Before starting building with your available construction sets, you need to install a CAD-editor, which is able to read the provided LDraw parts/libraries.
LeoCAD software seems a to be a very handy tool, which is actually used for building with virtual Lego bricks and also works on Windows, macOS & Linux, it is free to use and uses the LDraw drawing system.
Instead of using the included Lego parts library, we just change the library with your vintage building blocks. This way it becomes easy to build with what ever construction set you like!
Installation (at least for Windows)
Follow these instructions, we first start with installing the ‘3D modeler’ progam:
- Install the awesom LeoCAD software from: leocad.org
- Test if the software works with Lego parts.
(Optional follow a LeoCAD tutorial.)
Now the software should work, it’s time to add your favorite building toy library:
- Download your favorite library from this Cults3D.
- Create a folder on your pc, which you could find easialy and your not going to remove in future. Call this folder: ‘vintage_toys_library‘.
- Now unzip the library/libraries and copy/move all parts in this new ‘vintage_toys_library‘ folder.
(When adding multiple libraries, it’s okay to overwrite some duplicate files.) - Start LeoCAD
- Select on the menu bar: View – Preferences
- A new window opens, select tab: General
- Select the ‘parts library’, by clicking on the folder button (see image below)
- Select the ‘vintage_toys_library‘ folder.
(This folder should include a ‘parts’ folder, but you need to select the ‘vintage_toys_library’.) - Press ‘Ok’.
LeoCAD tells you, the next time you start LeoCAD this change will have effect. - Close LeoCAD
Checking the installed library
The next time you start LeoCAD, select ‘All Parts’ in the ‘Parts’ window and you should be able to see some none-Lego parts.
So now you should be able to start playing around.
For building nice & big structures, it’s handy to change some ‘default’ settings.
Continue here, to ‘set the preferences‘ once.