StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Finally got around to sticking some weaponary on that robotech/macross style fighter I made last month, thought I'd render myself a new backdrop to celebrate. It now comes equipped with 6 missiles, 2 large underwing hardpoints (currently with extra fuel tanks on) and a central hardpoint containing a gattling gun pod with an awesome rate of fire. More later...

Darthdavid likey.

That's a very nice composition. Well, aside from the satellite laser thing, I think it ruins the whole shot :\ Very nice design though.

The satellite's from the contest, right?



Oh yeah, the planet: is that an object or part of the background? In either case, do you know where I can find the texture for it?

You mean there isn't a built in gun? Aiee! There's a reason why almost every single fighter in the world has a built in cannon...

Probably should also put some more centerline hard points in.

Shinova wrote:The satellite's from the contest, right?

Reminds me of the Sona collector from ST:I.


But pretty cool. I like the tailfire.

Yes indeedy, the satellite is from the SB contest. I'm going to change it quite a bit though, as almost everyone else in the contest built something that looks like the Son'a collector from ST:Insurrection too. I'll change the panels or something, I'm not sure what yet. In order to show off the new weaponary I had to have a target, and I have no other suitable models right now that wouldn't look out of place next to this style of ship.

As for the question of mounting a gun instead of having it built in, it's something that's been debated on and off for years now. The F-4 Phantom was designed without one, as was the Harrier and many other 60's vintage aircraft onwards. The thinking was that most people never get close enough for an actual dogfight due to missile technology, and it's truer than ever these days. I checked on missile design before I made my own and common engagement range these days is between 10km and 30km range, rather negating the need for a gun. I realise it'd be daft not to have one, so i fitted a humungous one as standard on the centreline, rather like the Harrier and it's Aden gunpods underslung on the body. It can use it for ground attack roles, but I'd imagine it wouldn't see much use in any air to air engagements.

Shinova wrote:The satellite's from the contest, right?

Oh yeah, the planet: is that an object or part of the background? In either case, do you know where I can find the texture for it?

The planet was created using the amazing photoshop plugins by Flaming Pear, the people that brought us Glitterato and suchlike. It can create quite realistic planets, but unless you save the settings it's almost impossible to get the same kind of look again. The only drawback is the fact that it's not really 3D, just a background image, so it's uses are quite limited in that respect. PM me and I'll share the details.

Kenny_10_Bellys wrote:As for the question of mounting a gun instead of having it built in, it's something that's been debated on and off for years now. The F-4 Phantom was designed without one, as was the Harrier and many other 60's vintage aircraft onwards. The thinking was that most people never get close enough for an actual dogfight due to missile technology, and it's truer than ever these days. I checked on missile design before I made my own and common engagement range these days is between 10km and 30km range, rather negating the need for a gun. I realise it'd be daft not to have one, so i fitted a humungous one as standard on the centreline, rather like the Harrier and it's Aden gunpods underslung on the body. It can use it for ground attack roles, but I'd imagine it wouldn't see much use in any air to air engagements.

I point you to the F-14, F-15, F-16, F-18, F-22, and F-35, all of which have guns. The only planes that don't have guns built in are ones designed during the 60's, when they thought that missiles could shoot down enemy planes from great distances. Problems occur if you need to be able to positively identify the enemy before you start shooting at it.

the planet´s bump map seems a bit intense.

seems to me that the gun pod is going to be one of those things that is by default always going to be on the hardpoint.

macross fighters have gun pods because when they transform the gun becomes a rifle...

i suppose if this is not a veritech one might as well make the gun internal, but at that size it's going to end up where it is now anyway.

right?

Salm, there is no planet, it's a 2D picture made using a Photoshop plugin designed to make planet backdrops.

Yeah, it's too big to be internally mounted. Usually you get piss-all ammo in internal cannons unless you count the A-10's GAU-7, but the plane was built just to make the gun fly and it only holds 10 seconds worth of ammo at the rate it fires at. I figure it'll be like the Harrier and pretty much always have the cannon pod fitted unless you're planning something special.

Damn, that looks really good...