Hello, does anyone have any suggestions on how i can become better at making Lego Technic mocs? Im really bad at making them

thanks

(BTW i cant reply to everyone its a lot of posts but i will try)

Edited April 8, 20222 yr by TechnicWeirdo
Lots of posts

Practice...
In what way do you think you are bad?

Make a small mechanism, figure out what's wrong with it and fix it. Then you'll likely find something else that you can improve on. Once you refine it as much as possible, you can then put that mechanism into a bigger model.
Study official LEGO Technic set instructions and understand how it works, Look around on the interwebs at Technic MOCs, download those instructions and understand how MOC builders build things. You can learn a huge amount from looking at how others do things.
Practice makes perfect, the more you tinker and experiment, the better understanding you have of how to build decent models and how to overcome the limitations of plastic bricks. It takes years of pracitice to become a great model builder, its not something you can learn overnight or indeed from a forum post.

Time... no one magically gets better at anything overnight. Keep making stuff and you’ll find you’ll get better with each one. A few years from now you’ll find yourself making stuff you didn’t think you could. Also understand that you won’t always find the best solution to something straight away. In my experience, some solutions take minutes to work out, others take weeks or months...

Sariels “unofficial technic builders guide” is a good book as well. Will help you understand a lot of different concepts when it comes to technic building. 

You can also start a wip thread for a build your working on, some people on here might then be able to give more specific advice to certain things.

 

(edit: spelling errors)

Edited April 8, 20222 yr by langko

The way I learned what skills I have was from both checking out MOCs online and reading books, but largely just trial and error. I was always pretty ambitious and tried to put too many functions that I didn't know how to build, into a MOC, but I built fast, then ripped it apart and started over. Maybe this wasn't the best way, but for me, doing a lot of building without wasting time worrying about the finished product, collecting parts, or what other people thought. I didn't get any good models out of this, but I got a lot of practice in a short time, allowing me to be able to build stuff that might be worth keeping (If I was willing to spend money to free up parts from my collection!)

You could start with changing topic name to more proper.

Generally - just build.

Build also official sets all You can. Enter parts, sets You have in rebrickable.com , then You will be able to find what else You can build. If some parts are missing, try to figure out, how and what You can replace with existing parts.

There are also lot of MOCs with free instructions. Of course, lot of them are also not best examples.

So what are you really bad at? You need to give us more info as to what in particular you think you’re terrible at.

as per the others for some general advice …

Read lots of official instructions, all the pdfs of the modern era are on Lego.com website. Build them if you have the parts.

Don't expect / try to build a 1:8 model of a real car from the start as you’ll only set yourself up for failure. Start small by trying mechanisms and techniques.

Read old threads on this forum to see peoples thought process.

Remember you need to walk before you can run. Like everything in life, learning a skill takes time.

If you look back at my TC entries you’ll see how my own skills have approved over the years. I know I still want to learn advanced body shaping skills.

Finally … accept you will fail from time to time.

I can’t remember the number of times my TC entry has changed after hitting a “wall” and my collection of unfinished MOCs that I may pick up again is extensive.

Time is the most essential when learning how to get good at making MOCs. Patience and determination to rip everything apart again and again to make an improvement is how you improve.

Knowing what bricks exist is very improtant too when building MOCs. That's knowledge you gain along the way. Using digital programs like LDCad or Stud.io can help here too, along with the Bricklink database.

For starters, you need some official models to figure out basic building principles and also find out some dos and don'ts. You have to get a knowlegde of basic parts. This skillset is not a requirement, but more of an experience you gain while building more and more technic models. I'd recommend the "rebrickable" homepage and find alternative models (C-models) of official Lego models you already have and build them, many instructions are for free.

The first thing for MOCing (at least for me) is the question: What models am I missing from the current line-up and therefor have do be recreated in Lego technic?

Following this question, you mostly will recreate certain machines or vehicles you are interested in. Get inspiration from the world around you. But, and this is crucial: Start with small builds to get a sense of stability.

Building more complex stuff will be easier a virtual build besides the real one. I'd recommend the software Stud.io https://www.bricklink.com/v3/studio/download.page

If it comes down to stuff with wheels, you should always define the scale and check, what wheel/tires are available. You can also use sariels scaler: http://scaler.sariel.pl/

Like most have said it's just time and practice. You CAN read books but there's no substitute for just building. Some things that I find help a lot are:

1) Sort/organise your pieces. 

