Doctor Sinister

I've just posted another MOC and I'm working on photos for something else right now (day off work today!) but that's kind of it I think. I used the dark green pieces because I liked the shapes of the curves. Dr. S.

I made two new MOCs last night - one that is majorly cool and this one which I like, but which is rather less cool as it's...a truck. :-D OK, so this is the Vigil Class Amphibious Supply Truck - used as a general utility vehicle by the Tabletown Army, it is armoured and capable of amphibious operations. No, it's not the most glamorous vehicle in the world, but logistics are just as important as weapons and tactics and where would an army be without supplies? Encased in heavy armour, the Vigil is very tough. The cargo area can be used in a number of configurations and with the addition of a canopy, or storage container on the back, the maximum capacity is larger than it might appear. The Vigil can even be used to transfer troops. The front wheels of the Vigil can be deflated from the cabin to allow it to enter the water easier, and then reinflated once back on dry land. This Vigil uses many of the same components as other military vehicles in service with the Tabletown Army - this makes it easier for spare parts to be sourced or even for parts to be swapped straight over from one vehicle to another. The Vigil is narrow enough to navigate the streets of Tabletown City without a problem. PLMKWYT! Dr. S.

I'm bracing myself. :-D Thanks, I like the Sentinel, they are really cool to play with and they absolutely will not fall apart even when my children mess around with them! This is THE one that feels like a proper LEGO kit that you might buy off the shelf.

Sinister Industries (a Division of Sinister Incorporated) is proud to present the Venom Class Battlefield Superiority Helicopter (BSH), a multi-role military aircraft designed for engaging both ground and airborne targets. Carrying a crew of one, the Venom is protect by a ceramic armour plate which is designed to deflect small arms fire and even some large calibre weapons - full details of the capabilities are classified at this time. The Venom features a NOTAR (No Tail Rotor) design, instead using vectored thrust from nozzles either side of the engine to counter the torque generated by the rotor blades. The Venom typically carries four Sinister Industries Gunslinger "fire and forget" missiles, capable of destroying ground targets and some aircraft, although it can also be equipped with rockets for acting in a pure ground attack role or two AA missiles if air defence is required. The two missile pods either side of the Venom can be easily swapped out for other weapon modules. The Venom's secondary weapon system is the electrically powered Mk VI Accumulator minigun, capable of firing up to 4,000 20mm rounds per minute from large ammunition stores in the nose of the aircraft. The Venom is capable of speeds up to 310mph and is extremely stable at high speeds due to the tail array. The tail array generates extra lift and is itself armoured with the same classified ceramic plate. The Venom's sleek shape makes it extremely aerodynamic and ideally suited for engaging enemy helicopters and even some slower fixed wing aircraft in its role as a battlefield superiority helicopter. Due to the plethora of weapon sensors at the front of the aircraft, the air intake actually sits behind the engine, with airflow being routed by a compressor to the front of the engine itself via conduits mounted around the engine frame. This serves the dual role of both cooling the engine during flight and slightly pre-heating the incoming air for combustion. In this picture you can also see the rear landing skids which are retracted upwards at this time. The engine exhaust nozzle can be vectored to provide additional manoeuvrability. Here you see the front landing skids in their lowered position to allow the Venom to land. And here, the rear landing skids lowered. The variable geometry of the landing gear makes it possible for the Venom to land on rough surfaces. The front minigun will automatically turn to face in whatever direction the pilot is looking. PLMKWYT! Dr. S.

That looks good in a minimalist way, if you see what I mean. I can imagine thousands of these being cranked out cheaply in some eternal war - doesn't matter how many are destroyed, there will always be more...and more...and more. Dr. S.

Planned for a few weeks - spur of the moment when it happened - sort of "Aha! I can do this NOW!" Dr. S.

Thanks chaps! Nothing special about the build - it's just the regular Fort Legoredo - I just happened to have it outside and I've wanted to do this picture for a while - I had to wait a few weeks for the rain to stop. :-D Dr. S.

My layout is 12' x 4'and it's still not big enough for all that I want on there! Dr. S.

