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I'll always take something generic over something specific. It's a pain removing all the fiddly stuff GW puts allover their models. I prefer generic that I can use for all sorts of games and armies.

While I like the bike, overall, I am not fond of the "spoked" wheels. That, I think, is the design's greatest liability to having it believable in a future setting.

And, personally, a "future bike" of mine would rely on a rear-facing camera dispaying images on a HUD or central screen and not force the rider to rely on old-world mirrors.

Oh, and the foot rests are at an unnatural, non-ergonomic angle to rest the foot of the rider.

But, again, overall, I do like what you have shown so far and look forward to seeing the final.

Love the new tyres. Dubious about the mirrors, just coz they look so flimsy I suspect they'll get knocked off real fast.

Presuming CAD makes it feasible, i agree that making several variants (spoked wheels, sci-fi wheels, different tyre patterns, different mufflers etc) would be the best way to please everyone - some people are obviously keen on a direct Scout Bike replacement, others want a more historical look. And maybe some add-on bits (pannier bags, weapons holsters etc) for further customisation.

First off, let me say that it's a beautiful bike and the improvements make a world off difference. The only things that need fixing that I can see are the foot rests (since, as mentioned, they look to be angled up too sharply given where the seat is in relation to them) and the exhaust (which needs to be angled up more so it doesn't obstruct the rear hub). The big question is obviously how easily they'll fit assorted riders, though the narrowing of the saddle and the use of metal for the handlebar (enabling them to be bent to meet the rider's arms) will help with that, as would making the foot rests separate to allow for repositioning.

For what it's worth, were I looking to use these as sci-fi bikes - and I'm tentatively looking at them for my Eisenkern - I'd cover the spokes with something more solid, enlarge the muffler, make a larger and fancier headlight/sensor cluster (or, at minimum, make the headlight deeper so it matches modern styles) and - though this is just to make it match the engine on the Eisenkern APC more - cover over the ribs on the engine with something more solid.

Regarding the lance rest, it just has to be two brackets sticking straight out - one directly behind the saddle and one directly in front of the fuel tank - into which the lance can be clipped after the rider has got on the bike. It doesn't need to be strong enough to support the lance in a charge since the rider would be wanting to hold the lance in their hand when they make impact so they can absorb some of the impact by sliding back in the saddle and dropping the lance immediately. In fact, it's better if the brackets aren't strong so they break away in the event a charge is made with the lance still clipped in (say, if it was over rough ground and the rider needed both hands on the handlebars) rather than holding firm and throwing the rider off the bike from the impact.

The lance would sit waist high, so high enough that it wouldn't interfere with the rider putting their legs out to the sides during cornering or when stopped and since it would only obstruct one side the rider could still get on and off with it clipped in place. The support brackets could also be modified to hold ranged weapons.

After a bit of a long silence, largely due to all sorts of other things which have kept me away from the hobby and Curious Constructs for a little bit things are moving again. I'd just like to say thankyou for all the feedback on the bike. There will be some more minor changes to the design, but the initial release will be very similar now to what was shown in the last picture. Definately there is the possibility of other variants of the bike further down the line though - being small means my budget is tight though, so I would'nt like to make any promisses at this stage.

In the meantime I'd like to just drop in a quick preview of something else which is currently being put together for release through Curious Constructs, the Hoplite Tankette. This complete vehicle kit is being put together by AJ, aka Parak a friend and fellow blogger I've known for several years, intially through 40k Online, and as such you may have come across the design before.

Here is the current state of the vehicle - as I say its very much still a work in progress, but you can get a good idea of scale and what it is we're aiming towards.





If your not familiar with Parak's work, here is his converion which this new kit is based on.



There are also plans for more vehicles - both variants of this design, and a few larger examples.

Oh, lots of potential here with the tankette! Have a few uses for it!

Yeah looks rad, make a good Arty Tractor or Bren Carrier type of deal..

Yes, definitely design it with options: tankette, artillery tractor, self-propelled artillery, etc

Say, are CC miniature parts compatible with Victoria Miniatures?

Options will definately follow, the vehicle is being designed in a modular fashion.

Lord Castellan, they are not designed specifically to be so, but as the scales we're using are essentially the same, they do seem to work together nicely. I've seen several people posting pictures using Victoria's legs, and arms in combination with my variant torso's which seem to work nicely.

I didn't know you were also on this site. i am looking forwards to your sculpts, faasasands of em!

 Col.Gravis wrote:
I've seen several people posting pictures using Victoria's legs, and arms in combination with my variant torso's which seem to work nicely.

Can you please link me to some?

An atlas recovery vehicle type configuration would be cool.

A recovery vehicle is a good possibility - but there the small matter of a half-track before we get too carried away with variants!

Lord Castellan wrote:

 Col.Gravis wrote:
I've seen several people posting pictures using Victoria's legs, and arms in combination with my variant torso's which seem to work nicely.

Can you please link me to some?

I'll have to have a dig around and see if I can find them again, the one I do have in my favourites though is this one though which combines Vic's Roughrider Arms with the Curious Constructs Life Guard torso's, I'm pretty sure there are unpainted pictures too if you hunt around on the blog.

http://palladian-guard.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/iron-hearts-honour-guardsmen.html

I've found it very enjoyable to be able to share some of the new projects that are in the pipeline, so here's another one - laser-lock rifles, feedback is as always appreciated. Thats not all either - the Bike is back from the printers.

