A quick post to present you the most useful website for builders !

In June, Nathan Thom contacted me to discuss about a website he was developing. He asked me for using my moc on his website and asked for advices if I had some.  Then I saw the website and I found that it had an incredible potential.

What is Rebrickable ?

Rebrickable is a website which allows the user to match his collection of parts with the bill of material of a chosen moc. The builders can add their moc to the database of rebrickable, therefore users can match what they like.

Why is it awesome ?

Brickstore can already do that so why rebrickable is better ? First of all, rebrickable is an online website which not requires installation or registration. Secondly, the matching algorithm is really better than Brickstore. For instance : if a builder build his CAD model with old pins, then the user want to match with his collection of new sets : it will not work. Because old pins and new pins are not the same part. Despite they have the same function. The strength of Rebrickable is to manage this problem with closed parts, this is called Part Normalisation. Because it is the function which is important and not the part number. Nathan succeeded in managing this problem with listing closed part like pins, plate, cylinder, spring, U-join… and color scheme.

How does it work ?

On the first page, you can click on set or on Moc designer (Rebrickable also enables the matching between sets). Click on designer and you should have this :

Then click on a moc you like, for instance the Trial Jeep :

Then click on Build This Moc to enter your collection :

I have entered some set I have to test the matching, then click on Find Sets To Build. I advise you to choose the Close Match.

Now you can see the part you don’t have. Rebrickable has compared the bill of material and your collection. Be aware :

-This is the builder who creates the CAD file of the model (here is the jeep). So we can make mistakes which are prejudicial for the match. For instance a 8-stud length Axle Gray. This part in this color doesn’t exist so whatever the set you have, you will not have 100% matching. Pay attention to recheck the missing part.

-Sometime, composed part are missing for the matching, for instance the shock-absorbers or the U-join. The fact is rebrickable compares the spring with the part in the set (here is the 8297) so the builder (again me) has to choose the correct part in CAD modeler. If not, the matching problem can occur. The problem for the builder is that in the Ldraw library, there are for instance 10 different part for the shock-absorbers (the same of course). I don’t know why but this is very annoying. Also, in the library of set on bricklink, it is not always the same  part which is chosen in the database (regarding set, years and revision). I have informed Nathan of this problem in order to figure out. A list of advised part will be released to help builder to choose the correct parts.

When you have made the matching, Rebrickable can advice you some set to acquire in order to increase the match :

You can also try the “ignore match” which ignores the color.

I recommend to create an account (for free of course) to enter and save your collection. With an account, you can enter more than 6 sets for matching. And your collection is always saved so it is more handy.

To finish, some tips for builders who want to have their moc on rebrickable : prefer the .ldr or .mpd file from Mlcad or SR3D Builder than .lxf from Lego Digital Designer. If you have .lxf, you can try to convert with the .lxf to .ldr tools on Ldraw Website. You can contact Nathan for submitting CAD file at support[@]rebrickable.com

Useful links

• http://rebrickable.com/ : Main page of rebrickable
• http://rebrickable.com/blog/ : Blog page to follow the improvement
• http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rebrickable/244447922243907 : Facebook page of Rebrickable
• http://rebrickable.com/designer : Main page for moc and for contact Nathan.
• http://rebrickable.com/designer/nico71 : My rebricakble page, where all my digital moc has been indexed.