Author Topic: Miniature of the Fortnight #81: Locust (Read 5791 times)

Xiwo Xerase · « **on:** 06 November 2019, 23:10:24 »

This fortnight may bring a biblical plague upon us, the plague of Locusts. The Locust is one of the original bug 'Mechs and has been with us since the second edition BattleTech boxed set. Like the other 'Mechs of its age, it became Unseen and Reseen and has most recently become Classic. If you're not sure how to use it in game, check out its 'Mech of the Week article.

The Locust has had several sculpts over the years:

The first sculpt was a Battledroids-era sculpt (20-844).
That was replaced with the standard Unseen sculpt (also 20-844).
FASA released a plastic sculpt in the third edition BattleTech boxed set, based on the metal sculpt.
The PlasTech set contained another plastic sculpt.
The first Reseen sculpt was for the LCT-5M model (20-987).
The second Reseen sculpt was for the LCT-5V model (20-261).
Most recent is the plastic Classic sculpt in the Game of Armored Combat boxed set.

If you've painted any of these bugs, please take pictures and share them! We'd love to see them!

As always, thank you for reading. And a special thank you to those of you who share pictures!

Our next two fortnights will be:

Clan (11/18): Invading Clans: Diamond Shark Edition (Thresher and Piranha)
Inner Sphere (12/2): BattleMaster

Valkerie · « **Reply #1 on:** 06 November 2019, 23:33:06 »

Only have one, and it is the new one from the box set. LCT-1V Locust from the Lyran 1st Royal Guard.

Yeah, I know, not your typical Lyran scout mech. :screw_loose:

dirty harry · « **Reply #2 on:** 07 November 2019, 05:18:39 »

The only one painted so far is a reseen Locust -5M in the hands of the 1. Atrean Dragoons.

Weirdo · « **Reply #3 on:** 07 November 2019, 09:28:23 »

Here's one painted up in the colors of Macleod's Highlanders of the NWH:

Nips · « **Reply #4 on:** 07 November 2019, 18:21:30 »

I love Locusts! I think they're my favorite, outside of the Warhammer that first introduced me to the game. I have almost every sculpt except the Rocket Launcher one from IWM, but sadly I've only painted three of them so far.

My first Unseen Bug, and part of the first lance that I painted when I got back into the hobby; I painted it for the 2nd Bolan Guards, but I think it'll just stay designated as factionless Woodlands Camo:

And more recently, a PlasTech bug for the Marik Militia:

And a Classic sculpt for my Generic Team Purple:

Luciora · « **Reply #5 on:** 11 November 2019, 00:24:00 »

Just the non-BD release and some PP mods.

LCT-1V
LCT-1E
LCT-1V PP Custom
LCT-1S
LCT-1M
LCT-3V
LCT-5M
LCT-5V

Daemion · « **Reply #6 on:** 14 June 2020, 16:29:45 »

Jumping in late, but I finally finished my group.

[Cue Sasame Street] "One of these things is not like the others!"[/song]

So, can you guess which is supposed to be which?

Aside: I really wish the current Locust was released in a singular pack of four.

BTW - For those wanting to do M/S variants, the MLoPs from Robotech RPG Tactics are a fine fit, as well.

Jhousdan · « **Reply #7 on:** 14 June 2020, 17:18:23 »

I did a pair of plastech locusts (my favorite sculpt) up in the colors of the two locusts from the beginner box

Jhousdan · « **Reply #8 on:** 14 June 2020, 17:21:17 »

Quote from: Valkerie on 06 November 2019, 23:33:06

Only have one, and it is the new one from the box set. LCT-1V Locust from the Lyran 1st Royal Guard.

Yeah, I know, not your typical Lyran scout mech. :screw_loose:

The members of Friedrich lance would like a word with you...

Valkerie · « **Reply #9 on:** 14 June 2020, 20:50:59 »

Quote from: Jhousdan on 14 June 2020, 17:21:17

The members of Friedrich lance would like a word with you...

Don't look at me man, talk to the quartermaster. ;D

Luciora · « **Reply #10 on:** 15 June 2020, 02:06:47 »

Magnetized NuSeen Locust in Crescent Hawk colors, showing canon loadouts primary supplied with the kit. Added the LRMs from the handheld Axman version and working on the SRM version still.

