Racer/Fighter

[Starwars4J]

Well awhile ago something on the classic-space forums really inspired me. Member Sylvi posted her Dutch Division dropship, and while the main MOC caught my eye, the thing that really got me was her little fighter. It just SCREAMED "swoosh me!" But alas I didn't have it :'-( So recently I got around to making one of my own, but I wanted to personalize it a LITTLE. It still looks a lot like hers, I made some (in my opinion) significant changes. She achieved some great MOC with a little sacrifice of functionality for asthetics. Mine may not look as nice, but it has more little features :-P

Anyway, here's my version. I passed on the bright orange color for a nice dark green theme (green being my favorite color *wub*). It isn't as prominent as hers, though mine has been toned down on purpose. Hers was a fighter, mine used to be a racer, which was converted to a light interceptor by the Rebellion. I don't care what universe you're in, the rebellion will always be understaffed and underfunded. What better for a free ship than an old racer upgraded with some weapons?

Standard view here. The two things in the front are a pair of LIGHT repeating lasers. When I say light, I mean light. This baby is used for taking down other fighters and maybe some exposed offensive weaponry ONLY, it isn't meant to do heavy damage to capital ships. Anything heavier (even a missile launcher) would get in the way of the delicate balance of thrusters that are integrated throughout to give this racer it's famous maneuverability.

The holes on the sides of the fighter were used for breaking thrusters when it was a racer, and can still be used as such. When not in use, they provide a method for airflow to keep the wind resistance down.

Here's the underside. You can see the landing gear, two thruster gratings near them, and two, more powerful maneuvering thrusters up front. The exposed antigrav array is arranged in a triplet, to maximize stability and coverage.

One thing I just don't like is the use of skis as landing gear. So I made my own which can roll in and out to the sides like wheels to make the transition flow easier.

Here's one of the areas I fixed. In the original there was no way for the minifig to get in besides to just remove the cockpit. I tried letting it fold forwards but it got in the way of the surrounding plate after a certain angle. The same happens with the back. How to fix it? Make both the front and the back open a little bit so the pilot can climb in and out (I know you'll appreciate that, sinner :-D)

And here's the rebel pilot, an imperial defector:

backshot

I can't stress this enough that the design was not entirely mine, it was a modification of one I saw from someone else because I *wub* it so much. I hope you guys like some of my modifications, C&C welcome of course, I know this thing can be a lot better :-D

[Doctor Sinister]

Wow, that thing looks awesome - small, powerful, and FAST. I imagine it would be used for short-range interception duties, to guard capital ships, knock attacking fighters out of the sky and back in time for tea?

Dr. S.

[Starwars4J]

Wow, that thing looks awesome - small, powerful, and FAST. I imagine it would be used for short-range interception duties, to guard capital ships, knock attacking fighters out of the sky and back in time for tea?

Dr. S.

Exactly X-D

[Corvus]

I can't stress this enough that the design was not entirely mine, it was a modification of one I saw from someone else because I *wub* it so much. I hope you guys like some of my modifications, C&C welcome of course, I know this thing can be a lot better :-D

...And it's a great mod. I love the green you put into it, it looks great. I love the way you made it actually look like a racer turned into a fighter, and that turned out well. I also love how you integrated it into the story.

One thing I think needs to be buffed up a bit is the thrusters. They don't look powerful enough for something that used to be a racer. Racers in space, I think, need to be dangerously modified with the biggest engines possible; you should try doing it here, by putting in some more greebles in the back. That way, it looks like a rebellion ship slightly more by showing even more repair work, a bit like the y-wing.

I like what you did with the cockpit. It looks very functional, something you'd see in a real fighter. Although, someone with a bad back is going to have a hard time getting in and out. :-P

I'm not so sure about the landing gear. It looks a bit too unstable; the entire ship is slanting forward. If you added more support to the skids, it would look much better.

I like the two LIGHT ( :-P ) blasters you have. Very simple, but they're great.

The two holes on each side are... interesting. I can tell that they are air intakes, but what I think what would have been better is to use the two sockets that you used for the blasters as the intakes. They have more detail, as the method you have now makes it look a bit too blocky.

The underside of the ship is great. I like how you used the three peices as antigrav. (take that, Sinner! :-P ) Also, I think you should have put greebles on the underside of the wings. The way you have the light grey 2x6 is good, but it would have added more character, IMHO. Again, that would have given it the "low on money, as-good-as-we-can-do-with-it" repair look.

All right, I'm done. :-$ I've never commented that long on a MOC before, it was really interesting, thanks. You also inspired me to work some more on a little orange speeder I made a while ago: Link. That was before I learned to put in a background, use a tripod, etc. :-$

One last question: Will you be using this ship in your WIP ship? It's small and compact, It'd fit well. :-)

[Starwars4J]

I've never commented that long on a MOC before

And I appreciate it X-D

One thing I think needs to be buffed up a bit is the thrusters. They don't look powerful enough for something that used to be a racer.

