[Freebuild] Introducing Viktor Kramer

[VK-318]

This post is intended to introduce my character in "Andromeda's Gates," and also to briefly introduce his companions. It is not intended to be counted or scored for the contest itself!

AG_Intro_crew_01 by David Hansen, on Flickr

At age 25, Viktor Kramer has had a rather full life. When he was sixteen, he was pressed into service in a pirate crew. He took to it well, and rose from a lowly technician to being the crew's quartermaster in five short years. At age twenty-one, he lost his leg in a boarding action, and had it replaced with a peg. It is made of a titanium alloy, covered in a hard, matte synth-wood coating to make it quieter and less reflective. A year later, he retired from pirating with a pardon, and used his share of the bountiful plunder to have a ship of his own constructed: the Variga. It was completed just months ago - the same day that an old friend from his pirating days got in touch with him. Now an agent of the Kawashita Group, his friend offered him a bargain. In these days of thinly-veiled war between the great corporations, privateering can be a profitable enterprise indeed, and with his newly-wedded wife Silvia, Kramer prowls the Andromeda Galaxy, wielding his customized F-11D plasma bolter in search of plunder once again.

AG_Intro_crew_02 by David Hansen, on Flickr

Far from being just another pretty face, Silvia Kramer has been flying since she was tall enough to reach the controls of a hovercar. Thanks to the advanced automation provided by Kawashita Group, the Variga needs only two human crewmen, and while Viktor operates the guns, Silvia pilots the ship with an expert hand and a pirate's flair. She, too, was once a pirate - she was pilot for a year aboard Viktor's ship, while Viktor was an engineer. When they retired from piracy, she invested with him to make the Variga a possibility. Now twenty-four years old, she wields her pistol with lethal accuracy in the service of Kawashita Group.

AG_Intro_crew_03 by David Hansen, on Flickr

A venerable but efficient product of the Kawashita Group, RT3-KU is a factotum robot, designed with a human-like shape so as to easily perform tasks originally intended for humans. Not everything can be retro-fitted with automation, so factotums like RT3-KU are used to fill in the gaps. With strength greater than that of most humans, he wields a massive laser rifle in combat to aid Kawashita Group in achieving its goals.

AG_Intro_crew_04 by David Hansen, on Flickr

T1-N1 is a robot technician so old that, although its logic systems remained functional, its body was entirely obsolete when Viktor joined his first pirate crew. The enterprising technician found ways to improve the old chassis, and now it follows him everywhere. Within its oddly-shaped body are a myriad tools, from cutting torches and welding gear to basic medical gear and even an AED. It serves its master dutifully in the struggle against M.A.N.T.I.S. and the Octan Corporation.

AG_Intro_variga_01 by David Hansen, on Flickr

The Variga. Originally to be painted all black, she now wears the colors of the Kawashita Group.

AG_Intro_variga_06 by David Hansen, on Flickr

Originally designed to transport a few wealthy passengers in luxury, the Variga is somewhat larger than many vessels of her type, but this is of little concern to her captain. She is approximately to scale with the microfigure in this picture. Within her armored hull, however, she holds luxurious cabins, a well-appointed kitchen, a small library, and even a swimming pool. But she is also equipped with an advanced sickbay and a small garden and poultry farm tended by robots, allowing her to remain comfortably in space for weeks or months at a time if need be.

AG_Intro_variga_04 by David Hansen, on Flickr

She is well armed, too, carrying two plasma turrets and a forward missile turret, granting her firepower not often found on ships of this size - a reflection of the piratical origins of her owners.

AG_Intro_variga_03 by David Hansen, on Flickr

Only a fool operates in hostile territory without shields, and the shield generators on the Variga are the finest generally available. She is also equipped with several different types of communications antennas - it's a lot easier to find your next target if you can pick up its transmissions.

AG_Intro_variga_05 by David Hansen, on Flickr

The Variga's three massive thruster pods were some of the most expensive components included in her design. Although she certainly can't compete with cutters or small fighters and bombers, the Variga can generally show her heels to anything she can't take head-on.

P.S. The Variga's design is derived from that of Eurobricks member Anio's UCS Republic Cruiser model. If you're interested, it's well worth checking out the album on Flickr: https://www.flickr.c...157628682301835. He has made instructions available for a very moderate price.

P.S.S. I am returning to Eurobricks after a long absence due to college and other real-life responsibilities. I am trying to adhere to the rules of Andromeda's Gates, but it is quite possible that I have overlooked something. If so, please let me know and I will correct it at my first opportunity. Thanks!

[KlodsBrik]

That ship of yours is looking pretty good.

Massive sharp and potentially powerful fast and furious.

The colours and sharp edges does its job.

Lovely build.

[Isundir]

Welcome to Kawashita Viktor, you have chosen wisely. That's an impressive vessel you've got there. As a former pirate I do hope you won't make too much trouble.

He can't possibly be any worse then you.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, sunshine.

... you know I hate that nickname.

Edited January 25, 2016 by Isundir

[EpsilonEta]

This post is intended to introduce my character in "Andromeda's Gates," and also to briefly introduce his companions. It is not intended to be counted or scored for the contest itself!

We call those "freebuilds" (I change the title for you) and use the name "weekly builds" for those that get scored (as we can only make one per week)

I am trying to adhere to the rules of Andromeda's Gates, but it is quite possible that I have overlooked something. If so, please let me know and I will correct it at my first opportunity. Thanks!

No problem. There is a lot of rules to take in (but few are critical, we are here to have fun) and I will help you fix anything you might have missed. If you have any questions you can PM me as I'm the leader of Kawashita and just became a judge.

Now for your build:

Wow, you really prepared before coming here. Interesting characters and you had fantastic timing as Kawashita just got in a situation where they would hire an former (or current) pirate.

I also like the droids as I'm very nostalgic to Spyrius and use my lego R2-Q5 as avatar on two lego forums.

Welcome to Andromeda and Kawashita.

[Dragonfire]

Welcome to Kawashita! Great first build by the way

[Mike S]

Great intro!

[SpacerSteve]

Welcome to AG. You could have been a MANITS operative in a stolen Kawashita ship if you wanted to.

[VK-318]

Now for your build:

Wow, you really prepared before coming here. Interesting characters and you had fantastic timing as Kawashita just got in a situation where they would hire an former (or current) pirate.

Actually, the ship has been sitting around for about a year now. I needed a ship for my characters, and remembered that I had this stuck back in my closet, gathering dust. I'm glad you like it, though - it cost me several hundred dollars to assemble from Bricklink. Getting all the pieces took almost eight months, and building it took between eight and nine hours and a certain amount of redesign when something that looked great in LDD turned out not to be so hot in real life. It's sort of the crown jewel of my collection, and I'm still looking for a good, solid way to display it - the stands in the pictures are improvised and pretty shaky.

[Anio]

This model kinda reminds me a MOC. :)

Thanks for the pics. ;)