Drop-ship Build

From the start, I knew my military vehicles must have a familiar feel to them. I didn't want them to be so far future designed as to be unrecognisable. Therefore, I decided to base my Drop-ship on the classic design of the Chinook helicopter. The plan was to replace the rotors with fixed wings and have VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing) engines mounted at the tips of the wings.

I used this early design that I drew as inspiration for the final look of the Drop-ship.

Above: I started by building the basic carcass of the Chinook model kit.

The front rotor mounting was sawn off and turned around to make it look more streamlined. Then I made the delta-shaped wings out of plasti-card and a section of rotor blade.

The VTOL engines were constructed from sections of plastic tube and tap washers. Then the landing gear was made from other kit-bashed parts and the rear ramp constructed.

Once the engines were finished, they were mounted onto the wings using a galvanised nail.

The portholes were fixed into place. Then I started using spare parts from the kit to make the gun turrets and add smaller details.

The armaments include: forward mounted twin mini-guns, rear facing G.P.M.G., a top mounted twin mini-gun and left and right swivel cannons.

Next, the model was painted. I simply sprayed the model satin black and then added a dry-brush in silver and copper. I prefer to leave off details as this model will serve as multiple drop-ships in several images. I'll add details as I Photoshop.

I haven't painted the windows. These will be done as required in Photoshop.

I applied heavy dry-brushing on the leading edges to imply wear and tear.

The Liberation of Belatu-Cadros

The below image was constructed using several of the drop-ship model images. It shows the liberation of Belatu-Cadros on Mars from the uprising of the Rubente Dextera insurgents. In the distance, the Hand of Valour can be seen, orbiting near the twin moons of Phoebos and Deimos. The city of Belatu-Cadros lies on a plain underneath the imposing volcano of Olympus Mons. Several I.E.D. explosions can be seen in the city, leaving rising plumes of smoke. The drop-ships are bringing relief troops to help regain control on the streets of the city. A Pilot can be seen in the cockpit of the drop-ship to the right and a gunner is hanging out of the drop-ship to the left, standing ready with a mini-gun...

Extract from Space Navy Book Five - Belatu-Cadros:

Suddenly a roar came from overhead. Both troopers looked upwards towards the tumultuous sound of many jet engines.

‘Well would you look at that,’ shouted Bird in glee. ‘It’s the bloody cavalry!’

Drop-ship followed drop-ship, falling out of the Martian sky like avenging angels sent from heaven. Normal landing protocols were ignored as the vehicles landed in a haphazard pattern. As each landed, the ramp opened and every vessel disgorged its cargo of troopers directly into battle. The whoops and cheers of the troopers on the ground could be clearly heard, even above the din of the rifle fire. As a drop-ship neared the ground, one of the R.D. soldiers produced a rocket propelled grenade launcher from the back of one of the trucks. The R.P.G. sailed through the air trailing yellow smoke and hit the drop-ship square on. The vessel exploded into fragments and a hail of debris and body parts rained down around the crouching troopers.

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