SWAT Strachan

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Posts posted by SWAT Strachan

  1. Posted

    These are amazing designs, the missile boat and the interceptor are the most exceptional, but they are all amazing. Keep it up.

    Yeah that part's a little annoying, as the Interceptor is still my favourite by a long way, but because of the wing design I can't risk including it with the set, as Star Wars based sets are very unlikely to ever pass the review stage on Lego Ideas. It's a pity though, as that giant UCS AT-AT just hit the 10k mark, but because of the license, the size, and the cost (probably over £600) it'll never make it (although I'd quite happily buy one!).

  2. Posted

    Well Lego did release the Hailfire Droid from Star Wars, which is in essence a rolling missile platform, so hope springs eternal :wink:.

    The AI module was a last-minute idea, I had to think up something that could replace the Astromech droid that I incorporated in to the original design, so it had to fit the same 2x4 slot as changing the slot size would have meant going back to square one with the whole design. As for the 5-in-1 idea, I can also see that working with kids as they could swap ships with their friends, building up their own unique collection.

  3. Posted · Edited by SWAT Strachan

    vampyre_squadron_by_swat_strachan-d7qj8lr.jpg

    (Click the image to find this project on Lego Ideas)

    Well I finally got it approved, this is my Vampyre Squadron MOC

    It consists of five vessels, two fighters, a gunship, a tank, and a missile boat. I based the design on an earlier MOC that I came up with, an Imperial Ice Speeder, but as I know that Star Wars MOCs are very unlikely to succeed on Lego Ideas, I revamped (arf :D ) the design and eventually came up with these five.

    The Gunship

    vampyre_gunship_overview_by_swat_strachan-d7q6ro7.jpg

    The Strike Fighter

    vampyre_strike_fighter_overview_by_swat_strachan-d7psp1t.jpg

    The Naval Fighter

    vampyre_naval_variant_overview_by_swat_strachan-d7psosx.jpg

    The Missile Boat

    vampyre_missile_boat_overview_by_swat_strachan-d7pso7y.jpg

    The Tank

    vampyre_tank_overview_by_swat_strachan-d7psnqu.jpg

    I did also make a sixth model, but as it's blatantly Star Wars based I had to exclude it from the final collection. It's a shame really as out of all the ships, it's by far my favourite.

    The Interceptor

    vampyre_interceptor_overview_by_swat_strachan-d7psok7.jpg

    These ships are now listed on the Lego Ideas site, and any support would be greatly appreciated. Now, Lego didn't like me including this image, and I had to remove it before I could get my submission accepted, but I think it looks pretty cool, and I put a fair bit of work in to it :D.

    mock_packaging_2_by_swat_strachan-d7r360v.png

    I know it's a bit cheeky posting this to try to gather some support, but as no-one that I know is in to Lego (just me) I don't really have any other means of spreading the word.

    Either way, opinions are welcome :).

  4. Posted

    Ion drives are only really of any use on long-distance and long-term flights. They might sound all science-fictiony but in the end it's just another form of rocket, and as such still has to follow Newton's laws of motion. The problem is that the mass of the ions being expelled is so low, that the acceleration effect is tiny, and takes a long time to generate any significant speed.

    Given how most space vehicles seem to ignore all the laws of physics and act as if they were flying through an atmosphere, my bet would be for a gravitational displacement engine. In short the vessel generates a gravity 'bubble' in space which draws the ship towards it, as the bubble position is moved the ship follows it, which would allow for the tight turns and possibly even the aerodynamic behaviour.

  7. Posted

    These are awesome! Thanks Strachan! Gotta use them straight away. Are you planning to do those in your signature as well? Those look great too!

    Actually the ones in my signature are photographs, not renders, but I think I still have the originals saved somewhere so if there's one in particular you're after let me know.

  8. Posted

    gallery_101_23_908.jpg

    I've just a spent a few days making these icons for my PC, and I'm that pleased with how they came out that I thought some of you might like to use them as well. These are all 256x256x32 Windows icons with transparency and work best with a dark desktop, I've also included "feature" alternatives in case you want to use the icons for the Recycle Bin (the Sarlacc is perfect for this purpose, so much so that I've included a sound file to use as the emptying effect HERE, just right-click and save).

    Note for Windows7 users...

    If you find that after changing the Recycle Bin icons, they no longer change automatically to show if the bin is empty or not, just follow these instructions.

