Knight26

Why did you buidl your X-wing with the S-foils open? I mean in the landed configuration they are closed. Also, is it full scale and accurate to the studio models, if so how is the forward visibily out of it?

I may have the original, but I could never opt it.

Update again: Changes: 1) The cockpit is all but finished, I may redo the seats, but am going to progress, and fix any small bugs later. 2) I added the ribs to the intakes of the engines, but that is still up to debate as to whether or not they will be retained. 3) I fixed the energy cannon mounts. 4) I fixed the ventral cruciform tails, they were just floating before. 5) Added a simple color map to the whole thing. No other changes at this time. The design still seems to be missing somthing though, underside is great but something about the top is just bugging me. I'm going to do the missile vents next and then start on the manuevering thrusters. I may add a hump similar to the original's but I am not sure yet, any thoughts? The pictures show two exterior views, and two of the inside of the cockpit, one from the pilot's seat looking down at the HDD and controls, the other from the WSO seat doing the same. You can just see the bottom of the HUD repeater in that picture, I am considering adding a control board back there, but it is cramped as is, and most controls can already be linked into the twin throttles. Besides, the WSOs don't usually use the physically controls.

update time: Changes: 1) The canards went away and were replaced by a new set flanking the cockpit that the energy cannons are now hanging from 2) The tails were rebuilt with new sensor pods and it has taken a cruciform configuration. The Cruciform may or may not stay. 3) The reverse thrust exhausts and associated interior engine hardware has been added. No other mods as yet, To be added: 1) will start back on the cockpit later, finish the interior and start on the exterior. 2) Exhaust vents will be added to the missile tubes 3) The engine interior walls will be built up, I have two ideas for this, as this model fighter uses an advanced 1st gen gravity drive, so the walls of the intake will either be smooth, or ribbed, haven't decided. 4) Will add thruster units across the hull, in the nose, tail, wing tips, dorsal and ventral surfaces, plus flanking thrusters. 5) Undercarriage design up. 6) Overhead docking mounts. 7) Atmospheric control surfaces on the main wings and canards. Panel line the fighter, this will come towards the end. Answers to Questions: The textures are all temporary and are legacy to the old design, they will all be replaced. The cockpit does not need to be popped up, the interior has an SIS system similar to the YF-19's cockpit. I will do renders later showing thing, should look really good when it is done. Keep the C&C coming, I really do appreciate it. I still think the design is missing something, but I cannot put my finger on it, any thoughts?

Ok, made some small changes today, been busy with life. Mostly I worked on the cockpit, cutting out the tub, installing the seats, the SIS walls, the main HDD, still need to add some more to the HDDs. I also have to add the WSO's HDD console and add the canopy controls. I am debating making it a split canopy again, any thoughts? ALso, as per greyryder's suggestion I added some canards. I don;t think these ones will stay, if I keep canards at all, any suggestions? The biggest problem with the canards will be placing them where they will not interfere with the two forward cannons, but like I said they do move independantly of the rest of the fighter, still if locked in place I would like them to have a clear line of fire. The design still seems to be missing something that I just can not put my finger on, anyone have any ideas?

Yeah, it is a transatm craft, hmm, where to put the canards though that they dont interefere with the cannons flanking the cockpit, as they are on arms, allows them to target off bore.

I think so, that is an old shot and I threw them on their as a place holder for a squadron logo.

I get the Pyro comment a lot, thing is I built the original model around '91 and the first drawing in '92. I transfered to TURBOCAD in '93-'94 and still have files that show the design predates the original release of Descent. Therefore the fighter is not inspired in any part by the fighter from descent, though I admit that the resemblance is uncanny. But really, any small FSW with multiple weapons mounts and large engines will tend to look similar. I admit I loved playing the old Descent games, wish I could on my current machine, but it has issues running it, no idea why. Thing is I think one of the biggest reasons why I loved playing it so much was because of how much the main fighter resembled my splicer.

Looking great man, can't wait to see if completed, are you planning to recast it when you are done?

Ok, still a lot of work to go, but here it is with the wing, weapons, and a few other parts culled from the original, the tail plains and sensor pods. It still needs something though, I'm not sure what though, maybe it will come to me tonight. I'm still debating the positioning of the main cannons on the wing, I may keep it in the new position under the wing, or switch it back to over. Whatever I do the four wing guns will have to have their mounts remodeled. Will see where it goes. C&C are welcome.

Its funny you say that Graham. Ok confession time. The original Splicer 5000 design was a toy I built up out of old ROBOTIX parts. For years the design evolved over and over using just those old toys, then I started putting into CAD. The design therefore has been comprimised from the start, therefore so have all subsequent Splicer models, so they will have to be redone as well, as they all use a common cockpit module as well as other parts. In fact here is a picture of the original model, feel free to make fun of it, lol. I will post a quick pic of the progress I made tonight, mostly some more engine area work, added the wing and the remodelled weapons, plus some other parts of the old design.

