[MOC] Fright Knights Mechs

[Oky]

Hello history-heads (I assume that's what frequenters of this forum call themselves)! Last month was Mechtober, a monthly theme build challenge where sci-fi builders create a family of 4 mechs, one for every week of the month. This year, the challenge was to incorporate a castle theme into your builds, so I decided to build mechs for my favorite childhood castle faction which is also the most appropriate for the spooky season: Fright Knights!

These might be more sci-fi than what you're used to seeing in this forum, but I think it makes sense to post these here. The Fright Knights were some of the most technologically advanced factions in the LEGO Castle realm. From flamethrowing carts to various flying machines, they terrorized the other kingdoms with their frightening contraptions (likely thanks to Willa the Witch's magic and the help of the dark dragons), so it's not a big stretch to imagine that they had mechs too.

Week 1 - Soldiers & Outlaws: Fright Force Fighter Mech

The latest addition to the Fright Force's arsenal is the Fighter Mech, a powerful, mechanized suit of armor armed with a flamethrower, a shoulder-mounted crossbow, and a sword fighting arm.

While it's a formidable battle vehicle, it is also expendable and built out of repurposed horse carriage parts such as hitchings, wheels, horse masks, chests, barrels, and torches, along with the usual decorative elements of the Fright Knights. With an army of these mechs, the Bat Lord will take over the realm in no time!

The hitching safety bars can be lifted to allow the Fright Knight pilot to enter the mech.

Week 2 - Peasants & Royals: Bat Lord's Royal Mech

In order to lead his Fright Knights into battle, Basil the Bat Lord had a giant mechanized suit of armor created for him by Willa the Witch. Designed in his own frightening image, this terrifying titan towered over the Fright Knights' foes and was even able to engage in battle when needed using its giant bat staff and razor-sharp claws.

It was even equipped with magic dragon wings for some limited flight capabilities.

Basil the Bat Lord safely pilots his mech from within its chest.

Week 3 - Wizards & Monsters: Willa the Witch's Wicked Spider-Walker

Willa the Witch has magically created a mech for herself: a mechanical monster spider! With this wicked walker, she can take her potion making on the go and support the Fright Knights in battle.

It has a cauldron in the back and axe prongs in the front similar to those on her windship.

Week 4 - Heroes & Villains: Fright Knight's Mecha Warhorse

Leading the Fright Force into battle is the brave Elite Fright Knight on his mechanical warhorse!

This steed of steel is a giant walking fortress armed with crossbows, axes, and a catapult. Nothing stands in its way as it stomps forward to victory!

For this one, I took on the Mechtober 2023 bonus challenge of building a motorized walking mech, so check out this video showcasing the feature!

I hope you enjoyed this look at what the Fright Knights theme would have looked like if it was released today by modern, mech-obsessed LEGO. Let me know which mech is your favorite!

Happy belated Halloween!

[Feuer Zug]

Interesting concepts. The Bat Lord appeared to be more a large buildable figure at first. Great design. The spider and warhorse are solid builds. The fighter mecha is just funny. Nicely done all around.

[Alexandrina]

Mechs aren't really my thing but I love the spider. It almost feels like the sort of concept that could have been a real Fright Knights set - sort of like an Arachnoid Starbase but scaled down and medievalised.

Lovely builds all of them.

[Mr Maniac]

Kind of regret missing this one when it was initially posted, although very glad my browsing of this topic brought this post to light!

 

As a massive fan of Fright Knights, I love what you've done here, @Oky, and mechs would definitely fit in with Fright Knights proper, especially with all those flying machines they already had!

It's genuinely hard for me to pick a favorite because they're all so impeccably done! Everything from the parts you're using to the color schemes are simultaneously faithful to the original Fright Knights sets while looking much better and far less scattershot than some of the official sets! Given how popular mechs are now amongst LEGO themes, I don't think it's too difficult to see LEGO doing this if they released Fright Knights now!

Well done, Oky! This is truly an impressive group of creations!

Edited December 12, 2023 by Mr Maniac

[PaleozoicBricks]

I know wish we got more constraction stuff related to more traditional Lego themes. No just Bionicle and hero factory. A character like Basil is perfect for constraction seeing what you did.

[Mr Maniac]

4 minutes ago, PaleozoicBricks said:

I know wish we got more constraction stuff related to more traditional Lego themes. No just Bionicle and hero factory. A character like Basil is perfect for constraction seeing what you did.

I'd say the addition of the Batman license to the LEGO umbrella is also doing a lot of heavy lifting here too, since, if I recall correctly, the only bat-like elements in the original Fright Knights sets was the original bat mold, Basil's helmet, and the dragon wings. At least now there's a much wider variety of bat accessories, which helps when it comes to, say, the helmet for Basil's mech here!

(Regardless, more constraction spin-offs in themes would be very much appreciated. Like, can you imagine a Stingray mech for Aquazone? Or an Aquasharks one?)

[PaleozoicBricks]

1 hour ago, Mr Maniac said:

I'd say the addition of the Batman license to the LEGO umbrella is also doing a lot of heavy lifting here too, since, if I recall correctly, the only bat-like elements in the original Fright Knights sets was the original bat mold, Basil's helmet, and the dragon wings. At least now there's a much wider variety of bat accessories, which helps when it comes to, say, the helmet for Basil's mech here!

(Regardless, more constraction spin-offs in themes would be very much appreciated. Like, can you imagine a Stingray mech for Aquazone? Or an Aquasharks one?)

I'm Glad Chima gave us minifigure wings. I find those to be some of the most important parts introduced from Chima. 

[Corydoras]

I like the use of brooms as spider legs. Quite ingenious!

[BardDandelion]

Spider mech is the best!
Cool idea and great builds!