PhLUG's MOCers Workshop

One of the perks of being a member of PhLUG is you get to attend workshops where noob builders like me get to learn neat stuff from the veteran MOCers of the group. I got to attend 2 out of 3 sessions this year and both focused on urban or city building. I really learned a lot from these activities and I actually look forward to the next one. Check out some of the techniques I picked up. 

Walls

Typically, we build walls by stacking Lego bricks on top of one another. For more advanced builders, they make use of SNOT or Studs Not On Top techniques to add more detail and texture to their walls. There are plenty of possible combinations and you really have to get your hands dirty and experiment to determine which method works for you. Some techniques are alternatives to more expensive Lego pieces such as the masonry brick. 

Roof

Like walls, there are actually other ways in constructing roofs for your Lego buildings as shown below. You can also make use of different heights when stacking slopes on top of each other to create texture which adds realism to your build. 

Flora

Plants are one of the things that make Lego displays more organic. Since Lego trees and plants are actually expensive pieces, you can always build your forest or field by using smaller and cheaper parts. These actually look more lifelike don't you think?

Details, Details, and more Details

Capturing the details of real objects and converting those into brick form is probably the ultimate challenge for a MOCer. These lifelike details actually make or break a MOC, which is why you really have to pay attention to them. Check out this huge Black Falcon logo, hotel sign and stained glass window. 

Here are some of the techniques applied to actual builds. 

There you have it, folks. I hope you also learned a thing or two from this post. Kudos to PhLUG ambassador Piper Protacio for sharing these building techniques with us. Till next entry!