Terrain Workshop: Medium Sized Building 2

I was working on some buildings for another project so I took a little time to revisit my Medium Sized Building design in the hopes of incorporating them into that project.  One of the things lacking from the original design was a door so I tweaked the design to add a door, or at least an opening for one.

I started with the third roof option build from the original post then removed two of the 1x10 Bricks from each building.  To the building on the left I added in three 1x4 Bricks, one 1x3 Brick, one 1x1 Brick, and one 4x4 Plate (for the roof).  To the building on the right I added in two 1x4 Bricks, three 1x2 Bricks, two 1x1 Bricks, and one 4x4 Plate (for the roof).

Underside View

In 6P scale the left-hand building is still 25.5 feet on a side and 11 feet tall.  (The overlapping roof is 30 feet on a side.)  The building will now take 4 Hits to destroy.  It will still be Cover if the roof is blasted off but not past the third Hit.  In 6P scale the right-hand building is still 25.5 feet on a side and 14 feet tall.  (The overlapping roof is 30 feet on a side.)  The building will now take 5 Hits to destroy.  It will still be Cover if the roof is blasted off but not past the third Hit.  Also, adding the reinforcing plate to the roof resolves the issue of the roof shattering when it's picked up by the roof.

 Doing some quick checking; a 6x6 Plate (x4) is $0.13 on Bricklink, a 1x10

 Brick (x10) is $0.29 per, a Large Jumper (x4) is $0.01 per, a 1x4 Brick

 (x3) is $0.03 per, a 1x3 Brick (x1) is $0.03 per, a 1x1 Brick (x1) is $0.01

 per, and a 4x4 Plate (x1) is $0.02.   That's a total of $3.61 per building.

More quick checking; a 6x6 Plate (x4) is $0.13 on Bricklink, a 1x10 

 Brick (x14) is $0.29 per, a Large Jumper (x4) is $0.01 per, a 1x4 Brick 

 (x2) is $0.03 per, a 1x2 Brick (x3) is $0.02 per, a 1x1 Brick (x2) is $0.01 

 per, and a 4x4 Plate (x1) is $0.02.   That's a total of $4.78 per building. 

So both of these options are cheaper than most of the options from the original post and look a little more functional as well.  I 'll leave people with one last size comparison photo.

I hope this helps people working on constructing buildings for their battlefields.

Match Finder

With both versions of the Hangar being offline, there has been no long term method of finding other players and arranging games.  After being asked by users, we've expanded the Discord to add a dedicated channel for player finding, #Match_Finder_Zero.  We've had a large influx of new users lately on the Discord so hopefully this helps people meet other players and start building gaming groups.

Random Starships 8

It's been ten months since the last "Random Starships" post, so let's spend Friday morning -- or whatever time of day or week you're viewing this -- looking at the spaceship hotness I've discovered.

BlasterCraft by tbone_tbl.  Under the size limit for IO Frigates,

a bunch of these together as a flotilla would look neat.

Star Trek Lego Romulan Bird of Prey by Paulygons.

This should just fit under the size limit for Frigates.

Guppy Gunship by just0nebrick.  Another build that

could be used in IO or RA.  Great color choices on this.

Golden Shipping Defense Fleet by Valtarshol Ceirn.  Actually

built for IO!  And you know I'm a sucker for offbeat parts.

Space Destroyer by Amrit Arora.  A little long for an IO

cruiser but the shaping and color blocking on this is great.

Review: Metal Society

Finding material in other media that can inspire or illuminate the creative space that Mobile Frame Zero occupies can be difficult sometimes.  In general it's limited to a handful of mecha anime, some comics, and maybe a book or two.  Sometimes you have to bend a little and look at things that aren't directly related but can be "spiritually" linked to Mobile Frame Zero.  That's what today's review is going to be.