I wish I could say otherwise, Col., but they kind of remind me of the rifles you'd get with Playmobil figures. The proportions seem wrong for 40k. I like the bolt-action detail, but if you're using a pistol grip like that, the bolt-action so far back makes it seem like it would be really unwieldy - it makes the stock seem far too short. I do recognize the problems coming from trying to design pistol grip rifles that can be easily compatible with existing arm systems and still make them look more like old-fashioned rifles than modern assault rifles, but these somehow seem off to me.

They're not bolt action, they're flintlock style, so there's no bolt to pull back, meaning that its not such an issue.

I understand from the name that they are supposed to be akin to flintlocks, but the visual with the round knob says 'bolt-action' to me rather than 'flintlock'. I recognize that many flintlocks have a knurled knob on the piece that holds the flint in place, but the way that this is depicted in this model isn't clear.

I mean, I'm not trying to get the good Colonel to figure out the technicalities of how a laser-lock rifle would work, but just from an aesthetic standpoint, if you're wanting to call it a laser-lock rifle and want it to be recognizable aesthetically as the descendent of a flintlock, I think the 'lock' mechanism should more closely resemble a flintlock mechanism as such:



Rather than appearing to more closely resemble a bolt-action mechanism.

I think I can see the idea - Particularly on the middle one - the "lock" on the side generates the laser, which is then fed into the barrel - The tube that you took for a bolt handle looks like it's going into the "flash hole" to power the laser shot. Hope that makes sense

Or maybe it's like the cock/hammer, and the 3 pics are showing us full-lock, half-lock and fired?

I like the concept, but they look a bit plain.

Cheers guys.

Death By Monkeys, thanks for taking the time for the detailed feedback, I see your point on the stock, though as you recognise its a bit of a limitation from being a flexible alternative component. At the same time though I'd be worried that moving the lock mechanism forward will equally look a little odd.

I must admit theres no thought into exactly how such a device would work, more a mish mash of concepts, but yes possibly a 'flint' shaped piece could be added to the mechanism though.

The grip is still to see some modification, I'm open to suggestions on further details though?

Here's a thought for you - what about designing the gun to have a pistol grip, but no stock at all? Especially since the most common arms to use them with have the stock integrated with the arm.

I'm wondering about a design where you don't have a full pistol grip, but instead have a semi-pistol grip such as used with the later M1 Garands and M14s.



In what I'm thinking, you would essentially be making from the pistol-grip forward of the rifle and it would be attached to the model's hand at more of an upward angle rather than being roughly perpendicular to the fist.

I think it's also be useful to think about what era of rifle you're wanting the laser lock to be similar to - do you want it to look more like a musket? I think this is a rather nice design and could potential lend itself to having a pistol grip (like a mare's leg):



More like the Martini-Henry repeater used during the Zulu Wars?



Or more like a WWI or WWII rifle like a the Lee-Enfield or M1?



Then there's this interesting fellow, which I think is a Middle Eastern creation (and is amusingly referred to as a Jezail):



I think it's all about figuring out what aesthetic you're wanting to convey the design and then figuring out how to make it work with the most common arm systems.

I'll be producing a set with arms, as well as making the guns available seperately, so stocks will be staying with the piece, at the same time I did think about dropping the pistol grip entirely, but settled on not doing so for several reasons.

There will be some more modifications made, though I'll retain the musket styling on this one, I'll update progress on it once we're getting a little nearer. At the moment though I'm expecting to produces more then one variant, with a common set of arms, so if this design is'nt your cup of tea, hopefully the next, or the remastered Heavy Laser Rifle will be.

Death by Monkey's, once again big thankyou for the feedback, it's been very useful!

Why is "jezail" amusing? Perfectly sensible word to describe an archaic firearm, usually of Middle or Near Eastern origin.

R.

@Col. Gravis - Happy to provide input!

@Precinct Omega - Amusing from the perspective that GW has already made a number of models with jezails, the Skaven ones which look more similar to this than the Gorka Morka Mutie ones.

Just a little heads up, the Curious Constructs Webstore will be going down, hopefully for no more then a couple of days. I'll post an update once I've got further news.

Damn you Gravis just take my money! Your Militia legs better stay this good value when Christmas comes and I blow everything in my wallet in your shop...

How does better value sound? It'd be a pretty naff shop relaunch if I did'nt have something to celebrate it eh?!

G,

Given that the 'lock' mechanism (Flintlock, Matchlock) simply serves to deliver a priming charge to the round in the barrel, perhaps some form of battery pack on the rifle, delivering the firing charge to the weapon, or closing the connection from the lasgun power pack to the focussing crystals/technobabble. I envision a cable attached to a laslock device, which looks like a socket and plug.

My $0.02.

--B.

Following on from my previous posts, the new web store is now finally up and running!

http://www.curiousconstructs.co.uk

To celebrate that, the new year, and the festive season in general, the following coupon code, entered in your Shopping Cart before checkout will give you a 10% discount in store. The coupon is valid from now until the 12th of January, and you can use it as many times as you like!

The Coupon code is NEWSTORE

I've also done a little price adjusting and put some Cavalry Squad deals in place, though these are strictly limited in number, I think they represent excellent vaue though! I've also introduced a Reward Points scheme for registered customers as an added thank you to repeat customers, and finally, all orders of £30.00 or more now ship for free!