They actually use video game controllers on many of the 'real' systems too (typically XBOX, from what I've seen). It's already been designed, people are more likely to be familiar with it and you don't have to train someone on another new system. Plus they've got to be a good deal cheaper than a specialty control. 50$ for an XBOX control or likely a couple hundred for something purpose-built.

There is an article about this vehicle over on Yahoo. Basically it is an armored truck with a remote controlled MG. It uses a Playstation controller. I saw them build something similar on the television show "Sons of Guns". I don't know how the thing will do the first time it faces a government tank or a soldier armed with a RPG.

Yahoo Article.

Would a aircraft carrier mounted on tracks from a few heavy tanks and fortified count?

Wow! I hope it does. Would LOVE to see where you go with that!

I wonder what the backstory on that one would be.

I have been working on the story for that idea over the last couple nights... literally just falling asleep dreaming of it... the only issue i am going to run into will be my main characters civillian ride/rides and the actual character himself not matching up scale and size to the 1:35 scale armour and the ship scale i decide to try. Haha i have such a great idea but i am being c#*k blocked by the scale. So i will continue to think of a way to make this all work!! Damn scale sizes lol but i guess a 1:35 scale aircraft carrier would look funny sitting in my backyard haha. But i guess its theoretical and its my own special little world! Will update soon!!

Hey christopher!! Thank you tons . Now i know its been done and looks great it gives me hope that i can do this and not worry about the scale part of it. I am ggoing to get started today and will post some pics soon of the kifs i intend on useing!!!

Sure Terry, I just thought it was funny you said aircraft carrier with tracks and I found a submarine with wheels.

Hahaha yeahh that was pretty funny. What are the chances lol

I build some alternative history aircraft based on a similar line of thought as Crimson Skies. I've always wanted to build a zeppelin based aircraft carrier. Even dropping down to 1/72 scale it would be way too big for my current living space.

Crimson Skies was a cool game. Revell have kitted the Hindenburg so if you can find one it might make a good basis at 1/700 scale maybe?

Heres the background story to mine...

In the aftermath of the 1898 attack by invaders from the planet Mars, Britain began an enormous effort to study and reverse engineer as much Martian technology as had been left abandoned. Whilst one Martian Fighting Machine was left where it stood in London as a monument (stripped of its internal workings), all others along with the Handling Machines and a Flying Machine were whisked away to labs and Universities up and down the British Isles. Although only counties in the south east and much of London had been devastated by the Martians, much of Britain and its population had been left unscathed. A new government was quickly established in Birmingham and martial law was imposed to prevent looting and general unrest. The population was still in a panic for several years, the whole country lived in fear of another attack. The government and armed forces vowed that such an attack would be met with overwhelming and equal force. The priorities of the scientists and engineers was to work out how the heat-rays and power sources worked and to build their own. With science hundreds of years in advance of anything any human could comprehend suddenly dropped into their laps, work was understandably slow to begin with. Breakthroughs began to be made when in 1900 labs were handed papers and blueprints in an understandable form. The scientists and engineers were told these had been produced by teams working in other labs. The terrible truth of the source of the information were two captured Martians. Alive but terribly sick, they had a rare immunity to the bacteria and virus‘s that had killed their companions. British intelligence agents had spent months interrogating them and finally they had broken, sharing anything that was asked for even the slightest drop of blood. The vile creatures were fed the blood of criminals condemned to hang. Transported from prisons prior to hanging only a handful of people knew of their demise. In 1908 a completely British engineered and powered heat-ray was successfully test fired on army firing ranges. While only operating at 5% of the Martian rays, it still had the power cut through some metals, ignite flammable materials and burn through organic tissue. Work continued and every successive ray was more powerful than the last. The largest of the heat-rays, capable of up to 60% Martian power, were destined to be fitted to the cruisers and battleships of the Royal Navy. Smaller and lighter Field rays would be deployed in the same manner as artillery. Design work also began on tracked vehicles to allow a more mobile offensive platform for the rays. By 1914 Britain had 200 Field rays in service with the British Army and the Navy had at least 1 Heavy ray mounted in place of B-turret on most of its battleships.
Internationally the attack had little impact. Initially there had been much scepticism that the invaders had been ’Men from Mars’. France and Russia blamed Germany, Germany blamed France, and many in the US government believed it had been a co-ordinated attack by Irish rebels. Proof was demanded. But proof was slow to come. The British government in a fit of paranoia refused entry onto British soil of any foreign national until 1903 and requests for examples of Martian bodies or technology were denied, lest anyone else use it to kick start a new global technological dawn. By 1903 such concerns were re-examined and the borders were opened. In the same year an exhibition of dead Martians and their machines was opened in London’s Science Museum. It became an instant hit and wealthy tourists, scientists and government officials flocked from all corners of the earth to see the vanquished invaders. Visitors left with the knowledge that the Martians, far from being indestructible bogey men, could be killed with a sneeze or concentrated artillery fire. Astronomer Percival Lowell had continued to observe Mars during this time. He was convinced that the invasion had been the last desperate attempt by a dying race to save themselves. He saw no further canal building on the red planet, proof he believed of their extinction. Although the scientific community had never found evidence to back up Lowell’s claims of canal’s, the press and the public lapped it up. Life carried on as normal. Only Britain prepared for a possible return. Conscription was in effect, Local Defence Volunteer units were formed in towns and villages and factories churned out the weapons of war.
Then in July 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were gunned down in Sarajevo……

