Jotorian Armouries "Hawk" series frames

[Dukayn]

My first designed from the ground up frame. I really like the clear cockpits and wanted to do something with 2 of them back to back. Pretty happy with how it came out.

JA-01"Tomahawk" Mk.II

After the success of the Sparrowhawk design (see below), Jotorian Armouries engineers were tasked with upgrading the ageing JA-01 Tomahawk to meet new specifications. Rather than try to fit new upgrades to the old frame, engineers decided it was easier to bolt on the railguns from the Tomahawk to the Sparrowhawk frame and remove the unnecessary jump pack. Thrusters were added to the feet and knees of the legs to retain mobility and a new, heavier armour was added to the cockpit.



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This is the frame in the JA-02 "Goshawk" loadout. It features an autocannon turret mounted on an enhanced communication system backpack and carrying a pair of Single Shot Rockets. This model eschews the extra armour of the "Tomahawk" in favour of the backpack for better frontline communications.



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This loadout has been dubbed by Jotorian Armouries' engineers as the JA-03 "ChickenHawk" because of the leg style. It boasts double single-shot rocket launchers and back-mounted radar suite. It carries a four-core energy pike for weaponry.

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LDR file for the ChickenHawk (minus weapons)

Working with the ChickenHawk as the base unit, Jotorian Armouries soon began work on their first ever air-assault frame. Adding the high-thrust jump pack required making adjustments to the undercarriage to handle the impact of landing, chief among them stronger shock absorbers in the legs. The new frame - dubbed the JA-04 "Sparrowhawk" - features mounting clips for Single-Shot Rockets on the shoulder (a carry-over from the ChickenHawk) along with dual assault cannons which attach directly to the shoulder mount. The decision to move away from hand-held weaponry was to avoid the risk of the standard manipulators from dropping the weapons during jump operations.

Stats: with the option to add

[Ced23Ric]

Big fan of the functional, yet sleek simplicity. And those railguns remain awesome.

[randolph]

++

I need to get some 1 x X tiles, they seem really versatile for equipment.

[Dukayn]

Updated OP with a new loadout. Not sure if the backpack will tip the frame over as I haven't had the time to build it, but I will be testing it tonight

[randolph]

I built some 1-plate-thick-rail railguns based on this design; I think they came out pretty well:

[The Trilobite]

I really like this look for the railgun. Not sure where I saw it first, but it works for so many designs! And your use of orange on the inside of it compliments the overall scheme with the frame. And those clear cockpit pieces, which I never would have considered using before I saw them in real life, look sweet. Overall this is a great design and I'll try to remember to appropriate it when I get around to building some Hi-Legs!

[Dukayn]

Thanks, it's a neat design that I appropriated from Carbonbass' Hi-Leg variant:


I just wish LDD had the trans black colour but plain ol' transparent does the trick too. I just think the trans black looks cooler

@Randolph that looks sweet dude.

[randolph]

I just wish LDD had the trans black colour but plain ol' transparent does the trick too. I just think the trans black looks cooler

@Randolph that looks sweet dude.

Thanks! And LDD does have Trans Black, it's Color 40.

Edit: Oops, I use MLCAD, not LDD, nvm.

[Dukayn]

Yeah I've been playing with LDD for this one as it's easier and quicker. Just doesn't have some of the flexibility that MLCad does, but at least the bricks snap together which is a really nice (if somewhat infuriating sometimes) feature.

[Dukayn]

OP updated with a new loadout - a speedy melee spotter titled the "ChickenHawk"

[carbonbass]

Yeah I've been playing with LDD for this one as it's easier and quicker. Just doesn't have some of the flexibility that MLCad does, but at least the bricks snap together which is a really nice (if somewhat infuriating sometimes) feature.

If they'd patch it so that Taps can clip into 1x1 Vertical clips it would be a much faster way to do experimental builds, clipping the tap in there technically isn't a solid fit, but it gets the job done on so many frame designs.

[Ced23Ric]

If they'd patch it so that Taps can clip into 1x1 Vertical clips it would be a much faster way to do experimental builds, clipping the tap in there technically isn't a solid fit, but it gets the job done on so many frame designs.

What do you mean?

[carbonbass]

If they'd patch it so that Taps can clip into 1x1 Vertical clips it would be a much faster way to do experimental builds, clipping the tap in there technically isn't a solid fit, but it gets the job done on so many frame designs.

What do you mean?

But not with the Tap pointing to the side like how most of us use that combo for Chubs and the like, because in that position the tap isn't fully in the clip.

[Ced23Ric]

Yeah, I get that, but for building purposes, this is ... close enough. It's without the angle, but not impossible. And with WantedBricks, you can generate easy partslists out of LDD, too (plus some research).

[Dukayn]

Yeah I just replace the taps with the hose nozzles or something similar.

[Ced23Ric]

I actually did that on purpose and also in reality, because the nozzles give you a longer joint, which sometimes fits a theme better.

[carbonbass]

Yeah, I get that, but for building purposes, this is ... close enough. It's without the angle, but not impossible. And with WantedBricks, you can generate easy partslists out of LDD, too (plus some research).

Very true!

[Dukayn]

NOW WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK OF THE CHICKENHAWK?! Oh, er... hmm. I'll just... be over here.

[Ced23Ric]

OKAY LET ME FEED YOUR ANTICIPATION.

I like it. It's a nice variant of the JA-03 Goshawk. Using homogenous 'Frames makes for a great feel later on when they show up in force.

[Dukayn]

Added to the OP a POV-Ray render of the ChickenHawk without any weapons, and using MittenNinja's lovely black/sand green colour scheme
Also linked the .ldr file for that build.