MFZ: Intercept Orbit Carrier Design

Another quick post to show off a capital ship design based around the Technic wing front (2743) that I used for the aft of my Frigates. This one is exactly 16 studs long, and looks pretty beastly even if I do say so myself. The second picture shows the upgraded stand - I also have a method for propping up the bow end if need be.

MFZ: Intercept Orbit - Frigate Designs

These are the first designs from the Daimler MacLaren Group R&D labs since the name change from Alpha Bandit to Intercept Orbit. Of note, these builds are on the correctly sized bases & fit the maximum size restriction of 12 studs (if only just). More pics to follow!

SSC & Review: Mixels Electroids 41506, 41507, 41508

>>> Part three of my Mixels SSC & Review - the Electroids. I assembled these first, and got two very decent frames together and one passable one. 

Here's the breakdown per set, assuming the sale price of AUD $5.75:

ELECTROIDS

41506: Teslo

54 pcs = 11c / piece

41507: Zaptor

61 pcs = 9c / piece

41508: Volectro

70 pcs = 8c / piece

Total: 185

Average: 61 = 9c / piece

>>> 41506: Teslo
Can you build a frame, or frames, right away? Yes = +5

Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio? Above = -10
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

Total = 5 pts, "B+" rating

My weakest build of the three, this has a bit of the old Rogue Trader era Dreadnought style to it. Hutching ugly, but stable on the battlefield at least!

Load-out:

Missile pod + AF Cannon: 2Rd + d8

Sensor cluster: 1Y

Armour Plates: 1B

>>> 41507: Zaptor
Can you build a frame, or frames, right away? Yes = +5

Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio? Below = +5
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

Total = 20 pts, "A+" rating

This was the first set I put together - I think this little frame has heaps of character, and I'd happily game with it. The graphic on the eyes is only just visible from certain angles, so they make a very reasonable sensor dome. I've used the six cheese wedges to represent a Vertical Launch System - you can just picture this frame lurking in the back-field, dropping spotting dice and micro-missiles anywhere it wants!

Load-out:

VLS micro-missiles: 2Ra

2x Sensor Clusters: 2Y

Armour Plating: 1B

>>> 41508: Volectro
Can you build a frame, or frames, right away? Yes = +5

Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio? Below = +5
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

Total = 20 pts, "A+" rating

This guy. THAT FIST. My absolute favourite out of all nine sets, I think that barring a few more exposed studs than is normal for our design ethic, this frame just works.

Loadout:

BFF-9000: 2Rh

Sensor pod: 1Y

Deflector Shield: 1B

Climbing Claws: 1G

Obligatory group shot:

I had quite a few pieces left over from these frames all up - again, I think the new player would benefit strongly from pooling the parts from all three sets. A re-build of the Teslo frame is on the cards - he's really letting the team down!

As mentioned in part one, I ended up suffering from build burn-out by the end of all nine sets. I'll definitely pace myself more when I do Series 2. I'll also endeavour to do the challenge twice: once as a proper SSC; the second time, pooling all three sets & seeing what the extra flexibility lets me come up with.

SSC & Review: Mixels Cragsters 41503, 41504, 41505

>>> Here's part two of my Mixels SSC & Review - this time, it's all about the Cragsters. I'll be honest and say I found these the least inspiring when I was looking at the sets early on - too much black and grey. I did these sets second, and I'm sure you can figure out which set I kind of gave up on...

Here's the breakdown per set, assuming the sale price of AUD $5.75:

CRAGSTERS

41503: Krader

66 pcs = 9c / piece

41504: Seismo

50 pcs = 12c / piece

41505: Shuff

51 pcs = 11c / piece

Again, if you buy all three sets, they average out to be just on the money (if only by rounding!).

Total: 167

Average: 55 pcs = 10.4c / piece

>>> 41503: Krader

Can you build a frame, or frames, right away? Yes = +5
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio? Below = +5 
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
Total = 20 pts, "A+" rating

Not a bad frame for an SSC build - it stands about as tall as a Chub. I'm going to say I've dodged my SSC curse for a change, in that there's both reasonable articulation, and some recognisable weapon systems for a change. Shame about them feets...

Load-out:

Micro-missile pod + Machine Guns: 2Rd + d8

Scramble-grenade Launcher: 1B

Enhanced Leg Actuators: 1G

>>> 41504: Seismo
Can you build a frame, or frames, right away? Yes = +5

Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio? Above = -10
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

Total = 5 pts, "B+" rating

Okay - this one came out a little weird: it's a frame with stiletto heels! I've noticed that the studs on the new Mixels joints tend to be really loose - fortunately, the claw pieces fit firmly.  No obvious weapons systems to speak of - I carried over a design from one of the Electroids frames that I made first, and used the block of cheese wedges on the carapace to represent a missile Vertical Launch System.

