MECHS, THE EASY WAY

Entering the challenging world of mech building just got easier with the new Mecha Frame system. However, is it any good? Mark Guest finds out

Crashing through the landscape with a mechanical thud, the two-legged beast comes to a halt as it surveys its surroundings in search of potential threats. Heavily armoured and standing tall, the defiant man-made creation dominates the air with a screeching sound of mechanised machinery with every step. Welcome to the fantasy world of mechs, a genre that easily captures the imagination and offers endless diversity in both form and creation. So popular is this fantasy-based theme, it’s no surprise to discover it’s a frequently-visited subject matter for LEGO builders. The online world is full of some of the most amazing mech creations big and small, offering a complexity that can often seem daunting for the newcomer to even attempt to enter. I know from personal experience that these humanoid forms are tricky to get right, be it aesthetically or structurally. Just where do you begin? This was certainly my perspective a few months ago and previous attempts to replicate my inspiration had reached a level I wouldn’t be willing to share. But help is at hand.

Scouring the internet, I stumbled across the website of the Hero Design Studio, which had developed a system called Mecha Frame. Now don’t get me wrong - I rarely entertain the thought of any third-party products and my initial thoughts were of interest but also, scepticism. However, if I feel something has the potential to enhance my LEGO lifestyle, then I am certainly willing to try and these skeletal frames had my attention. After some consideration, I took the plunge and ordered a frame.

One of the main influences in making this decision was discovering this system had been developed by a group of mech-loving LEGO enthusiasts, which led me to believe they would have a similar mindset to what would be required with this sort of project. The project’s birth had come about as they were trying to recreate Gundam-style models in LEGO form; it felt like we were on the same page. At this point, I was sold and even found myself acquiring one of their mech kits in addition to the frame to see how they stood up to my rigorous testing.

Upon receiving the orders, I set about playing with the core product, the Mecha Frame itself. The articulated Mecha Frame core product

My first impression was good; it was well presented and the frame itself allowed for many different configurations of the limbs, with a minimum of nine points of articulation. The central body had a cavity large enough to slot in a minifigure should you so desire. It also had studs on all sides, which would make placing armour or moving limbs even more flexible. My first step was to keep it basic and create the skeleton in a simple upright humanoid form before proceeding to test the frame. Before forming any sort of plan, I attached a variety of differentsized LEGO elements onto the frame to test clutch powers, as all too often, aftermarket products have very different stud tolerances, resulting in poor clutch and a less enjoyable build experience.

I tried my hardest to make the frame fail but I am pleased to say this had been well thought through and the bricks stayed firmly attached, even when pushing the articulation to its limits. The joints stayed firm and the pieces remained in place - I was happy. Now confident I had stumbled across a solution that would help me develop my mech skills, I started to build using a definite trial-and-error technique. I hadn’t set myself any particular style or goal for this project and due to the frame’s well designed construction, I faced arguably too many choices. However, this did enable me to explore lots of different techniques and ideas, most of which I found were not limited by the frame’s shape. I did stumble across complications around the arm sockets due to the angles though, so I did have to choose my bricks carefully, which led to me being more creative.

Overall, the frame certainly helped develop my own mech style and any limitations within the design actually just led to me pushing my building skills further and creating technique solutions I perhaps wouldn’t have explored. The size, for example, was a good case in point. As I built the body section up, I quickly noticed that the limbs felt a little small in comparison. This was primarily because I had extended the cockpit to house two minfigures, so it could be argued I had overbuilt this section, yet the ability to adapt this frame allowed me to pursue the vision I had started, of an armoured salvage mech. The amount of connection points on the skeletal frame’s limbs came into play here, as they meant I could extend the body easily whilst maintaining a solid structure. This also led to a small shape change by moving the arms rearwards and essentially, creating a second set of legs.

I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed using this frame and it has inspired me to get more and try different styles using it as the backbone for my future mechs. My final model wasn’t what I initially started out to build and, in fact, ended up being better than I had hoped for, most of which I can attribute to how you end up interacting with the frame. I am now working on building an entire platoon of varied disciplined mechs, as the enjoyable building experience of using this system has inspired me. I think some fans may not be able to see beyond this being an unofficial product but having built with it now for a few months, I feel it’s a enhancement and the perfect entry point to those looking to join the world of mech building.

Next month, we meet the Mecha Frame designer, Hero Lee.

OTHER OPTIONS

Beyond the frame, the developers have designed five ready-to-go kits you can purchase. The parts supplied are not LEGO pieces but if you are looking for a quick build, this may be the way you wish to go. Also on their website, there is a gallery for inspiration should you wish to find out more. herodesignstw.com mybuildtoy.com

The exoskeleton (left) forms the internal structure of the salvage mech

The New Baseplate.