TSU-06 HAWKINS

[WARHEAD]

Threat Suppression Unit Number Six

No hidden weaponry this time :v

This was mostly an experiment in blending system into technic\HF again. pretty pleased with how it turned out. I really wish there existed gunmetal bricks. Anyway, your comments are appreciated, as always.

[3rdeye88]

I really dig this MOC, but I think the wedge slope piece thingy on its crotch is a bit much. I understand why its there, it fits in line with the rest of the dark gray system parts, but I feel its just a bit much. Maybe something smaller or perhaps some kind of flat tile part might not call so much attention to it. Your robot has huge junk Djok. :P Is that all the dark red HF armor you have? I also think some of those where the gunmetal ones on his upper arms might motif the ones on his legs pretty well. I think he could use just a touch more dark red.

[WARHEAD]

I really dig this MOC, but I think the wedge slope piece thingy on its crotch is a bit much. I understand why its there, it fits in line with the rest of the dark gray system parts, but I feel its just a bit much. Maybe something smaller or perhaps some kind of flat tile part might not call so much attention to it. Your robot has huge junk Djok. :P Is that all the dark red HF armor you have? I also think some of those where the gunmetal ones on his upper arms might motif the ones on his legs pretty well. I think he could use just a touch more dark red.

Thanks! Yep, that's all the Dk.Red HF stuff I have, bought an incomplete chi Worriz, for like 2 euros. Don't really have much Dark red System either so I'm not sure what I could do to add more of it in :T

As for the crotchplate, yeah, I know it's oversized. That's the point :v

[DraikNova]

I like it. It's like a robot samurai, only without a sword. Which, seeing as unintentionally drawing one's weapon was a major cause of fatalities among samurai, is probably for the best.

While normally I would agree with 3rdeye about the plate (as in most MOCs it looks quite silly), it works here. It's not out of place, it's placed far enough up (and the surrounding area is armored as well, which helps a bit) and it's color contrasts just enough with the other armor.

[VBBN]

A lot of nice things here, I do agree that it can be annoying that there are no pearl dark gray system pieces. With that said they do not look all that out of place since the system pieces complement the color of the gray bones.

The only part I'm a bit iffy on is the dishes near his chest; They seem to be a visually jarring component to the figure, given that the rest of his armor is very angular and tightly locked.

[dviddy]

Disagree with everyone on the dishes not meshing stylistically- each Hero Factory piece on the MOC has two small, perfectly round holes, and the two on the chestplate, with the dark grey pegs in them pull the dishes in and give them a visual consistency. Not to mention that the way they are combined with the shape of the shoulders make them look like they are the hinges the shoulderplates rely on for movement, even though we can see the actual hinge you used to connect them. I think the dishes are the most appealing part of the entire build- they make the MOC for me.

I would normally agree about the dark red being used well in such a small amount, but the visual balance with such a large chunk of the leg armour and the head being dark red and then only the fingers and that one sticker being dark red I think creates an imbalance. Something red on the chest would do wonders to bring that together- and honestly, even normal bright red might work. Simply adding a one-by-one round dark red plate to the stud on the dishes might do it too. Ideally I think having the system slope on the upper chest dark red would be the perfect fit, but I have no idea if that part exists in that colour, and if it did, if you'd possess it.

While it'd require a re-working, as we talked about on Flickr, the ankles look structurally weak, and simply rotating the sockets ninety degrees would fix that. Though the overall boxy shape of the footprint clashes with the rounded shape of the armour bits.

I think the pelvic armour works- moslty. The flat top that doesn't entirely cover the tapering end of the HF torso shell is awkward and jarring. I think that part is the right shape for the MOC, but I think some sort of belt or something on top of that part to add some smoothing would be ideal.

I also think, as I also said on Flickr, that this time the head doesn't work. It is too high, too narrow, and doesn't mesh with the style of the MOC, what with the heavy-yet-stocky feel, and it definitely defies the nice tapering down to a V the entire MOC does otherwise. I think something closer into the torso and rounder (like Marvel's Juggernaut or that popular Gundam I hope you know which one because I don't) would work fantastically and really bring the MOC home.

Also, maybe another torso shell on the back? It looks so weirdly exposed after the perfect armouring of the front.

[3rdeye88]

Disagree with everyone on the dishes not meshing stylistically- each Hero Factory piece on the MOC has two small, perfectly round holes, and the two on the chestplate, with the dark grey pegs in them pull the dishes in and give them a visual consistency. Not to mention that the way they are combined with the shape of the shoulders make them look like they are the hinges the shoulderplates rely on for movement, even though we can see the actual hinge you used to connect them. I think the dishes are the most appealing part of the entire build- they make the MOC for me.

I would normally agree about the dark red being used well in such a small amount, but the visual balance with such a large chunk of the leg armour and the head being dark red and then only the fingers and that one sticker being dark red I think creates an imbalance. Something red on the chest would do wonders to bring that together- and honestly, even normal bright red might work. Simply adding a one-by-one round dark red plate to the stud on the dishes might do it too. Ideally I think having the system slope on the upper chest dark red would be the perfect fit, but I have no idea if that part exists in that colour, and if it did, if you'd possess it.

While it'd require a re-working, as we talked about on Flickr, the ankles look structurally weak, and simply rotating the sockets ninety degrees would fix that. Though the overall boxy shape of the footprint clashes with the rounded shape of the armour bits.

