Since I began building LEGO this January, all I have been making were city vehicles, mostly fire trucks. But after a while, I got bored with making the same thing over and over again, so I decided to make something out of my comfort zone. Because I was a Battletech fan when I was a child, I decided to build one of the most recognizable mechs out there- the Mad Dog.

The Mad Dog, also known as the Vulture, is a 60-ton mech whose main role is long range fire support. On each side of the cockpit is an LRM (Long Range Missle) rack. The machine is also armed with a an array of medium pulse lasers.

This is my first ever Sci-Fi MOC and I am pretty happy with how it turned out. The biggest flaw of the model are the feet, particulary the toes. They are so fragile that a slight breeze will cause them to sever. If anyone has a better way of making mech feet, feel free to share!

Edited May 26, 201014 yr by ImLost

Damn, that's quite impressive. Minifig-scale 'Mechs tends to be imposing sights in general, and yours delivers. And I love the detail you crammed into the cockpit.

If I had to nitpick, though, I'd mention the arms: the Vulture has fairly spindly arms, yes, but yours could still use a bit of reinforcing, in my opinion. No other problems I can see, though.

About the feet: Perhaps you could try using hinge plates to make the toes a bit more robust?

Oh, and I'm going to be a BattleTech nerd here, but the Vulture Prime actually mounts a pair of Large Pulse Lasers in addition to two Medium Pulse Lasers. ;) (The MechWarrior 4 stock config, though, does mount just four Mediums; it runs hot enough already without the insane heat buildup of the Large Pulse Lasers.)

P.S. Have you thought about making some variant parts for a Vulture C? (The dual Gauss Rifle config.)

Edited May 26, 201014 yr by SNobleJr

VERY VERY NICE! I love Battletech/mechwarrior! I love all the detail on this, and the only thing that irks me slightly is where the arms join the body, but I probably couldn't have done better. Nice work indeed mate, and keep bricking

I'm impressed, but a good friend of mine would be over joyed with your creation !

I shall tell to check it out for himself - (he is a Mechwarrior fan)

One of the finest sci-fi MOCs I have seen in some time - great work 'ImLost' I'm a conformist! !

It's called "Vulture" not "Mad Dog", damn Clanner :P

Just kidding, GREAT MOC! I'm into Battletech since a long time now and you hit the design very well (according to the table top variant). I'm a conformist!, let us see more Mechs ;-)

For your first sci-fi moc this is absolutely great !

I too have been shifting away from city and into other genres lately and enjoyed the experience...

MechWarrior 2 was the first game I remember playing on my Macintosh as a kid and actaully becoming really immersed in, and the Mad Dog is easily one of the most recognizable mechs.

I love the overall shape you have created, and the colour blocking. I also really like the way you constructed the leg/knee area joints.

I would however agree with SNobleJr that the arm connection with the hinge brick could use a little tweaking.

overall great work!

keep up the sci-fi building, would love to see more!

Damn, that's quite impressive. Minifig-scale 'Mechs tends to be imposing sights in general, and yours delivers. And I love the detail you crammed into the cockpit.

If I had to nitpick, though, I'd mention the arms: the Vulture has fairly spindly arms, yes, but yours could still use a bit of reinforcing, in my opinion. No other problems I can see, though.

About the feet: Perhaps you could try using hinge plates to make the toes a bit more robust?

Oh, and I'm going to be a BattleTech nerd here, but the Vulture Prime actually mounts a pair of Large Pulse Lasers in addition to two Medium Pulse Lasers. ;) (The MechWarrior 4 stock config, though, does mount just four Mediums; it runs hot enough already without the insane heat buildup of the Large Pulse Lasers.)

P.S. Have you thought about making some variant parts for a Vulture C? (The dual Gauss Rifle config.)

Thanks, SNobleJr. I admit, the mech's arms were an after thought. I had spent so much time on the legs that I didn't have the energy to pay attention to the arms. I'll try to think of a better idea but right now, I'm drawing a blank

The hinge plates may be a good idea to reinforce the toes, but I feel they may compromise the feets' appearance. But right now, the toes are so fragile, they fall off every time I pick the mech up!

I'm quite familiar with the Vulture C config but I probably won't build one, because I don't like the way it looks.

VERY VERY NICE! I love Battletech/mechwarrior! I love all the detail on this, and the only thing that irks me slightly is where the arms join the body, but I probably couldn't have done better. Nice work indeed mate, and keep bricking

Thanks. I agree, the arm looks kind of weird but I can't come up with a better solution right now.

I'm impressed, but a good friend of mine would be over joyed with your creation !

I shall tell to check it out for himself - (he is a Mechwarrior fan)

One of the finest sci-fi MOCs I have seen in some time - great work 'ImLost' I'm a conformist! !

Thanks, LT.

It's called "Vulture" not "Mad Dog", damn Clanner :P

Just kidding, GREAT MOC! I'm into Battletech since a long time now and you hit the design very well (according to the table top variant). I'm a conformist!, let us see more Mechs ;-)

Mad Dog sounds so much cooler than Vulture! It just sounds more menancing!

For your first sci-fi moc this is absolutely great !