I thought about that, but if I beef it up too much it won't be able to open from the back...I'm not even sure how to beef it up to be honest :-$ Anything I could put would take away from the functionality of the back opening, in which case I could just slap a honking huge thruster there like in the original. I agree with what you say, I just don't know how to fix it :'-( Any ideas?

I'm not so sure about the landing gear. It looks a bit too unstable; the entire ship is slanting forward. If you added more support to the skids, it would look much better.

Well I'm actually pretty happy with the landing gear, but perhaps I could work on it a bit more. The thing about the landing gear is that it isn't a very heavy fighter, so the fact that it's tilted a bit doesn't really bother me...as long as it keeps the delicate anti-grav off the ground I guess :-P And it's hard to integrate something that is strong in an area that small :-/

The two holes on each side are... interesting. I can tell that they are air intakes, but what I think what would have been better is to use the two sockets that you used for the blasters as the intakes. They have more detail, as the method you have now makes it look a bit too blocky.

You mean reverse them and make the blasters the intake and the intake into some sort of blaster? I originally didn't have them there, but I needed some breaking thrusters. I wasn't happy with the blockiness either, and I'll probably play around with that a bit more since I agree with you on it. I think the level of detail for it is fine though, I mean they're just light thrusters, but to each his own I guess. Need to work on the blockiness like you said though

Also, I think you should have put greebles on the underside of the wings. The way you have the light grey 2x6 is good, but it would have added more character, IMHO. Again, that would have given it the "low on money, as-good-as-we-can-do-with-it" repair look.

because of the way the wings are connected it's actually impossible to do that :-/ What I COULD do is use one of those 2x2 overhang plates to cover the wings...but a part of me wants SOME of this to be smooth and un-greebly. I'll experiment I guess X-D

Your little fighter looks like it has a lot of possibility, a really interesting design! Good luck with it and make sure to show us the progress!

One last question: Will you be using this ship in your WIP ship? It's small and compact, It'd fit well. :-)

Well that was Imperial and this is Rebel, they wouldn't exactly mesh that well :-D Maybe in a battle scene though...

This will be the fighter carried aboard that baby...four of them (two finished). I have since added 4 directional thrusters and I should take pictures of that though...

[SirNadroj]

Wow, thats cool! I love the sleekish and very unique design! *y*

Nice pilot, BTW! ;-)

[Asuka]

A great color scheme and some nice functionality. *y*

And I really love that blockyness.... it fits very well with the round cockpit

area and those triangular fins. The only thing I miss a little

[Corvus]

I thought about that, but if I beef it up too much it won't be able to open from the back...I'm not even sure how to beef it up to be honest Anything I could put would take away from the functionality of the back opening, in which case I could just slap a honking huge thruster there like in the original. I agree with what you say, I just don't know how to fix it Any ideas?

Nope, no ideas. :-$ It looks great now that I return to it, though.

Well I'm actually pretty happy with the landing gear, but perhaps I could work on it a bit more. The thing about the landing gear is that it isn't a very heavy fighter, so the fact that it's tilted a bit doesn't really bother me...as long as it keeps the delicate anti-grav off the ground I guess And it's hard to integrate something that is strong in an area that small

I just thought the way the picture was it looked odd. Maybe if you took a picture further away in landing mode it would look better.

You mean reverse them and make the blasters the intake and the intake into some sort of blaster? I originally didn't have them there, but I needed some breaking thrusters. I wasn't happy with the blockiness either, and I'll probably play around with that a bit more since I agree with you on it. I think the level of detail for it is fine though, I mean they're just light thrusters, but to each his own I guess. Need to work on the blockiness like you said though

I meant to take take away the intake peices, and replace them with two of the same peices you used for the blaster.

because of the way the wings are connected it's actually impossible to do that What I COULD do is use one of those 2x2 overhang plates to cover the wings...but a part of me wants SOME of this to be smooth and un-greebly. I'll experiment I guess X-D

Experimenting is good. X-D Since this is a small fighter... Now, after messing around with my little orange ship, It is good to keep some of it smooth.

Your little fighter looks like it has a lot of possibility, a really interesting design! Good luck with it and make sure to show us the progress!

Thanks! I'm working with it right now.

Well that was Imperial and this is Rebel, they wouldn't exactly mesh that well Maybe in a battle scene though...

Oops! :-$ Guess I overlooked that little detail. X-D Maybe put it in as a captured ship, if you have enough room.

[DoubleT]

Wow great work mate *y* Can be said as simple as that..

