The Grimm's STEG Mobile Command Base
LEGO by: Justin R. "Saber-Scorpion" Stebbins
Weight Range: Heavy
Speed: Slow
Mobility: Land only (wheels)
Armaments: Anti-personnel minigun turret, 2 anti-vehicle energy cannons, 1 STEG mortar cannon, 2 infantry gunner support platforms
Capacity: 1 driver, 2 gunners, 4-6 passengers

Grimm realized when he first created his mercenary army that they would be moving around a LOT, so he had to have a mobile command base to command troops on the field. To that end, he began custom building a mobile command center.

The Grim Army Mobile Command Center is actually made out of an outdated Zygbarese troop transport. Grimm modified it by adding extra guns and a central section for his radar dish attachment.

The boosters on the back can be used to give the vehicle added speed, though they don't always work just right.

The name "STEG" is actually the abbreviation for the giant mortar cannon on the back of the vehicle. It stands for Superior Tactical Energy Gun... or something like that. But anyway, since the vehicle itself bears a slight resemblance to a stegosaurus, Grimm's troops use the name "STEG" to refer to the whole vehicle.

I made this creation for a LEGO "wheeled vehicle" contest on my website forums. I usually don't do wheels, so it was something different for me.

Lately I've been using more and more SNOT on my creations. I've also been making them more and more studless. This has resulted in bizarre cravings while building. "Need tiles!" So I had to order one of those 100 black 2x2 tiles packages from LEGO.

Remember: When fighting a mercenary army, the best way to get them to stop attacking is to pay them more than they're getting paid to kill you. Some men fight for honor, recognition, or patriotism... but mercs just fight for cash.

The platforms on either side of the STEG seat a pair of defensive snipers. These guys are protected by energy shields projected by those bars you see in front of them.

Some of you may appreciate that this is not as colorful as most of my Nova Refuge creations. But if you say so, I'll get mad. So... pleh!

If you haven't caught on, it's called STEG because of the Stegosaurus-like spines... I'm sure you can see them. I was looking at a LEGO Stegosaurus while I built this thing and I thought it would be a cool idea.

A few of the wheels look like they're turned "inside out." I would make a sci-fi excuse for that, but I can't really think of one. It's actually because they're a lot less of a hassle to attach that way, and they still roll just as good.

Grimm's Army doesn't enforce a dress code, but they do like to put their skull symbol on everything. If you'll notice, the skull on the back of the vehicle (on the black part) is drawn to look like it was sloppily painted on. I worked hard getting that skull to look that downright cool.

Just to prove the mortar cannon CAN swivel down. Here is M2 giving the orders to fire. Yeah, most of the troops in this photo shoot are characters people submitted for my Takeover of Mordark LEGO comic.

Here is the front section of the vehicle, broken off. Notice the swiveling machine gun turret on top, which is very effective against enemy troops... though it's more fun just to run them over.

No, those aren't boosters on the back. I was more thinking "power cores" or maybe "fuel tanks" myself. Something like that.

No, that pilot isn't from Xarkon. Sometimes Grim Army soldiers wear whatever armor they can find, you know.

Here is the radar section removed. Grimm himself is here to inspect it.

I left those studs showing for a reason: people sit there to use the controls.

Here is the radar screen. With its snazzy rotating radar dish, the STEG can detect hidden enemy units! It's not as powerful as the Fox Ear Radar Dish, but it'll do. Man I wish I could make this into a strategy game...

Pile on in, soldiers!

This is the vehicle's main control center. Notice the blue hologram panel. I chose that one in particular because it looks sort of like it could be used for aiming the mortar cannon.

We're off to conquer some small nation now. See you again later, perhaps when we invade a colony near you!