Load-out:

Anti-armour VLS: 2Ra

2x Sensor Pods: 2Y

Climbing Claws: 1G

>>> 41505: Shuff

Can you build a frame, or frames, right away? Yes = +5

Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio? Above = -10
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

Total = 5 pts, "B+" rating

I view this as a bit of a joke, maybe on a mining colony somewhere: "Hey Steve, could you put some hutchin' armour on this frame already?" "Sure thing, Frank..." - definitely not my best work.

Load-out:

Flechette Launcher: 1Rh / 1Rd

Ablative Armour: 2B

Turbo Engine: 1G

Finally, let's have a group shot again:

I can't give these three sets as big a recommendation as the Infernites - both due to the parts (those ridiculous boulders!) and the drab colour scheme. Not terrible, but definitely invest in either the Electroids or Infernites first.

SSC & Review: Mixels Infernites 41500, 41501, 41502

>>> Like many a MoFØ, I was keen to get my hands on some of the Mixels sets. On the face of it, they're loaded with MFZ friendly parts, and the new ball joints look like a good way to add articulation; all this at a Golden Ratio friendly price if you live anywhere BUT Australia... which is why I bulk ordered the entire Series 1 collection from a UK seller (along with some Star Wars split sets) with cheap shipping.

Over the weekend, I sat down with all nine Series 1 sets and made frames out of them. Some are much more convincing than others - I repeatedly ran into my own "SSC curse": you can generally have articulation, or weapons, but rarely both. I actually put the Infernites together last, and was a little burned out by the process by then! That said, they're still not the weakest of the three sets & I was mostly happy with how my frames turned out.

The latest Big W catalogue has the Mixels listed at AUD $5.75 (down from $7 or so) - I'm not sure if they have the whole range, but this is about as cheap as they come. I'm going to review these as an absolute best-case scenario for Australian MFZ fans - these scores will therefore be more in line with reviewers in countries with cheaper Lego. Needless to say, paying retail prices will mean that all the Mixels sets are above the Golden Ratio.

Here's the breakdown per set, assuming the sale price of AUD $5.75:

INFERNITES

41500: Flain

58 pcs = 10c / piece

41501: Vulk

69 pcs = 8c / piece

41502: Zorch

45 pcs = 13c / piece

Interestingly enough, if you buy all three, they just barely eke out a Golden Ratio score!

Total: 172

Average: 57.3 pcs = 10c / piece

>>> 41500: Flain

Can you build a frame, or frames, right away? Yes = +5 

Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  At = 0 

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

Total = 15 pts, "A" rating

Here's the frame I made from this set - it stands about the same height as a Chub. Not a bad start - the torso and legs are certainly quite "framey", even if the weapons systems are a little lacking. The 'Ball with Cross Axle' (2736) joint works quite nicely as a hip here.

Load-out:

Flamethrower: 1Rd/1Rh

Missile Pod: 1Rd/1Ra

Reinforced Legs: 1G

Armour Plating: 1B

>>> 41501: Vulk
Can you build a frame, or frames, right away? Yes = +5
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below = +5
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

Total = 20 pts, "A+" rating

This frame is an example of nice okay idea, poor execution (this was the last frame I put together and I was definitely suffering from creative block!). The 2x2 ball joints are probably just too bulky for the majority of MFZ scale usage. That said, they do make excellent mounts for missile pods and the like.

Load-out:
2x AF-Cannons: 2Rd + d8
Shield Generators: 1B
Sensor Dome: 1Y

Addendum: Urgh, I'm going to re-build this one later - after a few days away from it, I can't bear to look at it!

Here we go, starting with the exact same pieces (I used less) but THIS time without my mecha-fatigue:

Load-out:
AF-Cannons: 2Rd
Sensor Cluster: 1Y
Shield Generators: 1B
Booster: 1G

>>> 41502: Zorch
Can you build a frame, or frames, right away? Yes = +5
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Above = -10
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

Total = 5 pts, "B+" rating

I quite like this little guy - despite having the least parts of any of the sets, it still has a certain je ne sais quoi, non?

Load-out:
Missile Launcher w. Targeting Package: 2Ra+d8
Armoured Legs: 1B
Sensor Cluster: 1Y

Finally, let's have a group shot:

I think the best approach with the Mixels sets vis a vis MFZ is to get all three, pool the parts and take it from there. You'll end up with three visually cohesive frames for well under $20. If that's not a great way to get a beginner into the game, I don't know what is.

Single Set Challenge (SSC) /// MFZ-focused reviews /// what to buy and where from

>>> I'm a big fan of this concept: take any single Lego set, and make as many Mobile Frames and stations as you can from only those pieces. This is a perfect opportunity for the AFOL to grab a new set or two to take on vacation, after all. Smaller sets may only result in a single frame, but I recently had success with making a whole company from a single set.

>>> An excellent MFZ specific review framework has been established by Mantisking on his blog the Mobile Frame Garage. I'll reproduce it here, but I suggest checking his blog out as it has heaps of information. There's a long list of good sets for MFZ on his blog too.

