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Post by Mzone on Mar 29, 2010 7:37:15 GMT -5
Well, here is my advice thread. To start, when building big ships, use multicolored bricks on parts you can't see or the interior. Also, use 3 to 4 colors on a MOC. 3 for smaller MOCs and 3 to 4 for larger MOCs. Also, you usually don't want to mix old grey and new grey except in rock formations. Playibility is important. Remember who you are focusing on when you build a MOC. If you are focusing on young builders, they will want it to do something, if you are fucusing on older builders, they won't care as much although they will want more greebles on it instead. Playibility adds extra levels of greebles too. Here's a little art advice, which also works for Lego. Primary Colors Red, Blue, Yellow Secondary Colors (made by mixing 2 primary colors) Purple, Green, Orange Brown is made by mixing all 3 primary colors. Basic Complementary Colors Colors that are exact opposite side each other on the color wheel. Basic Corresponding Colors Colors that are beside each other on the color wheel. Black absorbs natural light. Gray is between Black and White. White reflects natural light. Now for some shapes. Shape" often equals "Function" in our universe. Since we created the SW universe it makes sense that our ideas of shape carry into the SW universe. One major difference is repulsor technology. Round/Ball: When you see ball what do you think? Movement in one direction. If you build something that looks like a ball you don't think wow that looks fast! You think wow that can defend/attack in every direction. Example: Death Star. Sharp/Knife: When you see knife what do you think? Destroy in one direction. Example: Imp. Star Destroyer: Two sharp sides cutting through battle. Square/Box: When you see box what do you think? Solid, hard to get into, a house, or a fort. If you build something that looks like a box you don't think wow that looks fast! You think wow I can't get into that. Example: Borg Cube or Sandcrawler. Smooth/Organic: When you see something smooth without corners what do you think? Free, fast, aerodynamic. If you build something that looks smooth you think wow that looks fast! Example: Naboo Royal Cruiser or Naboo Starfighter. Animal like: When you see something animal like what do you think? The strengths and the weakness of that animal. A bird (aircraft) is fast and can move quickly but can fall to the ground and die. An elephant is big and strong but slow. A man (robot) can move through water, land, & sky but is not fast like a bird or strong like an elephant. A dolphin or shark can move through the water like it was air but they can't go on land! Example: All Terrain Armored Transport, or AT-AT walker. Note: Most of this advice, are from builders all around the internet.
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Post by Mzone on Mar 29, 2010 10:39:53 GMT -5
Here's part 2. Steps to becoming a better builder.
Buy & Build a small (10-100 pieces) set just by looking at the box's cover picture. Don't open the instruction booklet! When you're done open the booklet and compare. Next time try it with a medium (100-300 pieces) set. (I've never tried a large (300+ pieces) set.) This works best with a set that you've never built. However, you can also try this by ripping apart a set that you have built before but this time put it together just from memory or if it's too large try it with just the box picture.
Finally find something in the "real" world and try to build it out of Lego in micro, minifig, & UC scales. I.E. Car, Bed, or Kitchen Table/Chair .
How does this work? What does it mean? Trying new things causes your brain to make new pathways in your brain. The more you use it the better it becomes. Faster, stronger, smarter! Niches.
One thing that every artist knows is you have to have a niche.
What’s niche? A niche is one thing that you specialize in.
Find something you’re good at: castles, space, sculpture, mosaics, mini figures, mecha, etc. Then focus on that. Don’t limit yourself, try other things too. But if you’re good at one thing do it and do it really well. For example Kaminoan’s Fine Clonier’s niche is decals for mini figures.
Color Moods. What are color moods?
Color moods are what you feel when you look at a color. Example: When think of a hospital what color do think? White. What’s the feeling of a hospital. Clean maybe, stand off “ish”, or don’t touch.
So does white feel warm? No. What colors feel warm? Orange or Yellow. Think of a sunny summer day. What do you see?
So how does this help me build a better model?
What do you want people to feel when they see this model?
Fear or mystery? Black.
Calm and at peace? Green.
Racing and fast? Red.
Cool or cold? Blue.
So, color helps convey an emotion. Why? Ask a psychologist.
Ok everyone understands “Camouflage”. You may or may no want to camouflage an item. But remember when you pick colors for a military item they are often camouflaged to their environment. Desert = Sandy Tans & Browns, Forest or Jungle = Greens & Browns, Ice & Snow = White & Blues. Well you get the idea. Have Fun & Keep Building.. Also, different people will think of colors differently. We are all different and unique.
Note: Most of this advice, are from builders all around the internet.
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Post by Mzone on Mar 29, 2010 10:54:47 GMT -5
Building Big. I want to build bigger what can do, and I don’t have a lot pieces?
Here's a list of things you can do to increase the size of your MOC’s.
Shred. Yep that's right recycle extra sets and old MOC's. You can always build them again and probably better the next time. Ah more pieces to build with and more space to display new Official Star Wars Lego Sets.
Build frames. Use Technic pieces and build a frame that covers the frame with bricks & plates.
Vision. Think about what color it needs to be. Do I have enough pieces in that color? Plan ahead. Buy sets that have the color you need.
Illusion. Build you model out whatever colors and pieces you have and save all the of 1 to 3 colors for the outside pieces that are showing.
Design. Open and simple shapes like a fish or ball are going to use less pieces then something complex and busy like a centipede or poly-winged ship.