2) Build sketch models. This is an early prototype version where you just build a functional model, but you are not concerned with how it looks or scale or colour consistency or anything else. Sketch models can help you decide what functions are possible and what scale it should be. Search Google or this forum for Lego set prototypes (such as 8043) and you'll see they look entirely different to their finished model.

3) If you are just starting out, build a few small scale models first, and maybe accept challenges from others (for example, I challenge you to build a studless version of any model from the 8064 universal set from the early 90s).

4) Don't expect to build something in the same order as you build an official set. If you are building a car for example, you might want to start by building an outer bodywork first. This will help you to figure out what functions will fit and how to build out the internal structure (or chassis) of the model to meet the bodywork.

5) Understand that building a great MOC is usually a lengthy process. Official sets can have more than 80 prototypes built. So enjoy the process of change and discovery.

As with most things, practice makes perfect. I am software engineer and I hate to look at the code I wrote ten or twenty years ago. Why? Because I became better. Why did I became better at it? Because I have learned what works and what doesn't. I have watched Youtube videos, read books, blog posts etc. 

In simple words (and other have said this already), build, learn, build, learn, build, learn. There is no failure, you just gained more experience.

All said already about practice, which I completely agree. But I would also add that building up sets (either official or MOCs) but paying attention not just to build them, but understand why they are built in that way helped me significantly. 

1 minute ago, HectorMB said:

All said already about practice, which I completely agree. But I would also add that building up sets (either official or MOCs) but paying attention not just to build them, but understand why they are built in that way helped me significantly. 

Exactly.

And you can find similar solutions for your "problem" in official sets (or NMOCs) and learn from those.

I was building every set I got for the first 4-5 years when getting into technic (that helped out a lot), and, ever since, I am buying sets just for parts. One priceless tip is to “study” what other people are doing (how to make a gearbox, how to make a suspension) and make them in your own way. Just remember anything is possible and any idea can be brilliant!

Well, I don't fully agree with starting small. Small builds can be tricky, less revarding if it doesn't turn out as good as you hoped, so I'd suggest start with medium scale models. Easier to add functions that would be very-very tricky to include in a small model.

How old are you, @TechnicWeirdo ? What´s your current parts stock available to use for your project? What kind of MOC would you like to build next? I think you should give us some more specific information like that before getting the whole library of advice from the crowd.

I can´t add that much, because the most important steps are already mentioned by others.

As already said, its always good to look at some Lego Technic sets, which released over the last years. I don´t know which stets you have in your Lego collection, but some sets like 8297, 8258, 8110, 9398, 42000, 42009, 42030, 42043, 42053, 42054, 42055, 42056, 42078, 42082, 42100,... are very good, to learn a lot about the Technic system, and what is possible with it.

Another good idea is, to start with some MODs of official Lego stets, some sets like 42126 have a good potential. If you have some Powered UP or Power Functions parts you can try to built RC vehicles. Mostly is building a MOD of a Lego set a little bit easier than creating a complete own creation. 

If you search for some good inspiration and want to learn how to built cool MOCs, than it definitely worth it to go on Rebrickable. On this platform you will find a lot of good MOCs, some of them are for free. A good page, where you can find some impressive MOCs is the page from Madoca1977 (https://rebrickable.com/users/Madoca1977/mocs/). If you have the parts, than try to built his Tatra Truck, it really gives you a lot of cool building techniques.

I hope this could help you.

 

Edited April 8, 20222 yr by Lukes_Brick_Studio

Build what you want, share it with us or not, in case you sharing it do not read anything until your fifth or sexth MOC without medical help. As many others said only practice and not burning meanwhile is the key.

Edited April 8, 20222 yr by jorgeopesi

Start watching @nicjasno's videos on youtube. This alone will make you 100 times better. 

5 hours ago, brunojj1 said:

How old are you, @TechnicWeirdo ? What´s your current parts stock available to use for your project? What kind of MOC would you like to build next? I think you should give us some more specific information like that before getting the whole library of advice from the crowd.

Well, I dont have that many pieces as i just started out with Lego Technic. I have been building with classic Lego for 5 to 6 years but i just found out about lego technic December last year so i guess I'm a newbie. Im a tween so i don't have that much to spend on new lego sets and new parts so i have since only had the Mclaren Senna GTR (which, when i got it, i didn't understand anything about parts) but i will be getting another set soon. I am more focused on building cars and construction vehicles (which, again, doesn't make any sense with the parts i have with the Mclaren Senna GTR). Hope this answers your question

16 hours ago, TangersTechnic said:

Practice...
In what way do you think you are bad?

