This is my latest alternate model, a steampunk walker I call the Lazarus. It is an alternate model of LEGO set 31019 Forest Animals. I’m really digging these new LEGO Creator sets. They seem to have a good variety of useful parts in a uniform colour palette. For this one I wanted to try and design something completely different than the subject matter of the original set. I think I achieved my goal! I also had some fun making a retro style commercial for it…
More ninja than steampunk, but 100% kick your ass.
At Brickfete Montreal, Nathan brought the game Smash Up to play during down time. During one game it was decided that MOCs should be built based on the players’ factions. I wasn’t actually playing during said game, but I’m always up for jumping on a (good) bandwagon. During a subsequent game I was playing Steampunk Ninjas. This is what I built.
This is a LEGO walking machine, themed as a steampunk/post apocalyptic trading ship, that has several play features, including a functional cargo crane. You can see it in action in the video.
The walking mechanism is based on the Strandbeest walker design by Theo Jansen. In 2007, Chris Magno posted his 6 legged walker on Lugnet, and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. There had been Strandbeest based LEGO walkers before, but his was the first I saw, and it inspired me to build my own version, which subsequently lived in a box for most of the last 6 years.
It had always been my intention to theme it somehow, and I finally dusted it off late last year. I ended up rebuilding the frame several times, until I finally achieved a design that was strong, light and responsive (and didn’t fall apart in 5 minutes). Even with all the added weight of the themed deck (which is surprisingly heavy) it can still boot along at a decent pace.
Power and control is provided by the LEGO Power Functions system, which includes the remote control, IR receiver, battery box and two M-size motors. The frame, crankshaft and legs are built using LEGO Technic elements.
