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Since I don't feel like squating in Klavs cool Rapier thread and drawing attention away from his awesome moddelling work, I figured this deserved it's own thread. Also If you didn't see my previous "Rapier" sketch that needlessly marries the WC movie rapier elements with the WC1 Rapier, then here she is again:

For that particular image, notice that I've melded the front fins of the WC1 rapier into the movie's short stubby and upturned wings. The Larger gattling gun become two smaller gattling guns slung under the nose. The movie's engines and "rear" wings are essentially in tact if not slightly upturned to mimic the fins on the WC1 Rapier. Also the main WC1 wings are mounted under here as well. THe Wing ends (turned down in the blueprints) are elongated somewhat for creative license since this is an moot excersice anyway since - of all the movie ships - The rapier is the one WC movie ship that actually is a different Fighter entirely than the WC1 ship.

On the other hand, the WC Movie Broadsword doesn't have the luxury of actually being a different fighter. So following the example above I've also attempted to meld elements of the Movie Broadsword with the WC2 Broadsword. I couldn't quite bypass my Drafting training and opted for a combo of sketch and ruler work... I think I like the aggression of my straight sketches better...

Anyway about the image: I'm not sure I entirely like the proportions of the cockpit section here, but I think I really like the idea. The WC2 Broadsword cockpit is lower than the rest of the ship so here I've addapted that aspect along with the forward wing concept from the film to marry the broad cockpit area with. The width of the ship in general more matches the movie ship with the rear wings not extending out as much as the WC2 wings. Engine elements are also more along the Film's design with the game's rear fins added on their sides. And obviously the most overt movie element are the exterior mounted capship torpedoes. I didn't bother drawing in the side and rear turrets though you can imagine what they would look like. I've also taken the liberty to add a top mounted turret just for fun. Also, the missiles on the rear fins are something from the movie Rapier that I think are ultimately uneccessary, at least in that particular placement.

 

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As I mentioned, I wasn't particularly happy with the nose of the Broadsword. It just didn't say "bomber" enough and reminded me more of a big ol' workhorse helicopter than anything. So I tweaked it and I'm a lot happier with the results.

 

[Bob McDob]

Well, I liked your first Broadsword just fine, probably more! The new one does look a lot more like the concept model, though - was that your intention?

I don't especially like the Rapier. It's not so much that it looks like a Hammerhead as it is that it breaks what for me is the one big draw of the movie Rapier - that it looks like an A-10 in space. I'd bring the engine pods up, make them more prominent so that they stick out, and do the same with the rear fins, keeping them horizontal, maybe layering them over the wings so that they have a biplane-type arrangement, and keep the frontal emphasis on the big gun.

Thinking about it, going that route would probably give you something that looks a lot like a Scimitar.


As an aside, the Rapier design looks like it'd make a very good toy vehicle, especially with the giant cockpit. I've been wondering a lot lately about the effects of marketing tie-in driven franchises - where the toy manufacturers or model makers are a major backer and the emphasis is to make designs that'll work well physically - and to make lots of them, so that there's something new to sell every year, and the old stuff become collectibles... The idea that the current designs are too "anime", design-wise (design-wise from what period? From the late 70s to early 90's, maybe?)... the original Gundam TV series was heavily backed by model makers, and to this day they're a major source of funding, so that robots comprise a sizable section of the plastic model market in Japan and I'm not so sure that the cart hasn't driven up enough locomotion to carry the horse. It would explain why five years haven't gone by without a new TV series or miniseries, or comic, or video game.... compare that to something like Star Trek (or Star Wars!)

As far as toys go, though... LOAF, how is the build quality on the Rapier prototype? It's hard to tell from pictures alone, but the rear looks rather flimsy. I wonder if it would stand up to abuse from five years olds slamming them into things

 

[Bandit LOAF]

As far as toys go, though... LOAF, how is the build quality on the Rapier prototype? It's hard to tell from pictures alone, but the rear looks rather flimsy. I wonder if it would stand up to abuse from five years olds slamming them into things

It's not really made of toy material--it's all a very heavy ceramic-y plastic.

(or Star Wars!)

Not to accuse Star Wars of business, but we've had a pretty regular 2-3 year schedule since they 'relaunched' the brand in 1997 (the re-releases, then one prequel every three years and now a TV show).

 

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Well, I liked your first Broadsword just fine, probably more! The new one does look a lot more like the concept model, though - was that your intention?

The concept was basic and just for fun: Give the WCM Broadsword more elements from the WC2 Broadsword. The concept image you linked to really is pretty much just like the one in the film.I didn't think the nose was originally that successful in that avenue.

I don't especially like the Rapier. It's not so much that it looks like a Hammerhead as it is that it breaks what for me is the one big draw of the movie Rapier - that it looks like an A-10 in space. I'd bring the engine pods up, make them more prominent so that they stick out, and do the same with the rear fins, keeping them horizontal, maybe layering them over the wings so that they have a biplane-type arrangement, and keep the frontal emphasis on the big gun.

Thinking about it, going that route would probably give you something that looks a lot like a Scimitar.

The intention wasn't really to make a better Rapier for the movie. Again, as the Rapier is the only fighter in the movie that actually is a different space-frame altogether it's kind of a redundant excercise. But, the objective was kind of the same: Merge elements of the Movie Rapier with the WC1 Rapier II. I took the familiar elements from the WC1 Rapier blueprints and tried to mix them onto the movie ship frame.

I might try and come up with a cleaner design of this "Rapier" , and then ultimately rename it for a fan project I guess.

 

[Wojo]

I like the idea of mashing up the game and movie designs. It's something I would like to do with the Tiger Claw/Tiger's Claw some day...

Looking forward to what you will come up with next!