Im bad at almost everything with MOCS...

Im also not good at designing on digital and on paper so I'm kinda frustrated that everytime i make a moc it doesn't work out

2 hours ago, Mechbuilds said:

Start watching @nicjasno's videos on youtube. This alone will make you 100 times better. 

Alright will do thanks

3 hours ago, jorgeopesi said:

Build what you want, share it with us or not, in case you sharing it do not read anything until your fifth or sexth MOC without medical help. As many others said only practice and not burning meanwhile is the key.

Im kinda afraid to show ya'll because they look so bad

16 hours ago, MxWinters said:

Make a small mechanism, figure out what's wrong with it and fix it. Then you'll likely find something else that you can improve on. Once you refine it as much as possible, you can then put that mechanism into a bigger model.
Study official LEGO Technic set instructions and understand how it works, Look around on the interwebs at Technic MOCs, download those instructions and understand how MOC builders build things. You can learn a huge amount from looking at how others do things.
Practice makes perfect, the more you tinker and experiment, the better understanding you have of how to build decent models and how to overcome the limitations of plastic bricks. It takes years of pracitice to become a great model builder, its not something you can learn overnight or indeed from a forum post.

Thanks! Never thought of this

Helped a lot

16 hours ago, langko said:

Time... no one magically gets better at anything overnight. Keep making stuff and you’ll find you’ll get better with each one. A few years from now you’ll find yourself making stuff you didn’t think you could. Also understand that you won’t always find the best solution to something straight away. In my experience, some solutions take minutes to work out, others take weeks or months...

Sariels “unofficial technic builders guide” is a good book as well. Will help you understand a lot of different concepts when it comes to technic building. 

You can also start a wip thread for a build your working on, some people on here might then be able to give more specific advice to certain things.

 

(edit: spelling errors)

A few years? Thats another problem with me. Im kinda too impatient to make things work out

And thanks for the book suggestion just read it but lots of the things are really complicated and most of it i don't the pieces

16 hours ago, 2GodBDGlory said:

The way I learned what skills I have was from both checking out MOCs online and reading books, but largely just trial and error. I was always pretty ambitious and tried to put too many functions that I didn't know how to build, into a MOC, but I built fast, then ripped it apart and started over. Maybe this wasn't the best way, but for me, doing a lot of building without wasting time worrying about the finished product, collecting parts, or what other people thought. I didn't get any good models out of this, but I got a lot of practice in a short time, allowing me to be able to build stuff that might be worth keeping (If I was willing to spend money to free up parts from my collection!)

" I was always pretty ambitious and tried to put too many functions that I didn't know how to build, into a MOC, but I built fast, then ripped it apart and started over." That is totally me but its frustrating for me to put all that time and effort to just rip it apart and start again but i do that a lot

10 hours ago, Jim said:

As with most things, practice makes perfect. I am software engineer and I hate to look at the code I wrote ten or twenty years ago. Why? Because I became better. Why did I became better at it? Because I have learned what works and what doesn't. I have watched Youtube videos, read books, blog posts etc. 

In simple words (and other have said this already), build, learn, build, learn, build, learn. There is no failure, you just gained more experience.

Yes, thats true. WHen i was building with lego classic, mocs i built when i first started looked absolutely horrendous, then compared to mocs i make now (tho i don't really like Classic Lego anymore)

26 minutes ago, TechnicWeirdo said:

Well, I dont have that many pieces as i just started out with Lego Technic. I have been building with classic Lego for 5 to 6 years but i just found out about lego technic December last year so i guess I'm a newbie. Im a tween so i don't have that much to spend on new lego sets and new parts so i have since only had the Mclaren Senna GTR (which, when i got it, i didn't understand anything about parts) but i will be getting another set soon. I am more focused on building cars and construction vehicles (which, again, doesn't make any sense with the parts i have with the Mclaren Senna GTR). Hope this answers your question

I suppose you mean studded system by "classic Lego". Guess what, most of the guys around here including me started the same way. Then came the so called Dark Ages and at some point we rediscovered the hobby. I personally was fascinated by the new kind of studdless system delivering such high level of variability and sophistication, allowing me to build far superior, rigid, compact structures.