    1. Click on the Start button and type REGEDIT in the search box, then click on regedit.exe when it appears in the list above.
    2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER / Software / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / Explorer / CLSID / {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} / Default Icon
    3. In here you will find three entries (default, empty, full), each one showing the file path to your custom icon. Edit each one in turn and add ,0 (comma zero) to the end of each line without a space (so for example %userprofile%\path_to_icons\sarlacc.ico would now become %userprofile%\path_to_icons\sarlacc.ico,0)
    4. Once all three have been changed, close REGEDIT and refresh your desktop. The Recycle Bin icons should now change automatically when filled or emptied.

    Click each preview below to download the same image in the .ico format.

    ds2.png falcon_1.png falcon_2.png luke_1.png luke_2.png sarlacc_1.png sarlacc_2.png tantive_1.png tantive_2.png x-wing_1.png x-wing_2.png star_destroyer.png tie_1.png tie_2.png a-wing.png x-wing.png x-wing_engines.png at-st.png b-wing_custom_closed.png b-wing_custom_open.png b-wing_ucs_closed.png b-wing_ucs_open.png r2d2_rolling.png r2d2_standing.png v-wing_flight.png v-wing_landed.png y-wing_ucs.png ice_speeder_linked.png ice_speeder_unlinked.png

    More to follow, I'll take requests too as long as the .lxf files exist :classic:.

  12. Posted · Edited by SWAT Strachan

    In the last couple of weeks I have bought...

    • All of the Microfighters
    • 75055 Star Destroyer
    • 75040 General Grievous' Wheel Bike
    • 75054 AT-AT
    • 75050 B-Wing (bit of a let-down that one)
    • 75051 Jedi Scout Fighter

    Plus a crap-load of non-Star Wars sets too.

    Yes, I am a fully paid up member of the AA (Assemblers Anonymous). Total set count now is 219...

  13. Posted

    Right, I think I've nailed it.

    573 pieces including the minifigures and separator tool (127 extra over the stock model, mostly small parts though), which I think would be worth an extra fiver on the price.

    Now a few pictures (loving POV-Ray :laugh: ).

    B-Wing_75050_Modified_5_Overview.jpg

    Overview...

    B-Wing_75050_Modified_5_Cockpit.jpg

    I've extended the cockpit by one stud, and make the neck three studs wide, it doesn't look quite so delicate now. The cockpit also has an additional control panel and I moved the two targeting lasers on the nose a little closer to the middle.

    B-Wing_75050_Modified_5_Neck_&_Launchers.jpg

    The proton torpedo launchers are now mounted on the engine section rather than being attached to the neck, this allowed me to beef up the ammo pod and position it closer to the engine intakes (matches the same pod on the main wing).

    B-Wing_75050_Modified_5_Wingtip_Weapons.jpg

    I've redesigned the s-foil weapon arrays so they look far closer to the 'real' thing. The black 'brick with bar' excuse for a blaster is gone, along with those pointless spring launchers (God I hate those things...).

    B-Wing_75050_Modified_5_S-Foils.jpg

    The s-foils are more substantial now, and despite LDD's over-sensitive collision detection system, will lie flat against the pod at the top of the main wing.

    B-Wing_75050_Modified_5_Main_Wing.jpg

    The main wing now has a straight leading edge, but with added detailing, and the sensor indent.

    B-Wing_75050_Modified_5_Weapons_Pod.jpg

    Lastly I've moved the smaller cannon/blaster/ion/whatever one block down, as it should be. The lower pod is also removable again, I've gone back to the two technics peg attachment method as I needed to extend the main wing by a couple of studs (to balance the look of the ship with the upgraded s-foils).

    Last but not least, is the .lxf file. If anyone has the parts to actually make this mod, I would love to see it in real life! Sadly I'm a 'Lord Business' when it comes to Lego, so I have precious few spare parts.

  18. Posted · Edited by SWAT Strachan

    Nice attempt to improve the model. I think you have made the s-foils slightly too short now though. For reference the s-foils when closed should line up with the sensor intake on the main wing. The sensor intake on yours is now too low though, it should be closer to the middle of the wing.

    On the studio model the front edge of the main wing is not straight, the UCS only does this due to the way it is built. The way you have bulked out the main wing is good but if there was some way to keep the slope at the front it would be better.

