Lego Build 100 B — Infantry (Clan)
And here we have the second part of what counts as my 100th post of this series. I had to break it in two because I decided to make something ambitious and also because thematically it does make a modicum of sense. I will admit that making these was really fun and maybe later I’ll return to this topic (for the 200th post?).
Moreover, realizing for how long I have been making these and how much work I’ve done is something that gets me thinking. I have always been a creative mind and I’m always brimming with ideas, but seldom do I have the time to do what I want and sometimes need to do. This is why the long-awated compilation volumes of these builds are taking so long to get done. Real-life insists that I must devote time somewhere else.
This is why I created the Ko-fi account, so people can help me out in prioritizing these endavours. I even spiced it up a bit with the idea of making an RPG module based on Mechwarrior 4. Still need a bit more support in that regard to truly consider this a side-gig, but I’m deeply thankfull for all of those who already helped me out as they could. Creative endeavours can be incredible rewarding, but also stressful because you don’t want to fail anyone.
I’ll try to make a post about my ambitions for this blog, my Ko-fi and also my creative endeavours in general later on as I think this deserves a bit more attention and you deserve me to be open about what I intend to achieve.
For now and without further ado, let’s check the Clanner infantry.
Developed from the ancient Light Suits from the Star League and the diving armor from Clan Goliath Scorpion, the Elemental was the turning point of modern warfare in BattleTech, maybe on the level of BattleMechs. It allowed infantry to have the resilience, speed and weaponry of combat vehicles while retaining most of the maneuverability that is its strongest asset. From the Elemental would come all the other combat armors in one way or the other.
But the Clanners didn’t stay just there. They went one step ahead and used their eugenics program to create a human phenotype meant to operate these suits. Large, powerful humans that formed a combat-bred elite infantry force. Scary enough on their own, armed with the Elemental suits these people cause incredible carnage during the Invasion.
Like all the other infantry in this series, this is a simple build using very few parts. I think I managed to give it the look of the actual thing while remaining on topic. The colors are base on the BattleTech cartoon as I thought it was just right to do so.
Shortly after the start of the Invasion, the Clanners realized that despite the superiority of the Elemental when compared to the Spheroid infantry, there were drawbacks. Moreover, their enemy was quick to develop counter-measures and even their own Battle Armor. In order to combat this a new generation of Clanner suits was created.
Developed by Clan Fire Mandrill, the Salamander had a protracted development cycle, but would eventually become THE urban combat Battle Armor due to its armor and powerful close-in weaponry. These machines would spread terror among their opposition, unleashing havoc with their flamers and claws.
Despite the simplicity of the design, I’ll admit that the headpiece may be a bit difficult to acquire. After some trial and error it was the best option I could get my hands on. But let me know what you think and if you have some better alternative for the same effect.
As technology continued to develop, other suits would be created to explore different niches in the battlefield. A powerful weapons system would be created by Clan Jade Falcon in the fires of the Blakist Jihad. The Ironhold is a relativelty light suit armed with two powerful guns. This ammount of firepower allows the suit to overcome most enemy armor, although they would be hard-pressed to resist returning fire.
Still, the unit would be powerful enough to enter the service of most Clans and even some Spheroid factions. There’s a simplicity to “big gun” that cannot be replaced.
I’m happy with this one. Most parts or equivalents should be easy to find and as always, the colors are up to you, the ones I provide are but an option.
The last element to this post is something that may sound out of place in a Clanner lineup, but the truth is that even the Clans do use conventional infantry from time to time. During the Wars of Reaving, for example, conventional infantry was used in some numbers as casualties of elite formations mounted. Clan Blood Spirit would be chosen for extermination because they went as far as arming civilians to fight their enemies, which goes strongly against Clanner culture.
Other Clans, like the Hell’s Horses, do use infantry formations made up of washed-out warriors or captured enemies (bondsmen). The Goliath Scorpion Seekers (who look for Star League artifacts throughout the galaxy) are mostly light units with some heavy support. And, evidently, the Inner Sphere uses conventional infantry as an integral part of combat doctrine.
Model-wise, it is difficult to go smaller and simpler than this.
As a note and like I said last time, the concept behind these models is not really mine. People in the Lego community and Mobile Frame Zero have come with amazing models at this scale for years now. I just tried to put foward my take on it.
Hope you’ve enjoyed this little detour into one sometimes forgotten element of Battletech lore. And thank you so much for all the support and help you’ve given me during these two years and hundreds of posts. And thank you to the Mobile Frame Community for convincing me to share these builds, the feedback and the ideas. And to everyone from the BattleTech and Starship communities for being supportive and awesome all the way.
For now, do not forget to check my stuff and have fun. Enjoy your lives and share around your love for games and each other. I promise I haven’t forgotten any of the projects I’ve been developing. More on that later.