The Questions:

Can you build a frame, or frames, right away? (Yes = +5 / No = -5)

Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio? (Below = +5 / At = 0 / 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 / No = -5)

Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts? (Yes = +5 / No = -5)

The Ratings:

Added to a base score of zero (0), the answers to these questions should give a range of -25 to +20 points. 

Which gives us the following scores and ratings:

+20 = A+

+15 = A

+10 = A-

+5 = B+

0 = B

-5 = B-

-10 = C+

-15 = C

-25 = C-.

Now that MFZ: Alpha Bandit (spaceship combat) is nearing release, some people are adding scores for that as well. A marginal set for the original MFZ can sometimes be an excellent set for Alpha Bandit.

>>> When sourcing sets for MFZ, it's well worth looking on eBay for sellers who split off the minifigs & on-sell the rest of the kit. Since minifigs are mostly useless to us in MFZ (aside from the infamous 'butt-hands', perhaps), this leaves us all the good bits we're after & can make an otherwise marginal cost/part ratio dip below the line.

Just in case you don't know, if you enter a set number (like 40085) into the search engine of a site like Brickset.com, you can find a complete inventory of the parts included. Once you get your eye in for the parts that are normally used to make frames, you can very quickly determine if a set is worth your time or not.

Sometimes you just really need a particular part - you can now buy directly from Lego's online store (which is expensive), or through a service like Bricklink (unfortunately quite complex) or the newer site Brick Owl (which I haven't used yet). Careful shopping will net you orders under the golden ratio with the parts you need, but be warned: there'll always be something you forgot ;)

Finally, be aware that some countries have much better shipping services than others. I'm located in Australia, but due to our often horrible pricing I buy sets and parts from overseas. I've found that a lot of UK sellers have great shipping fees compared to sellers in the USA, and the service is often faster too.

background >> Daimler Maclaren Group, (Incorporated)

Like many a gaming grognard*, I got hooked by Rogue-Trader era Warhammer 40,000. Back then, the game was not marketed at kids** and contained quite a few references to pop culture of the time. Anybody else remember the Legio Metallica? Or the Dreadnought inscribed with 'Ride the Lightning'? Well, Daimler Maclaren Group (Incorporated) - or DMG(Inc) for short - is my own little reference to a once dearly beloved band.

>>> REPORT: DAIMLER MACLAREN GROUP (INC) 

Born out of a merger in SC 0231 between an Austrian-based engineering firm and a major Scottish investment fund, Daimler Maclaren Group (Inc) immediately sold off enough assets to get a majority share in their own Transit Gate, with a view to getting a foothold in a less crowded market. The new headquarters of DMG(Inc) is located in a very promising (if highly litigious) system nicknamed Hooligan's Hole, consisting of several habitable planetary bodies, each with its own fledgling colony. Due to a technical malfunction on a penal ship, Hooligan's Hole has been overrun by a veritable army of lawyers, who have spread throughout the system's bureaucracy much as a Sirani Octoworm invades a host body.

Allegations by rival company Burnez-Y'ranis of corporate espionage, insider trading and outright blackmail during the buyout were eventually quashed; the local free press did find it somewhat suspicious that the orbital headquarters of BY was holed by a series of micro-meteorites while the defence grid was down for scheduled maintenance. DMG(Inc) CEO August Jane Maclaren III is on record as stating that "sadly, even million-to-one chances sometimes happen".

Having established a solid income base from Transit fees, DMG(Inc) has recently expanded their interests by selling engineering supplies, weapons, munitions, systems and occasionally entire frames to all and sundry. Production capacity is currently small but steadily increasing with demand.

Under pressure from the Patent Enforcement Union (generally pronounced "Pee-yew!" by good, honest entrepeneurs everywhere), DMG(Inc) were forced to modify their frame designs by a minimum of 11.5% or face punitive remunerative action. Retroactive charges were not laid; the later appearance of DMG(Inc) systems on PEU Enforcer frames is entirely unrelated.

The following is an entry from the DMG(Inc) Spring Hardware Catalogue of SC 0248 >>>

The first entirely original (and therefore, we remind you, subject to Patent Enforcement Union regulation) frame system off our production line this quarter is the DMG-A12 Vectored Thruster System, a vectored jet-pack suitable for frames roughly around the size of an ST-07B 'Chub'.

The -A12 uses minimal base load system power and is used in short bursts to clear obstacles or gain a brief overview of the battlefield. Although suitable for zero-G operations, it is not suitable for atmospheric re-entry.

Daimler Maclaren Group (Inc) is not to be held accountable for damage toor loss of any frames which are deployed contrary to the A12's instruction manual.

>>> ENDS

* Grognard: A soldier of Napoleon's Old Guard; a veteran soldier; grumbler*** (French).

** see: "Realms of Chaos" random mutation table result 'Crown of Phalluses'.

*** this last part is most apt in my particular case.