Do you "correct" sets as you build?

[Siegfried]

Both of those sets have one thing in common; I built them wrong on purpose. The instructions called for the props to be the same way, and that is just plain wrong (it'll cause the sub to pull to one side ) so I "handed" them. But that's not all I do. For example the 7661 Jedi Starfighter;

I don't have it together at the moment (I recently moved ) but the engines I built so they were mirrors left<->right, rather than the left+top <-> right+bottom that the instructions call for. More often than not, it seems that TLG do this to simplify instructions; it allows more "x 2s", so I see it as "correcting".

Am I the only one that does this?

[Decale]

You are not alone Siegfried!

The left and right sides of the lego truck (under the doors) are made the same way and that doesn't make the cabin symmetrical!

I changed that so I could sleep at night

[pinioncorp]

I admit, I "corrected" my 10030 Star Destroyer's greebling to be more randomised... but I made sure it was symmetrical.

[MetroiD]

Considering how you're a pro in all things propellers, I'm not the least surprised

I can remember doing that on multiple occasions in the past - I don't do it any longer though since I don't actually build most of the sets I get... I know, it sounds horrible, but with some I know what pieces I need and what I need them for, so they go straight to the sorting bin. Others I just build, consider how this or that could have been better / more realistic, but don't actually fix it since I'll be disassembling the entire set anyway. And with others (actually, as of late that's what happens to all sets), they just sit there unopened since I can't find the space / time... A shame really.

But I digress. "Handled" props ftw

[commdr_neyo]

I do, if I get another copy of the set, I'll immediately built it 'wrong'.

This is an example:

I always build the feet different, the bigger slopes on the inside, and the cheese slopes on the outside.

[Jay Sathe]

The left and right sides of the lego truck (under the doors) are made the same way and that doesn't make the cabin symmetrical!

I changed that so I could sleep at night

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one. I also changed the 8402 Sports Car's front and back as I built. The actual instructions made it look all wierd. It's fixed now.

[Frolando22]

I always build the feet different, the bigger slopes on the inside, and the cheese slopes on the outside.

I do that to. It just looks better.

[Scorpiox]

I did that with the clone walkers legs too, as it looks better if the big toe is in the inside. I normaly edit sets once I've built them but sometimes mid-build is there is something blindingly obvious what I could do better. For example I edited my Carribean clipper by shifting the positions of the gunport covers to a more realistic one.

It isn't building it wrong, just being creative, isn't that what LEGO is for?

I get a good feeling when i improve something.

Edited April 3, 2011 by Scorpiox

[Aanchir]

Typically, I only "correct" sets if the instructions make them unbuildable. For instance, the Lunar Limo's instructions require two slope pieces on the sides to be placed in a way that they'd be overlapping with other parts. So those both got scooted one stud from where the instructions tell you to place them.

[Brickdoctor]

I always build my sets the correct way, mostly 'cause I usually review them and I have to, plus building them correctly allows me to point out all the flaws in them when I discuss them. The exceptions are Impulse sets and $10 sets that I've already built before, which are immediately parted out.

[dr_spock]

I "personalize" most of the sets I build to my liking. I usually do it after it is built but once a while I make changes on the fly.

[brickmack]

Lots of times. When I was building the City Corner set, I changed the layout of the bus interiour so that I could fit more seats in. I've also modified a lot of my space sets to look cooler/be more scientifically accurate/remove stupid play function that interfere with the design.

Considering how you're a pro in all things propellers, I'm not the least surprised

I can remember doing that on multiple occasions in the past - I don't do it any longer though since I don't actually build most of the sets I get... I know, it sounds horrible, but with some I know what pieces I need and what I need them for, so they go straight to the sorting bin. Others I just build, consider how this or that could have been better / more realistic, but don't actually fix it since I'll be disassembling the entire set anyway. And with others (actually, as of late that's what happens to all sets), they just sit there unopened since I can't find the space / time... A shame really.

But I digress. "Handled" props ftw

Yea, I sometimes don't build the sets either. In most cases when I do that though, its just because I need a few parts from it. A lot of the time (unless I need almost all of the parts from the set) I take the parts and put them back in the box with the instructions, and then when I take apart the MOC that I used the parts from, I put the set together. Or sometimes change the design so those parts are unneeded, but sometimes that's a bit hard.

[LEGO Guy Bri]

You are not alone Siegfried!

The left and right sides of 3221 Lego Truck (fuel tanks) are made the same way and that doesn't make the cabin symmetrical!

I do/did/and don't. Confused? I'll explain. I do this where ever possible, did this to the same truck but ,do not do this with propellers as the have a raised Lego and a part number on the "wrong" side

Off topic I build my sets with the Lego sigs on the bricks facing same direction forward or to the left unless a modified brick has a single fitting application. I must be OCD or something

[Hewman]

I right hand drive all my vehicles as that's the road rules in my Legoland. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the Pharaoh's Quest sets that they were designed this way.

[escortmad79]

I right hand drive all my vehicles

I do exactly the same thing!

[CorneliusMurdock]

I always build exactly according to instructions first and then fix after I'm done. Takes longer than fixing it mid-build but building with Lego isn't about speed.

[CP5670]

I do this all the time. There are often minor things in official sets that I don't like but are easy to fix. If I know from the outset what I want to change, I do it during the initial build.

[Fallenangel]

Some of the sets I'd like to fix are so far beyond hope that I find it easier and more enjoyable to start from scratch:

I guess from a non-AFOL perspective 6212 is doubleplusgood but as I have no use for minifigure representations of the entire lineup I'll just stick with my amorphous blob of boring.

[Piranha]

LEGO designers spent hours toiling with modifying and correcting during a set design process and much "painstaking" work is involved () however we can all mod them as we please.

[AussieJimbo]

I also correct the steering wheel location whenever building vehicles.

:classic:

[Brick & Mortimer]

You are not alone Siegfried!

The left and right sides of the lego truck (under the doors) are made the same way and that doesn't make the cabin symmetrical!

I changed that so I could sleep at night

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one...

I do/did/and don't... did this to the same truck but....

That makes 4 of us

Never knew "wrong" fuel tanks could keep people form sleeping at night

[lightningtiger]

Yep, right drive conversions here too !

Plus sometimes slight single part additions to improve strength of a connection or alike.

Keep on improving !

[Decale]

Never knew "wrong" fuel tanks could keep people form sleeping at night

Well I may have exaggerated a bit, but I had a strong feeling that this truck was suffering a lot for being... different. Fixed him. Didn't suffer.

Off topic I build my sets with the Lego sigs on the bricks facing same direction forward or to the left unless a modified brick has a single fitting application. I must be OCD or something

Now this is weird! Does SNOT prevent you from sleeping? Some sets must give you a serious head-ache!

No offense intended of course, I do things like that too.

I remember as a kid having inverted an Adventurer's car windshield, but can't find what set it was...

[Runamuck]

I can only think of one set where I mirror something consistently, the small Viking boat 7016. I mirror the steering oar, it’s on the left side in the instructions, I put it on the right side. It is not named starboard for nothing after all.

There might be a few other sets where I do some minor tweaks, but I can't think of any other at the moment.

Edited April 5, 2011 by Runamuck

[Decale]

I turned one of the mummies torso in the Pharaoh's Quest set with the bike so the two mummies are different (+ the double-sided heads).

I think it's a great and simple improvement if you want some variety in your mummy army!