Regarding you parts stock - watch out for used Lego Technic sets on ebay and such, don´t be afraid mixing in other perfectly compatible brands like CaDA as well, which often are less expensive  - just my personal opinion.

My biggest advice: first of all you have to learn patience with yourself! Because you keep saying you don´t like what you create, just don´t do that. Don´t give up until you reach your initial goal. Satisfaction is the most important thing, you need to enjoy the intermediate results as well as the building process itself, by discovering new laws and boundaries of physics. That´s how it works in the longterm. Set your realistic goals in the first place, learn from others, expand your knowledge and enhance the pleasure step-by-step.

17 minutes ago, brunojj1 said:

I suppose you mean studded system by "classic Lego". Guess what, most of the guys around here including me started the same way. Then came the so called Dark Ages and at some point we rediscovered the hobby. I personally was fascinated by the new kind of studdless system delivering such high level of variability and sophistication, allowing me to build far superior, rigid, compact structures.

Regarding you parts stock - watch out for used Lego Technic sets on ebay and such, don´t be afraid mixing in other perfectly compatible brands like CaDA as well, which often are less expensive  - just my personal opinion.

My biggest advice: first of all you have to learn patience with yourself! Because you keep saying you don´t like what you create, just don´t do that. Don´t give up until you reach your initial goal. Satisfaction is the most important thing, you need to enjoy the intermediate results as well as the building process itself, by discovering new laws and boundaries of physics. That´s how it works in the longterm. Set your realistic goals in the first place, learn from others, expand your knowledge and enhance the pleasure step-by-step.

Hmmm... On ebay, sometimes they overprice the used set, and it can be a little annoying. I will try CaDA too once i check out the prices, thanks!

Just like life don’t set yourself up to fail from the start. Try building a basic car chassis with steering and an engine. Then add suspension. Then add a body. Do it in steps. But also as I’ve said before sometimes you’ll go down a path and hate the result and bin it. That’s purely natural. I’m an engineer by profession and you create designs and some work and some don’t but that’s how you learn. Learn to embrace that failure and it’ll be good for you in life and not just Lego building. Just take a look at some of the MOC threads or TC competition entry threads and you’ll see how many iterations it often takes to get a design to work. If you look for my Tipper Truck or Speeder Bike you’ll see what I mean. If you rush you’ll only fail.

But most importantly enjoy it … if it becomes a chore … stop.

2 minutes ago, Seasider said:

Just like life don’t set yourself up to fail from the start. Try building a basic car chassis with steering and an engine. Then add suspension. Then add a body. Do it in steps. But also as I’ve said before sometimes you’ll go down a path and hate the result and bin it. That’s purely natural. I’m an engineer by profession and you create designs and some work and some don’t but that’s how you learn. Learn to embrace that failure and it’ll be good for you in life and not just Lego building. Just take a look at some of the MOC threads or TC competition entry threads and you’ll see how many iterations it often takes to get a design to work. If you look for my Tipper Truck or Speeder Bike you’ll see what I mean. If you rush you’ll only fail.

But most importantly enjoy it … if it becomes a chore … stop.

Well, the steering and suspension is the hardest for me

3 minutes ago, Seasider said:

Just like life don’t set yourself up to fail from the start. Try building a basic car chassis with steering and an engine. Then add suspension. Then add a body. Do it in steps. But also as I’ve said before sometimes you’ll go down a path and hate the result and bin it. That’s purely natural. I’m an engineer by profession and you create designs and some work and some don’t but that’s how you learn. Learn to embrace that failure and it’ll be good for you in life and not just Lego building. Just take a look at some of the MOC threads or TC competition entry threads and you’ll see how many iterations it often takes to get a design to work. If you look for my Tipper Truck or Speeder Bike you’ll see what I mean. If you rush you’ll only fail.

But most importantly enjoy it … if it becomes a chore … stop.

Wait NVM steering and suspension but also bodywork is super hard for me

Im OK at the chassis and drive train

37 minutes ago, TechnicWeirdo said:

Hmmm... On ebay, sometimes they overprice the used set, and it can be a little annoying. I will try CaDA too once i check out the prices, thanks!

Personally, I think Bricklink is a much better option for buying used sets, and sets that were generally unpopular (so not being collected) can be had very cheap at times, while still containing good parts. Maybe Ebay makes more sense for Americans, though; most sellers seem to charge an awful lot to ship it up to Canada.