"Khurasan previews Cormorant Dropship" Topic

We're very pleased to preview the Federal Navy Cormorant Infantry Lander, popularly called a Dropship by the troops because of the manner in which they precipitously insert infantry forces from the fleet to a planetary surface.

Both 15mm and 6mm versions will be made. Here's the 6mm version:

The two scales are identical except one's much smaller than the other! The 15mm version is about 6" (150mm) long. One difference is the rotary close-in defence system has been fused in the 6mm version because it would be awfully fiddly in two bits.

The Cormorant is armed but its primary function is transport. If escort is necessary to the surface, the fleet will send either DPLS or NGM (Navy Grav Monitor) support -- many of you will be familiar with the DPLS but the NGM, called the Osprey, is the Cormorant fuselage but with a weapons bank rather than the infantry lander pod. The Navy and Federal Security Service also use the Osprey as a sort of gunboat on planets where enhanced security is deemed necessary. Like many Federal Navy craft, Ospreys are crewed predominantly by female sailors.

The Cormorant should be available by spring depending on the caster, the Osprey being a future release.

Very nice.

Awesome Sauce!!!

Oh… Should have pics of that other new set of… Ooops almost gave it away.

Anyway Jon the companion set to the other set I did is ready for pics…

Now that means everyone else is confused, but Jon will know what Im on about.

Or not.

Actually Im confused…

Piers you tease!

Very nice!

Oh my, does that mean more Jasmine Throne???????

Jeff

Sorry Jeff, don't follow….

Frak'n outstanding.

Though not for my pocketbook or spare time.

Thanks,

Pat

Holy moly anothere super thing to put on the list. Any chance of a 1/2500 scale for my starship gaming too.

How many Troopers would this ship carry in scale?

1xSquad: 3xFireteams + commander?
1xPlatoon: 3xSquads + commander?

Would determine how many to order.

Thanks,
Pat

Hey Stealth, the whole thing would be 6mm long.

Pat, I think that's really a matter of what the gamer considers to be enough room for troops--here's an image of the bird with a trooper to give you an idea of scale:

looks comparable to a Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe, so figure something like 47 stretchers or between 60-80 light infantry in sardine seating… link

Powered armor depends on the size of the armor

Looks like Pod could carry 28-30 Troops to scale, tight fit for the drop.

Thanks.

Very cool.

Holy Moly! I need several of these at least! A wait worth while me thinks!

Neat design.

I think I'll get one and replace the the top gun with an antenna dish and the chin gun with a search light, making it into a fine shuttle. Couple this with some vac suited humans and I think it'd be a great research shuttle.

-Eli

That's a good idea, Eli -- I may actually ask the designer to make a little dome to go in the same hole, in case gamers want the craft to be unarmed.

Charles did a great job on these. The rear half almost reminds me of the BSG-inspired Colonial/Frontier ships that hesells through Irrational Designs.

I think I'll get one and replace the the top gun with an antenna dish and the chin gun with a search light, making it into a fine shuttle. Couple this with some vac suited humans and I think it'd be a great research shuttle.

Agreed – lots of civilian potential with this one. And other military roles besides hot-LZ insertions, like prisoner or medical transport.

-Chris K.

Paging Lorne Greene -- he looks like he'd be right at home on this. Battlestar Galactica anyone?

That's a good idea, Eli -- I may actually ask the designer to make a little dome to go in the same hole, in case gamers want the craft to be unarmed.

Great idea, or maybe a satellite dish, a' la Prometheus:

You;re right Chris: Battlestar meets Thunderbird 2.

It looks like an excellent piece of kit.

But on the basis of pods, what would it take to make an 'armed' pod for a 'spooky' version: no troops, just nasty side guns where the doors are, something heavier on the ramp facing backwards and maybe even something umpleasent out the front that doesn't require much intrusion into the pods space, like a whole rack of short range missiles in a 45 degree downward angle to saturate a ground target?

Just thinking. I love pods and I guess I remember battle Tugs from Star Fleet Battles way too much.

