You may have heard that these awesome tanks are back on the block. We here at Dropship Horizon thought that these beautiful rigs were worth showing off, but here's what their creator had to say about it...
I just wanted to let you know that our Topgun 15mm Grav
Armor range is available for sale again.
All vehicles are available for sale individually, and the
most popular ones are as well in discounted Platoon (4 vehicles) and Company
Packs (12 – 16 vehicles).
We currently have 13 different vehicles for sale (26, if you
consider both the models with the smooth hulls, and the ones with the circular
surface detailing on them), and we plan to release others soon.
Type 7 Scout/Recon Grav Vehicle
Type 8 AA Pt. Defense/Light Mortar Vehicle
Type 9 Light Grav Tank
Type 10 Medium Grav Tank Hunter – beam/cannon armed
Type 11 Medium Grav Tank
Type 12 Grav Tank Hunter – Missile Armed Vehicle - Available
Soon
Type 13 Heavy Grav Tank – long, plasma cannon
Type 13 MkII Hvy Grav Tank – short-barreled gun - New Model,
Avail. Now
Type 14 Heavy Tank Hunter
Type 16 Urban Assault/Fire Support Vehicle - short, hvy wpn
Type 21 Grav APC
Type 22 Grav Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Type 23 Grav Ambulance/Ammo Carrier/HQ Vehicle
Type 24 Heavy Grav Mortar Vehicle
As mentioned, we offer two hull/turret variants (as
applicable), for all of the above vehicles – smooth hulled, and AADS models.
Those with the round surface detailing on their hulls are
our AADS models, which is an acronym for the Active Armor Defense System Ó
installed in them, providing maximum protection against all enemy anti-armor
threats, while also offering a standoff offensive capability against many
targets, especially enemy infantry.
Our smooth-hulled models have sleek, clean lines, as you can
see in some of our photos. The hulls and
turrets of these are cast out of titanium, in the vacuum of space, so they have
no panel lines, or seams to weaken their armored structures. The rotomolded construction process is
similar to that used by 20th and 21st Century plastic kayak manufacturers, on
Earth, and developed centuries ago.
However, it is considerably stronger, since the molten titanium is then
quickly cooled in the vacuum of space, and repeatedly reheated and cooled many
times, until an almost impervious, titanium-crystalline structure is created,
similar to how samurai swords were tempered.
For a MS Word catalog of our products, which provide photos
of most of our vehicles, pricing info, suggested TO&Es for your Grav
Armored units, etc., just send an e-mail inquiry to the following address:
topgungrav@yahoo.com
I will be happy to provide copies of our catalog, answer any
questions people may have about our products, or to assist with processing
orders.
Grav Armor screaming through the atmosphere at Mach 3, before dropping down to Nap of the Earth level to go hunting for enemy forces......
Well how can I resist a description like that! So I'm now the proud own of a troop ofTop Gun Marketing's Grav Scout Vehicles.
Topgun Marketing 15mm Sci Fi
Type 7 Scout Recon Vehicle
These are so uber cool, they're ice, ice baby!
The models themselves are fairly simple. A resin one-piece hull, metal turret with separate metal cannon and missile launchers. There's something very futuristic BMP-2 about the Grav Scout that appeals to me. The fact that the masters were created by hand and not CAD rapid prototyping does just show in the final model. Nevertheless I take my cap off to Rob for such an advanced design.
These are just so different to everything else I own. They are the embodiment of Classic Traveller: Striker in miniature form and conceptually, I'm blown away. Simply blown away. My prejudiced preconceptions of Grav armour have been freed from being tied to NOE to one of a true multi-dimensional combat environment.
Customers living in the USA will get free 1st Class Mailing for ordering a pre-paid Platoon (4 vehicles). Those living outside of the USA will receive 50% off of normal international shipping charges, e.g. 10% of the cost of their order.
In addition, Platoon and Section Packs will include free clear, acrylic flight bases and magnets, to allow you to represent your units as hovering.
Individual vehicles will not receive the discounted shipping, or the free flight bases and magnets, and will be shipped at normal handling rates.
