My Technic Shop Plan

[Taiphun]

Great idea.

I've bought some kits from other MOCcers, a couple of tanks for example from Brick Mania costs $250 US each.

Though Quality Control was an issue with his stuff, as I didn't receive missing pieces for either model until 9 months after I requested them.

He supplied building instructions on CD.

[nico71]

The problem with ebay is that it takes commission, as paypal so I want to reduce de commission cost (because of french taxes and shipping). That is why I figure out with a e-buying system with a other own webiste, and I think a site where people can be sell of instruction they create will be a great thing. I am working on.

Edited March 24, 2011 by nico71

[Plastic Nurak]

I voted positively to your proposal . If there's possibility of buying a 1600 pieces MOC instructions for max. 18 €, I'll be a loyal customer of yours.

On pourrait aussi créer des notices "universelles", avec des idées, peut-être accouplées à des "spare parts", comme dans les vieilles boites universelles.

It would be nice the release of some "universal" instruction with some idea into them, maybe together to a number of spare parts, following the spirit of old Universal Sets.

Edited March 24, 2011 by Plastic Nurak

[nico71]

Hello, At the moment, there are 200 voters. That is cool !

I encourage people to vote, I will close the survey soon. And I will publish the results.

Also, do you know people who will be interested to sell their instructions ? (I think Blakbird but there are other I assume).

Edited March 31, 2011 by nico71

[voltio]

I would be willing to pay $20-$25 for a set of quality digital instructions, provided that the MOC was sufficiently impressive. The Skyliner and Crowkillers models fall into this category; however, smaller MOCs should have commensurately less expensive instructions.

As an added feature, I would also like a BrickStore file to be included with any instructions so that I could create a Bricklink wanted list more quickly.

[Plastic Nurak]

Nico, since on Ubuntu I use Leocad instead of SR3D, do you have any problem to accept any file with .lcd extension?

Some problem: on Ubuntu, Leocad 'Modify' dialog doesn't work well and I've a lot of problems to place some piece in the right way (see images below).

New Windows version crashes and doesn't upload the saved files. I didn't still learn how to create building instructions with SR3D, surely because I'm a dummy, sorry .

Edited April 2, 2011 by Plastic Nurak

[nico71]

@Voltio : do you think that a complete list of part in a jpeg file is enough ? Including a brickstore file will be a bit complicated but I will think about it.

@PlasticNurak : I don't know how to figure out your problem, but I can tell you that none of mlcad or sr3d builder create instructions. When you have finished your model, you open in mlcad (the file must be in .ldr or .asm if it is a assembly), then add the rotation step and normal step. Then save and open with Lpub4.0. This is Lpub4.0 which will generate your building instructions.

Search on google : Lpub4.0, there is a tutorial.

The survey is closed ! I will publish the result soon :)

[Plastic Nurak]

Merci beaucoup, Nico!

[nico71]

Here are the results :

Many thanks for your participation ! It is very useful for me to know what you want and what you need. According to the result, I have decided to develop the digital PDF sale shop, then the printed building instructions. Despite the large amount of people who are interested in complete package, there are not enough for paying 125%-150% of the Lego price. Because this is the real price for crafted sets (depends on the price of Bricklink). Consequently, I have decided to NOT release this type of product at the moment.

Concerning the E-shop for buying building instruction, I am currently working on a E-shop which enables ALL builders to sell their PDF. The builders will be able to use the E-shop to put the instructions up for sale and receive incomes with an automatic retailing and a download section.

If you are a builder, and if you are interested in selling your PDF instructions, please contact me ! I am sure that you will be interested in my E-shop.

:)

[nico71]

Good new : the website works ! Including relailing, distribution, payment and manage the multi-sellers. I finalyse and I will launch soon :)

As usal : if you are a builder and if you are interested in publishing your instructions of my website (with incomes of course), you can contact me !

[DLuders]

On his website, Nico71 posted

(in French) about "How To Create Lego Building Instructions" using SR 3D or MLCAD. He provided step-by-step English instructions on that website page.

Edited April 12, 2011 by DLuders

[roamingstop]

Hey Nico

Great news; I will definitely be popping by to see what is available. The question for me is whether it will be purely technic, or whether other themes would be allowed (eventually?).