I've been thinking about this for hours - it's so hard to choose, but I plumped for Lord Vader. Sorry to everyone else - it was a VERY close call for me. In other news, in view of my failure to progress in this competition, and the fact that one unit exploded, killing three hundred people outright and irradiating an entire city for the next ten thousand years, all sales of Skelo-Go disintegration cabinets have been suspended. Sorry, no refunds, you'll have to speak with my Lawyer. :-D Dr. S.

Attn Sinner: This better? :-) Dr. S.

:-D I could make it a stud longer and then refit the front back flush, but it might upset the symmetry of the body. or I could simply modify the way that 4x1 tile attaches - put a 2x1 plate behind it and still have a 4x1 plate above it for the lights. Hmmm... Dr. s.

No, it's not ideal but it has to be that way or it interferes with the wheels. Dr. S.

Thanks! It's hard to dredge up though without hitting Bricklink - which I haven't done yet. Dr. S.

OK, so I couldn't help myself - here is the Sentinel Class Recon'/Utility Vehicle (RUV), based loosely on a Jeep, its purpose is to scout enemy territory, act as a patrol vehicle and as a general runaround. The Sentinel is lightly armoured and can deflect some small arms fire but relies on its superior speed and agility to get out of trouble. With a high ground clearance and four-wheel drive the Sentinel can traverse the battlefield off-road without difficulty. The Sentinel's windshield is capable of deflecting incoming rounds up to 9mm in calibre. The side of the Sentinel features heavy armour plate to protect the driver. The rail to the rear can be used for mounting some of the heavier small arms in use by the Tabletown Army. To the left, entrenching and repair tools are mounted as well as the radio for the inbuilt comms unit. As well as the inbuilt comms unit, the vehicle carries a separate walkie-talkie as a backup. For size comparison purposes, here is a Sentinel with an Aggressor MBT, an Infiltrator APC and a Triumph LAV. Here is the complete family of vehicles serving the Tabletown Armed Forces to date - I deconstructed two Triumph LAVs to build the Aggressor, but the LAV force will soon be restored to full strength again. The Sentinel will soon become a familiar sight in the roads and streets of Tabletown. PLMKWYT! Dr. S.

Precisely my intention! Dr. S.

With the imminent threat of invasion from our neighbours in bordering BestLockLand, our esteemed leader Emperor Eternal Mayor Doctor Sinister and what remains of the Tabletown Government has tasked Tabletown News to issue this important reminder of how to spot enemy spies and other subversive elements within our borders. Above, you see a typical representation of the current composition of the BestLockLand Revolutionary People

Just thought it would be cool to catch the bugler sounding Reveille at dawn... Dr. S.

Oh, I didn't know there was a list like this. Can Tabletown be added? Dr. S.

It had occurred to me to build a second LEGO town in my loft - but this is two levels higher than Tabletown and it would take some major engineering works to connect the two - a highway or railway would be impossible. Would be kind of cool to have small settlements in every room though... Regarding a waterway, great idea - but you would need to either have the water circulate or replace it every so often or it might stagnate - realistic perhaps but it would stink the house out. Imagine though, you could have divers in rivers, a submarine, sunken pirate ships, treasure - it would really add a new dimension to a town. Dr. S.

This is what I had in the back of my mind when I designed this vehicle - the Humber Pig! I didn't refer to any pictures whilst I built it, and I'd forgotten that it wasn't even a tracked vehicle, but hopefully you can sort of see where I was coming from. When I took that picture of the Infiltrator in Tabletown, I was instantly reminded of images of the Pig driving around the streets in Northern Ireland. Dr. S.

Whatever needs reviewing, basically. I don't do them regularly, I'm in charge of the military history side of the website but I turn my hand to game reviews if something catches my eye and/or if they need someone to fill in - right now I'm playing Quake Wars for review purposes. It's an FPS. You can see the articles I've written (including game reviews) here. Dr. S.

Fair enough. :-) I'm all built out right now, and I've got to review a new game for a website I do some work for (yeah, what a drag, I have to review computer games... :-D ) but I might work on this at the weekend. It all depends if I can get over the burnt-in image of green LEGO in my eyes. *y* Dr. S.

A van, yes, this is precisely my thought. Using the pieces vertically may be a good idea... I think the back is OK - any thoughts on that area? But the front...yes. Dr. S.