Macross - ADR-05-Mk.II Destroid "Manticore" (Kit bashing/scratch-built)

Dizzyfugu · March 22, 2013, 02:56:46 AM

This is not a current piece, but I think I haven't posted it here yet. I am not certain if you are familiar with anime and esp. mecha classics - but this here IS a whif, built from ruins and a crappy tank kit: the ADR-05-Mk.II Destroid "Manticore".

1:100 Macross - ADR-05-Mk.II Destroid "Manticore" (Kit bashing/scratch-built) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:100 Macross - ADR-05-Mk.II Destroid "Manticore" (Kit bashing/scratch-built) - on black by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Equipment Type: anti-aircraft robot, series 05
Government: U.N. Spacy
Manufacturer: Viggers/Chrauler
Introduction: August 2012
Unofficial codename: Whistler, Lawn Mower
Accommodation: 1 pilot and 1 radar operator
Dimensions: height 10.7 meters (hull only), 12.4 meters (incl. extended surveillance antenna); length 5,6 meters; width 6,8 meters
Mass: 29.8 metric tons
Power Plant: Kranss-Maffai MT830 thermonuclear reactor developing 2750 shp; auxillary fuel generator AOS-895-3 rated at 810 kW.
Propulsion: many x low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles.
Design Features: 'Nimrod' Mk. III tracking radar with dish antenna, MPDR 'Argus' range setting and surveillance radar, starlight scope; fully enclosed cockpit.
Armament: 4 x 37 mm air-cooled 6-barrel gatling guns, Type Bofors KDF-11B (firing at 2.000 or 4.000 RPM, standard 1.550 rounds each).
Optional Equipment: 2 x large capacity ammunition drums.

Description and History
The ADR-05 series was immediately developed after the ADR-04 Defender proved a successful and powerful anti aircraft weapon at medium to long ranges. Even though earlier ADR-04 marks with gun armament did not advance into service, the lack of a close range support vehicle with a high rate of fire against smaller and highly manouverable targets like drones, missiles or even small ground vehicles was detected - even though no official Operative Requirement was published.

1:100 Macross - ADR-05-Mk.II Destroid "Manticore" (Kit bashing/scratch-built) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

From the successful joint development of Viggers-Chrauler which would, besides the ADR-04 also yield MBR designs like the Tomahawk, a prototype of the ADR-05 was build as a private initiative. Utilizing the destroid ambulatory system of the proven ADR-04, the new design featured a new torso which housed, beyond the main armament and its ammunition load, a crew of two plus a sophisticated radar system, specifically designed to track and fight multiple, quick and small target at lower height.
The whole system offered the option to link up with other sources like the long range radar from the Defender, so that the "Manticore", as the prototype was called, inspired by the mythical beast that would shoot iron spikes from its tail at its enemies, could support aerial defense at close range. The design was presented and approved, and a small batch of 10 pre-production Manticores was converted from the still running ADR-04 production line and introduced for field tests in late 2012.

1:100 Macross - ADR-05-Mk.II Destroid "Manticore" (Kit bashing/scratch-built) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The fire power of the Manticore proved to be impressive: its four 37mm gatling guns would theoretically allow a total output of a (theoretical) maximum of 16.000 rounds per minute, with a velocity of 1.450m/s, with an maximum range of 7.600m horizontally. Tactically, the Manticore weapon system is able to put up and maintain a 2.000m wide and 1.000m high, 180° aerial barrier. In reality, though, only short, short, controlled bursts would be fired at selected targets. The two pairs of guns and the weapon system would allow the attack of two separate target "clouds" at a time, and the system proved to be very effective against mass attacks with missiles even at close range.

1:100 Macross - ADR-05-Mk.II Destroid "Manticore" (Kit bashing/scratch-built) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Switching from HE to AP ammunition through separate round feeds allowed the Manticore to work effectively even against lightly armored targets and to switch between air and ground targets within seconds, strafing large areas with deadly fire. As standard, 1.300 HE rounds and 250 AP rounds would be carried per gun - HE ammunition stored in alcoves at the main hull sides, and the AP ammunition stored in boxes on the weapons themselves. This limited internal ammuntion capacity could, similar to the ADR-04, be extended through external magazines on the back. For static defense, the four guns could even be fed by external belts, ROF just limited by the heat generated through constant firing!