You can combine Platoon Packs, and additional individual purchases, in order to qualify for the flight bases and magnets - plus free (US), or discounted (rest of world) shipping.
Please Note – the current AADS, or the Smooth-Hulled Grav Tank variants are no longer eligible for the Pre-Order Deal, but may be included with your order, at their normal prices. However if you purchase a minimum of a platoon of the pre-release vehicles they will also be eligible for free/discounted shipping).
Finally, Topgun's auxilliary AADS and 'Smooth-Hulled' Grav armour, the Scout/Recon, Light Mortar/Point Defense, Heavy Mortar/Point Defense, APC’s, IFV’s, and Ammo Carriers will be available for sale within the next fortnight. These are also eligible for the Pre-Order Discount Deal.
The Pre-Order Discount Deal will run till Feb. 28th, 2010.
The first ten people to pre-pay for at least a Platoon Pack of Grav armour will receive larger free-flight cubes. These are designed to represent Grav armour flying at a NOE height of six feet above ground level. Four of these will be included with each qualifying order.
The photos shown are of a pre-production master Type 9 Light Grav Tank. Other varieties will become available as well, e.g. the Type 10 Medium Grav Tank Hunter, Type 11 Medium Grav Tank, the Type 7 Scout/Recon and the Type 8 Light Mortar/Point Defense Grav vehicles.
The new model strikes a balanced design between smooth, curved surfaces, and the desire expressed by the masses for panel detailing, and scribed paneling. The new design will also represent vehicles with Ablative or bolt on Applique Armor, and those fitted with a 360 degree passive sensor array, like is used on modern attack submarines.
Rob is seeking feedback on this new variant, to know if you like the new raised panel detailing. Also, if you would like to see Topgun produce similar versions for their Heavy Tank variants, Ammor Carrier/Ambulance, and the APC’s/IFV’s.
Topgun Marketing 15mm Sci Fi Type 9 Grav Tank - "Clean" hull
The clean-hulled models came about through customer feedback and are available with all of the various weapons choices for the Type 9 - Type 16 Grav Tank variants.
Topgun Marketing 15mm Sci Fi Type 13 Grav Tank - "Clean" hull
Topgun Marketing 15mm Sci Fi Type 9 Grav Tank - "Clean" hull
I'm delighted that these Grav Tanks appear to be selling well. Rob hopes to have the Scouts, APC's, IFV's, plus various additional models available for sale in a couple of weeks.
More info about the range can be found on the Topgun website. Additional photos of the "clean-hulled" models will be posted there soon:
. Rob at Topgun Marketing sent me the following update on his new 15mm Sci Fi Grav Armour range:
Topgun Marketing: 15mm Sci Fi Grav Armour Type16 Urban Assault Tank
"The following items will be available for direct sale by the end of the month, and our pre-order release discount deal, with the free, and/or discounted shipping, will be ending on January 31st (individual, and platoon pack pricing for four vehicles is provided below):"
Type 9 Light Grav Tank Single $13.99 Platoon Pack $51.99
Type 10 Medium Grav Tank Hunter – beam/cannon armed Single $13.99 Platoon Pack $51.99
Type 11 Medium Grav Tank Single $13.99 Platoon Pack $51.99
Type 13 Heavy Grav Tank Single $15.99 Platoon Pack $59.99
Type 14 Heavy Tank Hunter Single $15.99 Platoon Pack $59.99
Type 16 Heavy Urban Assault Tank / Fire Support Veh. Single $15.99 Platoon Pack $59.99
Topgun Marketing: 15mm Sci Fi Grav Armour Type14 Heavy Tank Hunter (weapon A)
Topgun Marketing: 15mm Sci Fi Grav Armour Type14 Heavy Tank Hunter (weapon B)
You can see more photos, and get more info about the full range on Rob's website:
Topgun Marketing 15mm Sci Fi: Type 13, Heavy Grav Tank $15.99 each
If like me you were looking for something out of this world to go with GZG's new Trooper minatures, then look no further. Topgun Marketing'sFuture Shape of Things to Comerange of 15mm Sci Fi Grav armour is available to pre-order.
