Lego Build 83 — Odin Tank

Although it is really an armored car…

Posting today because I may not be able to do so tomorrow — well, all Mecha Sundays are the same even when they come at uneven times, right? Anyhow, this is a vehicle I do like quite a lot and, as per usual these days, has an important role to play in my Blake’s War AU.

The Odin was originally developed as a light recon asset for the second-line forces of the Clans. Due to its unique mission profile and complex systems, it is crewed by two people and these crews are trained and kept together in order to improve their combat efficiency. Rugged and extensively used, the Odins would remain in Clan arsenals well up to and beyond the Invasion.

When the Blakist conflict started, Clan Ghost Bear had already developed and fielded an updated version of the vehicle. Known as the Odin Spotter variant, this version included advanced ECM and targetting equipment that made even better at its intended role, while also adding an important artillery spotting function. While the Clan shun artillery, the realities of war in the Inner Sphere made many realize that they needed to either adapt or be destroyed by their new neighbors.

Against Blakist forces, the Odin turned out to be invaluable. Its systems allowed Arrow IV missiles like the ones carried by artillery tanks to hit targets reliably, while the electronic counter-measures could jam enemy communications and systems, paralyzing them. As a bonus, these unique vehicles would even aid enemy defectors change sides and sometimes bring their equipment with them. Despized by the Clanners as these tactics can be, in the end they would be instrumental to victory.

In Blake’s War, the Odin is the ECM vehicle choice for the Clan (Ghost Bear) faction. It took me a long time to come to this decision. For a while I only imagined this as a generic ECM tank because the original unit in Starcraft was too unique for me to be able to find a suitable BattleTech equivalent. The Odin is not perfect, but I’m satisfied with it.

Although described as a tank in official publications, this vehicle is more of an armored car, as it is wheeled and lightly armed. This model uses 30 parts. It is really easy to make and in the end it is quite compact and, dare I say, cute.

Tell me your thoughts and stay safe.