I think the pelvic armour works- moslty. The flat top that doesn't entirely cover the tapering end of the HF torso shell is awkward and jarring. I think that part is the right shape for the MOC, but I think some sort of belt or something on top of that part to add some smoothing would be ideal.

I also think, as I also said on Flickr, that this time the head doesn't work. It is too high, too narrow, and doesn't mesh with the style of the MOC, what with the heavy-yet-stocky feel, and it definitely defies the nice tapering down to a V the entire MOC does otherwise. I think something closer into the torso and rounder (like Marvel's Juggernaut or that popular Gundam I hope you know which one because I don't) would work fantastically and really bring the MOC home.

Also, maybe another torso shell on the back? It looks so weirdly exposed after the perfect armouring of the front.

I agree with Patrick about the dishes. To me they look like armoring for a hinge, instead of the hinge itself. I can picture there being some kind of motor or servo that is part of the shoulder mechanism underneath that. So I second the dishes on the chest.

At first I didn't agree about the head, I thought you built it identically or nearly identical to Callahan but I see on a second look that's not the case. So I have to agree that this head looks kind of off. I get the narrow aspect to it. Its a robot why does it need a big head? Just means a bigger target to hit. Bit the HF armor piece looks kind of...stuck on there. Its kinda goofy looking in my opinion. Its not so much the part itself even as much as its position. I think if it was more flat and not angled up so sharply, then it'd look pretty nice and the sides of the armor would look good protecting more of the head overall than it is.

Other than the lack of dark red which you explained and the cod piece I mentioned before I personally think everything else looks great, a nice blend of Hero Factory and system slopes.

[exxtrooper]

I really like the sticker on the chest, the whole model looks very gladiator-like.

Very nice

[WARHEAD]

First of, I wanna thank you guys for the extremely insightful constructive criticism, it really means a lot. I will probably be tweaking this build to include all of the suggestions which I agree with. I totally was not expecting to get such in depth commentary. It really is flattering.

I think something closer into the torso and rounder (like Marvel's Juggernaut or that popular Gundam I hope you know which one because I don't)

You're probably thinking of a Zaku II. Funny you should say that, as the build started as an attempt to recreate it in Lego, but then I did my own thing. :v

Sadly I won't be able to get building for a while now since I'm away fom my collection for the next two weeks.

[3rdeye88]

First of, I wanna thank you guys for the extremely insightful constructive criticism, it really means a lot. I will probably be tweaking this build to include all of the suggestions which I agree with. I totally was not expecting to get such in depth commentary. It really is flattering.

You're probably thinking of a Zaku II. Funny you should say that, as the build started as an attempt to recreate it in Lego, but then I did my own thing. :v

Sadly I won't be able to get building for a while now since I'm away fom my collection for the next two weeks.

Its nice seeing MOCs get that kind of response to. It makes me eager to post my next MOC here. Glad I could help in any small way. :)

[WARHEAD]

So I came back and made some improvements to this guy.

Rather satisfied with them. It did require me to do a Bricklink order of dark red parts though, and even then they didn't have everything I need. (like curved slopes for the fists.)

[3rdeye88]

So I came back and made some improvements to this guy.

Rather satisfied with them. It did require me to do a Bricklink order of dark red parts though, and even then they didn't have everything I need. (like curved slopes for the fists.)

OH MY GAAAAWD MY EYEEEEEESSSSSSSS THEY BURNNN!!!!.... Just kidding. DUDE 1,000% improved on the color scheme. Still don't dig the cod plate thing but that's just my personal taste. That chest looks so awesome now and I think the head has a much more fitting shape to the roundness of the shoulder slopes. *applauds*

[DraikNova]

It loses a bit of the color scheme balance that made it so appealing to me. The red armor pieces at the shoulder simultaneously add too much red to the mix and disrupt the flow of the MOC.

[Shine]

It loses a bit of the color scheme balance that made it so appealing to me. The red armor pieces at the shoulder simultaneously add too much red to the mix and disrupt the flow of the MOC.

Agreed. It was a good idea, but I don't think it works color or shape-wise. The changed hands are enough. I'd ditch the new dark gray slopes on the back as well.

And maybe put some dark gray 1x1 round plates on the Technic holes on the insides of the shoulder pads. Those areas look flat and unfinished in the current iteration. Dark gray half pins would work too.

[dviddy]

Agreed. It was a good idea, but I don't think it works color or shape-wise. The changed hands are enough. I'd ditch the new dark gray slopes on the back as well.

Disagreed entirely. The new red splashes are important and vital to the shaping of the MOC. Well, with the exception of the red splotch on the back of the hand, which should have stayed grey. Otherwise, the new red parts create an awesome red cross-esque shape that is visually striking and distinct.

With the exception of the hands, this iteration is better in every way. People have talked about the system not working or meshing appropriately, but I still maintain the only area it seems out of place is with the crotch armour, that flat straight angle with the studs on top is too visually jarring when contrasted with the rest of the slopes and lines on the MOC. It would take re-working, but doing something smoother there would be a good use of time.

Regarding your comments on ItB, you will always get contrasting criticism, your goal as a MOCist is to find those you trust and respect the most, whose visual opinions and styles "get" yours the best, and to be open to criticism you would normally ignore. In the long run, I find C&C from those still actively engaged in the hobby to be of better use than those who have done little or interacted with parts little, and I find that sometimes the best advice comes from those who build in a more visual style than a more technical style works best for me, as I am always attempting to build for visual effect- not technical achievement. There are different mindsets when it comes to MOCing, find those you trust and follow them, while still making sure to leave an ear open for contrasting advice to try and adapt.