So I get a couple of minutes to check my email while I'm on holiday -- I'm in Seattle for a vehicle weathering workshop I taught yesterday -- and there are a dozen emails from folks saying they'd seen this thread and wanted to pre-order one of the AFVs... this is a good problem to have!
I'll try to answer all of the questions I saw before my son wakes up and we head out to the Sci-Fi Hall of Fame and the Japanese Garden
Turret weapon -- the turret will have multiple weapon options. We have finalized three including the flame cannon and plasma cannon you've seen in the renders here. There is also a heavy machine gun option. There will be other options later that will be available as add-on kits.
Turret -- yes, the turret will be available separately. I have a pic on the Secret Weapon page on Facebook that actually shows a resin cast version of the hull on a Leman Russ that I did by request. It fits with only nominal work. I haven't tested it on a Rhino yet but suspect it would also fit since it has a similar opening to the Russ. Our attachment widget is much too large for the Chimera chassis though.
Vehicle front -- it was changed to accommodate some add-on kits. There will be a mine sweeper and prow... eventually. The #1 goal at this point is getting a finalized design ready for the mold.
Cast prototypes -- you'll find some pics of the prototype turret cast in resin on Facebook but these were molded from a very low resolution 3d print. We start with cheap prints so we can test them, see how things fit together and decide on changes early. The cheap print isn't cheap though so the next round should be the final. Mike has made some changes to the model and added some incredible new details.
Price -- not a clue. I will be releasing this as a direct only model though to help keep the cost down... assuming my retailers don't mutiny
Release date -- likewise not a clue. I'd like to have it on the market before the holiday shopping season, of course, but with a big new release like this it's hard to tell.
Resin? -- yes. We'll be using the Smooth Cast 305 or 315 for this depending on how well it performs in the molds.
Add-ons? -- yup, I've mentioned the add-on kits a number of times now. We have several planned and most will be compatible with the other AFV models planned for this series. There's a 4x4 and an 8x8 in the works. Unfortunately these add-on kits won't be compatible with the mobile artillery walker. Sorry
Thanks for the praise from a few of you on the realism. As a dedicated tread-head myself one of the things I'd like to see more of is functional realism in sci-fi models. In this case we are aiming for a near future model with some of the classic retro touches. You should be able to see how everything works and not need to suspend disbelief when it comes to usage. It is now, however, an APC. As a couple of folks have noted the only hatches are on the top for the pilot, navigator and gunner. It's a 3-4 man vehicle and won't be kicking out any troops.
When we do an APC you'll know because it would actually *FIT 10 TROOP MODELS* and won't make you laugh about how they all got in there.
It's nice to see everyone so excited by this and it certainly helps motivate me to see it finished!
Close quarters is usually the name of the game for tank and APC crew. You really get to know someone too well when you're that close to them....
. One of those turrets looks very similar to the flamestorm cannon.