Published by Image Comics and currently on its fourth issue -- of five -- Metal Society is a comic set on a post-apocalyptic(?) Earth, where humanity is no longer the dominant sapient species.  Robots now rule the world.  Humanity was wiped out and has been recreated through experiments by the current robotic overlords as a tool for manual labor.  There are tensions between humans and robots as humans see themselves as able to more than what they are limited to and robots see humans as second class citizens.  The first couple issues are spent building up the main characters and the tensions between the two societies.  This tension comes to a head and an attempt to resolve that conflict through personal combat between robot and human champions is proposed.

Like all good science fiction it holds the world up to an allegorical lens, looks at the current culture and class conflicts going on, and projects those images onto the page.  Of course, this also could have come into existence because someone thought the idea of "Robots Versus Wrestlers" could be awesome if played straight rather than for laughs.

Basically -- steering things back on topic -- this book might be able to shed light on alien motivations in MFZ.  While truly alien interactions might be difficult to represent, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs should still be relatable to alien society in some form.  Alternatively, this could be another way of understanding the conflict between the Solar Union and the Free Colonies.  The robots could be considered the Solar Union and the humans could be considered the Free Colonies.

Monthly Mecha Making Inspiration Game

Occasionally I get asked "Why doesn't the community have building contests?"  There are many answers why not but it basically comes down to the fact that the MFZ already leans heavily on building as a means of interacting and doesn't really need any encouragement on that front.  Honestly it would be nice if we saw more actual play, rules exploration, fiction, or terrain builds out of the community.

That being said, there's been a long running MFZ building challenge -- since 2017! -- called the Monthly Mecha Making Inspiration Game organized by J. Phayze.  With the lack of a community message board the challenges are currently being posted to the MFZ subReddit.  The current one can be found here.  This challenge can be a great way to supercharge your creativity, I know it's helped me a few times.  I've made a number of builds for different iterations of the MMMIG.

Here's my build for the latest outing.  It's based on the top center mecha from the source material.

Flickr page.

So, if you're looking for an excuse to build something or just need inspiration in general, check out the Monthly Mecha Making Inspiration Game, and help support a long running community tradition.

Review: Zuru Max Space Hunter

I actually had a set like this in my hands a couple of years ago, although that set had a "minifig" included.  I was prevented from buying it because it was a "small parts hazard" which is weird because being a Lego knock-off it has small pieces by its very nature.

Box.  I paid $4.99 for this, for a $0.05 Price per Piece.  I've

found these in both 5 Below and Ocean State Job Lots.

 

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Wedge Bricks, Bricks, Round Bricks, Slopes, Corrugated

Bricks, Bricks w/Studs on Side, and Brackets.

Parts 2.  Tires, Axle Plates, Rims, Translucent Flowers, Bar Plates, Grille

Tiles, Round Bricks, Translucent Cones, Translucent Apollo Studs, Apollo

Studs, Round Tiles, Stadium Cheese Slopes, and Levers & Bases.

 

Build.  Once again, I love sets with many multiples of parts, two Frames

[2Rd (cannon) 1B (capacitors) 1G (wheels) 1Y (antenna)] and Stations.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  Another excellent set.  If you buy all three of the sets from this week you can have a demo game set up and all you'll need is a Ruler and dice.  If you buy doubles you can have a 4 on 4 match for just $30.

Review: Zuru Max Dragon Attack

I remember seeing a set like this a couple of years ago, although that set had a "minifig" included.  They were pulled off the shelf for being a "small parts hazard" which is weird because being a Lego knock-off it has small pieces by its very nature.

Box.  I paid $4.99 for this, for a $0.05 Price per Piece.  I've

found these in both 5 Below and Ocean State Job Lots.

 

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Inverted Slopes, Slopes, Studless Slopes,

Bricks w/Studs on Side, and Wedge Plates.

Parts 2.  Teeth Plates, Dishes, Flames, Bar Plates, Double Clip

Plates, Hinge w/Ball Joint Socket, Triple Curve Slopes, Ball Joint

Plates, Padlocks, Jumpers, Vertical Hinge Plates, Tooth Plates,

Clip Plates, Apollo Studs, Triple Curve/Inverted Slopes, and Tails.

