"New 15mm GZG VTOL Troop Transport" Topic

Hi

Jon has just sent me details of his new VTOL Troop Transport based on the MANTIS VTOL Gunship. I've posted photos, codes and price details on Dropship Horizon:

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As some of you are making up orders to qualify for GZG's Christmas Special Offer
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I thought you'd appreciate the news asap!

Cheers
Mark

That thing looks great. Its getting much harder to resist 15mm.

Don't bother any more Dr. Mathias. You know you want to, just take the plunge!

Great looking VTOL. Not crasy about the cockpit on the Mantis, though.

-Eli

An excellent miniature.

I agree with Eli though, I was never wild about the Mantis cockpit, it just doesn't look right to me, and I don't think it fits here too. Still, I'm going to keep this one in mind (and the excellent new lander coming from Combat Wombat!) because I really do need some dropships/landing craft.

I'm another who is not fond of the cockpit on this thing… it is a well done sculpt though. Probably a must-have if I did 15mm.

It's very nice but I don't think I'll be buying it. I've got the VTOL this is based on and it's way too small to convince as a troop carrier.

WOW I though Combat Wombat had the market cornered now GZG comes out with another cool choice. I will have to pick up both to transport marines and penal troopers.

"it's way too small to convince as a troop carrier."

Pack them in so tight they won't have room to breathe with weapons, gear and ammunition piled on their laps.

Yes, I was thinking myself that any troops capable of fitting in this carrier should also try breaking the world record for the most number of people inside a phone box…

LOL

I love the VTOL. Not sure about the transport though.

Thanks,

John

It could just deliver drones, then. But helis often don't have a lot of space for troops. The Alouette III for example is pretty small, definitely no room to stand up. The Hind is also short on headroom.

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I'm also one of those who's ho-hum about the cockpit, though. All in all I prefer the Rebel Minis' Sabre or Old Crow (which does a 6mm tank dropship that could work as a 15mm).

Yeah….the size thing bothers me too. Nice try though. The container would work for 6mm I think.

Well, the cockpit thing is personal taste, I guess you either like it or you don't – though sales of the Mantis version certainly suggest that a fair number of people DO like it! ;-)
As to the size of the rear troop bay, there is at least as much room in it as the passenger compartment of a real-life Huey – eight of our seated NAC troopers (SG15-A18) will fit nicely in there.

Jon (GZG)

I don't doubt you're right about the Hueys, Jon – they're not built for comfort and there's no reason that a SF version should be either. If I had a mini of a Huey I probably wouldn't question the size but, for me, it's just a case that troop transport just doesn't 'feel' right for my particular table-top vision of the future.

I like the cockpit though! I guess you can't please all of the people all of the time…

I think the mantis is very cool. Again, at 5'5" Im no giant by any stretch of the imagination but my knees and chin meet in a MI-24 Hind. sweet work as usual ZeroGee2!!
CW

Good to get some feedback from somebody who's actually sat in a troop carrier. My resolve is weakening!

Jon,

Just to qualify my comment about the cockpit. It has always seemed a bit too much like a slab stuck to the front of a ferfectly good air frame. Too flat in cross section.

Something with a bit more aerodynamic design would have suited me better. Of course, nothing says I can chop the cockpit off a plastic kit and slap it on there, so the Mantis is still on my shopping list.

Keep 'em coming,

-Eli

Eli – if you get round to doing a conversion, I'd like to see it!
The Mantis cockpit was envisaged as a two-seat tandem affair, with the 45-degree slant meaning that the feet of the pilot in the upper/rear seat were just about level with the headrest for the Whizzo (WSO) in the lower/front seat!
In other words, a bit like an Apache or Cobra but with a much greater angle, giving both crewmembers a clear field of view.
I didn't worry too much about the aerodynamics, given that the whole ship is pretty much a flying brick held up by raw thrust…. ;-)

Jon (GZG)

"I think the mantis is very cool. Again, at 5'5" Im no giant by any stretch of the imagination but my knees and chin meet in a MI-24 Hind. sweet work as usual ZeroGee2!!
CW"

Thanks, CW – your new WIP lander looks very nice too! :-)

Jon,

Gotta buy me one first!

I've got the original Mantis. I'm not keen on the cockpit, I'm going to combine it with parts of other kits for my HotT Terminator army.

I could see the troop compartment being used as a detachable pod, so the flyer can make a fast exit and the troops can exit quickly from side hatches rather than through the small door. I think it's the size of the door rather than the troop comapartment that make it look small, the Manitis is a pretty hefty peace of metal.

But the door isn't really any smaller thant like 80% of the helos today.

If you've got room to stand up in a helo you are (a) a bigger target for ground fire and (b) going to wind up on your backside very quickly if things become exciting.

Having a streamlined cockpit on such a flying brick seems pointless to me, plus it doesn't really fit in with the GZG "look". I just wanted something a bit more "interesting" in shape, but that's easy to solve with a little plasticard. The UCAV VTOL however is pure genius.

If people really really don't like the cockpit, then I guess Jon could sculpt a different one, perhaps a single seater, or something like a streamlined, windowless armoured cockpit with a sensor blister and a couple of vision slits…

I've been thinking, though, that this would make a very good "Crusty" command module with some modifications…

Actually I was thinking about using the unmanned cockpit with the troop transport variant. I think the both cockpits look fine, but it fits the look and feel I'm aiming for.

ZeroGee, Thanks for the praise. Since I have spent a good bit of dosh on your stuff, its like my line of vehicles exsist to support that habit. the new NAC and Israelis are just awesome. When I get back from this little trip and the dollar quits its freefall, I will be buying some more! keep up the great work.
CW

I like it. I've also come to realize that not everything is going to be in scale, nor does it really need to be. Just look at 15mm WWII troop transports like the german and US halftracks. They barely look to scale really but I think the key is troops aren't supposed to be in it for long periods of time, just long enough to get them to the battlefield!

You know, since those cockpits are interchangeable, I'd love to see a Hind-D style one, with 2 bubble canopies…

I would love to see some equipment done with "Soviet" styling. There is a certain appeal to the way the Russians build stuff that doesn't make it into miniatures.

-Eli

I second that, Eli. I went to Estonia this year and saw soviet architecture up close for the first time. It really was a completely different approach to aesthetics and to function.

Ninjasaurus,

I was speaking more about vehicle design than building.

-Eli

I really like the troop transport – cockpit and all. I do think an unmanned cockpit would be good on this too. Jon, is the cabin made up of seperate pieces (ie roof, floor etc)? If so will your new, seated figures – these are excellent by the way – fit inside? I'm going to order these anyway but I like the idea of adding some seating and figures.

I'd love to see a Hind-D style one, with 2 bubble canopies…

I would too, but the UAV cosckpit DOES has a certain HOIND look to it as well.

Cheers
Mark

The Soviet asthetic does sem to go missing in scifi, doesn't it?

-Eli

I've got one now – haven't had time to check if the seated figures fit in the cabin but the cabin itself is an excellent piece of moulding and casting. made of just upper and lower halves it just clips together for a really close fit, Great stuff!

…sadly, they don't fit. I suppose the legs could be straightened a little (I might try that) or the cabin could be increased in height a few mill. Shame, really. Looks great otherwise