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Greetings all,
For some while I have been thinking about building my own mecha, inspired so
by pictures of some fantastic mechs I have seen on the Net. Now I wish to
build my own, but when it comes to mecha I don't know my arse from my
elbow.... : (
How are all the joints done (hip , knee, ankle, etc) especially for the
limbs? Are there any step by step guides? I reckon I can figure out how to
angle plates and bricks myself, but some help on that would be nice. Plus I
have little or no Technic lego (just a couple of small Bonicles and few
odds'n'ends). So what kind of parts will I need? Any recommended sets (I
don't wnt to spend much)?
Help would be greatly appreciated!!!
Darth
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In lugnet.build.mecha, Darth Joules writes:
> Are there any step by step guides?
You can learn a great deal by studying the .dat files many people have been
making. This gives you a _large_ library of examples of Mechas. First you
need to get a .dat viewer/editor. I recommend MLcad. Your milage may vary.
With this you should be able to study the contruction brick by brick.
-Chuck
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Yeah, a lot of mecha builders (Jeremy S., Travis C., Ben V., Karim N., Pat J.,
etc.) make .DAT files for their models.
Also, those who don't make .DAT files, often take good close-ups of their stuff
(Brian C., Eric S., Ken T., Dave J., Chris S., Bryce C., Kunimasa F., Toshiaki
M., Chris M., David Thomas Jr., Sun Y., Colin R., etc.).
Aaannnddd of course some people do both! Like ME! ;-)
To find all of these people's websites, go to my _Links_ page:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/mladenpejic/Links.htm
Mladen Pejic, over and out!
http://www3.sympatico.ca/mladenpejic/
In lugnet.build.mecha, Chuck Sommerville writes:
> In lugnet.build.mecha, Darth Joules writes:
>
> > Are there any step by step guides?
>
> You can learn a great deal by studying the .dat files many people have been
> making. This gives you a _large_ library of examples of Mechas. First you
> need to get a .dat viewer/editor. I recommend MLcad. Your milage may vary.
> With this you should be able to study the contruction brick by brick.
>
> -Chuck
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My two bits:
Check out people's websites, many have tips. Also gives lots of ideas,
"hey, I could do that!!!" This is where I got the first few tidbits for my
first mech.
My insight: draw on paper (I always like to draw things that I have vuage
ideas of, makes them easier to deal with) and answer these questions; what
kind of mech do I want (two legs, four? with visible cockpit? Arms?
Static or moveable?) How much detail to I want? (interior and exterior)
Do I have the bricks? How big do I want this thing?
Then, experiment. Example: I want a hip that moves, how do I get the legs
to pivot side to side? (lots of ways to do it, just how do You want to do
it) Once you have something that you're satisfied with, move to another
conponent and put the parts together. Me, I almost always start with the
hip, move to the legs, feet, torso, and arms. In that order.
Or, if you got an Idea, just try it. What do you have to loose? (except
play time...)
You know, if you don't have lots of bricks, try microfigs. Lots of people
do amazing stuff with that too. Check the links in Mladins reply and go
from there.
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In lugnet.build.mecha, Mladen Pejic writes:
> Also, those who don't make .DAT files, often take good close-ups of their stuff
> (Dave J.)
Now tell the truth, Mladen...how many Lego Racers parts have been created
virtually? None that I've noticed. Right there, that wipes out the possiblity of
me CADing my models. Add in the lack of Bionicle parts, Jack Stone (ech!)...you
get the idea. Many new parts are used, but not yet produced in DAT form. Want
proof? Try to CAD any of the 5 Hoverthings I'm posting later today...it can't be
done.
>
> Aaannnddd of course some people do both! Like ME! ;-)
Show off! ;)
To answer Darth Joules question:
1) check out the Lego Mecha Hall of Fame (no relation to my email) at
http://www.geocities.com/mecha_hall_of_fame/ There are numerous models in one
place that you can glean ideas from...some are big, some are small, and some are
just outlandish (like mine). This is a GREAT starting point because it
highlights some of the most versatile model-builders on LUGNET and beyond.
2) Go to Colin R. Gutierrez' site at http://www.geocities.com/vrey_oneida/
That's where I got my start. He has building tips on joint creation. Karrim
Nassir's Dragon Mecha also got me moving in this field. His stuff doesn't appear
to be updated anymore...pity.
3) Embrace Bionicle, but get any Throwbots you can. Bionicle is the future of
Lego joint tech. Todd Amacher, Bryce McGlone, Me....we've all embraced it and
taken it to new heights...and we've barely scratched the surface. Throwbots was,
in many ways, superior for joint tech...Blaster (http://guide.lugnet.com/set/
8523 ) proved that. What I'd give for another 200+ gear boxes....