John T

That Prometheus ship looks like a personal grooming device you buy at the Sharper Image and it's supposed to work wonders but you can never get it to work quite right.

I like it. I think you also need a couple of airborne vehicles that can fit in place of the troop transport pod. Maybe an APC and a SP gun of some sort.

Would give you some options.

Nice Oines sculpt!

Best,
JBR

My disposable cash disposed of!

Oh, good. Finally something that doesn't have ducted fans at the ends of stubby wings!

I like it! I second the motions for Eli's survey/civvie variant, and John's Puff the Magic Dragon pod variant! Both are excellent ideas IMHO.

Speaking of weapon pods, Jon, how about a dedicated ground attack pod, say loaded with circa 12-16 auto cannons and multiple rocket pods for strafing the *bleep!* out of the opposition before the drop ships actually try and land? Just sayin'….

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

Speaking of weapon pods, Jon, how about a dedicated ground attack pod, say loaded with circa 12-16 auto cannons and multiple rocket pods for strafing the *bleep!* out of the opposition before the drop ships actually try and land? Just sayin'….

It sounds like he's doing one with the "Osprey":

f escort is necessary to the surface, the fleet will send either DPLS or NGM (Navy Grav Monitor) support -- many of you will be familiar with the DPLS but the NGM, called the Osprey, is the Cormorant fuselage but with a weapons bank rather than the infantry lander pod. The Navy and Federal Security Service also use the Osprey as a sort of gunboat on planets where enhanced security is deemed necessary. Like many Federal Navy craft, Ospreys are crewed predominantly by female sailors.

Yup, "just sayin' " something that was already said ….

I like it!

I have a really wicked thought: How about a vehicle that's designed to be carried in place of the pod?

Awesome model – I see at least 3 of the dropships/shuttle versions in my future along with a couple of the monitor versions.

Another vote for a civilian option. Would also like to see the pods available separately if economically feasible – they would make great scenery for scenarios involving taking/holding a LZ or starport…

Curious about those eight side bays – Extra fuel? Cargo? Drones? Pods for jump troops?

Hi John, those are the vertical thrusters. The one in front is angled forward for retro motion.

Could it be the ASV Cougar, coming next?

Would also like to see the pods available separately if economically feasible – they would make great scenery for scenarios involving taking/holding a LZ or starport…

I second this.

Heck, at its size, it could almost be mounted on stilts and used as a shelter.

-Chris K.

Heck, at its size, it could almost be mounted on stilts and used as a shelter.

What a cool idea, like the Antarctic research stations…

The infantry carrier pod will be available separately, and so will the weapons pod. I also like the idea of a plug-in light vehicle that can be dropped to support the infantry when the bigger landers for vehicles can't drop with the infantry.

Wow cool. You've done it again.

WOW !! WANT !!

Outstanding, truly outstanding.

It sounds like he's doing one with the "Osprey":

Hmmm, yes, but I'm angling for a specific weapon loadout equivalency akin to this venerable weapons platform:

Nothing says "I love you!" like a dozen "Ma Deuce" all pointing at the same target…

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

Great. Really it looks great.
I'll get a 6mm for my father's Battletech games.
Me now I want one (or two) for 15mm.

Now I can just hear now every thread Jon starts will be "What about the Cormorant Dropship?" Here's to hoping it's not plagued with the same issues Jon's fine Doe VTOL was.

Now what about the Second Wave of Karks?

Speaking of "waves" ..

Are the Doomwhales the next dominant species ??

LordNth, I have a considerable backlog of stuff to release. Right now trying to decide which to release next:

Kark wave 2
Thrainites
Hauk and the vehicles for the Meso-Nai
Nova Respublik Cossack plus some sets that go with it

Oooh, that's sexy. Of all the dropship offerings in 15mm I have to say that is my favorite so far.

Have there been any Aranae sightings recently?

Kark wave 2!!! My Shark Chasseurs need some heavy weapons love after all this time, Jon!

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

a federal reporter and camerama would be a stellar addition for the Starship Troopers love alone.