From: Thomas Barclay <Thomas.Barclay@s...>
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 03:56:13 -0400
Subject: DLD's latest conniving plan....
... to separate me from my paycheck..... Okay David, here's what I'd like to see, while we're wishlisting: 1) Engineering vehicles. You might have a chat offline with Mr.Atkinson. He and I talked about a number of interesting futuristic engineering vehicle options and he had some very informed (to my mind) thoughts on the matter. He contributed greatly to my understanding of the varied roles such vehicles might need to handle and hence how they should be put together. PS - I'm still hoping someone takes up the idea of moulding some PAE (Powered Armour, Engineering). Like standard PA, but with some additional fittings/fixtures. I'd like to see something with a demolition gun, a mine plow/flail, and maybe some sort of CLC launcher. I'd also love to see some sort of hover or ground truck and trailer with a bunch of configurable modules - mine flingers, wire spoolers, systems to lay wire and stake it, etc. 2) Comms/EW version of the Kamodo based off the TOC frame. All you need do is create a new top plate and a retractile jammer/interceptor mast. 3) A _nice_looking_ conventional howitzer. Some sort of long barreled gun mounted either turreted or fixed on various chassis types. I do NOT like the look of any howitzer carriers I have yet seen. 4) MRLS - GZG does a passable one for the Hover and Wheeled worlds. This wouldn't be at the top of my list, on account of I already have some and they'll do for how often they show up. 5) ADA - Both a large tracked/hover/grav chassis with a multi-chaingun turret (maybe which also has a missile system on it or as an alternate turret) and a smaller hover jeep/conventional jeep version that models off the Stinger POST. Maybe even a mod of "new not-yet-released mystery vehicle" where the rear section becomes an AAGMS system, that would capitalize on existing parts. Light ADA like the Stinger POST and similar are probably as likely to be deployed with airmobile forces as anything. 6) Grav MICV to match the Civet and a Couger/Bison/LAV like wheeled MICV (an ARV in this type would also work). The Kamodo has a French VAB or German Luchs feel to it, but something with a sharply angled nose and a turret packing a chaingun and GMS would be a great piece too. You could probably use some of the parts (wheels etc) that you already have, though the hull would have to change. Actually, if you moulded carefully, you could make the turret ring on this LAV/Bison like vehicle the same size as the HFS, then you suddenly have a drop-on conversion to the Kamodo line. (This is very similar to how M113s and other vehicles can be upgunned by drop in turrets, even some from other vehicles!). 7) M901 or similar raised mast GMS based TD. 8) An unarmoured (mostly) 3 man FAV wheeled like that used by Spec Forces - 2 down in front, one up on a turret in the back. LMG and HMG or AC. 9) A good tracked MICF/AIFV. No-one makes a good 25mm Bradley type vehicle that I've found. 10) A VTOL - the new Osprey successor QTR. (Quad Tilt-Rotor - two sets of wings, front and back, four motors). I've seen the concept vehicle design - very cool looking. Don't know if it can keep from falling out of the air, but it makes a great SF looking troop transport and support gunship (esp if you made one with weapons add ons). 11) Some Rigid Hull boats with Inflatable Collars (the new navy fast picket boats and harbour control). With a Kevlar collar, these things are fast, good for small unit games, and could easily show up in SG games where the game has a coastal or brownwater (river) component. Stuart Murray used 15mm Vietnam era PBRs and Monitors to great effect in Cinegrunt, and I'm convinced that one of these with an AGL or an AC and an MG or two and a place to stand a few figures would be an awesome add on. 12) This is an odd one but: Tents! I got some reasonable vacc-form pup tents from KR, but they're fragile. I'd rather have 2-4 piece resin puptents, and I'd like to see a model of the larger style military tents. It's hard to build a proper firebase/encampment without them (I have all the armourcast bunkers/sandbag emplacements I need thanks). It'd be easy to make sectional, so they could be made out of a few quick sections and have the same thickness as the top or bottom of the Kamodo. Then a couple of seams, and presto, sturdy tents! Pup tents are fine, but I'd like to have tents that could be setup as a MASH unit, as a BN HQ, etc. That ought to keep you busy.:) Tomb PS - Richard Bell, in your discussion of remote control fighters, you forgot to account for short range quantum-comms - FTL, but on a short range basis. This kind of tech (which seems not unlikely given current developments) would let you fly a fighter by remote in real-time. (Now, I'm not even sure I understand this enough to know if it can be jammed, so that is one counterargument).