"Plans For "Hercules Dropship"? Could Work For 15mm?" Topic

Just throwing this idea out there, has anyone every thought to double the size of the templates and make a ship twice it's original size :D

You do know this makes you an EVIL gamer!

Wait, at about 40", plenty of room for floor templates to battle inside… Oh, you ARE evil! ;->=

Don't listen to him, keep at what you're doing, and ALL of us informed!

Doug

Okay I printed off a few of the templates at normal size, so I can have a couple to tinker with to double the size of this ship, when another thought just hit me, so later I'm going to print of some at 50% smaller and see what this would look like half it's size.

Lfseeney, are you based in the States? I have been working on a similar conversion of the Hercules for laser cutting, with the idea of making it available in the UK. I'll happily put it aside though if you have plans to make your version available internationally?

So I've managed to wrangle the whole thing into a CAD package. My plan is to modify the cutting profiles for 3mm MDF, so I built the final ship so I can see where else needs tidying up.

Here are a couple of renders for fun:

I can also give the completed dimensions:
Length: ~600mm
Width: ~400mm
Height without the wing-tip fins: ~115mm
Height with fins: ~135mm

s, I'm already envisioning an extendable handle in the opening dorsally-centered, just forward the wing tips. I love the idea of playable figure cases.

Doug

Looking very good. Is it out of order to suggest alternative cargo modules for underneath?
Do you have the pdf's of the panel details? Can those be incorporated onto the laser cut panels?
Can't wait to see how this develops.

I'd prefer a design without the side-bay doors, and with roll-in, roll-out, fore and aft doors, so heavy vehicles and cargo can be loaded, and offloaded, easily.

I was just trying it for fun really, please do what you can to make it work.

I have a set of plans in Corel and can export to .DXF if you would like to look at them.

As I did not design it just copied the plans, I am sure there is room for many improvements, to mine.

The issue I found with the decals was many would look better in depth, 2-4 thin sheets to build them up to look good.

Converting them is a bit painful, as they are a picture not a vector drawing.

Let me know if you would like the files.

Lee

To really make this design work from where I am atm will take at least 50 to 100 hours, to add all the etchings to the panels and stuff.

Good luck with the sales.

Apologies, didn't appreciate the panel details were in a different format. I think what you have done is great.

How heavy is it?

I'd love to have a couple but with RORO (Roll On/Roll Off) doors.

If you make it out of foam-core, it should be pretty lightweight.

Did this flurry of enthusiasm go anywhere? CC?

This looks like it might scale well with power armor or robot troops.

Even 15mm mini-mechs might work. I am intrigued.

CC is not the only one head over heels about this one, I have printed out everything needed, but just haven't gotten around to it

When I do get around to it I have three ideas
1 build it at normal size
2 build it at twice it's size
3 build it at 60% it's size

In the mean time I have a few thing in line a head of this

Lfseeney, are you based in the States? I have been working on a similar conversion of the Hercules for laser cutting, with the idea of making it available in the UK. I'll happily put it aside though if you have plans to make your version available internationally?

honestly, international shipping of MDF items is often a dealbreaker. Especially for heavy items.

Not being the owner of a laser cutter myself, I'm not sure of the exact details, but I'd suspect that a much more economical idea would be licensed, local production (defining "local" as "within the same nation or economic union). This does present the problem of needing to adjust the plans for whatever thicknesses of material you have locally, though.

I've spent a bit more time on this today, with the idea of getting a costing.

I don't have access to a laser cutter, so I uploaded a rough first-off to one of the ponoko family sites for a quote.

Here's the kicker: in 3mm MDF, we're looking at ~£60 + shipping. (That's around $100 USD!)

That cost could be reduced by making some changes to the layout of the cutting files, but I suspect that it would still be outside of an acceptable price range.

TMP link

Thanks to Mad Mecha Guy, this is now a thing.

Best,
JBR

That is a great looking model.

For people with less disposable income, the Quinjet toy makes a decent substitute.

Not sure if it's my connection or not, but I can't seem to access the PDF files for this. The page won't load. I'd love to get them if anyone can help out.

Hoplite

I believe the mil-tec website is closed.

Regards

But saved on the Wayback machine…

archive.org

They're sponging for funds again, but I think they're darn well worth it.

Doug

hoplite318
I have the PDF files just need an connection to send them to you.

War Monkey

Try hoplite318@hotmail.com

Thanks!!

hoplite318
Mail sent subject line War Monkey it's sent in three sections

instructions
template
decals

For the guys considering doing this model on a global basis. I have 3D CAD software that can be adjusted for scale and local materials if you guys want to expand on this idea.

We could also design alternate designs, whether they are newer generations or completely different.

hoplite318
mail resent typo on my part ;D

I have a backup of the plans I've posted on Mega.

link

If don't feel like scratch building it, can buy a MDF version.

Yeah, his site is also Mad Mecha Guy. .co.uk ;->=

Doug

I'd personally tend towards the MDF version actually. ;)

Seems to me they should partner with a company here in the USA that can cut them in MDF, or other materials as well, to avoid the heavy international shipping charges, and still make some money on royalties.

Same. Maybe even find someone who can do resin or spin-casting and come up with a detail kit

Corsec
If you do one in 15mm can you do a version that could easily be converted into a Victorian Science Fiction or Diesel Punk version where it has props instead of jets?

Tsofian, Mad Mecha Guy did the conversion instead but to be honest if you want steampunk or Diesel Punk you'd be better off buying a 1:72 scale WW2 bomber and then converting the hell out of it

Try the SM.82 Canguro. It's kinda weird but but unique with three engine

Did mil-net die? Can't find the plans for this anywhere.

Cheers.

Yes. Please check my link given above

That seems to want me to install an app/program…

You can choose to download through your browser with a link below the two buttons

Looks like an iPad issue then. No download option only a link to an app download.

I'll try a computer when I get the chance.

Cheers.

To John Bear Ross:I would like Neil Nowatzki contact information. I have been asked to make some of these.
And you can reach me at:
minigamermike
at
gmail dot com