Hai Spektrum, the Zap Samurai

 Space Jam continues! This is a last-minute entry for Grantmaster's Challenger category, with aim to build a gladiator of any sort. The category has a character of mine - HAVOC-DISSECTION IV - as an example build so I thought what the hell, if that fits I can make something similar but new and exciting. So I wanted to work on familiar area, some sort of cool flashy character about to fight. Neon colours, elegant armour, bright hair!

The seed part is definitely vibrant coral Technic pin connector. I got plenty of them (this is only fraction!) of them from last LUGBULK and hadn't used them much yet. So I went with parts spam routine, trying to find interesting patters. The first ones was the sleeve armours; a bar gracefully slides between four of those connectors, enabling the joints. The second use was the big knee pads; I tried to find pieces to fit the cumbersome slot on on the connector piece. Small shuttle tail didn't work, it was too thin, but these medium-sized ones slotted into the slop perfectly. So she got these huge knee things, that, as I found out during the photographing, enable own new battle style based on leaning on them (probably they are made of soft synthetic material). In a way, they're reimagined big samurai pauldrons moved to the legs. Connectors on upper legs continue the motif from the sleeves.

The upper torso is recycled from speeder rider Aurora Sievert; I was very happy with the design and thought it could work as a armour. It also enabled this neat, curved bit of vibrant coral on the bust. Aside from the Technic connectors, I wanted to be sparing with coral; aside from the chest ornament it is used on the boot soles, balancing the black and vibrant hues on the model. I'm very happy how the hips turned out. They use old classic Slizer foot, along with one of my favourite "forgotten" pieces, 90s solar panel with clip.

I wanted to add some more colour, but keep the armour black and coral, so I aimed for blue hair. My trans-light-blue was just enough - some 4x4 fractured wedges, four 1x2 plates and some cheese - to make a haircut with this beautiful vibrant shade! It's almost electric. The hair shape reminds a bit of samurai helmet, kabuto, which is nice touch; the head band, with antenna, makes it less flat and adds mundane space detail.

A katana felt ultimately very fitting. This is actually mostly because slightly curved katana scabbard was perfect for the character's dynamics, and I was able to make a pretty good scabbard with those connectors! Positioning it was much harder bit, but worked all right. The actual blade is yellow, to make it more sci-fi, and compleating the colour scheme. I enjoy its contrast with coral armour and blue hair.

 -Eero.