 

Build.  This is why I love sets with many multiples of parts, two Frames [2Rd (flame gun) 1B (leg armor) 1G (extra leg) 1Y (head)] and Station.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  Two Frames and a Station with a handful of extra parts, that's pretty damn good.

Review: Zuru Max Knight's Castle

This is the third Zuru Max set in the smaller set "line".  I don't remember seeing this before so I'm not sure if this is a re-released set or not.

Box.  I paid $4.99 for this, for a $0.05 Price per Piece.  I've

found these in both 5 Below and Ocean State Job Lots.

 

Instructions.

Parts 1.  Window Frames, Windows, Antenna, and Flags.

Parts 2.  Corrugated Bricks, Bricks, Round Bricks, Curved Slopes 3x2x1 w/

Four Studs, Inverted Slopes, 1x3 Studless Slopes, and Wedge Plates.

 

Build.  Five 1 Hit pieces of Cover.  Plenty of spare pieces too.

The Questions:

Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Cover.  (+0)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +15 (A).  If you need a bunch of Cover cheap this is the set for you.

Review: 76831 Lightyear Zurg Battle

Okay, so this is a lot bigger than my usual parts limit for Lego reviews but it has some interesting parts and colors so I figured I'd give it a shot anyway.

Box.  MSRP is $29.99 for a $0.12 Price per Piece.

Instructions & Stickers

Minifigs.

Parts 1.  Emperor Zurg Head, Mudguard Bricks, Wedges, Translucent  Antenna, Technic Plates, Studless Slopes, Brackets, Bricks, Curved Slope w/Studs, Wedge Plates, Bricks w/Studs on Corners, Round Brick w/Pinholes, Ball Joint Plates, Bar Plates, Tiles w/Studs on Edge, Corner Plates, and Brick 1x1x1.6 w/Studs on Side. 

 

Parts 2.  Technic Plates, Curved Slopes w/Lip, Plates, Brackets, Large 

Cheese Slopes, Pentagonal Tiles, Plates w/Rounded End, Plate

2x2x0.6 w/2 Studs on Side, Bar Plates, Ball Joint Plates, Round

Jumpers, 1x1-1x2 Brackets, 1x1-1x2 Inverted Brackets, Studless

Slopes, Inverted Studless Slopes, Wedges, and Minifig Stud Shooter.

Parts 3.  Inverted Tiles, Rounded Plates, Bar Plates, Cheese Grater

 Slopes, Plates, Purple Ingots!, Bar Clips, Studless Slopes, Clip

Plates, Bar Ball Joints, Clip Tile, Translucent Round Plates, Cheese

Slopes, Brackets, Inverted Brackets, and Printed Boat Stud.

Parts 4.  Round Tiles, Round Plates, Round Tile w/Hole, Boat Stud, Wedge

Plates, Corner Plate, Corner Tile, Plates, Rounded Plates, Ingots, Large

Cheese Slope, Bar Plates, Inkwells, Apollo Studs, Stud w/Handle, Tiles,

Quarter Circle Tiles, Translucent Stud w/Handle, Clip Bar Holder, Unicorn Horns,

3L Axle/Pin, Printed Translucent Brick, Minifig Overwatch Gun, and Cones.

Build.  Two Frames and a Station -- of course I was going

to use that Zurg head.  There's also plenty of spare parts.

The Questions:
Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Above.  (-10)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)

Score: +5 (B+). Yeah, despite the price this is a good set.  All that Purple!

Review: 42117 Technic Race Plane

I've been interested in this set since last year and I finally gave in and bought a copy.

Box.  MSRP is $9.99 for a $0.07 Price per Piece.

Instructions & Stickers.

Parts 1.  Technic Wedge Panels.  These were loose in the box.