4) ____ Hinges. Click, brick, plate, whatever. That's the easy way to create
joints. Jeremy Sproat, Chris Maddison, Joel Kuester...all seem to understand
this. Look at their models for inspiration.
5) Design is important, but not the most important thing. Making a model look
good is one thing, making it move while looking good is quite another. Brian
Cooper, Mladen Pejic, and Mark Sandlin all seem to have this point mastered.
6) Size does matter. Smaller is usually easier to build. Look in awe at the BIG
or complex mecha (Cooper, McGlone, Nassir, Snead, Sophie) and marvel at their
greatness. It takes LOTS of time (months), money ($250+), and patience to create
on that scale. I'm still trying to do it right...so far, I've had little luck,
but some of my designs have helped Bryce McGlone solve a problem he's having on
a larger scale. Try to build within your means. Use the parts you own or those
that are easily gotten. Don't try building using parts that have been out of
print since 1983...you'll never finish.
7) Don't discount the odd parts. I guess this would be my specialty...Lego
Racers, Belleville, McDonalds sets..all have made their way into my models. Take
a close look at the model the LMHoF has as my logo-4 Lego Racers parts right in
plain view.
8) Monochromatic creations are fine. One of the best building tips Mladen ever
gave out was to tell a builder to stick with whatever your largest color happens
to be. Then choose your next largest color as the secondary color. Try to stay
under four colors if you can, or you'll end up building wierd stuff like me
(Hmmm...where can I use Dino BlueGrey now?)...
9)Get ANY Technic sets you can. Most mecha builders use at least a few Technic
parts in each creation. You can't tell that because builders like Mladen Pejic,
Toshiashi Mukai, and Geordan Hankinson are very good at hiding parts within
their models. If you knew what the insides of any of Bryce McGlone's mecha
looked like, you'd be amazed because it isn't what you thought was in there.
10 (FINALLY!) Build from your heart. Build what YOU want to build. Take in ideas
from others and mold them into your original creations. Use the MechCommander
site for ideas, just don't get discouraged that not all parts aren't available
in Teal (yet). Draw inspiration from space designs, nature, cartoons....anything
available to you. That's the real strength of a mecha builder-to use what's
around him as inspiration and convert it into his brick variant.
Alright...enough ramblings from the one who calls himself: Legomecha!
-Dave
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In lugnet.build.mecha, Dave Johann writes:
> In lugnet.build.mecha, Mladen Pejic writes:
> > Also, those who don't make .DAT files, often take good close-ups of their • stuff
> > (Dave J.)
> Now tell the truth, Mladen...how many Lego Racers parts have been created
> virtually? None that I've noticed. Right there, that wipes out the possiblity • of
> me CADing my models. Add in the lack of Bionicle parts, Jack Stone • (ech!)...you
> get the idea. Many new parts are used, but not yet produced in DAT form. Want
> proof? Try to CAD any of the 5 Hoverthings I'm posting later today...it can't • be
> done.
Yeah, you have a good point. Still, some people don't build too many creations
with "exotic" parts, so they can usually LCAD their stuff more easily.
> > Aaannnddd of course some people do both! Like ME! ;-)
> Show off! ;)
I know! Sometimes I can't help myself! ;-D
Snipped Dave's Excellent Tips
> Alright...enough ramblings from the one who calls himself: Legomecha!
> -Dave
Mladen Pejic, over and out!
http://www3.sympatico.ca/mladenpejic/
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<snip>
> 4) ____ Hinges. Click, brick, plate, whatever. That's the easy way to create
> joints. Jeremy Sproat, Chris Maddison, Joel Kuester...all seem to understand
> this. Look at their models for inspiration.
<snip>
Thanks for the nod Dave. To expand on this, try using pieces as hinges that
weren't made to be used that way. The best example is the 1x4 offset
plate(http://guide.lugnet.com/partsref/search.cgi?q=4590). The two outside
studs are magnificent for hinging things. I've been experimenting with
chicken walker "thighs" with this piece, and the results are great. Same
goes for a pairing of 1x1 tiles w/ the top clip
(http://guide.lugnet.com/partsref/search.cgi?q=2555) and 1x2 plate w/ handle
(http://guide.lugnet.com/partsref/search.cgi?q=2540). The two of these make
excellent hinges for smaller mecha (and are used almost exclusively in my
minimecha).
-Chris
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Thanks for the help people!!! : )
Darth Joules
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