Mobile spider base help

[fr33manator]

Working on two factions, both Based on a frozen, ice like planet. One faction, the Frost Skorpions, uses the old Ice Planet 2000 color scheme, while the other, is a black white trans-dark blue color scheme. Haven't figured out a name yet. Something with ice or blizzard or other such word, then something to do with spiders or arachnida. (blizzard spyders? Arctic Arachnids? Any ideas.

Anyway, I've got some great vehicles, (can't figure out how to post pics on here from my iPhone) but I'm at a mental block now. I just finished a giant scorpion themed mobile base for the Frost Skorpions (that name isn't set in stone), and I want to continue on that theme and make a spider themed mobile base for the trans-dark blue faction. I have the front made, treads set at a right triangle formation and a double Gatling laser for the "fangs", and I'm gonna make the front two legs have detachable wheeled vehicles on them, but this still leaves 6 legs to find functions for. For the back, I'll have a large white cannon turret (the silk) but I'm stuck on the rest. Any suggestions? I'll post pics when I get home in the morning.

Working on two factions, both Based on a frozen, ice like planet. One faction, the Frost Skorpions, uses the old Ice Planet 2000 color scheme, while the other, is a black white trans-dark blue color scheme. Haven't figured out a name yet. Something with ice or blizzard or other such word, then something to do with spiders or arachnida. (blizzard spyders? Arctic Arachnids? Any ideas.

Anyway, I've got some great vehicles, (can't figure out how to post pics on here from my iPhone) but I'm at a mental block now. I just finished a giant scorpion themed mobile base for the Frost Skorpions (that name isn't set in stone), and I want to continue on that theme and make a spider themed mobile base for the trans-dark blue faction. I have the front made, treads set at a right triangle formation and a double Gatling laser for the "fangs", and I'm gonna make the front two legs have detachable wheeled vehicles on them, but this still leaves 6 legs to find functions for. For the back, I'll have a large white cannon turret (the silk) but I'm stuck on the rest. Any suggestions? I'll post pics when I get home in the morning.

I'm not really going with a bug-like theme for this set. I just happened to have some trans-neon orange scorpions and trans-dark blue spiders, and added them as langiappe accents, and it kind of grew from there, at least for the skorpion mobile base. None of the other vehicles are bug themed, and it is not quite as obvious as the insectoid theme, much more subtle.

[fr33manator]

Making progress on initial design. Front two legs are going to be small plasma cannons, the SECOND set of legs will be the vehicles. Middle section will be around 24x24 studs wide in an octagon configuration. Two level design. Front section is 10x~16 studs, with the cannons at the forefront. Sections may be able to separate and be independent of one another.

[fr33manator]

Ok, it's coming together in my mind now, and I've got some rough sketches as well. Each of the 6 anterior "legs" will end in a vehicle, able to detach from the "leg" and move independently. Back 2 vehicles on a black skid, like the one from rock raiders. Middle ones will be those angled cockpits, I think they came out with the hydronauts, and they'll be on the long white skis from IP2000. The front two will be elevated on inclined stanchions, with wheels and an angled cockpit. The 6 back vehicle legs will be attached to the octagonal main base, while the Front two will be attached to the front section. These two distinct sections will be connected, but will be able to be detached and move independently of each other.

[fr33manator]

This is the start of it.

[fr33manator]

[fr33manator]

I haven't added any weaponry or accoutrements yet, so it's a bit skeletal. And I haven't even began to really work on the front part. I am going to connect it to the main body with ball and socket joints on 2x2 swivel plates. I think this should give the movement I Want. And add two "legs" that end in plasma cannons, maybe manned mini turrets. I am also going to add another level to the top and put a large octagonal trans dark blue canopy. I'm not really sure what to do about the interior. I'm wondering if I should enclose it with plates on hinges. Any ideas?

[Rocketbilly]

It's looking pretty good now. Only thing I'd say is the legs seem a little too short compared to the width of the body - but I know making them much longer would make them pretty flimsy. Also, you may want to find another way to attach your legs on the turntables other than using those jumper plates - that doesn't strike me as being able to withstand a lot of handling before it falls apart.

It's a good idea, too.

As for interior, I'd suggest any of the following: seating area for troops...or a medical bay perhaps? how about a control centre? you could have banks of computers and printed tiles...that would be pretty good or perhaps living quarters? a few beds, nothing fancy. Or perhaps have some sort of hangar for mini vehicles? OR how about a suggestion from the Container Heist set and have it open up to reveal a concealed laser cannon?

Whatever you do though I would certainly suggest making the interior as accessible as possible whether that means using hinged pieces or just a detachable roof. It'll make it a lot easier to play with, photograph and to adjust later without disassembling your MOC too much.

