So first off, a touch of a story. My first encounter with the Reseen was when, in 2003, one of my first eBay purchases was an auction titled "Battletech Marauder." Not knowing about the, ah, 'new' sculpt, I purchased it with eagerness and was... disappointed to see what came in the mail. After some research, I found out what had happened and swore off Battletech for some years - but I squirreled the mini away in my bits box and always knew I'd do something with it.
After finally getting a classic, Unseen Vixen (first Clan 'Mech I ever piloted!) in the mail last week, that time was now.
I decided to cut it up and put it on the Vixen's base - at first, I thought, "It'll be too big!" but that was not the case. I toyed with using the legs as debris, but it was always (always!) that hideous flat torso, so different from the original Marauder's sleek bullet shape, which drove me to anger, so I really wanted to use that and nothing else.
I also tried for a pose that said, "Come at me brah" and feel that I succeeded.
I just now realized that it's a bit difficult to see how I reposed the right leg so it's standing on the hideous abomina- er, Marauder's torso, and since taking this picture I've added a puff of smoke from the rent on the center of the base - and started painting it along with the three other Clan 'Mechs I received in the mail. Man, I have done SO MUCH work with the jeweler's saw this last week... it's been a long time since I've had to convert metal minis like these guys, but I simply cannot stand the boring stances that so many older sculpts have.
Now, I just have one quandary... what colors should I paint the Marauder IN? I wonder if there was any unit which served as a poster child for the PP Marauder...
And I want to make it clear: I don't HATE the Project Phoenix 'Mechs, for the most part. Most of them have good style, and all but a couple manage to harken back to their original designs in some way or another (What's the deal with the Shadowhawk turning into Slenderman is another issue entirely). A couple are even improvements - the Goliath and Scorpion don't look so ridiculous to my eyes. I even like the Reseen Marauder II.
But I despise with a passion the redone Marauder, and I think that passion is only strengthened by the way I first discovered the 'new and improved' version, cough cough.
So, yes. Tomorrow I should have the mini painted aside from the MAD on the base and the base itself, and I'll try to take more pictures of it while the light is good.