Shirow inspired Merlin Helo

[Weasel]

Recently I have been re-reading appleseed and thinking about what a landmate carrying cyborg controlled helo might look like.

So far I have the basic hull of the Merlin built for the FAA. I am thinking of making it a single operator vehicle by removing the cockpit and canopy and giving it a set of robotic eyes much like the mobile fortresses seen in the first appleseed film (or books). If you haven't seen these, imagine a cluster of large eyes like that of a jumping spider. The rest of this helo will be controlled by semi-independent computer brains.

The rest of the helo is less defined, I am thinking some large landmate size loading/unloading hatches along each side and then a retractable gattling gun pod built into the tail assembly slightly like the jigabachi from GITS 2nd GIG. I was thinking instead of the hatches folding down like a ramp they would move directly out allowing the landmate to drop straight into the target area with the minimum exposure to enemy fire. It would also mean the helo wouldn't need to land and could thus more effectively cover the drop with its weapons.

I will upload some sketches soon but what do people think of the idea so far?

Weasel

p.s. I haven't got any clear ideas on whether it will be a bladed helo or some more exotic lift/manoeuvring system. If anyone has any cool concepts or ides throw them in! Thanks  

edited: the GITS reference doh!

[Jschmus]

The Jigabachis are actually in 2nd Gig, but I get the idea.  If you're building this for landmates, then it won't be its original scale, right?

If you're looking for alternate methods of lift-generation, check out the most recent post here:

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,24903.15.html

[Weasel]

I was thinking of keeping the landmates small (similar to the personal unit used by Hitomi in the first book) and staying at about 1:72 ish scale. I think it would only carry about 4 or 6 depending.

Thanks for the link, most interesting.

[ChernayaAkula]

This project has "awesome" written all over it!   In big, huge, glowing red letters!

EDIT: Are you going to include some 1/72 Landmates as well? 

The mobile fortresses always reminded me of a certain kind of crayfish, but the particular name escapes me at the moment.

[Weasel]

Off course, it wouldn't be complete without the landmates! although they may be a nightmare to build