Weirdo · « **Reply #11 on:** 15 June 2020, 08:04:50 »

That's a Classic, not a Reseen. :)

Luciora · « **Reply #12 on:** 15 June 2020, 09:35:34 »

I get all the terms mixed up haha ::)

Quote from: Weirdo on 15 June 2020, 08:04:50

That's a Classic, not a Reseen. :)

NeonKnight · « **Reply #13 on:** 15 June 2020, 10:32:14 »

I just want IWM to finally put up for ordering DAMMIT!

Force of Nature · « **Reply #14 on:** 17 June 2020, 13:33:56 »

Here are my Locusts. (L-R)

Plastech Locust - painted with an inverted Cheetah scheme. It worked as I needed to get it painted for a game in a campaign a loooong time ago.

Two original Ral Partha lead Locusts. The brown/tan/purple one has its original medium laser barrel still. The blue/black/gray one lost its medium laser barrel from a player mis-handling it back in the same campaign. I will have to fix it sometime...

Major Headcase · « **Reply #15 on:** 17 June 2020, 15:07:39 »

Heres my only Locust right now. I got rid of all my others a couple years ago in a big collection sell-off.
From my homemade merc unit "The Wrecking Crew".

Luciora · « **Reply #16 on:** 18 June 2020, 00:16:22 »

Finished the -1S magnet loadout.

Cazaril · « **Reply #17 on:** 21 June 2020, 13:44:37 »

I have six painted Locusts, and for me, that is a lot...

Davion - Sakhara Military Academy

Inspired by Winston Neuron's LCT-3V (Cranston Snord's Irregulars - 1614), this is a LCT-2E, which is basically a 1E with the Medium Lasers moved back to the center torso. Done in the early '90s, it represents one of my first attempts to kit bash a mini.

Kurita - 2nd An Ting Legion

These next two were painted in the early '90s, but got updated around '09 with new kanji numbers. The second one is a LCT-2S (think LCT-1S that keeps the armor, but loses the Medium Laser). It was created because I needed the Medium Laser for the one above.

Merc - Stormbringers - Andorrian War College

This one is from somewhere around '09, and I was still outlining the panels and struggling with my shading. It also represents the beginning of me adding small details (like the support for the antenna), but pre-dated my attempts at ground effects... The unit itself is from the Andorrian War College on Pascagoula, and the pilot is both an instructor (the blue ring around the left arm) and a combat veteran (the school paints the Mech's hands of untested cadets black, and they get to "take the gloves off" once they have experienced combat)... This is also, for reasons I can't explain, my favorite representation of the Locust, with the new plastic one a close second.

Merc - 151st Light Horse Regiment of Eridani Light Horses

This one goes back to when I first started painting, and was part of a project to "paint the Camo Spec book". Basic painting skills. High end ground effects (for the time). And the same mistake I made with others, by sealing it with polyurethane.

Steiner - 23rd Arcturan Guards

At the top, we have one of my first attempts to kit bash. This Locust represents a more recent attempt. Its a custom made LCT-1S, that was produced by Defiance Industries on Furillo (different manufactures build Mechs that usually have unique visual representations). Sporting a more "pillow"-y white, and much better ground effects, it is the second to last mini I finished, and shockingly dates back to almost a year ago.

Caz

Jhousdan · « **Reply #18 on:** 21 June 2020, 19:19:53 »

That last one is pretty damn cool :)

Yeah, the plastech mold is my favorite too... it makes me think of the cover of "The Crescent Hawks Inception", it's a dead ringer for that one. I added laser barrels to mine

Cazaril · « **Reply #19 on:** 21 June 2020, 20:41:12 »

Quote from: Jhousdan on 21 June 2020, 19:19:53

That last one is pretty damn cool :)

It started life as a Gun GN-20 Prime

Daemion · « **Reply #20 on:** 05 September 2020, 17:48:06 »

Oh, yeah. Can't forget my custom Map Scale Locusts!

Old Vintage -1E miniature in for comparison.

I plan on repainting these in more defined colors so I can split them up into proper colored teams.

Renard · « **Reply #21 on:** 06 September 2020, 08:47:57 »

I don't think I had any fondness for the locust until I painted the green one. The yellow one is one of the first minis I painted. It is an ugly little bugger.

Wolf72 · « **Reply #22 on:** 06 September 2020, 11:12:16 »

Those map scale locusts are pretty cool!

we just need a BA style locust now, with maximum ground movement.

Sartris · « **Reply #23 on:** 06 September 2020, 12:21:06 »

my unseen lad from a SLDF Company. didn't clean the varnish off very well but the whole company has kind of a dirty look, which i like for war machines running around in the mud