AV-12 Buteo V/STOL Gunships (redux and an alt color version)

[Laura Beinbrech]

I know it's been a LONG while since I posted any MOCs here, and I even actually had these MOCs finished for a while, but hadn't been motivated enough to properly photograph and post them until tonight... Anyways, without futher ado, I present the re-done ADU and the Federal Republic of America Buteo Gunships:

Buteos Side by Hikaro Takayama, on Flickr

The AV-12 Buteo Gunship was the result of a top-secret joint project between the Federal Republic of America Air Force and the Airborne Demolitions Unit (ADU) to develop a multi-role Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing (V/STOL) attack aircraft that could fill in for roles formerly held by such aircraft as the AV-8B Harrier, A-10 Thunderbolt II (although there is still limited production of those going on in the Federal Republic) and even possibly the AC-130 Gunship.

Buteos Front by Hikaro Takayama, on Flickr

The end result of the project was a rather large, heavily armed and armored VTOL gunship, borrowing design elements from the A-10 and the Mi-24 Hind helicopter that manages to cover most of the roles listed: Armed with four Merculite Missiles (in twin wing-mounted launchers) for use against armored vehicles and heavy fortifications, two twin, wingtip-mounted Blaster (plasma) cannons for general purpose ground (and even air) attack use, dual Laser Cannons, also for general-purpose and anti-missile defense, dual M-242 "Bushmaster" 25mm Chain guns for antitank use and dual 0.50 caliber miniguns for light anti-material/anti-personnel use.

Buteos Rear by Hikaro Takayama, on Flickr

Propelling these monstrosities through the air are two 32,000 lb thrust turbofans, which are mounted high on the fuselage to minimize FOD (Foreign Object Debris) hazards when taking off and landing on rough/improvised landing fields on or near the front lines. The massive thrust of these engines also give these hulking brutes a surprising amount of speed, being slightly faster than the pre-Final War A-10 Tunderbolt II's.

Buteos Top by Hikaro Takayama, on Flickr

The Landing Gear of the Buteos is all placed under the bulky part of the fuselage, allowing them, in case of an emergency, to (very carefully) land on the Helo decks of Federal Navy John Paul Jones Class Guided Missile Destroyers (and the Republic of New Jersey variant, the Samuel B. Roberts Class) and Antietam Class Guided Missile Cruisers.

Pilots by Hikaro Takayama, on Flickr

Pictured here are the pilots of these two Buteos. The Federal Republic Air Force pilot on the left is Major Ulrika Da Flymek, Ace Pilot and crack aircraft designer, who was also a key member of the AV-12 Buteo design team.

Ulrika is the daughter of the (in)famous Orc Mekboy, Kog Da Flymek, who designed the Deffkopta (among other things) for the Chaos Air Force, but eventually defected to the Federal Republic of America because he, to put it in his words, "Got tired of dem Chaos gitz usin' me an' my boyz like 2-bit grotz," and went on to help design a number of Federal Republic aircraft (including the F/A 210 Thunderbird). Ulrika was thus exposed to, and enamored with, all things that fly since she was little and quickly followed in her father's footsteps when she grew up.

While I was initially satisfied with my earlier version, something just didn't seem right with it, and when I tried turning the wings around, so that they were swept back, instead of forwards, it looked 200% better. I also, after seeing the Galaxy Squad Swarm Interceptor had the white versions of the wings used, I decided to see how hard it would be to make a red and white (Federal Republic of America Air Force colors) version, and surprisingly, I was able to get all the missing parts I needed for the project with just two Bricklink orders (this included an almost mint condition 2x2 red slope with the old LEGO Town system #3 race car print on it).

Like I said the last time, they are somewhat based on the Jet Copter encounter set as well as the Vulture Gunships from Warhammer 40K, and the miniguns I made by combining two spare BrickArms minigun tips with 1x1 round bricks and "One Rings" from the LoTR and Hobbit sets to cover the ugly gap that would otherwise result from such a configuration.

I hope you guys like them!

Edited June 28, 2013 by Hikaro Takayama

[Si-MOCs]

I knew they looked familiar some how, there was something about then, then bamo - 40k haha!

You almost had me fooled :lol:

While I know the wings are stickered from the chopper set, I don't think they really work here... Maybe throw some light blue in there to offset the wings colours slightly?

[Laura Beinbrech]

I knew they looked familiar some how, there was something about then, then bamo - 40k haha!

You almost had me fooled :lol:

Yeah, when I first saw the Jet Copter Encounter set, I thought, "You know, I bet I could turn that into something like a 40K Valkyrie or Vulture, or that Dropship from Aliens...."

While I know the wings are stickered from the chopper set, I don't think they really work here... Maybe throw some light blue in there to offset the wings colours slightly?

I unfortunately don't have hardly any light blue, particularly parts that would work for the wing assembly.... I would have used Yellow for the tail assembly, if they weren't so darn hard to find in that color on Brick Link... The only thing I could think of would be to maybe re-do the missle launcher assembly parts of the wings in Yellow, but I don't have the right parts in yellow, and I'm on a very limited budget at the moment (and what money I do have to spare for LEGO is going towards the Dolphin Cruiser and Coast Guard Patrol Boat). I also think the color scheme, while not perfect, works plenty fine, especially in regards to the above limitations...

So, what do you think about the red one (aside from the fact that it "Goes Fasta")?

[Si-MOCs]

So, what do you think about the red one (aside from the fact that it "Goes Fasta")?

I know it's a gun ship, but the colour reminds me of that hospital chopper set LEGO came out with from a few years ago :lol:

But visually I prefer it over the blue - the sticker just clashes a bit too much (not there's much you can do since you used the ADU set)

[Only Sinner]

I like the designs and colors you used very much.

The story you came up with is pretty good, too.

[Laura Beinbrech]

Sci-MOCs: Oh, I see it was the sticker you didn't like... Well, all I can say is that we'll just have to chalk that up to a difference of opinions, because I actually like it. As for the Federal version, I do realize that it is essentially the same color scheme used by LEGO City hospital and fire-fighting aircraft, but I had previously come up with it for this particular faction's aircraft, and wanted to keep each faction's aircraft (and space fighters) with their own, unique and consistent color schemes, hence Red and White for the Federal Republic of America, Tan for the Republic of New Jersey, Black and Yellow for the Grand Duchy of New York, Bley for the Confederate States of America, etc.

As you can see here, it fits in quite well with the other Federal Republic Air Force fighter I built a while back:

Yellowjacket & Thunderbird Top by Hikaro Takayama, on Flickr

Only Sinner: Thanks, glad you like them and the Background info: I always try to come up with some kind of story for my creations and how they fit into my overall setting.

[TenorPenny]

I prefer the red and white colour scheme, but the ALT is fun, to..!