My Lego Creations - Sample Models available from Website

I would just like to share with you, some of my Custom Lego creations. These models, will become instruction sheets, and will be available from my website, once it is complete.

The Steam Cart - Sample Lego Instructions

Here is a sample series of images, which I have created. These will go towards making a PDF document, which in turn will become the custom Lego instructions, which will be sold on my website.

These images were created using MLCad, Ldraw and LDview.

Note: Not all images were included. Hence why steps appear to be missing. These images are for demo purposes only.

How the Digital Lego Instructions are made

This is a quick post, about how the Lego instructions are made.

The programs used are: 

• MLCad:  http://mlcad.lm-software.com/
• LDraw: http://www.ldraw.org/
• LDview: http://ldview.sourceforge.net/
• Photoshop: http://www.adobe.com/au/products/photoshop.html

Source: http://www.scottwardlaw.com/ColorManager/images/image016.jpg

Links:

Make Your Own LEGO Instructions

http://bskog.com/make-your-own-lego-instructions/

How To Use LEGO CAD Software To Make Amazing Custom Builds

http://www.tested.com/art/lego/452338-how-use-lego-cad-software-make-amazing-custom-builds/

Creating custom instructions on a mac? - Brickset - Brickset forum
http://www.bricksetforum.com/discussion/9911/creating-custom-instructions-on-a-mac

Digital Lego Instructions - My competitors

Creating custom Lego instructions is not a new thing. From when I returned to the Lego hobby, as a young adult, back in the mid 90s, there were people back then creating and sharing (not always for free) their unique Lego Instructions. It has now reached the level, that there are some (not as many as there should be) individuals who have set up small businesses selling their Lego instructions online. They are either selling them via their own websites, or via online auction sites like eBay.

I strongly believe there is a market for more of this kind of thing. There are great custom Lego creations being built and displayed online, every day. I want to tap into the market of providing instructions for some these creations, starting with my own creations, and hopefully in the future working in collaboration with other great Lego creators.

The main players are:

Brick City Depot: http://www.brickcitydepot.com/

Mechanized Brick: http://www.mechanizedbrick.com/

Brickmania: http://www.brickmania.com/

Brick Builders Pro: http://www.brickbuilderspro.com/

Image Source: http://www.brickbuilderspro.com/the-blue-barbershop/

Links:

Caveat Emptor: http://www.brothers-brick.com/2010/05/03/caveat-emptor/
Combat Bricks: http://www.combatbrick.com/

Digital Lego Instructions Website - My Light Bulb Moment

I have changed the direction my website is going. I was working on an online portfolio website, and even though I still want an online portfolio website, I have a stronger desire to own (and build) a website which sells custom Lego instructions.

What??!!

I have been playing and building with Lego since I was a young boy in the late 70s and early 80s. I did stop playing with Lego in my teenage years and as a young adult, but I DID return to the hobby in the mid 90s. I am now considered an AFOL (Adult Fan of Lego), and

The layout of my website will remain the same. This will include my page layout, my navigation and the current colour scheme, but I will need to change my entire content, as it is now all about Lego.

Source: My own digital Lego Creations

Here is link to my Lego creations: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21313870@N05/sets/72157603322271958/with/2891916186/

I have a lot more of these, which I want to build a dedicated website for.

Links:

AFOL: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/AFOL

LUGNET: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LUGNET

Flickr AFOL group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/afol16/

Digital Content - What should I display on my website

I think I am going to struggle to add content to my website. I don't have enough work, that I am proud enough to display publicly. I think I am going to have to start creating some amazing designs and artwork, and placing them on my portfolio site.

The sort of content that I can currently include in my website, are:

• Sketches - done with traditional media, like pencils and fine-liners
• Sketches - done digitally using the iPad or computer
• 3D models - built using SketchUp
• Animations - using Photoshop
• Drawings - Freehand and digitally using Adobe Illustrator

Source: My Digital Artwork

Here is link to some of my Digital Artwork  http://www.flickr.com/photos/92300967@N08/with/8398222658/

Links:

Website Portfolios - What to Include in a Website Portfolio
http://graphicdesign.about.com/od/buildingaportfolio/tp/what_to_include_in_a_website_portfolio.htm

Freelance Advice: What to Include in Your Online Design Portfolio
http://www.wahm.com/articles/freelance-advice-what-to-include-in-your-online-design-portfolio.html

Create the perfect design portfolio: 30 pro tips

http://www.creativebloq.com/create-perfect-design-portfolio-111153