Edited May 15, 2011 by Rocketbilly

[fr33manator]

It's looking pretty good now. Only thing I'd say is the legs seem a little too short compared tot he width of the body - but I know making them much longer would make them pretty flimsy.

It's a good idea, too.

As for interior, I'd suggest any of the following: seating area for troops...or a medical bay perhaps? how about a control centre? you could have banks of computers and printed tiles...that would be pretty good or perhaps living quarters? a few beds, nothing fancy. Or perhaps have some sort of hangar for mini vehicles? OR how about a suggestion from the Container Heist set and have it open up to reveal a concealed laser cannon?

Whatever you do though I would certainly suggest making the interior as accessible as possible whether that means using hinged pieces or just a detachable roof. It'll make it a lot easier to play with, photograph and to adjust later without disassembling your MOC too much.

I figure I'll have to remove the top deck to outfit the bottom one, simply because it's a hassle to place pieces in such a cramped space and I have big hands. I think I will remove the center stanchion and replace it with a 4 sided computer console, because that stanchion doesn't really serve a purpose other than support. I think putting the middle deck on hinges will make it too flimsy. As far as vehicles go, each of the cockpits at the end of the legs detaches from the rest via pin, so that gives me 6 small support vehicles, plus front will detach as well. Maybe I could add a flier or two on the upper decks? For bottom deck, I am thinking control center, since it will be an independent vehicle on it's own. I like the idea of bunks. I am waiting on some tiles, and with those I think I can make a 3 bunk setup that doesn't take up too much room, so I could put 2 in. Or I might put that mid deck. I am not sure how high I want to go though. If I add another deck it will have to be not too high up and smaller, maybe a bridge? I am going to add a white laser cannon turret in the back. Where the "web" would come out. I'm not sure about the front "fang" section. I like the idea, but I'm not sure how to go about it. I think two trans-dark blue octagonal canopies would look good for "eyes" maybe add some disks around them to give it a multiple-eye look. Any tips?

[Rocketbilly]

All sounds like sound ideas to me.

Bunks sound especially good, and would be pretty cool if implemented properly.

I also think a couple of support fliers would be a great addition too but if they were to be manned then I think they could take up a lot of room - perhaps a single, mid sized flier or maybe some unmanned drones would be a good idea.

A bridge is also a good move, I'd say, more useful than more guns in my opinion, and you need somewhere to command all of these individual

vehicles from!

I think if you planned carefully then you could add an extra deck on there, because it's quite a wide MOC and should look balanced enough still.

As for eyes I think that's the best idea to convey an arachnid aesthetic, and the multiple eyes is also a good choice. There are a lot of trans dark blue elements that are great for creating eyes, so you could get some really good designs going there.

Edited May 15, 2011 by Rocketbilly

[fr33manator]

Ok, here's a thought. For the fang section, two octagon cockpits with dish arrays to give the multi-eye effect, then behind that a launch deck for a mid size flier, on the lower deck of that section, troop transport, kind of APC-ish.

Now I'm wondering about enclosing the thing with hinges? Do I need to? I think it might look kinda wonky without it, but I'm not sure.

[Rocketbilly]

That sounds like a good way to go, but by "troop transport" do you mean a detachable APC type vehicle, or an area (with seats and a ramp, that kind of thing) for troop deployment straight from the main vehicle? I can see advantages and disadvantages for both styles.

Hinges. It depends what type of hinge you want to use I'd say. Since it's pretty big and I assume you're going for an armoured look then I'd imagine the hinges are going to be taking a lot of weight, and if that's the case then they do get flimsy pretty quick. You could use the "click hinge" plates. They're far sturdier when compared to alternatives such as the 1X2 hinge brick and have a superior range of motion and also because they're click hinges you can set them in increments and have all of the angles matching, so it wont look too wonky at all.

So I'm thinking if you do go for hinges then "click hingest" are definitely the best option. It would certainly help playbility/access too which is something I personally like to include in all of my MOCS.

Edited May 15, 2011 by Rocketbilly

[fr33manator]

Anyone have any input on the faction names? The emblem of the trans-neon orange faction is a scorpion, and the trans-dark blue a spider, simply because thats what I had and it looked cool. I'd like faction names that have something to do with their "mascot?" and something to do with ice, or winter, or cold, anything in that theme.

Here's some backstory:

The scorpion faction is a more military offshoot of the Ice Planet 2000 faction. Non-canon, and on a different planet than Krysto, but with a similar icy landscape.

The spider faction is another military wing of a semi-civilian faction, think Explorien-esque. They are focused on genetic research and modification. My best friend built a few research stations in the same color theme. From what I gather they abduct people and modify them, at least that's what his bases are. He has modular "pods" that they are contained in. And he built a kind of slaver ship to abduct and transport prisoners.

