Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I just wanted people's opinion on a scratch-build that I am working on: A chimera-chassis-based missile launcher that I am considering using as a "counts-as" for any of the following: a Hydra, a Manticore, or even a Deathstrike Missile Launcher. I could justify the type of weapon by the type of salvos that are launched, or possibly the payload of the rockets. For example, the Hydra variant would fire double-taps of Armor-Penetrating rockets at targets, where the Manticore variant would use a large blast S10 template due to the sheer number of High Explosives raining down. The Deathstrike stat line could represent a Tactical Atomic or Nuclear payload, with each rocket containing a small isotope. All the rockets get fired at once for maximum effect, and so it is a single shot salvo.

Ok, here it is. Give it a one-over and let me know what you think.

It is looking brilliant, can't wait to see it painted!

Good start. Some people will complain that the missle pods arent big enough compared to 4 jumbo missiles.

Im doing a similar build, making missle pods the same way I used to for my MkII Whirlwinds (using a 40mm square base cut in half, the circles in the bottom work quite well). Just trying to figure the turret out.

For a first attempt, this is really encouraging. What are you building the chassis out of - cardstock? Can't quite telll from the pic. You might want to try foamcore and/or plasticard, more durable. I'm not convinced by the mounts between the turret and the pods, it'd be nice to see some kind of brace/pivot. Mount from an IG dozer blade maybe? Echoing mistress's comments, I'd try to make the pods a little more distinctive, so they're less overtly Valk pods. Still, I'm always excited by new scratchbuilt tanky goodness, so keep up the blog!

I think this could be a fine start for a Hydra. Not sure about the whole Manticore/Deathstrike thing but hey, if your opponents are OK with it who am I to say anything?

One thing I would suggest is larger missile pods for the Manticore and Deathstrike. There have been some good scratch builds using the WFB bases as Mistress pointed out. Here's one:

Thanks for the encouragement guys, the turret is not the final version since it is borrowed from a friends collection. I am attempting to replicate one, though I probably should not state how on a public forum! Once I get a turret of my own, I'll be making a more permanent mounting solution for the pods, and I would also like to add another pair of them. I'm not that concerned with them looking like valkyrie pods, that is kind of the point.

Scratch building for your own use is fine.

If you start selling scrath built stuff though, the great GW might get angry and smite thee

Here is my scratch built Hydra

Dude, that's awesome.

Very Nice! that hydra is spot on

Just a heads up Ribon: in some people's opinion, that was what is called a "thread-jacking", basically where you turn the main topic of the thread (my manticore scratch-build) into a topic closely related, but one of your own choosing (your hydra). I'm not at all peeved about it, but I thought I might just make you aware that some people might feel that way if you were to do it to them in the future.

Now, back on topic: I see no reason why it is feasible to use this vehicle as a Manticore but not a Deathstrike.... Surely the 30+ rockets impacting at the same time (fired as a single salvo) would have a similar affect to a Deathstrike missile? How is it much different from the manticore, which utilizes 4 large missiles, not rocket pods?

I think the only stretch here would be passing it off as a hydra. Hyrdras shoot ballistic projectiles, not rocket-propelled explosives.

@inmygravenimage: Yes I used plastic for the main structure. What is visible in the photo are the cuts of cardstock I used to build the texture... I actually have a 3rd layer left to glue and then rivets but I wanted to wait a bit on that.

Cool. I hate making rivets, so have started tapping a blunt nail through the back of plasticard, which is much less time consuming and provides a more uniform look, IMHO. Not to threadjack but if you look at this from my WIP Baneblade:
You can see rivets on plates side by side with plastic pieces (I know it's a rubbish photo, sorry...)

Yup, that is a great way to do rivets. Another way is to use a leather punch. I have to do external ones because I didn't have the foresight to do them beforehand!

@Ribon Fox that is a sweet Hydra, best i have seen actually, but as FoxPhoenix135 said thread jacking is frowned upon here.

back on topic
FoxPhoenix135, I would let you use it as Deathstrike or a manticore if i were your oppenent but not a hydra because everybody knows hydras have autocannons.
Nice scratchbuild!

'Tis true that Hydras as currently modeled and written use autocannons, but in the real world most AA is done by missiles nowadays.

I guess Forgeworld needs to make some AA that are missile-based for their next IA book! Until then, I guess I'm stuck with this being a manticore!

I apolagize for the jacking as it was not in any way intentional :(

I just thoght that it might give the OP some inspersion for his build, my guns are screwd on and I'm woring on making some armoured missile boxs that can be screwd into the gun mount. the whole lot cost me about £10 in plascard ($20-ish).

Again i had no intention to jack.

OPPS Just noticed you are the OP, ermm, realy sorry.

Hydra...Melts....Face!!!

FoxPhoenix135 wrote:'Tis true that Hydras as currently modeled and written use autocannons, but in the real world most AA is done by missiles nowadays.

I guess Forgeworld needs to make some AA that are missile-based for their next IA book! Until then, I guess I'm stuck with this being a manticore!

In Epic the Marine AA vehicle uses missiles for the job. The Hunter I believe. I also just saw a reference to the Hyperios AA missile system used by marines.

I think its fine as a manticore using ripple fired salvoes, rather than larger missiles, however a Deathstrike is supposed to be a single monumentally large missile with very specialised warhead. In a random game I wouldn't be particularly bothered, however I feel that the aesthetic doesn't quite work.

True, there is one thing I overlooked with my salvos hypothesis: A solid fuel rocket would have to be massive to contain enough fuel to propel it to the kinds of ranges that the Deathstrike is capable of, so I guess that makes this design a bit illogical for a deathstrike.

So, despite a lot of people having the "It can't be a hydra because it doesn't have autocannons" mentality, it's down to a manticore or a hydra. It seems pretty unanimous that it can be counted as a manticore.