Comco, The grey scheme is a low-viz option for atmospheric flight. Camo in space doesn't really matter anyway as their ain't no stealth in space! Unless you're talking about Kilrathi stealth fighters, then we've got a conversation. But conventional fighters won't be able to hide unless you can hide behind an asteroid or planet.
As I said, I may do some more colorful schemes later on, but for now, she's grey and she's staying that way.
Nice Claw, a little too much SWC for my tastes. Have you tried putting the outriggers on, just as a test to see how it would look? ALso, are you going to have launch tubes, like are implied from the game cutscenes or just takeoff and land off the same deck?
Cheers Knight. SWC on the Mac was the first exposure to Wing Commander I had, so I'm a bit partial to that version of the Tiger's Claw. That said, I respect a lot of the elements of the classic WC1 Claw, and I've tried to incorporate some of them, but I could never keep the outriggers from looking like skis.
Incidentally, I think I've come up with a reason for the "runways" of the WC1-WC2 era;
The catapults are far more powerful than your average 21st century aircraft carrier steam catapult, accelerating the ship to at least 1 KPS, which would equal nearly three times the speed of sound in a sea level atmosphere!
Best to spare your hangar deck crew by doing your SERIOUS accelerating outside the airlock in a vacuum, so you don't deafen them with sonic booms!
The acceleration compensator aboard your fighter will keep your pilot from being reduced to chunky salsa, and the fighter doesn't have to spend its precious propellant accelerating itself to cruise velocity.
This is especially useful for cross system strikes and long patrols where "fuel" is at a premium. (Disregarding the deep-space ramscoop for the moment)
Interceptors and close escorts could launch from the "upstairs" bay without catapults, and it's always handy to have an alternate way to get ships outside in a pinch *cough, Concordia cough*
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy. The Claw has many different variants, but it's always a welcome sight when you come limping home, trailing sparks with scorch marks all over your ship!
The ship is scaled to 700 meters, per the ships database. That makes the hangar deck a mite cramped, but still workable.
I'm not sure about adding an extra hangar deck, I like my ships to have lots of internal volume for gas, especially when you're talking about a carrier with lots of thirsty spacecraft!
Wow, very nice! I definitely like the blend of styles- one of the most jarring things for me was the big art change from WC2 to WC3 (done for technical reasons, I know), but this version of the Claw does a good job of bring the different versions of the Claw and early games vs. the late games into some sort of synthesis.
The justification for the catapults make sense to me. Also quite like the hanger-bay layout, though it seems that it would be hard to fit in the canon flight group of 104 fighters. I'd think a second hanger bay deck makes sense, but I also agree with your point that Claw needs plenty of volume left over for a fuel bunker!
The Hornet looks fantastic! Definitely still recognizable as the same fighter, but fights in with the new Rapier really well. Are we going to get to see the Tiger Claws' entire flight group?
Dralthi also looks good- I admit I always liked the 'flying disc' look a lot, but the asymmetric Kilrathi ships have definitely grown on me.
Love the hornet, a nice melding of the SWC and WC1 versions into a WC3/4 era design. One thing, and this is purely my hangup with the hornet. I always thought that the WC1 hornet looked like it was supposed to have Variable Geometry wings. The inner part of the wing just looks like a big wing glove to me, especially right where it meets the thinner outer portion of the wing Howie's Hornet model makes it very apparent. Have you considered doing something like that here?
@Knight26: I did think about variable geometry, but on such a small fighter, I figure every cm^3 of space is really tight, those heavy wing boxes and actuators take up lots of space!
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As I said, I may do some more colorful schemes later on, but for now, she's grey and she's staying that way.
Pilots and cockpits forthcoming.
-Will
Wasn't the Excaliber Grey? I think you mean the Black Lance Dragon which was Dark Grey with red intakes
Incidentally, I think I've come up with a reason for the "runways" of the WC1-WC2 era;
The catapults are far more powerful than your average 21st century aircraft carrier steam catapult, accelerating the ship to at least 1 KPS, which would equal nearly three times the speed of sound in a sea level atmosphere!
Best to spare your hangar deck crew by doing your SERIOUS accelerating outside the airlock in a vacuum, so you don't deafen them with sonic booms!
The acceleration compensator aboard your fighter will keep your pilot from being reduced to chunky salsa, and the fighter doesn't have to spend its precious propellant accelerating itself to cruise velocity.
This is especially useful for cross system strikes and long patrols where "fuel" is at a premium. (Disregarding the deep-space ramscoop for the moment)
Interceptors and close escorts could launch from the "upstairs" bay without catapults, and it's always handy to have an alternate way to get ships outside in a pinch *cough, Concordia cough*
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy. The Claw has many different variants, but it's always a welcome sight when you come limping home, trailing sparks with scorch marks all over your ship!
The ship is scaled to 700 meters, per the ships database. That makes the hangar deck a mite cramped, but still workable.
I'm not sure about adding an extra hangar deck, I like my ships to have lots of internal volume for gas, especially when you're talking about a carrier with lots of thirsty spacecraft!
The justification for the catapults make sense to me. Also quite like the hanger-bay layout, though it seems that it would be hard to fit in the canon flight group of 104 fighters. I'd think a second hanger bay deck makes sense, but I also agree with your point that Claw needs plenty of volume left over for a fuel bunker!
Anyway, great work!
-Will
F-36 Hornet
They should really make a remake of Wing Commander...
Dralthi also looks good- I admit I always liked the 'flying disc' look a lot, but the asymmetric Kilrathi ships have definitely grown on me.
-Will
http://www.wcsaga.com/
@Knight26: I did think about variable geometry, but on such a small fighter, I figure every cm^3 of space is really tight, those heavy wing boxes and actuators take up lots of space!
Threw some color on her today.
Excellent. Can't wait to see the Raptor or Scimitar!
The Hornet texture looks great as well- the WC1/2 Green-Gray always looked neat to me!
-Will