Sunday 18 March 2018

All Systems Nominal


 The defence platform from Forgeworld arrived with the sexy missile pods and my MadCatLite is up and running.  There's definitely a faint whiff of heresy about it though so I'm not sure the Omnissiah will be pleased.  Can CSM use Stormtalon Gunships?  Probably not.  I suppose Blight Drones are their gunships of choice.

Torso twist comes as standard

Anyway, the mini mech ended up being a lot more spiky than originally intended.  The boxy, utilitarian look of SM vehicles isn't carried over to the legs here and my chicken walker is much more curvy.  I doubt that the blueprint is STC at any rate.  This looks more like experimentation by Mechanicus radicals.


The model stands an inch or two shorter than a flying toaster mounted on flight stand and its weaponry is not entirely WYSIWYG.  The twin Assault Cannons are ok but the missile launcher is a bit of a mystery.  Forgeworld didn't bother to include the rules in the kit so I'm not actually sure what it is.  A Hyperion missile launcher?


Whatever, I'm using it as a Typhoon launcher and fervently hope that 'rule of cool' overrides any concerns that my opponents may have.  I'll just remove it from the list if anyone objects.  Should make for a short game and it will free up an hour to wander around the hall taking pictures and chatting to other gamers.


From a Battletech perspective its not really optimal either.  I decided to do a bit of research by playing Mechwarrior Online (yeah right).  I did so much research in fact that it took a week longer than it should have done to finish the model.

Mechwarrior Online is free to play. I just had to buy this ShadowCat Hero Mech however.  Still cheaper than plastic crack addiction tho

In the Battletech universe, a MadCat Timber Wolf weighs in at 75 tons which puts it firmly in the heavy mech class.  In 40k terms, I estimate that my little MadCat has a bit more mass than a Chimera or a Rhino which weigh 38 and 30 tons respectively.  It definitely looks lighter than a Land Raider at 72 tons.  So I reckon I've built a 35-45 ton mech which puts it in the light/medium category.  Too small for a MadCat.  What I've built is probably closer to a Bushwhacker or a Shadow Cat although I can't find anything which matches my weapon hardpoints exactly.

Now thats an AC-5 Ultra

I think AC-5 Ultras match the Assault Cannon best and the missile pods are LRM-10s.  I've fitted ammunition in the arm slots which is probably a bit silly and will get my arms blown off.  Also, there don't appear to be too many heat sinks on this variant.  I've mounted ECM on the centre torso which can be switched out for another AC-5 Ultra that actually looks like the Mechwarrior version.  The mech has got 360 degree torso twist as well as extra elevation on the missile pitch angle.  So thats a bit of an advantage.


There's even a bit of tech heresy with the extra armour plating.  Those knee protectors are from the Necron Triarch Stalker kit and there's a couple of Gauss blaster muzzles on there too.  Although they are no longer living metal, they have retained their resiliency and hardness.  I had to use them because I lost one of the knee pads from the original Dreadknight kit.  I can still fit the remaining one but it doesn't really look right.


So I've had a ton of fun building this.  I really ought to finish the base off and start painting it.  I might just have one more 'quick play' match on Mechwarrior first.  I can nearly afford a Bushwhacker X1 and that premium time bonus is steadily ticking away...


10 comments:

  1. I think that is brilliant and a great counts as a StormHawk Interceptor with the central Cannon. And if playing Chaos use as a Forgefiend or Defiler?

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    1. Holy Shit, it never even occurred to me to use it as an Interceptor but that totally works! Awesome, thanks Siph!

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  2. Those missile pods really look amazing! Great to see you fun with the build of this creation.

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    1. They were easy to stick on the jet engine mountings too, thanks!

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  3. That looks totally awesome, and definitely a great Counts-as for either a Storm Talon or a StormHawk. Or even a Contemptor Mortis with Cyclone Launcher, tho it's probably a bit big for that.

    Some random notes:
    - The Air Defence Platform now just fires Air Defence Missiles. No special name anymore.
    - I don't remember about in the computer games, but in the tabletop version, it's possible for OmniMechs to get non-standard loadouts as well. They have a bunch of standard builds for each, but you can also just start from the total available tonnage and critical slots for pods and add on whatever you want, as long as it fits.
    - Hopefully it's a Clan build, because the Inner Sphere CASE only works on torso-stored ammo, so if they get an ammo explosion in the arms, the damage can transfer all the way in to the engine ;)

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    1. Yeah, I vaguely remember the tabletop game and being able to do what you want but that was decades ago! The internets have proclaimed my mech to be a Catapult not a Timber Wolf so I guess its Inner Sphere and likely to blow up a lot. Since my vehicles almost always explode in game (and I often forget or use up all my command points) this would explain it. Thanks Westrider!

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    2. Well, the Inner Sphere called the Timberwolf a Mad Cat, because their targeting computers couldn't decide if it was a Marauder or a Catapult, so that works, too.

      Battletech's universe doesn't grab me to the same extent that 40K's does, but it was my introduction to Miniature Wargaming, and still one of my favourite systems of all time. So I have a frankly unreasonable level of knowledge of it ;)

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    3. Lucky lascannon shot crippled it in turn 1 on its maiden voyage. I knew I should have put the ammo slots in the torso >:|

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  4. This is awesome. Great work as always.

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