I love the top view, minus the part that extends behind the engines. Overall, from that view, the look is consistent with the Karasu.
The top and rear views reveal a spoiler that curves in toward the center. I don't care for this part of the ship, it is weirdly shaped and looks unbalanced (in terms of center of gravity). What would it look like to remove that part?
I don't care for the torpedo slot. The word 'cartoony' was mentioned, and is fairly accurate. Also, the texture in the middle doesn't fit with the rest of the model, it sort of sticks out.
In my opinion, the curved fin-things at the bottom improve the model greatly. The ship would be much more bland without them.
I quite like the model, even though the textures could still use a bit of work. The only part I would change is the middle, where the texture lacks detail. It has some darker dots but not plates and such, like the rest of the ship. That looks strange.
As you can imagine, there has been much discussion over in the GMG camp...
Some of us like it, other still like the current model.
Then it occurred to me that there is a model out there BEGGING for a replacement - and in fact there is the prospect of something new.
I have said it on all the anti-bomber threads, that Freelancer Bombers are NOT Bombers, they are Fighter-Bombers or Strike Craft. That is mostly anti-cap but with some capability against fighters.
What we dont have in Freelancer is something people would identify more closely with a 'true' or Strategic Bomber. We have a ship that needs replacing that could fulfill that purpose.
The Granchou Freighter.
Your model, Jinx, has that heavy-set quality that would be ideal for a Strategic Bomber. It would have the following properties:
Freighter:
Size
Shields
Hull
Handling
Other freighter properties would include only having fighter turrets for defense, but with a good 360 coverage.
Bomber:
Powerplant
Torpedo Mounts x2
Dedicated CD slot
I would like to think, that in terms of its ability to strafe, that maneuvering thrusters have been sacrificed for strafing thrusters.
In all of this, I would suggest that the GMG is the ideal faction to try out a ship like this.
There, that is our two cents. If need be I shall split this off and post it separately - but have a think about it Jinx...
I love this bomber Jinx, it's brilliant. However I do agree that this ugly back part oughta go or at least be remodelled into something else. The rest of the model is pretty much perfect. As to texture, I guess some more detail wouldn't go amiss, perhaps painted striping in light blue and yellow?
Personally I think that with a few minor tweaks this could be an excellent replace for the current model.
Nice, heheh, nice.
I just got notified of this thread this morning before I went to work. Jinx, I love the model and it warms my heart to see nebula fins back on the bomber. I have to admit when the current model came out it sorta missed something that that was GMG'sh. The fins seem, to me now, to be what is needed. I also have to mention the subtle brilliance of this model structure. From the front I can see the mid-section keeping a look similar to the borderworld like the current design. From it's top I see the old shape of the Homeworld model of the Taiiden. Finally the unmistakable consistancy this new model keeps with the Karasu Heavy Fighter. There is something that seems a tad out of place. The 4 fins coming from the back that are splayed like the old Taiiden but has the shape of the Karasu are perfect the one at the bottom (or is it more than one?) is a bit much.
I've been worried about any changes done to the GMG bomber that may have a negative impact. Back in 4.84 we argued to have the 4.85 GMG IDs exclude the top two classes of caps from the ID entirely and to have the smallest class of cap to be restricted to Guard ID. Bombers is all the GMG ID has to defend against the caps fielded by GMG's powerful enemies. This is appropriate as Vanilla GMG fought off and won against not only the Rheinland fleet but later scatterd the Wilde fleet near the end of the Nomad War all with small strike craft and here in Disco, GMG stays true to holding back the hispanic tides. While any negative impact to the game mechanics of the GMG bomber will have no effect to the GMG storyline. A negative impact to GMG|'s only line of defence against powerful enemies will harm the faction greatly. Check our roster out. Notice the lack of newer players as opposed to experienced players. It can be discouraging over here to the less adept pilot. I don't want to regret arguing the removal of caps.
As for what Friday is suggesting. We were indeed talking about bombers and more in particular about strike craft and true bomber versions. I do believe the super-bomber class may be akin to what Friday is mentioning, not sure. But we do have that Garanchou still sitting there with it's homeworld design just waiting to be replaced with a proper FL model. Looking at that old Freighter with it's unusual firepower and all the talk of a "true" bomber got us thinking. Is it possible to magic up a second, bigger, heavier bomber for GMG? The idea as Friday mentioned would be essentially a Freighter with it's armour, shields and slower agility but also mounting Class 5 turrets and using the 2 torp/1CD with <strike>Mjolnir</strike> Fafnir powerplant. No Class 9 or Class 10 hardpoints. No mines. Probably CDs. Is it possible/plausible?