And the first progress shot on the new design: (editted the picture to fit the window better)

Yes, another redesign. This one was as a result of how well the Wolfsbane Redesign turned out, and then the Splicer 5000, the goog guys primary fighter ended up looking really bad by comparison IMHO. I agonized over this one for a while, I wanted to keep the overall configuration, but couldn't figure out where to start. I sketched out several possibilities, but nothing translated from the top view well. Then it hit me, the cockpit was the biggest failing of the old design, start there and let the rest flow from it. I then remembered the first redesigned cockpit from the Mosquito Redesign. It wasn't suitable for that craft but with some work it looks good on the new Splicer 5000. Right now I am working on the main fuselage and engine section, the cockpit interior will come later for now. I am also having issue with the wing design, getting it to mesh with the new rear end it proving to be more then a hassle then i thought. Any suggestions are welcome, especially when it comes to where to mount it. Ok onto the pictures, again any CONSTRUCTIVE C&C is appreciated. First, the original design.

One thing that confuses me about that video, it keeps switching back and forth between versions of the macross, one shot its in the DYRL config, the other the TV config (with the carriers but the movie hull). Maybe it will show the transition, hmm? Start out in the TV config, run through the TV story line in that config, get trashed, rebuilt then sent back out temporarily in the new config. So then you get to fight the "battles" of the movie, maybe as a stunt pilot, or maybe they will say that the movie was just a cover up for an actual battle that took place, using footage from the battle in the movie. Ah macross conspriacy theories, gotta love 'em.

Those have to be the nastyist ice cream flavors I have ever heard of, what's next human secretion ice cream?

old news

Old news

what crack are you smoking, those look nothing like Su-27 tail fins, I would say either they are F-22, or YF-23 tails.

Typically no, because the missile is gone before it has a chance to do any noticable scortching. Plus it manuevers away rather quickly, pointing the missile exhaust away from the plane. Now, on a ship based launcher, the missle takes off slightly slower and tends to go straight for a second before manuevering. Those do get some scortching on the launcher, but mostly on the bulkhead behind it because the missile exhaust is focused there longer.

That price does seem a bit steep. Ok, I'm not real fluent on VOtoms, but is that character a guy or a girl becuase it looks to have boobs?

Bascially in this war there are two side, the COnfederation (UCSB) and the Federation (GF). The COnfed Space Forces by their mandate are a defensive military, organized primarily around defending their own territory from outside aggressors and internal malcontents (pirates, raiders, terrorists, etc...) The GF on the other hand is an expansionist imperial military stretching out to take as many holdings as they can. Now, the Feral and Untamed are Confed Space Forces craft. The Feral works in the Space Forces Mandate because it is primarily designed to attack enemy capital ships and small bases. THe Untamed walks a fine tight rope though, as it is designed for destroying larger facilities and for planetary attack. I probably went a little overboard in the design and it may or may not be kept. Like I said though use of it in an offensive role to destroy a large installation or planetary base, especially that of a homeworld, is unlikely for the most part. Confed Space Forces would much rather capture a large space based facility, using special ops forces to disable before a larger force comes in to take it. It comes down to resource allocation, which is better run it with a large force, destroy the facility then have to deploy additional resources to hold the system while another base is built or deploy a smaller force to try and take the facility intact? Like I said before as well the Untamed is rarely used, something more for show then anything else, it's a lumbering hulk and most commanders would rather deploy corvettes to do its job instead because they are more survivable designs. I hope that clears some things up, we can discuss it more later if you like, but I am at work and need to get back to it.

Hmm maybe because 1/48: 1 inch = 4 feet, 1/72: 1 inch = ft, etc... This probably comes from most early models being made of the US and English market. Later on when model kite became more popular in the east you started getting the smaller scales, the 1:100 and 1:200, etc... Prior to that only model ships would have metric scales in the US. After that it has just become tradition, besides they are great scales, and there is no reason to change until everyone goes metric.

Damn, those are some well done models.

ANd, the landed configuration. As an SWACS it tends not to carry torpedoes but instead probes and sensor pods. Any thoughts on what it might need?

Somthing I thought you all might find interesting, the SWACS variant of the Feral-F. Like the regular model Feral the wings fold in for landing, and now so do the large sensor arrays. I am debating whether or not to put the turrets back on for defense and possibly more sensor pods, maybe something like the underside sensors of the VE-1 maybe. Anyway let me know what you think.