Improved Hydra

[BobbieTheDamned]

Nice work there. The long range radar looks spot on, nice use of the churchil suspension spring. I'd always imagined hydra's would either be linked to some kind of larger radar, probably another vehicle, but what you've done makes sense.

Only improvement I'd suggest is some sort of strapping to hold the boxes on the sides as they look a little precarious. I guess they could be welded on though.

What colour scheme are you going for?

[MortiS-the-Lost]

looking great so far dude!
I look forward to seeing it painted  

[Spurticus Rex]

From a practical point of view, I'd have thought this would have been a natural progression, the control radar that you mentioned was used a lot in Russian systems in the 50's and 60's, it proved troublesome as specialised anti-radar missiles and aircraft went for the control radar leaving the whole battery blind and innefective.
Putting the main radar on the vehicle makes each one a battery and control in itself.
Thats one reason why I designed it that way, the other was the idea on mobility and coverage for armoured units, this means this is a mobile escort for the armoured columns on the move, just like a Gepard.
It doesn't need time to set up like earlier systems and could probably fire on the move, I imagine it would also be nasty against ground targets too.
The barrel boxes will have straps or brackets to hold them on, I got them from a stowage set from Accurate Armour, loads of handy spares.
As for colours, I'm thinking an ambush/splinter scheme similar to the Swedeish or Finnish armies.
Watch this space, more to come.

[General Biakal]

maybe have one "command" vehicle with radar and two without?

looks amazing- seriously. much better than my "ex salamder with the aegis quad cannon glued in the back"!

[MortiS-the-Lost]

I've always imagined that artillery and anti-aircraft weapons in the 41st millennium would be guided by some kind of satellite network or an orbiting command ship, with ground based radar being more of a back-up system.
Still it's the look of the model that's important, the dish looks cool and could pass as radar or a satellite up link

[Spurticus Rex]

A satalite network would be very vunerable.
I'd imagine the enemy would be initially comming in from orbit as part of the attack.
The first move in the engagement would be to blind the enemy by destroying its intel and coms systems, that would be satalites.
We've tried it in our times, the USAF has destroyed several satalites with ground based missile systems and a missile fired from a modified F15.

The secret to doing something like this though is to have a bits box, scrounge bits off other peoples unwanted kits and look at the stuff you're about to bin, the world is full of usefull bits.
Things that are broken are great, take them apart there's all sorts of useful components, springs, wire, screws ,plastic connectors, electrical components, the list is endless.

Another thing is to look at what the military use today and apply it to the 41st millenium, thats how a lot of the forgeworld kits are being born.
A good site for ideas is PrimePortal.com.

[MarkRG]

Looking and swopping from other peoples bits boxes is something i do alot of, looking though sometimes gives me more ideas on what to do next.

as for taking out comms and radar the yanks had specific aircraft squadron in vietnam, with heavy casulties.

Ps im hoping to be drinking in the Cock In pub on sun night turn left as you go in. il be there 9pm.

[Spurticus Rex]

Unfortunately for the pint in the cock plan, I just moved from warminster to corsley:(
I don't drink on a sunday night either, got work in the AM.
They take a dim view of armourers with hangovers, I sort of thought it was a natural state for RAF armourers, but apparently not anymore, plus I'm a civie, used to be MOD but got privatised:(

[MarkRG]

ok mate but i think it would be good to meet up and bounce a few ideas of each other, i now i can learn a few things from you.
catch you later M

[Spurticus Rex]

It's bound to happen at some point, tis the way with all modellers, due to the coriollis effect and spacial gravity theory, we all thend to gravitate to one point, usually the bar.
One important thing is not to let too many gravitate to one point, they can cause a quantum singularity.