Imperial PV2 Fighter

[Starwars4J]

Hi again! I recently showed my redesign of the Imperial Light Assault Droid, and now it's time to show my re-vamp of the fighter!

Here's the overall shot:

Sorry for the brightness, no idea how THAT happened...

Anyway I used xenologger's brilliant advice on how to strengthen the connection, using 1x2 plates, so thanks! I also revamped the design when I was trying to figure out how to fix the problem of that "pod" up front that held the bubble screen in place. Everyone said "it ruins the design, get rid of it!" but one very helpful soul, by the name of xeno (same person?) from CS suggested the following:

make it into a motif on this ship... that could look pretty good and make the overall shape more interesting, especially with this new streamlined version.

What a brilliant idea! however instead of just adding one gunpod to the bottom, I decided to fill the ship with them, taking advantage of the unique situation of having studs available from so many angles! I put four engine pods on the back, and a trio of light laser pods on the front. I know the engines are kind of boring, but this is supposed to be a cheap fighter, it doesn't need super powerful engines of weapons, also, nothing else would really fit in something that size :-$

A bit of last-minute inspiration helped me greeble up the back a bit, though I'm still not 100% sold on it, it's surprisingly sturdy

Here's how the back is connected

The pilot's seat slips in through the front, using the bar to go through the axle hole of the 2x2 white plate with round bar. This does allow for the pilot to rotate 360 degrees, so he can keep steady, however several complains have led to this feature being disabled. It's actually much more disorienting than you'd think to have the ship re-orient, but not you!

Here's the front without the pilot's seat

Final shot of a swoosh (sorry, no naked swooshing this time)

It's just so fun to swoosh, I'm infinitely more pleased with this than the first version. It's much sturdier and much more swooshable. I need to thank everyone who gave criticism and advice! And of course, more criticism is always welcome :-)

Edited May 31, 2007 by Starwars4J

[iamded]

Very good improvement! The design is unique, and very clever. Great job!

[zero1312]

Nice design, although I can't get the term "capsule fighter" out of my head. X-D

[Asuka]

Now this little fighter looks indeed deadly and dangerous! *y*

A very good design, for such a small vehicle it

[Khorne]

This is looking way better than your first version. I'm really loving the back, it looks very good. How does the canopy open? Doesn't the bley cheese wedge keep the canopy from opening?

[Starwars4J]

This is looking way better than your first version. I'm really loving the back, it looks very good. How does the canopy open? Doesn't the bley cheese wedge keep the canopy from opening?

Thanks KhoRne! Actually the wedge doesn't get in the way at all, and the cockpit perfectly passes by it

[Khorne]

Thanks KhoRne! Actually the wedge doesn't get in the way at all, and the cockpit perfectly passes by it

[...]

Ooo, neat. By the looks of it, you don't have a lot of spare room between the canopy and wedge to open it, or does the pic deceive my eyes?

[Starwars4J]

Ooo, neat. By the looks of it, you don't have a lot of spare room between the canopy and wedge to open it, or does the pic deceive my eyes?

Well, it opens normally. There's not a lot of room to spare, that's true, but it works :-P

[Starwars4J]

I was updating it a bit with a small recent BL order (I still need some dark bley drills for directional thrusters, but that isn't a big deal), when I decided I might as well make a short blow-out of the ship, so everyone can see the inner details a lot better.

It can be found here When moderated

Sneak peek:

Edited June 14, 2007 by Starwars4J

[Capn Kirk 911]

Nice one starwars4j, I like the fact of how it is so compact and small. And the four dark blue engines go great with the gray. Great moc. Also the back is way cool.

Edited June 14, 2007 by Capn Kirk 911

[Bonaparte]

I'm impressed with the design of this little ship.

Very ingenious! I could only see this while watching the blow-out pics.

[Corvus]

Excellent little ship.

Maybe you should build an alternate version. Kind of like a repair drone. Maybe give it arms?

[Starwars4J]

Excellent little ship.

Maybe you should build an alternate version. Kind of like a repair drone. Maybe give it arms?

That's not a bad idea...I could replace all the engines and lasers with maneuvering thrusters, and put some sort of arms on the side. Not sure if it would need to be that big though...would a repair drone even need humans? Probably not, so I could make the whole thing about 4 studs long...

Damnit, now you've gone and given me another idea :-D I'll have to build that when I get back...

[Corvus]

would a repair drone even need humans? Probably not, so I could make the whole thing about 4 studs long...

Damnit, now you've gone and given me another idea :-D I'll have to build that when I get back...

Whoops, sorry! X-D When you get back? Where are you?

If droids could think, there'd be none of us here, would there?

Exactly. I think it'd look better with a pilot.

[Starwars4J]

Whoops, sorry! X-D When you get back? Where are you?

Pretty sure I'll be back in a month or two...I'm at college now doing a summer grad course in microbiology. I already have the thing planned in my mind, too...

It's flat X-D

[DJ Force]

Very cool design!

I wonder how this piece would look like with an "official" color scheme.

I could see this one go pretty well along the Mars Mission theme, for example.