This is the tenth set of Feng Zhu "concept" ships, commissioned for an unspecified Wing Commander title following the release of Secret Ops. This set of 'action' concept art is designed to show what Zhu's new Confederation designs might look like in the game itself. From left to right: a cruiser, a fighter and a freighter. Thanks to Captain Johnny for both archiving and providing this material! -- Original update published on October 23, 2008
I just want to go ahead and state this now...I love you guys so much it hurts. Lovely pictures and thanks for sharing them! And the Confed Fighter design is actually pretty WC-ish, compared to Feng's other WC confed work! I like it quite a bit.
I've been thinking alot about that since LOAF released this CD a few weeks (months?) back that had this art buried on it, and if you watch the Prophecy videos with the automatic landing and loading claws it works out quite well. Though that doesn't mean it will fit in a launch tube... ...which brings the interesting thought of a completely open-ended Midway instead of one with a closed off launch tube shrouded nose! That fighter is my favorite piece of art work. I rescaled it to desktop size and put it on all my computers.
I like what I see. The style he has with some of the ships is interesting and dosn't remind me very much about confed ships but his Kilrathi ships are exelent and are fitting very well to the others. Sometimes a bit more symetric then the WC3 ones but still good looking.
The freighter reminds me of a cross between the Lance transports and the Vesuvius. Very mean and sleek design. The cruiser reminds me of a freighter It has that P2 transport feel to it.
You beat me too it, Dundradal . I was going to suggest that the freighter and cruiser designs be swapped and re-scaled - I really like the look of that freighter.
I like that fighter quite a bit.. for some reason, I always assumed that the wingtip thrusters could rotate like on the Vampire.. as well as slide in and out to a limited degree.. I also could see the the dorsal and ventral.. um.. pods (maybe weapons, maybe engines) sliding/folding backwards in more towards the center of the fuselage.. but thats just me.. -Capn J
I always asked myself how the WC 3 Strakha landed...maybe the ventral fin extends only after launch. I like all three designs and the cruiser as a cruiser even: it looks like it has staying power. THe freighter reminds me a bit of the WC 2 Free Trader...a bit.
I should stress that I didn't do anything -- this is all thanks to Captain Johnny (and I guess Feng Zhu for creating the art in the first place).
My apologies. Since Captain Johnny made the CD available to LOAF, who then graciously made it available to all who wanted it, even though he knew it was going into the CIC news! (And I must say, if I ever have the opportunity to look at something 'early' like that again I think I will refrain - it's an exciting part of my day coming to the CIC to read the updates. So few websites update themselves daily.)
