Playing FFG's fantastic X-Wing game got me thinking about fighters, so with the itch to build one firmly in place I set about making some air support for the Ultramarines. Of course, currently the only air support around that's strictly Astartes is the Storm Raven/Raptor, Thunderhawk, and the reprehensible Storm Talon. Oh well. At least we can fix an otherwise awful kit a bit, can't we? Hence the Aggressor, my nod to the modern-day A-6 and A-10. After all, the Marines can use all the ground-attack support they can get.
As you can see, the Aggressor (Storm Aggressor? That sounds rather awkward) is long. Long enough, in fact, to be by far more believable than its ugly little parent kit. At an early point in its construction, I despaired somewhat, thinking it too long, but once it got bulked out a bit and painted up, I was rather pleased with the end result. Lop off those wings, and it's even a passable gunship. Yes, it's sporting six missiles courtesy of my Valkyrie squadron. It looks better with them, and plenty of other Imperial Navy fighters sport bomb/missile loadouts, so I figured why not?
Of course, everything is magnetized for storage and swapping purposes. I may never get around to all of the Storm Talon options, but if you've ever seen the stats for a Thunderbolt, this thing might be picking up those guns to serve as a substitute. It's also fun to swap in other magnetized weapon options, such as Valkyrie missile pods and Vendetta lasers.
One thing I neglected to model, and shame on me, were the landing gear. Logically, they'd extend out of the wing pods, or slightly further in where those lascannons are, and from midway back down the fuselage.
Of course, it can still go into hover mode, for when I want it to loiter about the battlefield and get shot at.
These updates are going to go rather back to front, since this place was finished after some Crypteks and a couple of Tomb Stalkers, but oh well....
7 comments:
Fantastic conversion, love t!!
That is a great conversion. I think you are right about the length. It needs it.
That is seriously cool! The extended tail boom really helps - great job, man!
You made a 40k Cobra Rattler. That is AWESOME! This is the kind of kit GW should produce. I totally want one now...
Hahaha it does look like a Rattler, doesn't it? I should've given it the H-tail with a third engine to boot, then it really would've fit the part.
Well if you decide to make another I recommend making a magnetized tail option, you could consider it an interceptor version?
I have parts for another fighter, but I was thinking something more along the lines of a Thunderbolt-style heavy fighter. We'll see, though.
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