I too have been shifting away from city and into other genres lately and enjoyed the experience...

MechWarrior 2 was the first game I remember playing on my Macintosh as a kid and actaully becoming really immersed in, and the Mad Dog is easily one of the most recognizable mechs.

I love the overall shape you have created, and the colour blocking. I also really like the way you constructed the leg/knee area joints.

I would however agree with SNobleJr that the arm connection with the hinge brick could use a little tweaking.

overall great work!

keep up the sci-fi building, would love to see more!

Thanks. I also have fond memories of MW2. And MW3. And MW4. Yes, I used to be a huge Battletech nerd.

Edited May 26, 201014 yr by ImLost

Mad Dog sounds so much cooler than Vulture! It just sounds more menancing!

I don't know, I could imagine a star of those 'Mechs perching atop a ridge looking much like actual Vultures before raining LRMs down on their opponents.

As to the 'Mech itself, it's a fantastic piece of work. I'd agree that the arms and toes could use a bit of work, but overall it looks great.

This mech is one of the best out there,nicely done. And you even made it big enough to fit minifig inside(wish i could make mech half as good as you do).

As for variant, i'd choose dual ER PPC or clan PPC (next to already wildly arsenal of long range missiles), because its better to pick off your enemy from distance.

Its one of my favorite mechs from battletech universe, next to madcat(just who doesnt love it?),cougar,raven and atlas. Maybe you could make another mech, since you're skilled enough to make masterpiece like this.

Cheers

I don't know, I could imagine a star of those 'Mechs perching atop a ridge looking much like actual Vultures before raining LRMs down on their opponents.

As to the 'Mech itself, it's a fantastic piece of work. I'd agree that the arms and toes could use a bit of work, but overall it looks great.

Thanks, JayDuck. You make a good point about it being kind of like a Vulture. But "Mad Dog" sounds more aggressive, like it will charge right into the middle of a battle without fear. But then again, it is a fire support mech, so charging into the battlefield like a front-line unit may not be such a good idea...

This mech is one of the best out there,nicely done. And you even made it big enough to fit minifig inside(wish i could make mech half as good as you do).

As for variant, i'd choose dual ER PPC or clan PPC (next to already wildly arsenal of long range missiles), because its better to pick off your enemy from distance.

Its one of my favorite mechs from battletech universe, next to madcat(just who doesnt love it?),cougar,raven and atlas. Maybe you could make another mech, since you're skilled enough to make masterpiece like this.

Cheers

Thanks. I like PPCs, but ithey run too hot when used in conjunction with the LRMs. And the Mad Dog is just too light to mount an adequate amount of heatsinks.

I do plan to make a Timberwolf (Mad Cat) in the future because I won't have to design new legs. I can just use the same ones from my Mad Dog! Although I am tempted to make a Summoner (Thor) as my next project.

I do plan to make a Timberwolf (Mad Cat) in the future because I won't have to design new legs. I can just use the same ones from my Mad Dog! Although I am tempted to make a Summoner (Thor) as my next project.

Haha, yeah, I've also exploited the shared leg assembly to build several 'Mechs in short order. Handy time-saver. :D

And, you know, once you build a Thor, a Loki also becomes a natural choice... again, due to using the exact same legs. :P Heck, you might as well build all four classic heavy OmniMechs, if you feel like doing all that work. XD

Edited May 28, 201014 yr by SNobleJr

I don't know, I could imagine a star of those 'Mechs perching atop a ridge looking much like actual Vultures before raining LRMs down on their opponents.

As to the 'Mech itself, it's a fantastic piece of work. I'd agree that the arms and toes could use a bit of work, but overall it looks great.

Yeah, actually had that happen once, I was SO thanking god I was in a Fafnir assault mech, took out half of em with assault PPC's before they got in range

It would be overkill to equip mad dog/vulture vith PPC's. Firing all those missiles AND both PPC in one shot on SINGLE target... I guess that even atlas wouldnt have much chances to survive that kind of barrage.

Question for all of you: did anyone ever made LEGO raven mech? I'd like to get more ref. pics and maybe even pieces list.

It would be overkill to equip mad dog/vulture vith PPC's. Firing all those missiles AND both PPC in one shot on SINGLE target... I guess that even atlas wouldnt have much chances to survive that kind of barrage.

Assuming they all hit the same spot; the LRMs in particular would be prone to spreading damage around. And even then, the Atlas is probably one of the few 'Mechs with enough armor to survive that.

Question for all of you: did anyone ever made LEGO raven mech? I'd like to get more ref. pics and maybe even pieces list.

I have, although on a much smaller scale. If you're looking for a minifig-scale model, BrickCommander is probably a better choice, it even has several different versions:

Original Raven

MW4-style Raven

Dark Age Raven

Edited May 29, 201014 yr by SNobleJr

Tnx a lot for links.

Maybe im strange, but 've always choose sneaky attack/ambush rather than open firefight and for this, RAVEN is perfect; Hit&run(beside its one of few with advanced ECM suite).

As for LRM's; yeah its more likely that they will spread during flight and "only few" will hit the predetermined target. I guess they never heard for Point defense or active armour(in thise case 21th cenutry is more advanced LOL).