After first trials of the 11 Mk.I pre-production Manticores, the Mk.II version, with improved radar, more passive sensors and a stronger auxillary fuel generator, was introduced in January 2013, and a second series of another 40 of this destroid series in the updated version were built at slow pace in parallel to the Defender.

1:100 Macross - ADR-05-Mk.II Destroid "Manticore" (Kit bashing/scratch-built) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:100 Macross - ADR-05-Mk.II Destroid "Manticore" (Kit bashing/scratch-built) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Production of the Manticore already stopped in 2014, though. Being very specialized and limited, and only a supportive unit, the ADR-05 never saw much action in the open field, just as an addendum to the more versatile ADR-04-Mk.X. Like its long range counterpart, the few Manticores were mainly used as point defense unit for selected, vital potential enemy targets. They fulfilled their intended role well, esp. against missiles and Fighter Pods, but had only limited success against Zentraedi Tactical Pods: even a simple Regult was hard to crack. Hence, the Manticores remained in the background. Since the Manticore Destroids proved to be very vulnerable to close range attacks, more than 30 were lost in open field battles before they were retired into pomit defense roles and consequently already taken out of active service in 2021.

Did you like the story? This mecha was inspired (or better triggered) by a post about an anti aircraft robot project in a German SF forum - IIRC it was a post from fellow member renax from Sharkit! I remembered that I once had the plan to convert a Defender into a lighter aerial defense robot with gatling gun armament. I had a kit for that purpose stashed away years ago, but never the drive to do the conversion job.

1:100 Macross - ADR-05-Mk.II Destroid "Manticore" (Kit bashing/scratch-built) - on black by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

But as I thought about the project, I had another weird idea: I also had a leftover "chassis" from a Tomahawk (legs and lower torso), as well as two sets of impressive double gatling hand guns from Gundam kits (two 1:144 "Serpent Customs", from Endless Waltz, actually part donation kits for other projects). This basis, combined with a new torso and some radar equipment... Looking for a torso option (and a dramatic radar equipment in the correct size), I came across a 1:72 kit of the Russian S6R "Tunguska" anti-aircraft tank, a limited edition kit from Military Wheels, a Polish company, and the rest is glue, putty and free drifting of ideas.

1:100 Macross - ADR-05-Mk.II Destroid "Manticore" (Kit bashing/scratch-built) - on black by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Putting the things together went pretty straightforward. The legs were already complete, but hidden under lots of old paint (I counted four layers...). These old parts consequently needed some cosmetic surgery. The material was already quite brittle, so I did not dare a brake fluid bath and tried my best with sand paper. Results are so so, so that many details were later added with small polystyrene strips. But at least, the spare parts found new and good use!

1:100 Macross - ADR-05-Mk.II Destroid "Manticore" (Kit bashing/scratch-built) - on black by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The gatling gun arms were 100% taken from the Gundam kits, just minor things added. With internal vinyl caps they'd fit onto the original breast part and allow free rotation as well as side movement of about 20° to the left and right - good for a "natural" pose.
Most attention went into the crew compartment and upper torso, which was placed on top of one Serpent Custom's shoulder pieces. It consists mainly of the Tunguska's box-shaped central turret section, with added pieces on the hull's sides/shoulders which are supposed to be ammunition storage containers for a quick change. These parts, which blend very well into the overall design, are actually shortened halves of a camera pod from a 1:72 scale F-14 kit from Italeri!

1:100 Macross - ADR-05-Mk.II Destroid "Manticore" (Kit bashing/scratch-built) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The radar equipment was taken from the Tunguska tank, too, only the rear antenna had to be modified because the original parts were so crude that I did not want to use them. Finally, flexible hydraulic hoses and ammunition belts were added between mecha hull and arms, as well as small details like the hydraulic telescopes at the hips, searchlights, vents, handles, etc.
The result looks very compact, functional and plausible. I wanted to stay true to the Destroids' design as grunty, tank-like vehicles with massive firepower and a menacing look, and that's what I think I achieved pretty well.