Better still, Rob is offering a pre-release deal on platoon (section) packs which runs through to 31st January:
USA customers - our discounted platoon (or section, on some vehicle models) pricing; free shipping, and a free set of nap of the earth (NOE) flight bases (and magnets to mount them with) for your vehicles. These clear bases raise the vehicles slightly off the tabletop, so that they can be shown to be in a low hovering configuration.
International customers - our discounted platoon (or section, on some vehicle models) pricing; 50% off shipping, and a free set of nap of the earth (NOE) flight bases (and magnets to mount them with) for your vehicles.
So what is available:
Type 7 Scout/Recon Grav vehicle - two weapons options - $12.99 USD ea, or $47.99 USD for four
Type 8 AA Point Defense/Light Mortar Vehicle - $12.99 USD ea, or $24.99 USD for two Type 9 Light Grav Tank - $13.99 USD ea, or $51.99 USD for four Type 10 Medium Grav Tank Hunter - laser/blaster/cannon armed - $13.99 USD ea, or $51.99 USD for four
Type 11 Medium Grav Tank - $13.99 USD ea, or $51.99 USD for four Type 12 Grav Tank Hunter - missile armed vehicle - not yet available
Type 13 Heavy Grav Tank - $15.99 USD ea, or $59.99 USD for four Type 14 Heavy Tank Hunter - $15.99 USD ea, or $59.99 USD for four
Type 15 Superheavy Grav Tank - not yet available
Type 16 Urban Assault/Fire Support Vehicle - short, heavy weapon - $15.99 USD ea, or $59.99 USD for four Type 21 Grav APC - $15.99 USD ea, or $59.99 USD for four Type 22 Grav Infantry Fighting Vehicle - $15.99 USD ea, or $59.99 USD for four
Type 23 Grav Ambulance/Ammo Carrier - $13.99 USD ea, or $26.99 USD for two Type 24 Heavy Grav Mortar Vehicle - $13.99 USD ea, or $26.99 USD for two
Where can you see these models? Click on a link below:
If you have any questions about the range, email Rob direct. He's a good bloke and nice guy and will help you as far as he can. E-mail: topgunace111@yahoo.com
Those Type 7 Scout/Recons look so good! But so does the Type 11 , Type 13, Type 21...... 221st Zod Mech reporting for duty! - I've already worked out a colour scheme for the Troopers - Oh no! I'm doomed!
Topgun Marketing LLC 15mm Sci Fi Type 15 Super-Heavy Grav Tank
"Hi Mark,
I just wanted to let you and followers of Dropship Horizon know that we are still working on our range of Grav Tanks, but the production process is taking a bit longer than anticipated, since I don't have total control over the process.
I needed to redo a few small parts to ensure quality, added to that, the company I am working with to produce the master and production molds is very busy as well.
Topgun Marketing LLC 15mm Sci Fi
Type 13 Heavy Tanks (left - two variants) Type 11 Medium Tanks (right - two variants)
I should have some samples shipped to me by the end of next week, and hope to have them for sale as soon as possible.
Obviously, my target of having available for sale by Thanksgiving is a bit shot!
I will pass on more info about a revised production and availability schedule, as soon as I can confirm dates with the 3rd party casters.
Also, may I take this opportunity to wish you and your family, and everyone else a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and best wishes for the New Year."
Sincerely,
Rob Topgun Marketing LLC e-mail: topgunace111@yahoo.com
. Rob at Topgun Marketing has sent me some more photos of his Grav Recon-Scout and IFV variants. He has also included infantry figures from two popular manufacturers in the photos for your reference.
Topgun Marketing 15mm Sci Fi Grav Recon-Scout vehicle RAFM Infantry pack 1 for size comparison
The Recon-Scout vehicle is approximately 75mm long by 43mm wide.
Topgun Marketing 15mm Sci Fi Grav IFV-1(manned turret version)
IFV-1 has a small turret, with hatch, a long-barreled weapon (auto/gauss cannon, or laser) and twin missile launchers. Size is approximately 85mm x 54mm.