[Luc2000]

And what about instructions without Sr3D or mlacad, like these?

I'm thinking about making instructions as soon as my MOC´s improve a bit, but I don´t like building with digital bricks

[legolijntje]

And what about instructions without Sr3D or mlacad, like these?

I'm thinking about making instructions as soon as my MOC´s improve a bit, but I don´t like building with digital bricks

Maybe there are people like me who like to build in digital

I have only one problem; I don't have time for it, because I already build in real life

[nico71]

And what about instructions without Sr3D or mlacad, like these?

I'm thinking about making instructions as soon as my MOC´s improve a bit, but I don´t like building with digital bricks

I think it may not be a problem. In fact, there are different conditions in order to have a comprehensible instruction :

-you must include the part you need for each step (this is not a dismantling instructions)

-the assembly must be without ambiguity (where I put this part ? Left, righ ..)

-the instructions must have a bill of material in picture (for quick check)

You see that the assembly line (and so the picture) must be intelligible and comprehensible. You can add text of arrow on your picture. Consequently, you will see that build a picturing instructions takes maybe the same time as the PDF generate with LPUB4.0 (at the same quality)

If the modeling is hard for you, I advice you to try SR3D builder, to work with sub model and keyboard shortcuts. Since I have began to use mlcad, I spent 200h of a loader, with SR3D, now I spent almost 20h. On the other hand, Lpub4.0 take also lot of time.

Also, I think, with a picturing instruction, you will have less sale because it is not so clear than a PDF generate with Lpub4.0.

As usual, if you have plans, don't hesitate to submit to me. I will put soon on Internet the FAQ for seller and buyer (help for the price, conditions, how the seller are paid ..). I think it will be a bit clearer. :)

Nico71

Edited April 13, 2011 by nico71

[nico71]

I have found an instruction which represents exactly what I told :

http://www.nxtprograms.com/ball_coaster/steps.html

Intelligible, comprehensible avec without LPUB4.0. So You can submit this type of instruction :)

[Luc2000]

And instructions like those are exactly the ones I meant

Also, maybe it could be a site where everyone can show their instructions, so not everyone has to ask for money.

Oh, and sorry for my (probably bad) english.

[Alasdair Ryan]

well i whould only be to happy to make instrutions of mocs (try and make some instrutions of mocs i dont have muck experance )just in cass some people get there hopes up i dont think you will see some instrutions for my skip truck but i might consider a good price the steering is drive me round the bend (not strong anough)

[nico71]

Also, maybe it could be a site where everyone can show their instructions, so not everyone has to ask for money.

Of course ! The seller can propose the instructions for free but in order to avoid free concurence, I think I can't accept all instructions. Also some paid instructions must be on the shop, because of the price of the hosting.

Also, the paypal payment is very fast (with creadit card or paypal account) so, even if the seller ask 1€, It works and it always good for the seller.

I am wondering, if is it possible to move on the Topic to a general field ? I think I will have more answer beacause in fact, the project is about all lego theme. Can a moderator do that ?

Edited April 14, 2011 by nico71

[Alasdair Ryan]

am sure thay can but am no moderator

[Siegfried]

I am wondering, if is it possible to move on the Topic to a general field ? I think I will have more answer beacause in fact, the project is about all lego theme. Can a moderator do that ?

Done!

[nico71]

Many thanks !

So, I invite all builders (train, pirate, town castle.. ) to come here to give their opinions and contact me if they are instruction builders :)

[nico71]

some news : I have figure out all problem I have for the payment BUT I will not launch finally the service.

I explain you why : In fact I have always done my work in lego for free and now selling instruction embarrasses me. I think (finally) that selling thnig from hobbys is not the correct way to develop it. Although the price is low, I consider that the most valuable thing I can do to develop and encourage the production of instruction is providing for free.

I don't judge people who sell instructions, because this is their choices but for me I assume that it is not the right way to monetize our passion (I already receive incomes from youtube for my videos so the money is not the point for me). Concerning the amount of time to create an instruction, if I had launched the service, I would have spent lot of time to create instructions and not to create models (creation is important for me).

So many thank for people who contact me to become a instruction sellers. Continue to give for free, it is more rewarding for me :)

[monsieur]

interesting ideas, thanks for sharing.