moc buildings

just wondering how you guys who build the moc buildings come up with the plans for them and where do you get all the bricks from to build them?

i am inspired to have a crack at a moc but dont know where to start??

Getting plans for MOCs? Well that goes against the very definition of a MOC! Sure you can use inspiration from realy buildings, but you really just have to use your imagination, there's no such thing as a guide for a My Own Creation.

Getting bricks is easy though, check out Bricklink and Pick A Brick, plus you can use parts already in your collection.

You could also use the digital designer software from lego and then just order the parts for it when you are done

Digital designer prices are higher than S@H pick a brick, and they are both higher than bricklink.

To get the right sort of parts I generally buy extra modular buildings, creator houses, castle buildings, harry potter buildings etc. It is sometimes tough to get the more realistic colours so I get them whenever they are in a set, hopefully on sale.

To work out designs I look at what other people have done on brickshelf mocpages and flickr and then copy ideas and techniques. Since I like to build European stuff I also look at old train accessory catalogues for ideas. Sometimes I alsd use Google images to look for the type of architechture I plan on building.