I'm not sure what they are fighting over, resources? Anyway, any input is greatly appreciated.

That sounds like a good way to go, but by "troop transport" do you mean a detachable APC type vehicle, or an area (with seats and a ramp, that kind of thing) for troop deployment straight from the main vehicle? I can see advantages and disadvantages for both styles.

Hinges. It depends what type of hinge you want to use I'd say. Since it's pretty big and I assume you're going for an armoured look then I'd imagine the hinges are going to be taking a lot of weight, and if that's the case then they do get flimsy pretty quick. You could use the "click hinge" plates. They're far sturdier when compared to alternatives such as the 1X2 hinge brick and have a superior range of motion and also because they're click hinges you can set them in increments and have all of the angles matching, so it wont look too wonky at all.

So I'm thinking if you do go for hinges then "click hingest" are definitely the best option. It would certainly help playbility/access too which is something I personally like to include in all of my MOCS.

The only problem with the click hinges is most of my trans-dark blue stuff are of the finger hinge variety, so that is what i'll probably end up using. I might go with trans-dark blue canopies on the finger hinges to keep as much visibility as possible, and go with black click hinges for sturdier stuff. I just ordered a bunch from bricklink.

For the "troop transport" idea, I don't know. Did you see the fang section skeleton? What other ideas do you see there? I like the mid-size ship idea up top, but I'll have a bottom deck that is open, and I'm not sure what the best option for it would be.

[fr33manator]

Okay, definitely think I'm going with a mid-size flyer on back of the top deck of the fang section. Got some preliminary sketches that look promising. Bottom deck is up in the air. Perhaps I could put the bunks there. Next I need to figure out how high I will go with the "abdomen" section. I know I need to put another deck over the second one so I can utilize it, then maybe just the bridge up there? I'll design it and see how it looks. How does the color scheme look so far? Of course there will be much more trans-blue when I am finished. And lots more weaponry.

Maybe some anchored turrets up on the bridge section?

Tomorrow I'll get pics of the skorpion ship posted possibly.

[fr33manator]

Frost Skorpions?

Subzero Spyders?

[fr33manator]

On the Skorpion battle station (I haven't come up with a good name for it yet) there is a cruise missile launcher. Perhaps I should do something similar on the Spyder battle station (Blizzard Widow?) maybe long range artillery?

[fr33manator]

Ok, finished the structure of the abdomen. Will post pics in a bit

[fr33manator]

[fr33manator]

So there she is. No weapons yet, and still more lagniappe to add, as well as a good bit of work on the front "fang" section. Still need to add two more "legs" on that. And build the mid-size flyer.

So, any input?

[-zenn]

I like the concept. But I would suggest making it smaller, more handable. And maybe use some sort of plating for the body, so that there is less 'air'.

[fr33manator]

I like the concept. But I would suggest making it smaller, more handable. And maybe use some sort of plating for the body, so that there is less 'air'.

I'm not sure how I could make it smaller without redoing the entire structure. And I'm not sure what handable means in this sense. But I am working on getting some of the open spaces enclosed. Bought a bunch of trans blue

Windscreens and panels from bricklink. And I'm adding turrets around the sides of the structure. It's meant to be massive, seeing as it's a base. Also, for the back, I am adding an artillery gun that utilizes plasma encased in ice for projectiles. I'll post pics later.

[fr33manator]

any suggestions on how to build Gatling lasers or something of that nature?

[fr33manator]

Made some big improvements and have a nice midsize flyer for the front section now.

Will post pics when I get back to my Lego trailer. And comments?

Shameless bump

[LEGOMAN132]

any suggestions on how to build Gatling lasers or something of that nature?

There are small ones that use the 1x1 brick with pegs on all 4 sides and 4 binoculars with 2x2 spin plate and 3 1x2 tiles with peg or 1 2x2 tile with peg. Then for the larger ones use 6 1x1 poles technic pegs and round plate wheel piece with 6 holes. Hope it helps I don't really know the true names of technic parts all that well.

[fr33manator]

There are small ones that use the 1x1 brick with pegs on all 4 sides and 4 binoculars with 2x2 spin plate and 3 1x2 tiles with peg or 1 2x2 tile with peg. Then for the larger ones use 6 1x1 poles technic pegs and round plate wheel piece with 6 holes. Hope it helps I don't really know the true names of technic parts all that well.

I ended up making a fully articulated Gatling laser (the gun and the "ammo belt" spin together. I used the 6 (well, 7, one in the middle) holed technical piece with "umbrella poles" and made a sweet laser. As soon as I get back to my lego trailer I'll take a lit of pics

[fr33manator]

Okay, here is the latest status if the two factions

The two sides

The subzero Skorpions

The Chiller Spyders