seven month itch

_tiler and fateheart

We're gonna take a break from life's demands and give a well-deserved shoutout to Jeremy's tight little mecha:

(olive) Green machines

  There is yet only a small selection of parts available in LEGO's new olive green color. It lends itself well to military-themed creations, although anyone who follows my own creations elsewhere knows that I could care less for realistic drab color schemes. Above, Fredo does a nice quadruped. I like the cylindrical shape he has made with the 1 x 4 curved double slopes. Given the squareness characteristic of the medium, the model's curves seem surprising although it is is hardly a departure from with Fredo's previous work. Below, Carter uses the new color for a landmate. It has good feet. I can imagine the little auxiliary arms reloading the bullpup-style weapon. 
Here's another quadruped/humanoid mecha combo with a relating color scheme, via Curtis and Pate:

Where've ya been

. I recognize Brian Kescenovitz's style has being characteristically "chunky", but his latest mecha looks to have a lot of air between its panels and plates. I think it's great—thanks to the low volume-weight ratio, the model can bear an intimidating silhouette while looking nimble.

This is pretty much just a mecha blog, now.

I started following Waka's mechs sometime last year. His style is reminiscent of the work of  Monday Noodle (Brian Kescenovitz), who has been out of the picture for a while.
 
I like the shapes on Waka's most recent mech; normally I find that too many slopes kills form but Waka's model is large enough that it still looks pleasing. In the same way that I judge people by their footwear, I've taken to judging LEGO mecha by their feet. The separated heel and toes totally satisfying. The arched form looks like it actually handles shifting weight; there's something anatomical about it. The largeness allots for a good amount of detail, check out the ammunition belt and fuel hose:

In addition to  his Flickr photostream he has a Japanese website. Also, Catbus!

Ski feet and rocket car

Exceedingly handsome mecha by Ryuhei Kawai. Also, a cute rocket rover by Bartosz:

Shoot them before they shoot you

Both the design and the rendering, executed by Genghis Don, are superb. It looks like an elongated version of this fighter craft seen in Cowboy Bebop:





More Mobile Frame Zero designs from Malcom Craig. This one is delightfully chunky.


The two-tone, patchwork color scheme on flickr user imaginationDUCK's mech works well to inspire urban camouflage. It definitely calls to mind Spook's work, who has been prolific as of late.

Cole Blaq goes navy blue

Tim Gould over on The Brothers Brick featured this before I came across it, but I'm glad to post it here. First, because of the sci-fi builders that see regular plugs on this blog Cole isn't one of them; second, Cole's stuff is certainly good enough to deserve an increased signal radius; and third, because I've thoughts of my own that I get a kick out of seeing published.

Anyway, these are pretty smart near-future designs. Gould mentioned the vivid colors in his post, I'll echo that, as it is my adamant belief that color variety is the spice of LEGO. I can't help but think a trans yellow windshield on the smaller vehicle to match the larger Aliens APC looking thing would be nice, but I'm not knowledgeable of Cole's preferences regarding modding.The wheels are great.


The blue and gold colors on Cole's fan models resembles the liveries of the human faction in the official LEGO "Alien Conquest" line. The subject matter is not different as well, it is as if Cole took the juvenile playset characteristics out of the designs and inserted some worthy aesthetics.


Set reconstruction, a level above "set modding", has been popular lately as the official themes have gotten more niche. 2001's "Alpha Team" line was one of my favorite themes as a young child. After being inspired by the submersible that recently made a limited run via the Couscous Cuusoo program, my interest in tracked ground vehicles (like snowcats!), and remembering the adoration that I harbored for the above set as a third grader,  I might like to do a "cover version" of 6774. To this day springy slat that was used as the catapult is still bent from use. And that skull-spanning grin!


Halfway relevant links:
This Maize-and-Blue "Wolverine". A mecha from Kyle Vrieze's collection of early works residing on MOCpages.com. Even more relevant to those of us, who such as the author dwell in middle Michigan where the MSU / U of M rivalry is a very real and frightening thing.

"I must admit, the Wolverines usually have a better football team, but I think we beat them more often than we really have a right to."


The APC from "Aliens". Created in LEGO by flickr user Larry Lars.

