How do you guys setup what your making, do you just decide to begin and see where it goes and change as things progress, or do you go into it with a 100% clear idea of it? Especially for larger diarama's and such.

How do you guys setup what your making, do you just decide to begin and see where it goes and change as things progress, or do you go into it with a 100% clear idea of it? Especially for larger diarama's and such.

Good question. I normally build trains so for me I start with an idea by going through photos online or magazines until I find something I think I can build with what pieces I have. I have my laptop beside what I'm building for easy reference. To make sure I can actually build it I'll grab a small bin and start piling certain pieces I think I'll be able to use (driving wheels, detail parts and parts of the same color). This way I can keep track of parts without covering my entire work desk with bricks. Eventually my desk does get covered toward the end of construction.

When I think I have enough parts to start off I'll just start tinkering with certain part combinations and making small prototypes of the cab, chassis, etc. Sometimes I'll use LDD to make a prototype of the entire MOC.

I don't really go into my MOC's with a load of planning like drawings but just observing a few photos of the real life object being modeled. Most are just experiments that have been sitting around until a creative spark comes along and I can finish it. Other times I'll realize I don't have enough parts or the right type of part and I'll try to change it into something else instead.

Most of the time I do, either on paper or with LDD. It depends on what of course!

I never use LDD, I have tried it but find it really awkward and cumbersome, I prefer to go for the real bricks to try things out, also that way I can make sure I actually do have them.

I also build quite a few railway models and also go through pictures on line or in my books to get an idea of what I want to make. I try to pick on a loco that look as though I will stand a good chance of being able to make it. I am not against ordering bits specifically for a MOC and will often do this either as it progresses or beforehand if I have an idea brewing and know I'll need A, b & C to accomplish it.

I like to be fairly tidy though and although it is almost impossible to prevent a desk covered in bits I have mine organised in little draws and containers, knowing pretty much what I have in each (Although most I can see inside as they are transparent.)taking out only what I want and when. I find being organised helps an awful lot.

Generally though I feel that just sitting down with a pile of bricks and no ideas will lead to nothing but a wasted few hours. I need to have at least some idea of what I am doing before I start.

I guess for me part of it is, not knowing how many pieces I need/have to make. I've just organized my primary bricks into colours.

Yellow/orange

green

red

black

grey

white

brown/beige/dark beige and such.

And shades of those colours.

The brown/beige colours is because I really want to do a old western style diarama but not quiet sure how to start with it just yet.

I just start building with a rough idea in my mind is it's non-Liscensed. If it is, I look up videos and pictures from what ever scene I build, so I can get a full view of what I'm building. Just experimenting around really helps me.

I usually pencil out a rough shaped sketch on little 3x5 post-it or a plain 8.5x11. Once I have the rough shape in mind… I build.