Quote - Geek Alert

Some AeroMechs are like the Robotech ones (I think) and can kinda transform, but you have a good start for any biped form.  Most of the 'Mechs I have seen are fairly boxy when it comes to the armor; wind resistance (except for AstroMechs) is not really important (unless they modified the rules) but heat displacement and armor thinkness/weight are.  For the largest/heaviest, think "not just the armory, the whole damn building" if you do any of those as final products.  I think the Atlas topped out at 100 tons.

Just curious:  Has your friend mentioned Elemental suits?  They are basically armored EVA suits, but some of the weapon systems are similar to those carried by the 'Mechs, just scaled accordingly.  Something to think about if both scales are wanted. :)

 

Yeah.. I haven't gotten into trying to model specific 'mechs so the armor pieces I've put on so far are mostly just from my head with a vague mental reference to the phoenix hawk/veritech knockoff that my friend mentioned.  I tried going boxy as that is more the battletech style but I didn't like any of my results, though I have seen others do some great work in that style.

The armor suit guys would probably be better done as an armor set for one of the common figures.  This skeleton is designed to move in a distinctly mechanical way with some extra bones but only one rotation per joint, so the leg side-side, twist and swing are each their own bit of geometry with their own bone and only one roatation each.