Here's a scratch-build that I am working on: A chimera-chassis-based missile launcher that I am considering using as a "counts-as" for any of the following: a Hydra, a Manticore, or even a Deathstrike Missile Launcher. I could justify the type of weapon by the type of salvos that are launched, or possibly the payload of the rockets. For example, the Hydra variant would fire double-taps of Armor-Penetrating rockets at targets, where the Manticore variant would use a large blast S10 template due to the sheer number of High Explosives raining down. The Deathstrike stat line could represent a Tactical Atomic or Nuclear payload, with each rocket containing a small isotope. All the rockets get fired at once for maximum effect, and so it is a single shot salvo.
Ok, here it is. Give it a one-over and let me know what you think.
While I do not think you could get away with calling it a hydra, I do think it would make a fantastic Manticore.
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent converstion for a non-existing model. I like the fact that it just looks like it is shooting multiple warheads.
This is pretty sweet! I would love seeing this as a Hydra or Manticore, but I'd be a bit confused seeing it as a Deathstrike. It doesn't look absurd enough to be a Deathstrike :P
ReplyDeleteI can see that as a Hydra, and I would agree it makes an fantastic Manticore, but Deathstrike... no, I don't really buy it. I also don't really like, as a rule, the "this time I'm using this unit as X but next time it might be a Y" sort of thing, although I understand it from a money perspective.
ReplyDeleteWhat's that turret built out of, anyways? Those are the Valkyrie MRPs, I assume.
Turret looks like a standard Forgeword type. Do you still have the original weapons that came with it?
ReplyDeleteExcept for the Deathstrike, I think this is a good idea if you magnetize the weapons. Were I to do this, I'd buy the Hydra upgrade, then magnetize it for use with either the Hydra autocannons or Hellstrike/Valkyrie missiles.
I think it's perfect. I really disdain of all the folks out there who can take a look at an accurately-sized, scratch-built vehicle and say "no, that can't count that as what you want it to." To me, scratch building is the purest expression of this hobby and really reminds me of the good old days when you could actually design your own vehicles.
ReplyDelete@spy_smasher
ReplyDeleteI generally agree on that point, your opponent still has to be (in some way) able to see what a models is/represents, and while I can accept is a hydra and definitely as a manticore, I simply don't buy it as a deathstrike, I mean the missile it self is two times the size of the chimera. Besides this way you can NEVER field more then one of those types at one time.
Hypnox, why would 40+ high-explosive little rockets impacting have less of an effect than one large rocket? Really, I think the Deathstrike was the victim of an ork mindset, where red ones go fasta and bigger bombs got more boom.
ReplyDeleteSpy_smasher: thanks for the encouragement!
The Other Kevin: Good eye, it is indeed a forgeworld turret. I don't have the weapons that came with it, since it is borrowed from a friend. I have some silicone RTV and resin coming in, so I bet you can see what I'm planning on doing...
Sean: It's not like I'd be constantly switching it back and forth between games... but to appease the lot of ya I've been fooling around with several different ideas. I'll be explaining them in a later post.
Allandaros: Yeah I guess I could make it a bit more absurd to pass the muster!
Magilla Gorilla: Thanks! I think I've come up with as solution to the issue. I'll post up my solution as I fiddle with it in the next few days.
While Manti/Hydra is certainly possible, the Deathstrike is just too different a missile system; it's basically a bigass single missile with a launcher.
ReplyDeleteThat's excellent scratch building mate, can't wait to see how this turns out.
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