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I find myself fiddling with plastic quite a lot these days (mostly waiting for Starcraft missions to load). As well as the random, unproductive footling with my Guard stuff I ended up asking myself how Tau Missile Pods actually work. I mean they are all over the place, arguably the best weapon you can put on Crisis suits and yet they don't look like they would perform in the way that their stats indicate. Specifically they are tagged out as a rapid fire weapon designed to engage medium armour (infantry and vehicle) and yet the model for them is a small rectangular box with 3 missiles only. I suppose they could be doing clever things with submunitions, but I don't quite buy it.

Hence my latest fiddling has come up with some relatively simple alternatives. Please feel free to comment, add to the discussion, or generally lambast me for daring to question GWs all mighty greatness!

As a base line, here we have the classic GW version in its natural habitat, i.e. attached to a fireknife suit:




So far, so standard.

And now onto the variants, starting with a model based on the idea of a larger missile fed from a magazine (Wing). The Burst Cannon base is a really nicely detailed bit of kit and even includes a blast deflector for the rocket exhaust I think the launcher works well, but less convinced by the magazine.





A similar idea to the first, except a much smaller package (Smallbore). I suppose its a more rapid fire version with smaller rockets. Its a little bare for my full liking but I do quite like the drum mag look.




And finally a variant working on the assumption that the weapons effects could be replicated by a pod ripple firing a lot of micro-missiles, rather than a smaller number of larger rockets (Ripple). Again on the assumption that the pod can be reloaded on the battlefield by some kind of magazine (hence the flamer tank at the back).




So, thoughts?

Personally I really like the look of the 'ripple' one although I think it'd look better with less and larger holes. I know the idea is micro-missiles but they feel a little too small to me, although maybe I'm just used to seeing massive Tau railguns...

Love the last one!!

@wib - I've just tried larger holes and it also works, but I need to practice getting the spacing right. Maybe a more circular arrangement. I may have to ponder which I prefer

@Yggdrasil - Thanks. I think I am leaning toward that one myself. I really like the Wing launcher, but the magazine is a bit foolish. I might try another with a drum mag instead.

Damn its a good thing that you get so many random bits you'll never use on a model with the Tau sprues

Ripple for the block

ripple , nice one

Ripple. The others just don't really look like a ML.

Ripple. Agree that slightly larger holes would be even better.

Ripple, but I'd try to make something similar to the ones on gunships, like on the mi-24.

http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/hind/images/6_mi-24_shtum_anti-tank_missile.jpg

Yup, definitely the ripple. Odd how something so simple makes it look WAY better and more believable

Ripple.
i'm such a joiner!

Thanks guys.I am experimenting on some other spare burst cannon I have kicking about. Results to follow.

@Marvlev - I did think about having a missile pod of that nature, but again I felt that something like that with large missiles would not be self-reloadable in the field. Otherwise to keep up the advertised rate of fire would require a foolishly large pod for a battlesuit.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Hmm.. and after some tests I have concluded that it is fiendishly difficult to get the larget holes to line up as neatly as the smaller holes

Out of the tests my favourites are definately the original small holed version and the 7-holed variant far right.




Automatically Appended Next Post:
Hmm... and as if by magic (or accident) I have hit upon my favourite. Behold the Mk2 (production model) of the Ripple Fire Missile Pod

Flinty wrote:@Marvlev - I did think about having a missile pod of that nature, but again I felt that something like that with large missiles would not be self-reloadable in the field. Otherwise to keep up the advertised rate of fire would require a foolishly large pod for a battlesuit.


Hmm... and as if by magic (or accident) I have hit upon my favourite. Behold the Mk2 (production model) of the Ripple Fire Missile Pod

I see. It could be some gatling launcher as well...

This last one looks cool imo. I guess It's firing similar missiles to that small one in Iron Man 2. With slightly bigger firepower than that though...

Might be worth trying a ripple variant made by a hexagon of 7 identical lengths of plastic tube? That at least ensures they're all regularly spaced.

Or the barrel end of an IG Russ gatling cannon (can't remember its proper name), if you can find one cheap?

@Clang - I've now tried attaching small rods to the launcher base and can confidently state that I have neveer tried a more fiddly and annoying procedure

Assault/punisher cannon are probably a bit big for my purposes, but its a good idea.

And here are a few of the finished articles. My original smaller bore version is on a Fiireknife, and may end up on my Commander to add variety. The 4 Mk2 versions are on my Deathrains. All are magnetized for fun and profit.

Heres a tip to make the holes better:
Lay them out in pencil.

Once you have the number and spacing right then get a small nail.

Place the tip of the nail on the mark where you want the hole.

Gently tap the nail with a small hammer or something similar. You want to make a very small indentation.

Use that indentation to guide a small drill bit to make the final hole.