Subject:
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10 tips to better Mecha building....WAS:HELP...beginner need tips and info on how to build mecha?!?!
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.build.mecha, lugnet.general
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Date:
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Sat, 20 Oct 2001 11:43:37 GMT
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Viewed:
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1978 times
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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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Message has 2 Replies:
Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: HELP....beginner need tips and info on how to build mecha?!?!
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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., (...) (23 years ago, 19-Oct-01, to lugnet.build.mecha)
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