ZOMBIE THEME GENERAL DISCUSSION AREA

[Go4fun]

If you have the 'silage' flying off to the side, (as when unloading the bin), you have a big bin to set up gun mounts, ammo storage and driver rest area.
"we're going to need bigger water pumps to clean that monster up after a run"! 

[Captain Canada]

That might.......be crazy enough to work ! Be messy tho, and hard for zombies to get to you !

[Go4fun]

As I remember they don't have a high top speed (40 MPH?) and I'd deffinately want armor over the glass and an exit on the back of the cab that led directly to the 'bin'. "Hey Vern! Get up here and drive a while. I'm tired of mowwing through these idiots".

[kerick]

I think I will stick to the firetruck for now! This conversation will have zombie juice all over the road!

[Mossie]

Claas have a short video on their webpage, the maize head is demonstrated half way through and you can get a good idea of what would happen to any zombie that wasn't quick enough (most of them!) to get out of the way....
http://www.claas.co.uk/cl-pw/en/products/forage_harvester/jaguar_980-930/start,bpSite=51524,lang=en_EU.html

As I remember they don't have a high top speed (40 MPH?) and I'd deffinately want armor over the glass and an exit on the back of the cab that led directly to the 'bin'. "Hey Vern! Get up here and drive a while. I'm tired of mowwing through these idiots".

Plenty quick enough in a George A. Romero flick but not so useful in 28 Days later!  A combine can pack up to 1000hp, I'm sure a bit of stripping down, re-gearing and tuning up could liberate a bit more punch...

I think I will stick to the firetruck for now! This conversation will have zombie juice all over the road!

Just have a tractor alongside as normal, zombies make excellent fertiliser, quite a trade to be had once the apocalypse is over!

[Go4fun]

I spent a few Summers driving 'Bean', (Grain & Soybean) trucks next to these monsters. I talked to some of the guys who ran them and the big limit when harvesting is the top RPM of the blades and 'screws' that move the silage. That is the main reason for the RPM limiter on the engine when all the gear is engaged.
Just change the final drive gear ratios and I'm sure you could drive faster but I was told they are a handful as they occupy more than a lane of road anyway.

[Old Wombat]

Just change the final drive gear ratios and I'm sure you could drive faster but I was told they are a handful as they occupy more than a lane of road anyway.

And this is a problem during the Zombie Apocalypse?

[Go4fun]

Just change the final drive gear ratios and I'm sure you could drive faster but I was told they are a handful as they occupy more than a lane of road anyway.

And this is a problem during the Zombie Apocalypse?

Only if your dodging things that might ruin your cutting heads or tires!

[Go4fun]

I'm more thinking along the lines of a vehicle with a smooth exterior to keep the Zombes from getting a grip, a big and strong drivetrain to propel you through or over mobs and enough armor to survive. A real Scout vehicle that can take (or give!) a beating and keep going.
QUESTIONS:
Do Zombies like or hate sudden exposure to bright light?
Would Flash/Bang weapons affect them day or night?
What is the average IQ of a Zombie? Smaller than their shoe size or higher than we think?

[Captain Canada]

I think their IQ is very low. At least from what I've seen on tv !

[buzzbomb]

Interesting point about Zombie intelligence/instincts

DJ Molles has written a great series of e-book http://www.amazon.com/The-Remaining-ebook/dp/B0070B0JW6 about a virus type outbreak.
Great series of 3 books so far.. hanging out for the 4th installment.




Spoiler alert !!!!! (highlight to see text clearly)
In his later books there is some indication of evolution happening where some "learning" appears to be happening amongst the infected

[kerick]

If I understand the whole zombie infection thing all that is left is the "reptile brain" that handles only major instincts like "find food". If the majority of the brain is dead then how do they see? Much of our brain power is occupied with processing vision. If only the brain stem is alive then vision would be sorely affected.

[Go4fun]

If I understand the whole zombie infection thing all that is left is the "reptile brain" that handles only major instincts like "find food". If the majority of the brain is dead then how do they see? Much of our brain power is occupied with processing vision. If only the brain stem is alive then vision would be sorely affected.

So if they see they see poorly. Wouldn't flash/bang grenades tend to throw them off balance just from the concussion? I still think I'll drive in front and let the "Harvester From Hell" follow me to grind up the ones I upend! 

[Go4fun]

"I say, I say I hear the gears grinding boy but I ain't seein' no smoke"!
Foghorn Leghorn
So I heard some plans for a firetruck, some combine/harvester/mower ideas and few others. Can we exchange a few ideas and maybe get something goin for all of us?

[dadlamassu]

While I'm no expert on Zombies I think we need to think about what kind of creature we are considering as there a confusing array of them out there.  My, admittedly limited, knowledge gives:

The original Haitian type zombie who is a drugged living human who appears to be dead and is controlled by a "master"
The old B-Movie Zombie - reanimated dead by arcane means or weird science
The "Rage" infected zombies - 28 Days later
The "Conspiracy" zombie accidentally or deiberately chemically infected - Resident Evil
The "Hungry" zombie infected by virus etc - from "Shaun of the Dead" and others

Then there are the many types invented for wargames.

So what type(s) are we designing vehicles to combat?

Also are we considering vehicles from early in the outbreak or in a later phase as the time for conversion will be significant?

I have a small project in mind.