1:100 Macross - ADR-05-Mk.II Destroid "Manticore" (Kit bashing/scratch-built) - on black by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

For the mecha's livery, I also wanted to stay true to the Destroid look: only a single overall ground color (brown or green, even though I have seen dark blue Phalanx') and some white 'decoration stripes'. Additionally, some 'nose art' swas to be added, because it is a frequent sight on these mecha.
To set it apart from the Defender in my collection (olive drab), I went for a brown tone. After long search, the Manticore's basic paint became 'Israel Armor Sand/Grey' (Testors 2138), a murky, almost undefineable tone. Some details were painted in a dark brown (Burnt Umber, Testors 2005), the stripes were painted by hand in flat white.

1:100 Macross - ADR-05-Mk.II Destroid "Manticore" (Kit bashing/scratch-built) - on black by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Then, standard weathering was done with a black ink wash and dry painting with lighter tones like Humbrol 83 (Ochre), 140 (Gull Gray), 84 (Mid Stone) and 121 (Pale Stone). Decals came from the scrap box and are only few, the 'nose art' piece is a donation of a friend of mine (many thanks, André!) and actually belongs to a Czech MiG-21(!). Finally, everything was sealed under matte varnish.

1:100 Macross - ADR-05-Mk.II Destroid "Manticore" (Kit bashing/scratch-built) - on black, "Nose art" detail by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

All in all, this build-up was rather simple, since I had most components at hand and the paint job did not require much effort. But I like the simple look, and this fictional Manticore Destroids blends well into the line of the official Macross mecha. And finally, the leftover Tomahawk chassis has found a good use after waiting for resurrection for more than 15 years.

albeback · March 22, 2013, 04:16:13 AM

Spectacular stuff!

Reminds me somewhat of the large "walkers" (for want of a better description) that featured on Andromeda!

tc2324 · March 22, 2013, 08:45:51 AM

Great story and that really is a very impressive kitbash.

How long did that take to complete?

nighthunter · March 22, 2013, 10:40:45 AM

Dude, wonderful job on it, but isn't it wearing the wrong markings, it should have the sword and starburst of the Federated Suns, and shouldn't it be called a Rifleman, after all? And those are Rotary Auto Cannon-5's, lol! Just kidding she looks great!

pyro-manic · March 22, 2013, 11:04:51 AM

Love it! I always wanted to see more of the Destroids - the glamorous Valks tend to hog all the screen time!

Captain Canada · March 22, 2013, 03:18:11 PM

Wow ! What a diorama ! Great work...lots of stuff to keep you looking.

ChernayaAkula · March 23, 2013, 01:09:54 AM

Cool beast!

Putting the nose-art on the "foot" is a neat idea.

Father Ennis · March 23, 2013, 01:22:42 AM

I want one ... !!!

Sticky Fingers · March 28, 2013, 04:32:29 AM

Cool kitbash

Dizzyfugu · April 02, 2013, 05:52:54 AM

Quote from: tc2324 on March 22, 2013, 08:45:51 AM
Great story and that really is a very impressive kitbash.

How long did that take to complete?

Thanks a lot to everyone.

Actually, the "chassis" (the lower body with the legs) have been around for years, but I lacked an idea and material. It was not before I came across 1:72 "Tunguska" AA tank kit that I had an idea, and I found another cheap Gundam "Serpent Custom" kit which would donate its 2nd gatling gun - the rest went pretty straightforward. I guess it was built in abot two weeks, since painting was not very complicated.

As a side note: "nose-art" is actually pretty common among Macross Destroids, so it was a natural choice on this one, too.

The diorama is a 25 year-old 1:100 Robotech Factory from Revell, which I still keep, despite being built 2 times. But it makes such a great background for the mecha...

1:100 "Macross Factory" with VF-1J Armored Valkyrie (close-up) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:100 "Macross Factory" with VF-1J Valkyrie and Destroid Defender ADR-04-MkX by dizzyfugu, on Flickr