Pegasus Area 51 UFO converted to X-COM Firestorm
This model is the reason this campaign exists. Back in 2008, I had the bright idea of converting the then new Pegasus Area 51 UFO into a Firestorm interceptor from the Microprose game X-COM: UFO Defense.
In the game X-COM, you take control of a secret organization funded by all major nations on Earth through the United Nations. This organization, the Extraterrestrial Combat Force, more commonly known as X-COM, is tasked with finding out who operates UFOs, why they are visiting Earth, and defending against UFO related incidents. Such incidents are increasing at an alarming rate, thus leading to the formation of the X-COM organization.
If this seems very familiar, it almost exactly mirrors the plot of the television series UFO, in which a secret organization called SHADO is funded in a very similar way and tasked with exactly the same objectives.
In X-COM, the player begins with one base at a location chosen by the player. This base comes equipped with three hangers housing two extremely advanced interceptor aircraft, powered by pulse detonation engines, and one very long range tactical assault aircraft with vertical take off and landing capability, These are essentially advanced versions of SHADO’s Sky interceptor and the transport that carries SHADO Mobiles.
Over the course of the game, the player detects and attempts to shoot down UFOs. This leads to ground combat missions to recover each downed alien craft. When material is recovered from an alien craft, scientists may research various artifacts, discover how they work, and eventually learn everything necessary to replicate the technology. New base facilities become available, funding increases allowing construction of more bases, and eventually, it becomes possible to build new interceptors using alien technology.
The first interceptor using alien technology is called Firestorm. It resembles a traditional flying saucer, carries two weapon hard points, is very fast, and makes it possible to take on all but the largest alien craft.
The plan was to cut apart the model and add an engine bay, cockpit, landing gear wells, and weapon hard points, such that the whole would become a Firestorm in 1.35 scale. The cutting apart phase was completed. An engine bay was built. Work began on a cockpit area and landing gear bays. Unfortunately, the design of the model does not facilitate open bays for most of those things. I eventually decided my plan was a bad one and abandoned the project.
The new plan is to strip out almost all the interior work and try again using a different internal arrangement. This will involve a lot of gutting and scratch building.
As I wrote previously, participants are encouraged to use their imaginations when choosing subjects for this campaign.
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As another example of a possible project for this campaign, I offer a V150 Commando armored car modified for assaulting UFO crash sites.
The idea here was to upgrade an armored car with alien technology. The main gun was replaced by a scratch built fusion cannon. The body was to receive additional armor plates cut from the full of a crashed UFO. It would also carry a blaster launcher, a kind of missile launcher firing fusion bomb projectiles.
Once again, imagination is encouraged.
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@phantom_phanatic Unfortunately, there is no way to know if and when the promised models will appear. Should the future situation warrant a second installment of this campaign, I am willing to run it, perhaps using a SHADO logo for the campaign badge.
@HermannB Excellent! That is very much in the spirit of this campaign. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.