"[JBR] The New Rebel Universal Modular Vehicle System" Topic

I just wanted to give this its own thread here, in case it gets lost in the tail-ends of other posts.

Rebel Mike and I have been working together for months on a new vehicle system that will give you, the customer, a wide matrix of vehicle parts to make dozens, if not hundreds, of possible variants.

We call it the RUM-V system, for Rebel Universal Modular Vehicle.

Here's the base frame. This will be the backbone onto which you will assemble a choice of different hulls, weapon platforms, and propulsion systems.

APCs. Light tanks. Civilian vehicles. Technicals. Tracked vehicles. Wheeled vehicles. Hovercraft. Walking vehicles. Anti-gravity vehicles. They're all going to be possible with this new system.

More here, at my blog.

link

Thanks!

Best,
John Bear Ross and Mike Renegar

You have my attention!

Fancy stuff….

This looks SO promising

I have always been a fan of modular vehicles and I have already used "swapping" between turrets and hulls to create several interesting vehicle options for my 15mm forces.

Now it seems things will be even easier in the future!

:D

I can't wait to see how this turns out.

Interesting, but I'll want to see more before I ohh and ahh over the visuals. On the other hand, it's a JBR production so I might as well start the drooling right now. ;)

Will all of the vehicles have a common look to them (ie, it's clear they are all part of the same 'family') or will it be possible to create totally different looking vehicles from the same base?

-Will

John, yer a genius I tells ya, GENIUS!

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

I hereby approve of and/or endorse this product.

If only my plans to have this (my design) in 15mm had actually happened.

Or 28mm, for that matter…

For very obvious reasons – being a fan of modular vehicles, as i am – I say: go get 'em!

John T

John,

*why,* precisely, didn't your designs make it into production?

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

That, Leland, is a very, very good question…

And one I can't really speak about at the moment (grrrrr).

john T

JT , if you have and own the master , get ahold of me , and i will help you out.
chris
ravenstarstudios@charter.net

These have my attention. Hoping we get turrets and weapons for all those 1/72 tanks out there.

John, who makes those tribarrel powerguns on your rigs…?

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

That, Leland, is a very, very good question…

And one I can't really speak about at the moment (grrrrr).

John, email me: BlackWidowPilot@mac.com

I can keep a secret. And I might have a solution if Chris can't help you out (or between us, we may have a solution, or know someone who does).

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

P.S. Personally, I want to build an articulated three or four segment "land train of death" from those modular vehicles of yours, John…

I'm glad I got mine in 28mm

What? This sort of thing too good for us 6mm players? :)

Seriously, excellent idea.

You know this is kinda inspirational… Now I want to build a universal building set with my new styrene/mdf stuff. All I need is another Omni- product…

If I had another month to dedicate to this maybe. My new frame work design could be adapted but it limits the design too much.

Great idea i will be watching this thread with great interest. Zac

Post number two is up.

link

If you can stand to read my screed, I explain how I'm going to try and unite old and new designs alike using the RUM-V system. Tonight, I give the veteran Combat Flatbed the new system treatment.

Oh, did I also mention the new system lets you put legs on your models? Yes, I think I remember mentioning something about that…

;)

Best,
John Bear Ross

WOAH. You got my wallet's attention for sure – how soon till these puppies are ready for primetime?

I really like the tracked vehicle in the last picture… with an APC rear it would be PERFECT for my armies… but 15mm is too small :(.

I would have loved the vehicle for my Grymn (22mm tall and quite broad) but I guess I'll never see that (which makes me sad).

As for the modular vehicle (Old Crow), I have 28mm ones of those. It is just a process of e-mailing Jez at Old Crow and he sorts out a kit.

John BR – that looks smashing. Sorry for bellyaching and thread hijacking: your work looks splendid.

Leland – I'll drop you a line.

Army Strong: are you aware of what a small 'club' of people you are now a member of? (ie – those with one of those vehicles in 28mm)

Insomniac: Ah yes…!

John T

Timeline: can't say. We'll decide which goes to print based on feedback after this big reveal is done.

Inso: 28mm is a possibility, but then again so is 15mm Grymn. I am working on Kev hard to see things my way ;)

John T: Thanks, and hijack away! No worries.

Best,
JBR

JBR: 15mm Grymn would be great for 15mm collectors… but they would be too small for me to paint (so I'd prefer 28mm tanks… but I like your thinking :D).

JBR, that looks great.

