Steampunk Motorcycles (6)

Thanks for all your feedback and suggestions.
I agree that Sentinels could be a solution, but IIRC Sentinels can only be used in packs of up to 3, can't they?
With Rough Ridres, you can use a swarm of up to 9 .... wouldn't that be a sight? 9 of these little bugs swarming over the battlefield, closing with the enemy and engage them in close-combat?
Anyhow, since I never really play I don't really have to worry *lol*
But somehow I still have the idea that someone else might like my idea or design and try to build it himself and use it in an actual game, so I may as well think about it some more.
I actually dig the idea of the driver holding a lance, or having it stored on the side, but this is something I need to look more careful into, as I think the current width of the bike makes it rather hard to hold the lance outside of the wheels (without getting tangeled up)...
I agree with the Inner Geek, that those little bugs are really small and agile vehicles that could easily avoid most obstacles. I just added another rail at the bottom, to protect the bottom part of the vehicle, that should do it.
I am however still thinking about adding a armour plate at the front...

@TSINI - here you can see, that the rail is actually mounted on the inner wheel (that remains stationary while the outer runs around).

Last night I added two pedals (from this image they look quite croocked, which they really aren't).

Also I added two exhausts. Not the typical steampunk chimney exchausts, but I think they still fit the bill.

And here are the current pieces of the little bug.

In the foreground you can see the two bolters I plan to mount on the side railing.

Steampunk Motorcycles (5)

First off, I want to thank all you readers and responders to my posts - especially in the light of eriochrome's post on comments: http://twilight40k.blogspot.com/2009/04/ftw-letter-to-editor.html
It is great to see real interest in my little constructions and ideas. A warm welcome to all new readers - I hope I can keep you interested for a while :)

OK, as mentioned in my previous posts, I had to do a re-build.
The advantage is, that it is now a lot cleaner and straighter than the original.
Here's a comparison shot of the old and the new bike.

As you can see, I also added some rails on the outside, protecting the drive mechanism from obstacles when driving.

I will probably also add something on the front, that may act as some armour plating as well as "plow".

I am not sure about the weapons though.

Normal Rough Rider rules allow for laspistol and close-combat weapons, as well as the lances. My idea was more along the lines of some real firepower, with the twin-MG and maybe some bolters.

Anyhow, the idea of the tail-fin is gone, so there won't be much more in the rear - well, the exhaust(s) off course, plus some luggage.

I'm considering adding the two small bolters from the vehicles sprue (the twin bolter for the commander) and mount them left and right on the railing, plus the twin-MG.

Any better ideas or suggestions?
Thanks

Klaus

Steampunk Motorcycle (4)

Hmm, so most of you don't like the idea of a tail and rear fins?
Here's a first image.

Now it balanced, staying perfectly level.

I admit it has now something of a Ork gyrocopter....
Anyhow, I have to redo the whole thing, as I made a major mistake yesterday (after I took this image), so here's the chance for your vote :-P
So, should my SP-bike have a tail or not?
Thanks
Klaus

Steampunk Motorcycle (3)

Despite a very busy family weekend with very little time in my "office" I've been playing around with several layout types and designs. It seems the Monobike with two wheels (O_o) is the most flexible and promising design to create Steampunk Rough Riders for my Dencarians.
I haven't got a name for them yet, maybe something like HERMES, but it must be a Greek god...hmm, we'll see.

So this is a very early mock-up with blue tack.

The Twin-MG is a spare I created for the ZEUS, with a large screen, the seat is also a leftover from the ZEUS and was originally the master for the interior seats mold. The engine tank is a standard fuel tank from the vehicles sprue und the two smaller tanks/cylinders are flamethrower tanks.

All is mounted on two railings, which will be inside the larger wheels.

The top railing.

And within the wheels.

Once I was rather confident of the layout, I started to glue it all together. In the rear I attached a communications assembly.

And I created the actual drive section - pretty much like a steam train drive.

From this side you can also see the holding assembly for the lasrifle.

Pedals and steering.

And the rear.

Before I start with the details I will have to figure a gun mount - actually I'm tinkering with the idea of adding two small bolters to the sides too - and then balance it all out.

The idea is to add like a planes tail, with fins and stabilizers as a counterweight for the forward guns. This would also give me a plausible means for steering.

Cheers

Klaus

Steampunk Motorcycles?

I've previously mentioned here that I was looking into some scout units or rough riders, and that I was tinkering about mounting them on "steampunk motorcycles".
So I spent some time over the last view days looking for steampunk cycles.
There is some really great artwork out there, some brilliant ideas too. And there are some that I could imagine for my Dencarians.
So here are some rough sketches of what I could see as rough rider SP-motorcycles. Please remember they must blend in with the ZEUS, the walkers, and the infantry...so no real modern Sci-Fi anime bikes.....

Currently I favor "E" as this could easily mount weapons, and I think I can get a good design for scratchbuilding 4 or 5 of them. "A" would probably fit the Kinder-egg theme, but would definately require casting. "B", "F", and "G" would be hard to balance, so they'd always need a base...
So, any ideas?
Thanks
Klaus