Lego Build 56 — Loki (Hellbringer)

So, let’s go for yet another build based on the BattleTech cartoon, this one maybe a bit controversial. On the other hand, I also think that this is also among my best builds since I started this blog. Without further ado, I give you the Loki.

Based on the prior Summoner Omnimech, the Hellbringer was developed by Clan Hell’s Horses at a time when it was trying to recover its strength and prestige. Unfortunately, the conflict that sprouted would only further damage the Clan, forcing the leadership to resort to politics and favors in order for their people to survive.

Thus, the Hellbringer project found its way to Clan Jade Falcon, the creators of the Summoner. Contrary to other BattleMechs, the Hellbringer does not even attempt a balance within the armor-mobility-firepower triangle, instead going for heavy firepower at the expense of everything else. It is an all-or-nothing approach to ‘Mech design that is shunned by most Clanners. However, the Falcons see this as an advantage, as they prefer to hit hard and not be shot back at all.

Not that the Hellbringer is completely defenseless. The ECM suite it carries gives it a degree of protection from attacks from far away. When the machine appeared on the Inner Sphere at the vanguard of the Clan Invasion, it quickly gained the codename “Loki” due to how inane the design philosophy and weapons configurations seemed.

The model here is fashioned after the ‘Mech piloted by the cartoon character Nicolai Malthus. In the show, he was described as piloting a Summoner, however, I always thought that his machine was more akin to a mishappen Hellbringer, given its general shape. The fact that both ‘Mechs use the same parts only gave credence to my opinion.

Of course, I now know that official sources do describe Malthus as a Summoner pilot. Still, when I was making this build I could not stop thinking of this opinion of mine, so in a somewhat controversial approach, I used his colors.

This also marks this ‘Mech as the third Jade Falcon machine using cartoon-based color schemes, and the fourth one in general done with this approach. I think it makes for a nice break from the norm to build them with these flashy schemes instead of taking all inspiration from official camo specs.

Let me know your thoughts.