I'd like to see the gun moved to a chin-mount position and the main sail elongated into the current gunner's position.

I like the idea of the sails being more dragon wing like. Also no holes in my opinion, if only because it's easier for a customer to add that sort of distressing themself than it is to repair it.

I'll also put out the lone dissenting view on the prow. I liked the simpler shape of the original design sketch better. If it were to change I'd prefer to see it with a more concave and aggressively angled curve. Flat, broad curves are more the domain of arrogant hippie space elves, not aggressive shadow demon space elves.

The holes are regular are presumably decorative rather than holes in old cloth. I'd argue for the other way round - it would be pretty impossible to create precise regular holes like that with a drill (I'm trying similar on another model and it's not going well), but pretty easy to fill them in with green stuff if you didn't like them.

Looks good. Not sure if a chin weapon would look good--have to see what you have in mind. The manned weapon up top looks GREAT in my opinion. The sails are cool, too.

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The holes don't matter to me, though a wavy texture of sort would be good as it will pick up drybrushing and washes well.

OK - lots of great opinions and feedback. Here are my current thoughts:

1. I want the driver to be contained in an armored cockpit up front - thought he shape can and will change in shape - the one shown is just a place-holder. So no moving the driver to the rear.

2. I'm not too concerned with optimal functionality in a real-world setting. I'm looking for the coolest-looking
model, with a good balance, and original aethstetic.

3. The riders will not be modeled on - so don't worry too much about them. They are simply there to make sure 10 men could ride on the thing.

4. The holes in the sails are purposeful. I want the vehicle to have sails, but also have those sails look different from any other sci-fi vehicle with sails - there's not many out there, and this thing needs to stand on its own.

5. Flipping the side sails, changing the angle etc. will be possible for the modeler as they see fit - they will be separate parts.

All that said - here's the original model, with the passengers removed. Also shown is the top most suggested gun placement options - front and under-slung:



IMO - The original still works best. Also keep in mind that showing a gunner keeps the feeling of "light transport" squarely intact. While no visible crew makes it feel less "alive" in my opinion. Also consider the addition of two other gunners on the Revenant - you're gunna want to see 3 gunners rather than 2 - a basic rule of design when it comes to odd vs even numbers.

Also - here's a shot of a larger sail - with 2 gunner options:




I think a larger sail works - but its getting pretty damn big for a basic transport - I'd rather save that big sail profile for the super heavy vehicle.

Oh - so yeah, the 1 year birthday of Onslaught is coming up! Not sure what I will do - It won't be a special model, simply because I'm busy enough with what you see here! I also don't want to do a sale - just had one. I am strongly considering doing something for charity though...

Carry on the conversation, and I'll keep workin'!

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I'm really not a fan of the larger sail! The original is a lot better for the size of the vehicle.

Good that the sails will be separate. I agree that the rear gunner looks best.

I like the bigger sail for this, with the gunner on top. Addresses some of the concerns I had about similarity. For a super heavy for these guys I would strongly want a catamaran style vehicle, or possibly even a trimaran, instead of simply enlarging a regular size vehicle.

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Once Upon a Midnight Dreary....

Will there be riders pieces to add on if desired? I want the option to have it look like a transport because the transported troops are actually visible. I like the middle option above with the gunner in front BUT also to have a driver in an armored cockpit to the rear. This would show a being driving the vehicle and not having to shoot at the same time and that configuration would be much less likely to have the blue-on-blue incidents.

Okay, I very much like the under chin mount. It looks every better than I thought it would. However, to improve it further, and tie to other models in the line, maybe consider modifying the nose for it. Split it like the Ghast, and have the cannon poking out from between the tines of the fork. For reference, the front of GW Vypers or Venoms, with the cannon mounted below/between. Like this:

As far as the sail goes, I do not care for the larger sail as is, with or without the gun mount there. I'd be fine with a larger sail, but I think the way to do that is to extend it lengthwise rather than height. Too high and you loose the streamlined, aggressive looking that should characterize Stygians. Consider a more lanteen shape, perhaps like the front sail of this:
, but possibly even longer and lower. If you move the gunner to the top-front or under chin, then you can just extend the length of the sail down the center span until it looks right. Probably about half way down.

As far as the two-vs-three for the gunship version, I don't think you'll have any issues. A longer/larger dorsal sail and chin cannon gives you a the sleek and deadly dart look, and then the pleasing symmetry of the two cannons on either side matching the smaller sails that give you the call out to predatory fish fins. In fact, it might be interesting to see the cannon mounts integrated right into the engine pods of the sails. That would make for a nice delta shape version of the Revenant and eliminate the concern of having only 2 visible gunners.

As far as riders go, I think that having an upgrade part/kit that could be ordered would be very awesome. Much like the strips of DKOK that FW did for their Gorgons. I would almost certainly end up ordering some of those for some my transports. That said, I do think it should be a separate add on, not part of the base kit. Some people like their transports empty, some full, and some (like me) would probably do a mixture.

I like the rear mounted gunner. I do prefer the raised one more than the lower gunner. The sail size either way seems fine.

Awww too bad, I just wanted to see an image of the craft carrying 10 hungry passengers holding spoon and fork, it'd look pretty sinister (the passenger pose looked the part too) :p who would want 10 hungry attackers descending on them lol

I prefer the small sail with gunner up front followed close by the small sail with chin mount variant.

I agree that there needs to be a pilot/gunner visible on board, or it's just a ghost ship. I prefer to see him in the original position, rather than the front. Stygians probably don't concern themselves with health and safety issues, in fact maybe the weapons they fire don't even harm them (being dimensional beings). I also prefer the smaller wing. What about changing the holes in the wings to crescents or darts to emphasise movement (holes don't feel right in wings IMHO). I like the underslung gun and the spit prow idea but not as an alternative to the pilot/gunner. would look better with a nasty looking blade curving upwards (tying in with the smaller craft), used to slash/impale people on the ground. Maybe add some to the outside edge of the wings or the undercarriage.

As for the anniversary, love the charity idea. What about an OM auction? Forum members could complete bases/dioramas/conversions of OM minis, highest bidder pays Deacon (paypal) and sender pays shipping. Or a painting competition with a decent entry fee, winner gets all the entered minis.

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Another vote for the smaller sail with the gunner up front. And I actually like the sails with the holes in!

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