So ive gotten my front and rear axle, but how do people go on from there?
Do they build the chassis first and then build around it?
how do they know where the dashboard and seats will be, how long should the car be etc.

It is all about trying ideas and seeing what works :)

 

There are quite a few official sets released in various sizes/scales. Maybe examin one of those and borrow some ideas for a start?

What tyre size do you plan on using? That'll determine the scale of the car. You can use this useful tool by Sariel: http://scaler.sariel.pl/

"The Modular Approach"

Hi, you could prioritize by complexity and progress from the most complicated to the easiest areas of your build. In my opinion the most complicated areas are mechanical functions (like the gearbox or the door mechanism if done proper) and special design elements (bonnet and c-pillar?) of a model. When you know how much space and which connection points these sub structures (functions and/or exterior) need, then you can work out how to integrate (bruteforce) them into your model.

Edited May 9, 20231 yr by pow
added caption

How I build cars:

1. Decide what car to build in wich scale.

2. Use Sariel's scaler to draw the main dimensions of the model.

3. Print the blueprint of the real car, in the exact same size your model will be when finished (based on tire size that you chose)

4.Just build it, while referencing very often the printed blueprint (check for seat position, dash, pilars, engine position, steeringwheel position, roof height, etc...)

Hope it helps, you got this!

1. Basically, build the subframe, then attach panels haphazardly to find the dimensions.
2. Then with it as reference, build the car. This is a first iteration.
3. With that as a reference, build the car again, but properly for real this time.
4. You are done.

Here are some ideas of what designers do.

 

Edited May 9, 20231 yr by Carsten Svendsen

Agree with what others have said but a few other things you can do is build out of order. You could build a mock-up of the outer shell of the car to get an idea of what needs to go where and what will fit. You can also build a sketch model, like a very first draft of the functions. Looks and colour choices and possibly bodywork are absolutely not important for a sketch model. 

I would add one more general rule: never assume that you have your front and rear axle fixed when you've just started working on a model, because you may very well be forced to re-build them 10 times before your MOC is finished. Which is perfectly normal, by the way.

In short, my process is

• Build chassis
• Get stuck, tear down, and build a crane instead 

In a bit longer, my usual order is something like

• Build a front axle
• Build a rear axle
• Connect axles via rudimentary frame
• Think about layout for engine and gearbox
• Build a gearbox
• Build a frame to connect everything and put engine in
• Add seats and interior details
• Start bodywork:
  • Build lower part of rear and front bumper
  • Add wheel arches

This is usually the point where I get stuck...

So on my (very) slow car build (too busy doing other stuff) I started by building a basic frame to get the track and wheelbase right. Then did some basic blocky bodywork to see if it looked right.

then I made a second chassis with steering and suspension still with the correct wheelbase but still basic connection purely for position 

On that I’ve then added the engine and steering wheel where I needed them (as I’m copying a real car).

at that point I froze and didn’t know how to continue

but I went to a Lego user group show recently and speaking to a guy there he advised to do the dashboard then the seats and then work on the bodywork. 

but be prepared to rip stuff up and start again

and try to build modular if possible