X-1 Ninja Charger Prototype - redux

[Pirean_Grammaticul]

thought i'd improve it a tad bit. it's roughly the same size and piece count with figs, maybe less or maybe more with the extra bike (as of now it's 552 pieces and more with figs)

you'll notice the ugly technic mess is completely removable: this giant contraption fits in here:

to do this

you might notice the stud launchers; this thing has guns

and ofc a back and top-down view to close it out:

after my initial disappointment with the released x-1 i realized that a lot of the pieces (namely the hood) had been retired. looking at other legacy sets, i found out that the thunder raider used a replacement for the same piece, and from there i just tested out a couple pieces for the rear and the sides.

mecabricks link: https://www.mecabricks.com/en/models/mkjAQYKdjZG

stud.io link (technically my first all-stud.io!):https://www.dropbox.com/s/qmictglleveeuez/x1-wip.io?dl=0

Edited December 11, 2020 by Pirean_Grammaticul

[Aanchir]

I think mods will probably change the topic title, since Eurobricks tries to be fairly consistent about accurately labeling MOCs and reviews.

Without meaning to be rude, I'm struggling to see any ways that this really improves on the new X1 Ninja Charger set. It feels very uneven and lumpy compared to the streamlined muscle car look that both the old and new versions of the X1 Ninja Charger exemplified, and despite the cleverness of some of the techniques you used, it ends up adding several unsightly gaps and harsh, jagged textures. The high ground clearance and the thick, angular bodywork make this MOC feel more like some type of all-terrain tank than any sort of car.

There are a few attributes that make this one a little closer to the original version, like the weirdly narrow grille and simulated engine block attached to the missile turret, but they stick out awkwardly on your version rather than more closely matching the contours of the original, and as such I feel that they detract from the appearance more than they contribute to it. And the conspicuous gap in the middle of the golden front bumper makes the "escape motorcycle" feel much less well-hidden than in either of the official sets.

Even the way the color scheme is organized feels messier. The original set had solid-looking red body panels on a black chassis, only broken up slightly by the technic beams used to raise the turret and hood, while the Legacy set adds some tasteful, more or less continuous black racing stripes along the center and sides. By contrast, your model has exposed black plates, hinges, slopes and brackets scattered much more haphazardly, and visible from almost every angle.

I keep wanting to wrap this up by pointing out something I actually really like about your version, but no matter how may times I scroll back and forth through your pictures, the only features that really stand out in a positive way are stuff like the windscreen and spoiler that are designed just as well or better on both of the official sets. I guess the dark brown seat cushions on your versions are a pretty nice touch? It certainly adds a sense of comfort, at any rate.

I deeply apologize if this ends up reading like some sort of pile-on, but please understand that the topic title raised my expectations for this topic just as high as the rumors of a new Ninja Charger set raised yours, and that instead seeing this attempt at a "improved" version presumably ended up disappointing me just as much as seeing LEGO's official attempt ended up disappointing you.

Edited December 11, 2020 by Aanchir

[Pirean_Grammaticul]

  On 12/11/2020 at 9:55 PM, Aanchir said:

I deeply apologize if this ends up reading like some sort of pile-on, but please understand that the topic title raised my expectations for this topic just as high as the rumors of a new Ninja Charger set raised yours, and that instead seeing this attempt at a "improved" version presumably ended up disappointing me just as much as seeing LEGO's official attempt ended up disappointing you.

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you've got no reason to be sorry; i've built basically no lego car in the past, moc or otherwise, and pulled this together in two days in a software i've only recently started building in seriously. certainly smoother tiles and better textures would've helped but from the looks of it it's far from done despite the renders; if the technic activator is any indication i didn't have as good an idea of how to achieve the functionality of the original or of the newer one, and from the sides (and having changed the sides from black to red and vice versa) i couldn't get down the style.

to be completely honest most of this was following my disappointment with the new model; i'm sure it's got its positives, least of all being the updated bike, but the choice to remake the (honestly absurdly american) big loud red car with guns as a longer, more boxlike car with less of a memorable profile was a big letdown, and i suppose this moc had as much to do with trying to replicate the original's hood using the substitution present in the thunder raider as much as it was to spite the design team responsible for the new x1

but thanks for the suggestions! i'll see if i can organize the black and red on the side properly, fix the hood somewhat, get rid of the wedge plates on the rear wheel, and streamline the overall model; here's hoping speed champions sets and real-life sports cars can add to the inspiration