Big Bruiser Artificer? Is it viable?

[unseenmage]

I've been invited to play in a low op, level 4, 3.5/PF game. The world is homebrew. Dragon and Dungeon mags allowed with permission. Third party likely but I'm not sure. Many of the players are newbies and the DM doesn't want us teaching them bad (read as cheesey) habits.

I'm contemplating a big bruiser Artificer. Str and Int would be very important. He'd carry a hammer, or big wrench. Might be a hoardificer. Maybe not though, I run a lot of those.

The kind of guy who is his own siege crew. He's his own beast of burden. But smart enough to know how things work.

Is a melee Artificer doable? (Clockwork Armor maybe?)

Is a large character with an Int boost and Str boost possible? (Cha would be nice too but I realize that's wishful thinking.)

Thanks regardless Playgrounders.

[Nihilarian]

An artificer can do pretty much whatever it wants. Make an item with Divine Power and you have full BAB.

As far as races go, I don't know a +Str, +Int large size race. Perhaps Half-Giant into psionic artificer?

Oh, and is LA buy off on the table?

[Xerlith]

Construct Armor. Why, welcome, mister Stark.

[Yogibear41]

Warforged Artificer + Warforged Juggernaut oh the immunities, then build items to make you immune to everything else. + 2 levels in fighter for free feats and proficiencies.

[unseenmage]

...

Oh, and is LA buy off on the table?

I do not know. Should find out tomorrow though.

Construct Armor. Why, welcome, mister Stark.

Thought I mentioned that in my OP?

[Xerlith]

Thought I mentioned that in my OP?

Oops.
Still, the PF version is strictly better

[unseenmage]

Oops.
Still, the PF version is strictly better

Honestly I had already mentioned Golem Armor to the DM. Threatened to make a Golem Swarm from Dragon magazine into one. DM didn't bat an eye. Should be a fun game.

Primordial Half-Ogre is large with +Int? Primordial Giant template from SoX and Half-Ogre from RoD.
If there's no better suggestion guess that's what I''m going with.