浪人
([rōnin], samurai without a master)
Two years after the release of the original game, Titanfall 2 released in 2016 with a variety of new content and features. One of the most fundamental changes was the introduction of six new Titans. These differ from one another not only in weight like in the first game, but all feature a unique set of skills and moves. To give each of them an own character, they spot individual designs and weapons as well.
One of those unique weapons was shown in the very first teaser of the game: A Titan-sized sword. It was later revealed that it is wielded by the appropriately named Ronin-class, a fast and nimble Titan specialising in hit and run tactics. It sacrifices durability and strength for speed and agility.
After the game had launched, Ronin quickly became a fan-favourite. Because it is based on the Stryder-class from the first game, its structure is somewhat similar. For that reason and because it is my favourite Titan design, I decided to recreate Ronin first.
"Sword core online"
- Titan OS
For the LEGO® model of Ronin, some of Stryder's design solutions were re-used. Those included the inner structure of the upper legs and the hands, respectively. Still, Ronin differs significantly from Stryder in his appearance. If the latter was the base military-version, Ronin appears more like a flashy racing variant. The air-intakes on the side of the cockpit, the small winglets on his head and the boosters on his shoulders emphasise that aesthetic. The main body also features sharper lines and the cockpit has a round shape giving him a striking elegance.
This is underlined by his paint job. Instead of a bland grey, Ronin's main color is white (Colour-ID 1) with stripes and details in dark red (Colour-ID 59). Even though the players can change the colours of their Titan, this base color combination mimics the Japanese flag, which is fitting considering Ronin's name and also the reason I chose it for the LEGO® recreation. Ronin was the first LEGO® model I created, which features different colours and distinct colour-splits. A lot of different SNOT (studs-not-on-top) techniques as well as printed parts were used to achieve that look.
Because Ronin's legs are very skinny, the legs of the LEGO® model are not able to support the upper body. The recreation therefore uses the Sword as a third pillar for the build to rest on.
Alternatively, his legs can be attached to a platform to give him the necessary stability. The platform I created for him is inspired by the Titanfall 2 multiplayer map "Black Water Canal" and incorporates the tree-design and ramps typically found on that map.
Redux
Since posting my original design of the Ronin Titan in 2016, I received countless messages asking for instructions. I was pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm around Titanfall and my LEGO® recreations in particular. However, I did not design the Ronin with instructions in mind. Therefore, many of of the connections were very fragile, it relied heavily on flex- and pneumatic tubes and some parts were not securely attached at all. To make comprehensive instructions many core aspects of the model needed to be redesigned.
In 2021, I finally had the chance to revisit the model. Instead of trying to adjust certain parts, I decided to design a new version from the ground up with the goal of making it much sturdier while looking as close to my original design as possible. Since Ronin still needs a stand to hold its weight, I designed a base inspired by the larger diorama I created previously. The instructions for this version are available though the link below.
"Stand by for Titanfall"
You can buy the instructions to build your own Ronin here:
Render of the finished model