[Siegfried]

Sorry about taking so long to comment on this. :-$ I have been pretty busy lately. Feel free to beat me up SW4J. I think you have taken a great idea and finished it. It reminds me of how the USA did the Harrier 2; the first was a great design but was limited in application. By the time the USA finished with the Harrier it was practical as well. *wub* Ooops, I have digressed. :-$

The colour scheme is much better. That orange can be hard to use well (as I will find out soon) and the subtle dark green highlights looks great. (I love the new dark green and red.) And look; forward retro thrusters! It really bothers me how most space fighters have big rear engines and no front ones. At the least they could rotate and use the main engines to reverse, but no; they just stop the engines and the ship stops. :-| You've even included pitch/roll and yaw thrusters, and you even attached one on the bottom! I like the forward light repeating lasers and I love how you have made a point to empisize how weak the lasers are. :-D Your cockpit solutions is great. That canopy can be very hard to use.

Personally, if this was my design, I would say that it couldn't operate in gravity, and thus wouldn't give it landing gear or antigrav, but that's just me. Aside from that I there is nothing that I don't like and I think the thruster and engine sizes are perfect considering the size of the ship. The more I see your stuff the more I want to see your finished SHIP. I think this has to be the smallest ship that I have seen that is actually believable. (Mine suxed!) Any chance of some swooshing photos? :-P

[Starwars4J]

I love the new dark green and red.

Me too *wub* Whenever I use bricklink I can't help but browse for dark green/red/blue. I love almost any part in those colors :-D

And look; forward retro thrusters!

:-$ I almost compromised them for aesthetics

You've even included pitch/roll and yaw thrusters

I did? 8-| Well you know better than I do X-D

canopy can be very hard to use.

Yeah, that's why I always wanted to use it. Like you saw the entire design wasn't mine, so I do plan on making another small fighter eventually that's all my own design that uses these just so I know I can.

The more I see your stuff the more I want to see your finished SHIP.

I'm about half-done with the main floor, actually. So far the walls are only like 4 studs high and I barely have any of it tiled though :'-( It's taking so long mainly due to the fact that each floor is two layers...held together by 2x2 bricks. I have something special for it planned for the second floor >:-) The whole project is reminding me how far behind I am on my bley collection. Speaking of though, I was gonna PM you. Is there a reason warning lights are typically red in emergencies? Like running lights and stuff, because I'm thinking about lining the hallways with a 1-plate-thick row of trans-dark blue 1x1 plates that could be running lights in case of emergency and just to break up the monotony, but I'd use solid dark blue if the blue running lights don't make sense.

I think this has to be the smallest ship that I have seen that is actually believable. (Mine suxed!) Any chance of some swooshing photos? :-P

I liked yours 8-

[Siegfried]

Speaking of though, I was gonna PM you. Is there a reason warning lights are typically red in emergencies? Like running lights and stuff, because I'm thinking about lining the hallways with a 1-plate-thick row of trans-dark blue 1x1 plates that could be running lights in case of emergency and just to break up the monotony, but I'd use solid dark blue if the blue running lights don't make sense.

I don't think so. On real military ships (world wide) at sunset something like this is piped;

Sunset. Rig lights for red

...and everyone runs around like idiots changing the two position lights switches for most lights so they go from a white light to a red one. (I wouldn't be surprised if newer ships handle this automatically.) This is done not for emergency reasons, but because;

1. Red lights can't be seen as far by other ships so all isn't lost if someone is a twit and opens a hatch

2. It helps preserve night vision for people who have to go out at night.

3. Older Ops rooms (where the captain is at actions stations) had persistant CRTs that weren't bright enough to be seen in full lighting so red lights are on there at all times. (This made fixing things hard. >:-( )

A picture of me in red lighting is below.

Arhgh! Just look how happy I am! 8-|

So in short, I think the whole red emergency lighting is just a movie/TV thing. With ships I was on red lights were just a white fluro with a red filter that were in the same waterproof houseing as the white lights, and all lights had battery back-up for several hours. Thus the emergency lights were the same either way, although we were supposed to turn the lights off when the power was down if we didn't need them.

I can rant about this for hours.... :-$

[Starwars4J]

Man, you always come through for me :-$ Thanks! I guess I'll do with the blue running lights then :-D

You seem to have a picture for every occasion :-D It looks like a screenshot from a movie though :-P

[john cleese]

Actually 4j i find yours to be better than hers aesthetically in many ways. I do like how she used the orange slope wedge pieces compared to your tiles, but i like the weaponary, color scheme, landing gear and what i assume are boosters on the back. I think the ultimate version of this would combine certain aspects of both designs myself.

Hows the big ship going 4j?

[Hinckley]

This is awesome J! You know I love your stuff and most of the stuff you build is just gold to me. If only you would buy a new lamp :-/ ...

First thing, I would immediately swap your pilot for a female. Since you borrowed the design from a She-FOL, I suggest you pay her tribute by putting her in the pilot seat...

I like your color scheme a lot on this. I know it is an uprgrade of someone else's design but the choice of color is very cool. Comparing the two I like this one better for two main reasons: the dark green and the greebliness...

