[SoNE Ep. XVI] [Cat. A] Echo Class Assault Shuttle

[LucasLaughing]

Note to judges: please don’t include these elements as part of my build for judging purposes:

•  Rebel blockade runner - not a MOC, just a picture of 10019 that I found online and cut out
•  Mini TIE interceptors – used in a previous build

 

  Approaching target -

  Careful, she’s moving fast -

  I can see that, watch your damn sector!

  Hey quit bickering on this channel, some of us are trying to sleep.

  Shut up, and brace – making final approach.

 

Ah, another glorious day locked inside a metal tube, trying to hang on while our pilot matches speed with another ship, and then runs ours nose-first into the side of it.

Officially, it’s an “Echo Class Assault Shuttle” but “Mynock” fits the ship too well for us to call it anything else.  

 

Larger picture on flickr

Larger picture on flickr

There’s a jolt as we make contact with the blockade runner and engage the magnetic clamps.

  Good lock, good seal!

  You boys are lucky – looks like she’s pressurized today.  Starting torches.

 

Blockade runner interior:

We’ve been at it for two weeks now, first practicing on stationary platforms, then slow moving ships, fast moving ships, ships firing at us, ships trying to evade us. 

Two weeks.

At least we have gravity today – and a pressurized target.  Last week, The Mynock pulled away to simulate a battle loss, and poor Arjun got sucked right out the hole.
He was fine, of course – our suits have a few minutes of air.  Still, it seemed risky for a training exercise.  Grace has something big planned, that much is obvious. 

We've been laying bets on what our final target will be.  I've got 50 credits on a MonCal cruiser; Tyria's sure it's a Reb Space Station.
I don't really care, as long as we get to hit it soon.  We've got a briefing tonight - we're all hoping for new orders.

Later...

  We're ready ma'am - do you have a target for us?

  Yes, Arjun, I do.

  Oh, shab ...

 

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Thanks for viewing!  C&C always welcome - additional / larger pics on my flickr.

Additional ship pictures:
 

Spoiler

 

Ion cannon rotates / elevates:

 

I loves my greebles!

Pilot and gunner / technician:

Not much interior, but it'll hold some troops:

 

Behind the scenes:

Spoiler

 

Using my cellphone flashlight to light up the death star panel:

 

 

[Kodan Black]

Very clever design and choice of ship. I used to love the notion of "battle taxis" in Battletech. You did some creative building on that scene of cutting into the Rebel ship! And yes, you really knocked those greebles out too!

 

I think it feels suitably Empire and the story is good too. Hopefully there is a follow up build to further this plot. 

[Merc4Hire]

Very neat and unique ship design! I especially like the escape-pod esque look and how the cockpit sits on the side(flows with the design very nicely and feels natural). The photography behind the story shots are also top notch, specifically the boarding scene effect. Once again, another excellent entry! 

[Cody Startale]

I always greatly enjoy your entries. The build itself is so detailed and elaborate, it's a joy to look at. The story is clever and compelling, and I think you've knocked it out of the park with your photography and editing this time, clearly profiting from the more casual ruleset concerning image editing. Overall, this is some fantastic work all around. I hope I can get back into building soon (I had to forsake this episode, unfortunately) and improve my skills – I would love to work on a collaboration or a story crossover with you some time.

[MKJoshA]

So much to love about this build! But one question is very pressing, where are those white stickers with hoses and pipes from on the interior of the blockade runner?

[goatman461]

We've already PM'd about saturation levels and integrating the cockpit into the side more, but I wanted to be sure to mention it here for the benefit of other builders and congratulate you on a cool ship. The war room has some great details as well, like the slopes under the screen and the curves under the table. I'll definitely be referencing this shot in future Imp builds

[LucasLaughing]

On 9/30/2017 at 4:19 PM, Kodan Black said:

Very clever design and choice of ship. I used to love the notion of "battle taxis" in Battletech. You did some creative building on that scene of cutting into the Rebel ship! And yes, you really knocked those greebles out too!

I think it feels suitably Empire and the story is good too. Hopefully there is a follow up build to further this plot. 

Thanks!  There will be a follow-up story, as well as a "prequel" freebuild that I haven't had a chance to post yet, but was supposed to come before the Coruscant episode 

On 10/1/2017 at 11:44 AM, Merc4Hire said:

Very neat and unique ship design! I especially like the escape-pod esque look and how the cockpit sits on the side(flows with the design very nicely and feels natural). The photography behind the story shots are also top notch, specifically the boarding scene effect. Once again, another excellent entry! 

Thank you!

On 10/2/2017 at 12:16 AM, Cody Startale said:

I always greatly enjoy your entries. The build itself is so detailed and elaborate, it's a joy to look at. The story is clever and compelling, and I think you've knocked it out of the park with your photography and editing this time, clearly profiting from the more casual ruleset concerning image editing. Overall, this is some fantastic work all around. I hope I can get back into building soon (I had to forsake this episode, unfortunately) and improve my skills – I would love to work on a collaboration or a story crossover with you some time.

Thanks Cody - it would be great to collaborate sometime!  Since we'll be heading into the post-Endor universe soon, I think it'll be easier for players in opposite factions to weave their stories together in different ways. 

On 10/3/2017 at 8:45 AM, MKJoshA said:

So much to love about this build! But one question is very pressing, where are those white stickers with hoses and pipes from on the interior of the blockade runner?

Sorry @MKJoshA - just saw your pressing question this evening.  The pipes are actually printed - they came in two Imperial Shuttle sets.  I didn't get either set, but was lucky enough to get the pipes in a second-hand mixed lot that I purchased.

10 hours ago, goatman461 said:

We've already PM'd about saturation levels and integrating the cockpit into the side more, but I wanted to be sure to mention it here for the benefit of other builders and congratulate you on a cool ship. The war room has some great details as well, like the slopes under the screen and the curves under the table. I'll definitely be referencing this shot in future Imp builds

Thanks - I always appreciate your feedback (not to mention your builds, which always inspire me to up my game and not get lazy!)