Take 3: IDF Hammer 2077, Golan Heights

proditor · May 07, 2008, 06:04:51 PM

The hull of the Gomorrah was causing me fits, and 1/700 scale treads were getting to be a problem. So I'm taking one last swing.

I figured a WW2 German tank Destroyer would prove to be a suitable donor for a late 21st century Israeli Hovertank. I started working on the hull, and got the follwing done in a frenzy of PSR as I figured out the rest of the build.

proditor · May 08, 2008, 07:27:54 PM

But wait, there's more...

proditor · May 10, 2008, 11:02:54 AM

Small update, no pics yet. Clipped the "wingtips" and started boxing in the front. Also trying to figure out if I want to make a metal storm style Anti-personnel device.

proditor · May 18, 2008, 04:48:29 PM

Now we're getting somewhere.

All boxed up, sanding is next, but it feels like it's on track...even if it doesn't have any.

Sorry for the lousy lightning. Camera phone + broken lamp = lousy pics unfortunately.

proditor · May 21, 2008, 09:42:16 PM

Man I hate sanding. More pics tomorrow after I get a coat of primer on this beast.

proditor · May 22, 2008, 08:37:40 PM

Construction is done except for one whip aerial that'll go on after painting.

Looks like all the sanding is done, paint tomorrow. (fingers crossed)

General Zod · May 23, 2008, 05:04:13 PM

Coming along great Can't wait to see it finished

BlackOps · May 24, 2008, 12:00:30 PM

Looks great! This one is going to finish up nicely

proditor · May 24, 2008, 08:30:59 PM

AND.....done.

It was down to the freakin' wire as it's...11:30 or so here, and I just finished uploading my not so awesome pics to photobucket. Unfortunately, the sun refuses to rise in the middle of the night, so what I got is what I got. Is it perfect? Not even close. But it's kinda cool, and moreover, it's the first thing I've finished in like, forever.

proditor · May 24, 2008, 08:58:31 PM

Ben found himself in the one place no tanker wants to be. Not the Golan Heights, certainly that was bad enough. Not preparing to face down an invading Arab colition, that was par for the course these days. No, our interpid tank commander found himself daydreaming.

"Commander! We have passives! Should I spool up the Micros?"

Ben ducked his head in to the tank to answer and heard the sharp ricochet of a sniper's round carom off of the hull.

He cursed and dove deeper into the tank. "DOGGING HATCHES! Set the emitters to hull, load beehive rounds, and get me a target!"

Around him the crew did their job admirably as sensors backtracked the bullet to it's third floor outpost, and launched a 30mm beehive round from the secondary gun system. 10 meters from the target, it MIRVed open like a flower, and 2500 fletchettes accelerated well past Mach 5, tore the third floor to shreds.

"Get me some chem diffusion smoke out there too, they might have a laser."

The soft thud of the launchers coincided with the slight vibration that tore at the back of Ben's teeth. They almost felt like they wanted to jump out of his head as Microwave AP emitters started lashing the surroundings with energy. Inside the tank it was irritating. Outside the tank, it felt like your face wanted to leap of your skull and slap you around for a bit. Smart folks ran the other direction. An insistent threat chime indicated that someone was either very stupid, or outside of the range of the emitters. As the chime turned to a steady warble, the AI announced "Medusa class portable, locked on to Turret, Main Gun, Secondary fusion bottle, and Tertiary control thrusters."

Ben growled low for a moment then snapped out "Get the Siege Mortar on it, we can't pussyfoot around anymore."

Another deeper thump gently rocked the tank as a 200mm Cluster munition sailed downrange and exploded over the site of the Medusa. There was a falter in the chime, then it, like the Medusa and her crew, died.

"Warning, we have an incoming Phantom cruise missile."

Ben snapped "Beehive rounds in the Rarden, full autonomous fire. Expedite!"

Outside the 30mm cannon sang a song of automatic fire as it filled the sky in between the missile and the tank with 50,000 semi-guided fletchettes.

"Phantom Neutralilzed." The AI reported with unperturbed calm

"You know, one day I'm going to find out who supplied your voice Isaac, and I'm going to punch him very hard just to see if he ever gets excited."

"That's not nice Commander."

"Neither am I Isaac. Stations, report."

Corporal Beth Szillard turned slightly from her console "All clear Commander, we have greens...wait..amend. We have three slow movers, two fast, all closing on our position. Recommend we go fast and nasty sir."

Ben nodded. "Agreed, full grav, full thrust, engage targets as they come to bear. Weapons free, all defenses belong to Isaac. Isaac, engage Apocalypse mode."

"Understood sir!" chorused from the tank and the AI.

A 140mm Rail gun round sang from the front of the tank and split an opposing treadeed enemy like a water balloon. Twin dual-role missiles sailed from the box launcher, engaging and downing the CAS aircraft after a long elaborate ballet in the skies overhead. The other two ground bound tanks seemed to realize exactly what they had bitten off, and tried to run. It was a good try.

Later as he and his crew brought their sturdy mount back to the depot, Beth asked him "So how did our noble steed get his name again Commander?"

Commander Ben Sandler thought back to his early daydreaming; wondering about his famous grandfather, the American actor. How had it felt winning that Oscar? What was it like being a household name? He smiled softly, a rare enough gesture, and then chuckled a little.

"Well, Grandpa Adam taught me one thing. You don't mess with the Zohan."