B model to 42039 is very appealing.

My biggest problem now is finding time!

H

[shadow_elenter]

On 19/4/2018 at 6:56 AM, Bublehead said:

I agree with everything you say in that video.  One thing I would add, if you are really serious about developing a design, do not give in to the "it's good enough with the bricks I have" mentality. If a better solution is out there and you lack the bricks to build it, then go get those bricks!

I SO agree with this, this in not all that expensive of a way to expand your collection and it massively improves your builds.

I do tend to have self-control problems while browsing bricklink...