Hi, I have been designing some MOCs on LDD for some time.

Now I would like to buy this helicopter I build up in Design by me mode, just for the experience of it!

The idea of being able to purchase a MOC and having it in a fancy box with building instructions is just amazing.

If I was a child I'd be designing my own christmas presents

I have two concerns though:

How do the building instructions come out?

The instructions I have generated don't make any sence, adding elements long after they should be added etc.

Maybe the model is to large (about 1500 brics)

Second: the price. Compared to the last Lego set I bought many years ago (supercar 8880, a bit les bits at around 1300), the price is very high.

I have considered buying the pieces for the helicopter from other sources but it's a hassle.

What are your experiences on this?

This is the model:

If it's between $0-$50 more expensive than the Supercar, I'd just order from them. Any more and I'd part it out from Bricklink.

Yeah. DbM makes it easy to order a model, but it's quite expensive compared to other options. If you're willing to build without instructions and find all the pieces on Bricklink, you can save a lot of money.

From what I understand the building guide generator they have at TLG is the same as in LDD (actually it is the instructions generated within LDD that are used for the printed DbM instructions). The only difference is that the building instructions that come in the DbM box are formated a bit nicer before being sent to a printer. So this means that if the logic in an instruction is all weired in LDD, it will be so also in the printed version from DbM.

So how can you make the instruction logic better? Well, theoretically the instructions should be generated independently from the order in which you placed the bricks on your LDD model. However I've found that when you've build a really big model AND you've been playing around with the design a lot (moving pieces, trying out ideas), the instructions tend to become worse (single bricks appearing in mid space etc). The remedy in those cases is to rebuild the model from scratch, i.e. placing the bricks bottom up and also to build various attachments (that will attach with a clip or so) as modules and then adding them to the model last.

Now, regarding sourcing the bricks to the lowest cost, your best bet is to get them from BrickLink. Just import the model into LDD Manager, and it will generate a BrickLink wanted list. Yes, it's a bit of a hassle compared to DbM, but you can get away with a lot less money if you plan your purchases well.

And if you ever wondered by DbM is so expensive check out this video from TLG. Now do you think the hand picking of the elements and the double check counting look efficient?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnHD7kDzGgI

Another alternative is Lego Pick-a-Brick.

You don't get the nice box and building instructions, but the price is lower and you get the same bricks as Design-by-Me.

However, you do need to enter every brick type manually, and the price is higher then BrickLink.

Another alternative is Lego Pick-a-Brick.

You don't get the nice box and building instructions, but the price is lower and you get the same bricks as Design-by-Me.

However, you do need to enter every brick type manually, and the price is higher then BrickLink.

...In some cases. Some newer or more obscure parts like certain Hero Factory parts can actually be cheaper via Pick-A-Brick than via Bricklink.

For your model, Bricklink would probably be a cheaper option.

Edited April 25, 201113 yr by Aanchir

If you look at this is pure economic terms then the sensible option would be to buy the pieces separately, BrickLink and Lego Pick A Brick, working out how you get the best value for money from each source. I use LDD constantly to start a MOC, then if I think it is worth building I use my own collection and buy what elements I lack from BrickLink.

But I am going to play 'devils advocate' a bit here, and ask, does the experience of having a Box and Instructions make the extra cost worthwhile? No one can really determine the 'worth' of having the 'experience' of a set. They are both so subjective, nor can they be rationalised by economic concern of getting the best price per element.

Once you build it, do you think you will keep it built for a long time, will you display it? Do you have a collection of pieces that you use to build MOC? Do you think that once you built it you might end up taking it apart quite quickly and using the pieces for different projects? Would you feel that by having the 'experience' of a 'Box' it is worth spending extra money? Considering that whilst the instructions might be printed on nicer paper, they are going to be same as what you can DIY print.

What I am saying is that the 'experience' of the Design by Me service might have a 'worth' that goes beyond Price per Piece.

If you look at this is pure economic terms then the sensible option would be to buy the pieces separately, BrickLink and Lego Pick A Brick, working out how you get the best value for money from each source. I use LDD constantly to start a MOC, then if I think it is worth building I use my own collection and buy what elements I lack from BrickLink.

But I am going to play 'devils advocate' a bit here, and ask, does the experience of having a Box and Instructions make the extra cost worthwhile? No one can really determine the 'worth' of having the 'experience' of a set. They are both so subjective, nor can they be rationalised by economic concern of getting the best price per element.

Once you build it, do you think you will keep it built for a long time, will you display it? Do you have a collection of pieces that you use to build MOC? Do you think that once you built it you might end up taking it apart quite quickly and using the pieces for different projects? Would you feel that by having the 'experience' of a 'Box' it is worth spending extra money? Considering that whilst the instructions might be printed on nicer paper, they are going to be same as what you can DIY print.

What I am saying is that the 'experience' of the Design by Me service might have a 'worth' that goes beyond Price per Piece.

As far as gifts are concerned, a box and instructions add a great deal of value, hence why DbM puts so much emphasis on holidays in their marketing. For personal use, though, it generally depends on the MOC. One thing that bothers me is that you can't even see the options for designing a box unless you go as if to purchase the model. Since I've never purchased anything from DbM, I can't attest to the quality of the box art or variety of the options. A box design you put a lot of creative thought into will be more valuable than one where you select a cookie-cutter design to overlay a picture of your MOC on.

As far as gifts are concerned, a box and instructions add a great deal of value, hence why DbM puts so much emphasis on holidays in their marketing. For personal use, though, it generally depends on the MOC. One thing that bothers me is that you can't even see the options for designing a box unless you go as if to purchase the model. Since I've never purchased anything from DbM, I can't attest to the quality of the box art or variety of the options. A box design you put a lot of creative thought into will be more valuable than one where you select a cookie-cutter design to overlay a picture of your MOC on.

This bothers me too.

All things considered, Design by me is not really worth it for this model, especially since I'm not sure how the instructions will turn out.

Buying from other sources also frees me from the limited pallet of blocs which may translate in some changes in the helo model (sugestions welcome!)