Topgun Marketing 15mm Sci Fi IFV-2 (remote turret) GZG SG15-Z1 for size comparison
IFV-2 has a remotely controlled turret, with a long-barreled weapon, and a single missile launcher. Size again is approximately 85mm x 54mm.
For further details of the range and proposed costs, refer back to my post on Thursday (click here).
. Topgun Marketing's new Grav Armor (more intel here) certainly seems to be whipping up some excitement. Opinions are polarised at each end of the spectrum. I'm very firmly in the WOW! camp. Lot's of compariosn with Traveller Imperial armor - well, I didn't want to say......
I asked Rob for some comparison photos of his new designs against GZG's High/Ultra-tech tanks so that we can get a better idea of their true size and he was happy to oblige. Rob went so far as to make sure Jon at GZG was cool with the suggestion and naturally, good bloke as ever, he was.
GZG V15-18A High Tech Grav Tank (top) Topgun Marketing Heavy Grav Tank (bottom)
GZG V15-18A High Tech Grav Tank (top) Topgun Marketing Medium Grav Tank (bottom)
So, what we are photos above of Topgun's Heavy and Medium Tanks alongside GZG's High-tech Tank, and a photo below of Topgun's Heavy Tank alongside the taller and thinner GZG Advanced Heavy Tank.
GZG V15-55A Advanced Heavy Grav Tank (top) Topgun Marketing Heavy Grav Tank (bottom)
I make no bones about it, I like these Topgun tanks a lot. I can see the Heavy Grav Tank on the tabletop as a single behemoth delivering massive firepower and protected by a swarm of remote drones.
Rob is keen to include as much feedback from 15mm Sci Fi gamers as possible into his designs. I've therefore agreed to run a poll to determine what style of detailing you'd prefer to see on your Sci Fi armour models.
We have solicited a lot of feedback as to what detailing people would like to see on their Grav Vehicles, and also what material they should be produced in.We have merged that information with what we feel is currently missing in the 15mm Sci-Fi miniatures market, to come up with a range of Grav Armor that will be compatible with those available from other manufactuers, and yet still unique in their own right.
At the current time, we aim to produce the Grav Armor in a robust, polyurethane resin, with metal weapons and detailing parts.However, we will need to evaluate the quality that can be achieved in casting, and balance the costs against producing them in white metal as well (metal is more forgiving, since castings that don’t meet quality specifications can be just melted down, and re-cast again, where resin cannot).
Confirmation of the final material to be used will be provided when production starts up, and we have a chance to actually inspect the miniatures first-hand.
If there is enough interest in our first releases, we will be producing them in a couple of versions. For instance, one with textured, reactive armor/passive defense surface detail molded onto the outer surfaces, and one with a smooth finish, more appropriate to vehicles seen fielded by the highest tech Grav Tanks. These are capable of operating at high speeds and surviving the rigors of planetary insertion from orbit.For the smooth-sided vehicles, you will have the option of using them as is, using decals to add surface detailing to your models (as shown on our painted model photo – the bright orange one meant to intimidate opponents), or adding white metal parts or styrene strips to the vehicle’s outer surfaces, in order to customize your vehicles, e.g. with the reactive/passive armor plating, and/or ablative armor panels that will be provided in strips to permit easy application.
Topgun Marketing LLC 15mm Sci Fi
Type 13 Heavy Tanks (left - two variants)
Type 11 Medium Tanks (right - two variants)
Due to the unique way in which these vehicles are constructed in the far future, panel lines on them are generally avoided during the manufacturing process, since it provides a weak point in the armor for enemies to exploit.These Grav Tanks and other vehicles are produced in the zero-G environment of space, on board giant military factory ships, from crystalline titanium, which is then roto-molded much like 20th and 21st Century plastic kayaks were, in order to create the strongest, lightest, single-piece hulls possible.The titanium ore is mined from the numerous asteroid fields found throughout the galaxies, in order to: avoid having to lift it out of planetary gravity wells, transport the vehicles vast distances throughout the cosmos, and to reduce expenditures on the military budget when conducting large scale planetary invasion operations.