Will you have a way of expanding it so vehicles can be larger than the base plate?

A larger plate could easily be fabbed up for heavy tanks and vehicles. I can't say either way at this point. If it did, I would want a theoretical "Super Merka" to be the base vehicle, with the capability to update my old Saenz design as well as expand to shock tanks. That's just me brainstorming out loud, though.

Best,
JBR

JBR,

15mm Hasslefree science fiction miniatures would be great, especially if they were the same subjects they now do in 28mm. Like the women soldiers in combat armor and carrying ACRs etc.

Just sayin'…

Also, that six legged walker is outstanding and would actualy be very useful on certain planets or habitats.

Thanks,

Pat

Fantastic work, JBR and Mike. I also have a request, if the Flatbed is being reprinted (and this should even work for the current version).

Would it be possible to produce an accessory sprue – one that would adapt HAMR/VIPR weapons to the truck? The first part would be a baseplate that covers the bed, and centered in the base plate would be the basic ball-joint from the mecha. The next component would be this part off the VIPR III sprue:

Which, vertically mounted on the baseplate, would allow the use of the missile pods and large gatling gun on the Flatbed. The third component would be the same piece, only with the standard mecha shoulder balls on both sides instead of the sockets. That would serve the same function, but mount most of the VIPR (and Titan Support HAMR) guns.

So with that single sprue (combined with whatever mecha sprue people prefer), the Flatbed could be converted into a missile launch platform, air defense artillery platform (especially with the VIPR I guns), and a number of other fighting vehicles.

-Chris K.

Chris, no jumping ahead. :)

Have you been peaking over my shoulder while I've been sculpting?

Best,
JBR

Nope – just an idea I had for my own current-style flatbeds and my spare VIPR parts. I shouldn't be surprised that I'm not the only one who thought about it :)

-Chris K.

I can only imagine the possibilities if one were to magnetise the pieces!

What really has me excited about this product is I won't have to keep asking for certain things to be made, I will be able to make them myself. Please make ATGM racks, Quad AA, flamethrower weapons plus CEV attachments to fit with your modular sytem.

Part three is up. Propulsion systems, and the variety thereof.

link

along with the previously shown legs and treads.

Also the teaser: The first of many hull tops.

Best,
JBR

Looks great!

You could probably interest DoD in a real world version!

:-D

I'd really like to see a couple more variants:

- AT Missile

- Tank gun

- Mortar carrier or other indirect fire system

In other words, something along the Stryker system which includes all of these variants using a single hull.

I'm also happy to see the wheeled variant. My favorite LAVs are 6- and 8- wheeled. I don't know why but I just prefer them to tracks. Well done!

Awesome stuff JBR!

That's fantastic, JBR. The wheeled and hover skirted options are going to be very popular. The civilian variant might benefit from a loading crane or container jack.

Hm… maybe the Rebel Wild CATs could be painted as civilian cargo loader 'bots…

-Chris K.

The tracked and anti-grav options are going to be very popular. We'll, they'll be popular with me that's what matters.

Yep, looks like another winner!

-Will

Oh yeah!!

Two thumbs up on the hover skirt variant, also what is the chance of seeing a covering tarp or canvas added to the rear section of the flatbed? :)

I seriously LOVE the second flatbed hull.

Still I would have to convert it into a different kind of vehicle than a flatbed, just like I did to the other "flatbeds" from Rebel which I have turned into proper IFVs…

A tarp is doable. We already have stowage, so should not be that hard.

Tarp with medic opportunities here. Great work John. Only suggestion, mounting points on the front and back for tow cables,wenches, bumpers? Eh my 2 cents. But as usual nice clean work. Keep it up!

Already done for the front "chin." Great minds think alike. ;)

I have a dozer blade, hedgerow cutter, and roller already made. I think I will mirror the mount on the back bumper, though. Winch is a good idea.

Best,
JBR

I'm really sold on the hover version for some reason. Lovely work JBR.

We worked together to much! Lol!

Excellent idea, and looks to be amazing follow-through. Keep it up :)

Those were good times, sir. I still remember the look of horror on your face when I asked, "what's a loft?" ;)

Here's the fourth entry on the RUM-V system. Just a quickie.

link

Chin attachments. Death Roller, Dozer Blade, and Hedgerow Cutter.

I'll also do a winch tomorrow, per Mr. Burrell's suggestion. Any additional brainstorming for other attachments is welcome here, or in the comment section.

Best,
JBR