I'm not sure it's really greebly because there is such specific reason behind everything. Sometimes I feel greebles are added for greebles' sake, at least when I am building space, since I understand nothing. But that is what I like about this and many of your MOCs is that you take the time to think about everything and why it's there and what it does, and then explain it to us common folk.

I *wub* the story behind it being a souped up racer! *wub* *wub* *wub* Awesome! I love stories. Anyway, the way you chose to tile the sides give it the impression of something that was re-built and I'm maturing in my space knowledge as I knew you were going to say the holes promoted wind resistance! Yay me!

Anyway I love it and it makes me want to build space. Maybe in the new year... 8-|

EDIT: The landing gear is particularly awesome too!

[Siegfried]

Man, you always come through for me :-$ Thanks!

Glad to be of service!

You seem to have a picture for every occasion :-D It looks like a screenshot from a movie though :-P

Movies are more fun! Here's the reason why I was looking so happy; I knew that for the next half an hour I was going to be breathing rubberised bottled air. :-X

I'll stop spamming your thread now! ;-)

[Starwars4J]

Actually 4j i find yours to be better than hers aesthetically in many ways. I do like how she used the orange slope wedge pieces compared to your tiles, but i like the weaponary, color scheme, landing gear and what i assume are boosters on the back. I think the ultimate version of this would combine certain aspects of both designs myself.

Hows the big ship going 4j?

Thanks! The big ship is coming along slowly...like I said earlier I'm starting to realize how limited my bley collection really was! And I thought I had a lot of bley 2x4 tiles :-D :'-(

If only you would buy a new lamp :-/ ...

But it's not even IN this one :-|

First thing, I would immediately swap your pilot for a female. Since you borrowed the design from a She-FOL, I suggest you pay her tribute by putting her in the pilot seat...

No, screw her >:-( (not a bad idea actually, I do have a pilot (female) who would work well...but she doesn't have the nifty green duds :-/

I'm not sure it's really greebly because there is such specific reason behind everything. Sometimes I feel greebles are added for greebles' sake, at least when I am building space, since I understand nothing.

Well that's actually the thing...greebs tend to look out of place and tacked on if they are. Even if everything doesn't have a specific purpose, good greeblers know how to make it look like they do, and make it look cohesive. I'm not quite there yet so I need to actually have a reason for things 8-|

I'm maturing in my space knowledge as I knew you were going to say the holes promoted wind resistance! Yay me!

Yay! You're becoming a man :'-)

Anyway I love it and it makes me want to build space. Maybe in the new year... 8-|

Well the Jewish New Year was like last week, where are the MOCs? >:-(

Movies are more fun! Here's the reason why I was looking so happy; I knew that for the next half an hour I was going to be breathing rubberised bottled air. :-X

I'll stop spamming your thread now! ;-)

Nah, you know I love your contributions :-) That's another great picture, if you have any more you can make a flip-book of them X-D

[Hinckley]

But it's not even IN this one :-|

It still sucks...

No, screw her >:-( (not a bad idea actually, I do have a pilot (female) who would work well...but she doesn't have the nifty green duds :-/

I found out this crazy thing the other day. LEGO mini-figs come apart! Amazing, huh? You can put a female head on that green torso! Learn something new everyday!

Yay! You're becoming a man :'-)

*checks down pants* What do you know? I am! *sweet*

That's another great picture, if you have any more you can make a flip-book of them X-D

Yes, great pics Sinner. I print them out and keep them next to my bed. :-$ You can tell when I've really been drinking whiskey while I post!

[Starwars4J]

It still sucks...

You're just jealous you don't have the lamp...

I found out this crazy thing the other day. LEGO mini-figs come apart! Amazing, huh? You can put a female head on that green torso! Learn something new everyday!

No really :-| The point is that she looks best in the white year-one Exo-force uniform and he looks best in the green. I'd expect you, of all people, to understand that fashion comes first :-|

[Hinckley]

You're just jealous you don't have the lamp...

No really :-| The point is that she looks best in the white year-one Exo-force uniform and he looks best in the green. I'd expect you, of all people, to understand that fashion comes first :-|

Dude, your purse is showing... :-/

[Starwars4J]

Dude, your purse is showing... :-/

Prude |-/ The lamp goes in every picture I take from now on.

[Dino_Bot]

It's very very nice.

[doug7172]

Well it is a very nice lamp. Hinck go and apologize for bieng mean or I will take away your whiskey >:-) >:-)

Anway great ship I love it is awesome! oh and fashion does come first

[Starwars4J]

Well it is a very nice lamp. Hinck go and apologize for bieng mean or I will take away your whiskey >:-) >:-)

Anway great ship I love it is awesome! oh and fashion does come first

Thank you, finally someone around here gets it! :-| X-D