As you can see from our photos, these super high-tech vehicle designs no longer need gravitic repulsor pods underneath or alongside their hulls, which were very vulnerable to damage on the early models.Now, a single, flat, oval-shaped repulsor pod on the bottom of the vehicle hulls provides all of the lift and propulsion needed to permit these tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and other units to zip along at just under Mach 1 at altitude, fly at 120 – 200 MPH at NOE level, or to enter a planet’s atmosphere at up to Mach 3.0 when dropping to the planet’s surface.When dropping in from orbit, grounding, or powering down, protective armored plates slide across the grav repulsor unit to protect it from damage.
Topgun Marketing LLC 15mm Sci Fi
Type 13 Heavy Tank (left)
Type 11 Medium Tank (right)
We hope to have our Grav Armor available for sale in 3 – 4 weeks, and will start taking pre-orders for them now, so that we can get a handle on what you would like to see released first.
Pre-paid orders will get priority in terms of actually filling the orders, and for determining which items to release first.If orders are strong, we will be able to release all of the vehicles at the same time.Otherwise, they may need to be released in phases, with the most likely candidates being the Type 11 Medium Grav Tank, Type 13 Heavy Grav Tank, and the Infantry Fighting Vehicle/APC.
We would also like to know if you prefer the miniatures with the moulded on reactive/passive armor detailing, or the smooth-sided miniatures which can then be modified, with either the decal detailing, or glue on detail parts.
Topgun Marketing LLC 15mm Sci Fi
Type 7 Scout/Recon Vehicle (left)
Grav Infantry Fighting Vehicle-2 (right)
The following items will be available for Range 1 of our 15mm Sci-Fi Grav Armor releases (more will be available in the coming months):
Type 7 Scout/Recon Grav vehicle$12.99 each
Platoon pack of 4 vehicles $47.99
Type 11 Medium Grav Tank*$13.99 each
Platoon pack of 4 vehicles $51.99
Type 12 Grav Tank Hunter – missile armed vehicle$12.99 each
Platoon pack of 4 vehicles $47.99
Type 13 Heavy Grav Tank*$15.99
Platoon pack of 4 vehicles $59.99
Urban Assault/Fire Support Veh. - heavy plasma cannon$15.99 each
Platoon pack of 4 vehicles $59.99
Grav Infantry Fighting Vehicle/APC*$15.99 each
Platoon pack of 4 vehicles $59.99
Grav Mortar Carrier$13.99
Battery of 2 vehicles $26.99
*When purchased in the platoon packs, several weapons options will be provided for the following vehicles:Type 11 Medium Grav Tank, Type 13 Heavy Grav Tank, and the Grav Infantry Fighting Vehicle/APC.We will also provide you with magnets, and instructions, so that you can swap out the weapons on the vehicles easily for your games, or when you desire to pit one faction against another, using the same tank hulls and turrets, but the different weapons for each side.
We will also be offering bigger combined arms Battle Packs of these vehicles, which will provide a larger discount for the vehicles, NOE flight bases, and more accessories with them.More info will be available on these, once we know the cost to produce the vehicles and detailing parts.
Future Range 1 Releases may include:
Type 9 Light Grav Tank
Type 15 Superheavy Grav Tank
Grav Anti-Aircraft Vehicle
Other vehicle ranges are under development.
We’d love to hear your feedback on our new products, or to answer any questions you may have, so feel free to contact us at the following e-mail address regarding them, or if you wish to place an order:
topgunace111 AT yahoo DOT com
(eliminate the spaces, and use the @ symbol and . as appropriate)
We take Paypal and US Postal Money Orders (sorry, no other money orders, due to the time they take to clear the bank).E-mail us, if you want to pay with a US Postal Money Order, so we can provide you with our payment processing address.
Shipping within the USA is 10% of your order, with a minimum charge of $6.00, and 20% international shipping.
More photos and information about our Grav Armor range will be provided during the coming weeks.
Best regards,
Rob
Topgun Marketing LLC
These really are los cojones del perro! Where do I sign up!
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