"Doing it right"

Flickr user Drywall has created exceptional LEGO mecha based on the "Gekko" units from the Sony Playstation 3 title, Metal Gear Solid 4. Theses particular in-game designs have inspired LEGO mecha of my own. You can see the Gekkos moving around and mooing in the video below, real fantastic work on the part of the artists behind the game.



 
The animation and sound effects are so great. A real contrast to the boring legged slabs revealed in the Black Ops 2 trailer.



He has also created this equally magnificent realization of a "Think Tank" from Ghost in the Shell. Both of José's models stray from their inspirations; while retaining the concepts imagined by original artists the LEGO builder has tastefully added features of his own.

Geoff Herndon's Gekko. It is scaled to the LEGO minifigure, though I daresay the legs aren't spindly enough.

Tim Gould's GiTS Think Tank.

March of the Think Tanks

For the duration of the previous month, and some time before, the build challenge over at the Mecha Hub flickr group has been generating LEGO interpretations of the "Think Tank" concept as seen in the Ghost in the Shell franchise. Here are some highlights:



This smart model is of Curtis Collins' design. I appreciate how the 1 x 1 "cheese" slopes line up with the corners on the beveled corners of the 4 x 4 x 2/3 and 4 x 6 x 2/3 panels.

Peer Kreuger's is motorized, with both walking and rolling functions:





Kyle Vrieze has assembled this scene. The building are not only furnished with tasteful detail but descending mecha. The large mulitped in the center can be seen here.



Brownridge revisits some Maschinen Krieger imagery for a unique inter-universe crossover.



I love, love the repetition of the four hole texture in both the under-wedge piece (used here as leg armor) and in the turntable top. Smartness from Ted Andes.

These fellas of Andrew Lee's are cute.



This one doesn't qualify as a "Think Tank" as the body doesn't have the arachnid like body proportions, but nevertheless it is a cool build. The legs are great with the Technic figure flippers (32008).

Not to be missed is Ley Ward's citrus themed -koma. Also, in a blog post concerning multiped LEGO mecha, it seems appropriate to give Mladen a mention.

Mobile Frame Zero: Rapid Attack

The mecha community's been abuzz with a kickstarter project, of all things: the Mobile Frame Zero: Rapid Attack Rulebook. Spearheaded by Joshua A.C. Newman, lots of LEGO stuff by Soren, and game design by the folks at lumpley (one of those blogs that I always want to read but can't seem to get interested in). A $10 backing gets you in an a very cool project and a PDF of the rules, once released. I hope this will fuel a surge of micromecha, especially if they're as nice as this:

So, this is twice-a-month thing, is it?

Brian K. has been semi-active recently (almost as active as this blog!). He does a really a good job of blending system parts and obscure technic offshoots.



A concept vehicle of his from last month. It has suspension.



Cute mecha time:





The first month of the Ghost in the Shell-inspired "Think Tank" build challenge has come to a close. It is to continue through April, but I hope to have a March round-up post on here before too much longer.

MechaHub plugging

GitS inspired think tanks are the theme for the March/April build-off at the MechaHub flickr group. The ongoing build-off is transport mecha, it has not gotten the response it deserves so consider this a plug.

Rodney Bistline's early go at it:



Here's a Vic Viper themed starfighter from last Nov(v)ember. He did a great job with an early-cold war alternate future look.

It feels good to come home from exams and look at Lego Mecha.



This one by Tony Knaak has a lot of character. I like what is being done with the R2D2 printed dome.

Why not just build the gun as a part of the robot

Because that's not cool. Jared drops some illogical goodness:



I built this one:



Blatantly inspired by Wimbe:



Wimbe's line of mecha is worth a look, he was fairly prolific last year. In addition, that of Fateheart's has developed a lot since I came across it in 2011.

Friday The Oops

This Ghost in the Shell-inspired mecha by Curtis Collins caught my eye:



Here is some work by his brother, David:



Interesting how there is overlap in their styles. Both are quality!

A 19-foot replica of a Saturn V by Ryan McNaught. Via Brothers-Brick.

Mechy

First up is the Think Tank from Ghost in the Shell by Tim Gould:



Here's a Maschinen Krieger-inspired hardsuit by Tromas:



As was this starfighter, also of his design:



The Ma.K contest thread has a surprising amount of high-quality entries, could be tough work for whoever is doing the judging.



Malcolm Graig


Fredo



Spook