Buy more for less. Shop on EBay for small amounts of bulk bricks at low prices. Go to thrift stores and clear out their Lego inventory. Buy sets on sale. Often, larger suppliers will have clearance sets up to 50% off, but it means waiting and being patient. Finally cruise around and check out yard sales on the weekends. I think on an average Lego bricks cost about $0.10 USD if bought in a offical set. Try to find pieces for less then $0.10 USD. Every ten cents you save is another brick.
Note:Most of this advice are from builders all across the internet.
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Post by Mzone on Mar 29, 2010 11:03:15 GMT -5
Bricks. Brick Shape: Look closely at a set, look at the shape of each brick and ask yourself several questions: First Question: Does this brick have any other uses? The ability to look at brick and find other uses for it makes the difference between: Basic Builders (can only recreate what they see), Intermediate Builders (can build from their own imagination), Advanced Builders (can view several uses for almost every brick), Expert Builders (can picture what they want something to look like and pick the brick that will best represent the message/idea/image they are trying to create). Second Brick Usage: Does this set have large molded pieces that can be used as is in something else? A great example of this is the Indiana Jones Flying Wing. It has large molded wings. If I buy this set do I have any way of using these large molded pieces for any other purpose. Most Advance & Expert Builders despise these large molded pieces but they also are able to create a new and original use for the brick. Third Brick Color: Does this set have Color(s) that I want to use in something else? great example Belleville Sets. They suck because of the large molded pieces but how bad do I want those rare colored bricks? So the sets buy equal the diversity of what you can build as far as color. Finally Brick User: Ask yourself, am I a: Basic Builder (I can only recreate what I see), Intermediate Builders (I can build from my own imagination), Advanced Builder (I can view several uses for almost every brick), Expert Builder (I can picture what I want something to look like and pick the brick that will best represent the message/idea/image that I am trying to create). Most people will score themselves higher then what they are. It is our nature to believe that we can be better and this good. Without setting goals for ourselves we can never achieve anything greater. At the same time we must realize our limits and build within them, for example I have a shoe box of Lego and I am 8 years old, can I build something like a person that is 3 times my age with over a million bricks. No, but I can build something small that may convey a message/idea/image that is clearer and more interesting then they can, no matter what they age is or the resources they have. Note: Most of this Advice are from builders all across the internet.
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Post by Mzone on Mar 29, 2010 11:05:34 GMT -5
Texture.
Each type of brick offers a verity of textures finding the right texture for MOC usually depends on how it is going to be used and what is it trying to reflect or say about the object.
Look first at you basic 4x2x1 brick. How many types of textures can I make from this single brick? 1? 2? Maybe 3? (buttuming the bricks are at facing the exactly the same direction in 3 dimensional space and evenly spaced, remove that restriction and types of patterns are probably unlimited.)
Snot, Not Snot. Tiles, No Tiles. What is it with these people!? You can’t put a minifigure on it, so what’s the point!?
This technique when it is done properly is difficult to say the least. For a long time very few of the Official Lego Sets used this style. Also you almost still never see a set that is smoothly covered with tiles. But wait Lego makes large smooth molded pieces, why is this?
Look at the world around you, most of the surfaces are smooth. We are soft creatures and to cover the world in sharp corners and razors just isn’t safe for us. When we create art, our art often reflects the real world us. Also many of the things we create in the real world are faster and more efficient when they are smooth. So as young Lego designers we reflect this reality into our Lego creations. These types of creations are usually only to look at and not designed for play.
When playing with Lego we tend to want every surface covered in studs. In the real world gravity, friction, centrifical force, ropes, and cables are just a few of things that keep us connected to our world. So when we play we want our minifigure to stay connected to their world too.
So the balance is do I want to take a picture that will look smooth and true to its real life counter part, or do I want to make a creation that I can play with for hours and enjoy. Or is there some way that I can balance both and make an amazing MOC.
Note: Most of this advice are from builders all across the internet.
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Post by Mzone on Mar 29, 2010 11:08:46 GMT -5
Purism vs. Custimization.
Ah the Galactic Battle of the clean vs. the unclean, to cut vs. not to cut, to paint vs. not paint, light vs. dark, man vs. woman. Can the two ever peacefully co-exist? Can you have one without the other? Can you be both?
But which is better?
Well if you think one is better then the other, you just failed the test. Customizers bring a creativeness to Lego that simply is not sold by TLC. Purists try to bend bricks of Lego to their will. So why is important to be/have both? Without Customizers you would never see anything new. Their ideas forge the creation of new elements. However the purist mind can solve the problem with the bricks they’re given. So the matter of being a purist or customizer should rest solely on the individual need. If you can’t build it or it doesn’t exist then make it yourself by any means. To not make it, is to FAIL..
Note: Most of this advice, are from builders all around the internet.
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Post by Mzone on Mar 29, 2010 11:10:50 GMT -5
Collectors vs. Builders. most of us are probably Builders since we joined this website. But do you have a soft spot for your Star Wars Lego. Do you have a mini collection or a monster collection? You may have asked yourself, “How do I know if more of a builder or a collector?” Builders will do anything to get more bricks. Collectors will do anything to buy that next set. Builders show off their custom MOCs. Collections show off their beautiful mbuttes of official sets. The list goes on of how you can tell the two types apart but if you’re divided on which way you think you should go, just ask yourself can scrap half of may collection for parts? Yes, you’re a builder like me. No, you’re a collector. www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=62&u=13323828Note: Most of this advice, are from builders all around the internet.
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