Stephen, I hated Crimson Skies actually. Some cool what-ifs though. Police scheme gyro-copter anyone?

xd
Hahaa love your honesty christopher
Well im off to the hobby shop to snoop around for some ideas

Crimson Skies had some great looking planes. I never played the RPG version or the XBox game, just the old PC video game. It was fun and the flying was more seat of your pants than other combat flight sims. If you weren't into the setting though it was hard to take. I had a friend that hated it for that reason.

Stephan, nice story. Revell does a 1/720 scale Hindenburg. I thought Academy or Heller did one as well in a larger scale. Maybe it was the Akron. I'd like to build some of those planes, especially a Hughes Devastator. Mainly, I take existing plans and kitbash them. Lindberg's vintage planes and Eduard's Weekend kits are inexpensive and work great to play with.

Agreed. I hated the setting. Always liked Ace Combat more, ya know, till they ruined it.

Ace combat was way better. The very first one air combat for playstation was the cats meoww

You know its been years since I've played Crimson Skies. Just remember it being a lot of fun back in the day. It had a look and feel of the old serials from the 30's and 40's. I can see it not being everyones cup of tea.

Stephen: Nice back story. I look forward to your build.


I've been thinking about dirigible aircraft carriers too. I was thinking to use submarine hulls for a streamlined look. I haven't figured out the scale yet though. Hard to get a sense of the size of a kit over the internet.

Happy Modeling, - zon

I never played Ace Combat. Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe was also pretty nice, especially for a game released back in 1991. You could fly for either side and had a nice range of aircraft available.

I wanted to play Secret Weapons but it's one of those titles I never got around to. I think Grand Theft Auto came out around the same time so I had to choose between them, needless to say the Secret Weapons re-make lost out. I did play Secret Weapons Over Normandy though! Lots of good what-its. My favorite was the Vought XF5U 'Flying Pancake'

Some really great ideas are popping up again!

Gary: Thanks!

Alex: Just use a piece of round heavy duty diamond plate to cover the hole for the turret. Just keep in mind the locations of the mounting points so that they don't interfere with the race.
I also have been thinking about a Zeppelin-aircraft carrier hybrid myself. It's a very natural and intriguing idea.

Terry: That is certainly and odd request by any means, but the criteria state that it must be a ground-based vehicle so the short answer is yes

Stephen: Very nice back story!

I'm making very good progress on the Panzyusha.

I have the launcher part basically done. I went with the rail car turret and had to do a bit of fabrication to get it to fit and work. I still have to do final assembly on the turret and paint it. I'll probably do that tomorrow.

I had planned on posting my first batch of photos after that's done. I'll try to get those up in the next day or so. I've got to come up with the back-story as well. I might work on that tonight.

I'm still a ways away from being done. I still have to add the panzer's tracks. I have to make the ammo trailer and ammo crates. I'll probably improve the Academy panzer hull as much as my spares box can handle. I'll probably add a could of figures for crew.

Terry there was a 1980s Japanese manga series called Area 88 it was set in North Africa and had a 'land aircraft carrier' Very good artwork of current military aircraft.

"course you could go this way :
http://davidszondy.com/future/war/land_fortress.htm

Armored Core: For Answer also had a land-carrier called 'Spirit of Motherwill', though it's MUCH larger than what you plan on I think;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GmkZ6WUYNU

http://images.community.wizards.com/community.wizards.com/user/kira_howler/03bceb000beb5dba1e192db536931e5f.jpg?v=263700