Parts 2.  9D Propeller, Bionicle Wing, 1x7 Liftarms, Pin Connector

Block, Toggle Joint w/Axle & Pinholes, Toggle Joint w/2 Pins,

Panel Fairings, 1x5 Liftarms, Axle/Pin Connectors w/2 Pinholes,

1x7 Thin Liftarms, 1x5 Thin Liftarms, 1x4 Thin Liftarms w/Axle

Holes, 2x4 Bent Liftarm, Gear, 2x2 Studless Slope w/Lip, Angled 

Axle/Pin Connector, Perpendicular Split Axle/Pin Connector,

Plates, Straight Axle/Pin Connectors, Axle/Pin Connector w/

Center Pinhole, Axles, Studless Slope, Axle w/Stop, and Brick.

 

Parts 3.  Tires, Gears, 1L Pin Connectors, Pin Connector w/2 Axles, 1x4 Thin

Liftarms w/Axle Holes, Axle Connector, Studless Slopes, Tiles, Inverted

Studless Slopes, Plates, Translucent Cheese Slopes, 3/4 Pins, Axle/Pin, 4L

Axles, 2L Axles, 1/2 Pins, 3L Axle/Pins, 3L Friction Pins, and Friction Axle/Pins.

Parts 4.  Plate w/Inverted Pinhole, Studless Slopes, Bionicle

Tooth, 3L Pin w/Axle Connector, Axles, Pin Connector w/

Axle, Plates, Cheese Slopes, 1/2 Bushings, and Friction Pins.

Build.  Pyramid-Head Quad.

The Questions:
Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+). Plenty of useful parts to be found in this set.

Review: 76189 Captain America & Hydra Faceoff

It's been a over year since I did the last "4+" set review.  I picked this up in a BOGO50% sale at J.C.Penney.  I'm still not a big fan of this line of sets -- especially with Lego already being perceived as expensive -- but I am intrigued by the core pieces of the motorcycle.

Box.  MSRP was $9.99 for a $0.20 Price per Piece.
I picked this up for $7.49 for a $0.15 Price per Piece.

Instructions.

Minifigs.

Parts 1.  Loose in box.  Quad Bike Halves.

Parts 2.  Wheels, Plates, Wedge Plates, Plate 2x2x2/3 w/2 Studs on Side,

Studless Slope, Clip Plate, Grille Tiles, Round Tiles, Printed Round Tiles,

Round Jumper, Rounded Plate, Large Cheese Slope, Technic Pins,

Translucent Cones, Flames, Wedge w/Cutout, Printed Wedge, Projectile

Launcher Brick, Minifig Space Ray Gun, and Minifig Handlebars.

Build.  Battlecart and Station.

The Questions:
Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Above.  (-10)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +5 (B+).  That base price is awful, and the sale isn't much better, but it does have some interesting parts.

Terrain Workshop: Trees 6

Let's change things up a little and try to use some parts that aren't Supports or Cylinders to build a couple of trees.

The first part that started off this build -- figuratively and literally -- is a 2x2 Round Brick 45 Deg. Elbow.  Two of these are connected to each other, and the brick-built base, by 2L Notched Axles, which also connects a 2x2 Round Brick.  These form the base of the trunk.  Starting out the branch section is another 2x2 Round Brick, four 3x4 Plant Leaves, and a 2x2 Round Plate.  The next section of branches is the same, except it's capped off by a 2x2 Round Tile.  This gives us a 3 Hit, 26 feet tall, 5 feet thick tree in 6P scale.

This next one starts out with a Green 2x2 Round Brick, just to save some Reddish-Brown ones, then a 2x2x2 Barrel to give the trunk some height and texture.  Then we have a 2x2 Round Brick, a 2x2 Corrugated Round Brick -- again, for texture -- and another 2x2 Round Brick.  The canopy is formed by four Padlocks, four 1x2 Horizontal Clip Plates, and four 6x5 Swordleaves w/Clip, topped off with a 2x2 Round Tile.  This gives us a 3 Hit, 20 feet tall, 5 feet thick tree in 6P scale.

Now that I'm done re-tree-ting for the week -- I make no apologies for that pun -- I hope I've given people ideas or techniques to use in their terrain builds.