    I know that the canon B-Wing does have an angled edge on the front and rear of the main wing, but it's such a fine angle at the front that I don't think it's really feasible to recreate it. Truth be told, I think it looks better straight anyway :tongue:. However, I have taken the other suggestions on board, and I have extended the s-foils nearer to their original length, and repositioned the sensor indent in the wing. The cannons now line up with the sensor indent when folded. I've also brought the wing hinges closer to the central axis of the ship which has made the s-foils pretty much the perfect length, and now when you fold them down, they rest on the upper part of the main wing.

    B-Wing_Open.pngB-Wing_Folded.png

    Updated .lxf file...

    I saw the B-Wing in person at the toy fair and really liked it. But I didn't see it in landing mode, only standing up with the s-foils in attack mode. And to be honest, I still like it in that mode. Having had the 6209 I thought that the wings fold in the very same way, so I was seriously disappointed that they don't fold in the right way, way not close enough to the middle fin, which makes the model look really bad when in landing mode. So this is not on my list anymore, sadly - even if I was entirely convinced at the fair.

    Attack mode will always look the best. I've tweaked my redesign again so that the s-foils do fold very close to the main wing, the updated .lxf file is just above so you can have a look for yourself :classic:.

  19. Posted

    Is that your first B-Wing or you have the 6208 version?

    I need to know if I'll keep my old 6208 or update it by the new version.

    This new version seems too light for me...

    Except for the minfigs!

    I have the UCS version but this is my first minifig scale B-Wing. The 75050 set does have some decent weight to it but it's all in the main body, the wings are just way too thin and in the case of the main wing not even the right shape!

    I don't have much in the way of spare bricks so I can't carry out the modifications yet, but I'm seriously considering it.

    If the left is your redesign, I like it.

    :classic:

    Thanks :classic:. The first picture is indeed my modified version, and the second is how it looks if you follow the official instructions. There are still some other changes I need to make, primarily reinforcing where the main wing connects to the body.

  20. Posted

    gallery_101_23_908.jpg

    I picked up my new B-Wing a few days ago, and after building it I was left a little underwhelmed. The overall design of the model is OK, given its size, but there was something about it that really bugged me,,, The wings. They seem out of proportion to me, too large for the scale of the ship, and it makes the final model look rather spindly. I've already modified mine to reduce the size of the stabiliser wings, and to let them sit closer to the body when folded.

    However, this is what I have planned (if I have the necessary parts that is): After making an LDD model of the B-Wing using the official build instructions, I've been having a bit of a tinker with the ship, and I think I've made a few improvements.

    B-Wing_Modified.pngB-Wing_Original.png

    Modified B-Wing .lxf file

    Changes...

    • Shortened the s-foils.
    • Redesigned the wing-tip cannons (and got rid of those irritating missile shooters).
    • Shortened the main wing and gave it a straight edge, mimicking the UCS version.
    • Moved the weapons pod a little higher up to make it look a little more sturdy.
    • Altered the lower wing mounting points so that the wing is now aligned with the axis of the ship.
    • Bulked out the body in a few places, and filled the void behind the engines.

    Things to do...

    • Thicken the 'neck' where the cockpit joins the rest of the ship.
    • Increase the size and move further forward the flare between the cockpit and the two cylinders, to match the flare on the main wing.

    I'm a loooooooooong way off from making anything as impressive as Jerac's Chimaera, but we all have to start somewhere :laugh:.

  21. Posted · Edited by SWAT Strachan

    Your B-Wing contains quite a few errors:

    - You used Cool Yellow for the minifigures when their colour should be Light Nougat

    - Cracken's torso should be Sand Yellow

    - Pilot's helmet, torso, arms and legs should be Medium Stone Grey

    - Printed tile 3069 should be Black

    - You should be replace the plate you added to the cockpit with correct tile once your minifig is in position

    I think you'd benefit from using Bricklink set inventories and the Peeron colour chart in future.

    My eyesight is pretty poor when it comes to colours I'm afraid. I did try the light nougat for the figures but it looked too dark to me (could be my monitor colour settings too). I shall amend the files shortly :classic:.

    Done :thumbup:. It's not too obvious that I'm new to this is it :laugh:.

  23. Posted

    Hi SWAT Strachan, welcome in the LDD official set topic.

    You entry is not regular, you should fix various things.

    Please read the rules of the topic in the first page and read the advices I wrote for other builder that made irregular entries in the last pages.

    Morning sir.

    Yup, I noticed my mistakes this morning, I did post it rather late last night so it was a bit rushed :D. I'll fix the post when I get back from work as for some reason my tablet won't let me edit it.