Because I've got quite a lot of unfinished or planned to do Sci-Fi models, I would like to create a single thread for them.
First one would be Martian HEMMT escort truck, as I have mentioned in this topic
http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=4280.0 I'm going to build escort truck for convoys transporting supplies from space port to the mining facilities on Mars.
As a base I'm using Italeri "HEMMT Gun Truck", with AFV Club "Remote Weapon System" on roof gun port. Original tires will be replace with Lego balloon wheels (they are more than 2x wider than the original + only 3 mm bigger in diameter than original one) and finally on the back of truck I'm going to scratch build some sort of autonomic rail gun (similar to Phalanx CIWS).
Whole idea for the model is the result of visiting this site:
http://www.ga.com/railgun-systems and large disappointment when I had discovered that HEMMT with Phalanx system already exists
After all I have also red somewhere, that Oshkosh is trying to adapt HEMMT design to almost any possible task, so why not use it on Mars?
After a lot of reading on problem of adequate propulsion system for vehicles on Mars I've decided to ad some containers for liquid O
2 and other gases required for effective burn of methane in engine. Next problem would be an adequate amount of power which rail gun will use during combat (as I've noticed its quite unpractical at the moment:
http://www.janes.com/article/28774/ausa-2013-general-atomics-unveils-blitzer-land-based-railgun it looks like that most space is used by energy generators/fuel cells), so I've decided to scratchbuild some sort of fission battery. About 2 years ago I've red in "Focus" that some corporations are trying to create nuclear batteries for developing cities, so why not decrease it in size an implement on vehicle in future, especially that on Mars there is almost nothing (except possible Human settlers
![Wink ;)](http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/Smileys/clabIcons/wink.gif)
) that could be harmed in any case of radiation leak.
and here are some photos:
1. Ingredients:
models:
![](http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l336/Legate_Scimitar/Martian%20HEMMT/01_zpsaa7d109f.jpg)
Lego tires:
![](http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l336/Legate_Scimitar/Martian%20HEMMT/03_zpsa98d2f28.jpg)
rail gun:
![](http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l336/Legate_Scimitar/Martian%20HEMMT/02_zpsbd64d15e.jpg)
2. building process:
original poorly detailed engine
![](http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l336/Legate_Scimitar/Martian%20HEMMT/04_zps07ed14ea.jpg)
same engine after adding a few more details:
![](http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l336/Legate_Scimitar/Martian%20HEMMT/05_zpsfdbe9b0b.jpg)
few photos of scratchbuilding the rail gun:
![](http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l336/Legate_Scimitar/Martian%20HEMMT/06a_zps4e4d0b9b.jpg)
![](http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l336/Legate_Scimitar/Martian%20HEMMT/08a_zps08ec37f5.jpg)
![](http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l336/Legate_Scimitar/Martian%20HEMMT/09_zpsb2b47fcc.jpg)
![](http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l336/Legate_Scimitar/Martian%20HEMMT/11_zps45a9b543.jpg)
![](http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l336/Legate_Scimitar/Martian%20HEMMT/12_zpsb7393825.jpg)
^ this basis was one of the foots from mecha build some time ago by Artoor_K
size comparison of original and Lego wheels:
![](http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l336/Legate_Scimitar/Martian%20HEMMT/13_zpsfcfec584.jpg)
modifying Lego wheels:
![](http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l336/Legate_Scimitar/Martian%20HEMMT/14_zps7cf2c1a6.jpg)
![](http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l336/Legate_Scimitar/Martian%20HEMMT/15_zps5c064755.jpg)
3. building progress so far:
![](http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l336/Legate_Scimitar/Martian%20HEMMT/16_zpsd0c64663.jpg)
next update should be quite soon