custom minifig-scale monster...arachne...

boses · Post by **boses** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 8:48 pm

here is my minifig scale arachne, it is based on a monster from Final Fantasy II with the same name. I took a few liberties, and changed the leg count from 8 to 6, as well as changing the gender from what was obviously a 'female' monster.

I used a darth maul head for this monster, the paint was wearing off and this resulted in a weird, greenish tint to the markings...

The leg construction technique was inspired by the Frogman that I saw posted by RubberChickenKnight, but the main model itself as well as the brick-built weapon are my design.

I have since modified the arachne...I now call it an arakne, and I changed part of the model's design, it is more compact now...

here is a nice overhead view, you can get a better view of the scale in this shot..

here are the new deeplinks, updated for this new design...

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/boses ... rakne1.jpg

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/boses ... rakne2.jpg

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/boses ... rakne3.jpg

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/boses ... rakne4.jpg

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/boses ... rakne4.jpg

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/boses ... rakne6.jpg

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/boses ... rakne7.jpg

I don't have plans to modify this design any further...

please tell me what you think...

Shadow · Post by **Shadow** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 9:24 pm

Wow... it looks really good. I'm wondering how you can conceptionalize that for it is out of my creative range

boses · Post by **boses** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 11:34 pm

Thanks Shadow, I always appreciate a response to the things I build...

As for conceptual skills, not to brag, but I have a "living memory" of virtually every piece I have ever owned, currently own, or have seen but I am yet to acquire...

The arrival of new pieces, such as the bionicle ball and socket or the knights kingdom armors, inspire me greatly, and I almost never view new pieces or color changes as a negative thing...

The only problem I see now is the large numbers of new pieces that continue to be released, and the lack of re-issues of older parts, such as the parts in the early Castle System sets...

Not to stray, but I believe this maybe helpful...

lil Jon · Post by **lil Jon** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 2:03 am

As for conceptual skills, not to brag, but I have a "living memory" of virtually every piece I have ever owned, currently own, or have seen but I am yet to acquire...

I can relate to that!

Your latest guy kind of freaks me out. The Darth Maul head works well. I wish I could see it a little better though.

Recluce · Post by **Recluce** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 2:27 am

How stable are the little hands holding on to the legs? And how well do the hands stay connected to the body?

Dunechaser · Post by **Dunechaser** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 2:57 am

Great design! Probably my favorite of yours so far.

The leg design is great, but I also like the axe (or is it a flag?).

ottoatm · Post by **ottoatm** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 3:12 am

This is a really impressive monster you have here... I believe your memory of your collection must indeed be extensive, because I you use such interesting pieces here (and in your other creations) in new and ingenious ways.

Recluce wrote:How stable are the little hands holding on to the legs? And how well do the hands stay connected to the body?

I do wonder about this... while the design looks amazing - how functoinal/durable is it? Seems like it must be a little fragile?

boses · Post by **boses** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 4:29 am

The best way to describe the durability of the arakne is this...

tougher and more durable then a LEGO battle droid, but not as sturdy

as a LEGO minifig---

As long as you don't throw it around it holds up well...the minifig hands never fall off of the legs, it is just a little loose where they attach to the gray technic spindle part...I think I've found a solution to that problem, but you won't see it before tommorow...It's late...

thanks, and please tell me what you think...

boses · Post by **boses** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 4:39 am

lil jon-

here is the face of the arakne monster I built...

dunechaser-

it is an axe, but I understand how it could be mistaken for a flag...

please tell me what you think...

Recluce · Post by **Recluce** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 11:14 am

Hey when you change the design and post new pics can I ask that you post a pic showing how the hands clip on? I'm still a bit confused how that is accomplished, so if possible, maybe an exploded picture of the construction method? Thanks!

boses · Post by **boses** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 7:16 pm

I finished the redesigning of my arakne...I competely overhauled the leg

structure, and now the monster is much more durable, as well as much

larger...I changed the back, and now it looks more like a spider...

I was going to use plates for the legs, but that would have made it look

mantis or Acklay-like (if you didn't know the Acklay is one of the beasts

that Windu and crew fought in the arena scene of Star Wars Ep2)

Now, without further commentary, here is the new Arakne...

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/boses ... rakne2.jpg

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/boses ... rakne3.jpg

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/boses ... rakne4.jpg

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/boses ... rakne5.jpg

Please tell me what you think...

Post by **Bruce N H** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 7:23 pm

Hey Boses,

This is really cool. I like the second version better, as it looks more like a real spider and less like a robot, if that makes sense. The use of hands and legs is very clever.

Bruce

Post by **Formendacil** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 7:59 pm

Bruce N H wrote:This is really cool. I like the second version better, as it looks more like a real spider and less like a robot, if that makes sense.

Ditto that. What's more, the new technique of holding the hand/leg combos to the main body looks more secure- and more articulated.

Great job.

Recluce · Post by **Recluce** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 8:03 pm

Ahh, I see how the hands hold on now! Very clever! I do like it.... but have you tried out different helmets on him? Maybe even a vladek visor....? I'd be interested in how the different helmets change his "feel".

boses · Post by **boses** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 9:22 pm

I usually try to keep my brick-built monsters simple, with a few different sets of arms and armors for the various divisions...with only a few specific, standout soldiers, or monsters...

For this one however, I am planning on adding a viking helmet with red horns,as well as a really big axe or pike...

This type of monster is very easy to build, and is very sturdy too.There are many ways to color it, from yellow and black to white and red...etc...

In my endless quest to build more and better brick-only models, I occasionaly come across one that I find especially pleasing...and this is one of those models...

I am thankful for the comments and encouragement I continue to recieve here...thank you...and please tell me what you think...