LEGO builder Marco Marozzi brings us this ironclad mech which is nearly all made of greys with just a touch of highlight colors, including the Ukrainian flag in support of their fight. The mech is a fine piece of work, capturing the rounded aesthetic that’s often seen in the Maschinen Krieger (Ma.K.) style. I particularly like the way the joint on the knee uses Technic liftarms to hold the ball rather than a standard ball joint receiver.
Mobile hardsuits are very popular with LEGO builders, especially during the month of October, which for many fans around the world, means Ma.Ktober, the month-long building challenge inspired by the Maschinen Kreiger sub-cultural phenomenon. This mech-armored model by Faber Mandragore has plenty of charm; from a distinctly insect-like body, stompy feet, and a gun-hand connected to its back, this hardsuit looks ready to take on an entire squad of enemies. The new lantern part found in many Harry Potter sets gives the face an extra menacing look.
Last week, we took a look at Andreas Lenander‘s recent mech in the style of Maschinen Krieger. It turns out, at home, Andreas has a small hangar of these ghastly war machines. Last week’s Ma.K SAFS Raketenwerfer seems to be somewhat cute compared to the new massive two-legged Ma.K Strauß. Looking straight into the darkness of its spherical cockpit gives me shivers. Fortunately, the build is accompanied by a wonderful autumn tree. Bonus points for the striking contrast between black and yellow; this is how you create a great composition using colors.
In case your daily dose of terrifying war machines is at least two, here’s something more bizarre — a four-legged Ma.K Käfer. You know, I’m happy to see more pretty trees balancing out the mech’s gloominess.
The Brothers Brick regular Andreas Lenander has built a LEGO Ma.K SAFS Raketenwerfer, which I’m pretty sure is German for “launching rockets in a field of olive cheese wedges”. Don’t quote me on that. But that’s pretty much what is going on here. It’s just a small part of what is in store from Andreas in October. I’ll keep an eye out for what this builder is up to and I advise you do the same. This will get you started.
If you are planning on making trouble for the government in Marco Marozzi‘s world, you better be prepared to face the music. And by the music, I mean this manacing crowd control mech, who if you are unlucky and he runs out of ammo, will instead stomp you to paste without breaking a sweat.
Marco is a mech builder who uses lots of amazing mechanical details in his models that root them in the practical world, with joints that feel like they actually work, and this mech is no exception. The back of the legs use the helicopter ski element to anchor several greebly bits to maximize stompiness.
Another highly detailed section is the head and chest, which use the main torso part from many Nexo Knights power mechs to provide a richly textured look. But one of my favorite parts is half of an old hinged claw used as the back part of the foot.
Some LEGO creations have a much greater presence than the sum of their parts. From the camera angle to the lighting, this mech in the Maschinen Krieger style by veteran ma.k builder Marco Marozzi is quite intimidating, and even though the guns may not look that deadly, the strength and weight of its legs and feet prove that even once it fires its last armor-piercing round, it is still a major threat.
![KZ1 Mech [ma.k advanced design]](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7854/47256345091_4cd1e7d859_z.jpg)
Not only are the Bionicle feet the perfect part for the lower legs, but the visible joints also have a very mechanical and functional look. From the back, it is even more ominous, with several well-placed pneumatic hose and whip elements adding to the industrial aspect.
![KZ1 Mech [ma.k advanced design]](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7856/33380691228_ba32c32312_z.jpg)
Sometimes a particular LEGO part can define a model in a way that no other part can. This pair of Maschinen Krieger or Ma.K hardsuits by Marco Marozzi uses a very obscure, and very interesting part from the Scala theme, a saddle to form the torso and primary focal point. But that is not the only fun part use. The sniper uses the head of a LEGO Porg on its chest plate.
![Mercenary Mechsuit Sniper [MA.K Advanced Design]](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/media.brothers-brick.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/32947196998_dc7b5b3c38_z.jpg)
While the heavy Gatlin gunner is sporting what looks like an Endor rebel helmet.
![Mercenary Mechsuit Gunner [MA.K Advanced Design]](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/media.brothers-brick.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/45907857105_c254b6e70e_z.jpg)
One fun detail about these squat and sturdy hardsuits is that they were built to fit an equally squat Duplo pilot
One of the defining subjects of the Maschinen Krieger sci-fi world is the hardsuit, an environmental suit that is meant to help the wearer survive in hostile environments like outer space or in radiation-heavy post-apocalyptic locations. While mini-fig scale LEGO hardsuits may be more common, this one by Marco Marozzi is built to a much larger scale, and as such, is packed with details. Like many of Marco’s mechs, this one has plenty of poseability. I especially like the ball-socket shoulder attached through a wheel rim.
The white engine cowl found on many space shuttle sets provides the hardsuit with the pod-like look that seems to take some inspiration from early deep-sea diving suits, and an abundance of tubes and canisters come together to lend an industrial feel to the model.
While the month-long informal building event known as Ma.Ktober that happens every October may be over, The Maschinen Krieger movement that is the inspiration never really stops. For those not familiar with the phenomenon, it started in the early 1980’s as a sci-fi series in a Japanese hobby magazine, and the creators, using off the shelf model kits for airplanes, tanks, and other vehicles, created surreal combinations of armored hard suits and vehicles with strong alien and insect-like aspects. Two-legged walkers like this creation by Marco Marozzi are a popular subject as well.
![RH.t-2 MECH [Ma.k Advanced Design]](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/media.brothers-brick.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/45824296081_6f45b1d5ba_z.jpg)
The tall spindly legs have a very industrial feel, complete with pistons to drive each footstep deep into the rubble covered ground. Multiple sensors and ominous canisters cover the head and body of this drone as it seeks out its prey, and that belly mounted contraption looks like it could ruin your day.
Maschinen Krieger-style mecha are a common theme among LEGO builders, but this one by Marco Marozzi has a particularly grotesque look that sets it apart from the crowd. With no neck and a large canon where you’d expect a head, the Carabinieri NSA support Mecha – Ma.k 8 looks like the sort of grisly machine you’d see patroling around District 9. Marco has made great use of multiple sand green elements from the short-lived Ben 10 theme’s Swampfire, and dotted it all over with repurposed minifigure tools.
Autumn is quite the time for LEGO community projects; having blasted through SHIPtember with some massive spaceships yet to be covered, we are moving into Ma.Ktoberfest at full speed. If you are not up to date, Ma.Ktoberfest is an annual October building challenge when builders create mecha, hardsuits and even spacecraft inspired by the Ma.K (Maschinen Krieger) universe. One of the first to pick up arms (or bricks?) is Marco Marozzi with this beautiful curvy bipedal mech.
![SF3 Bipod Mech [Ma.k. Advanced Design] Maktober 2017](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/media.brothers-brick.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/37253837650_21eaf846e1_z.jpg)
The mech just oozes with Maschinen Krieger aesthetic. From domes and curved surfaces to hoses, guns and intense technical details. It stands out even without considering the source material, with an exotic colour scheme and unique shaping. Marco really shows how to make a creation within some restrictions, without letting them define the build.
Umamen recently posted this MaschinenKrieger-inspired robot. The amount of detail that the builder was able to cram into such a small area is pretty amazing. I also really like the sleek chunkiness, which is key to a Ma.K. build.
