Apparently I unknowingly built a model of an Alliance Chieftain in 1985

Zemzam · Oct 4, 2019

While cleaning out my Mom's house, I found a model that I made when I was 9 years old in 1985. It was from a Japanese company, and the resemblance was remarkable. I wanted to share:

https://imgur.com/a/Y6dQ6H5

Source: https://imgur.com/gallery/Y6dQ6H5

Praemonitus · Oct 4, 2019

Looking at the dates involved, it's a bit too similar to be serendipity. FDev curiously doesn't appear too keen on designing space-ships to go with their space-games, as most are just iterative retreads from previous titles... It wouldn't surprise me in the least if this ship design was clipped and saved somewhere along the way.

Zemzam · Oct 4, 2019

Praemonitus said:
Looking at the dates involved, it's a bit too similar to be serendipity. FDev curiously doesn't appear too keen on designing space-ships to go with their space-games, as most are just iterative retreads from previous titles... It wouldn't surprise me in the least if this ship design was clipped and saved somewhere along the way.

You may be right. Some of the similarities are staggering. I mean I had this thing in my room right up through High School but havent thought of it much in the past 25 years. To suddenly pull it out, know exactly what it was, but also suddenly see it in a completely different light now that I have played E

was an interesting experience.

metatheurgist · Oct 4, 2019

Maybe whoever designed the Challenger remembered a beloved toy from long ago....

Smoked Kipper · Oct 4, 2019

Good modelling skills for a 9 yr old.

TheSaiZo · Oct 4, 2019

Hasegawa, correct?
Only they can come up with a design like that from the 80's.

Nice ship!

Zemzam · Oct 4, 2019

TheSaiZo said:
Hasegawa, correct?
Only they can come up with a design like that from the 80's.

Nice ship!

Yep! Although I didn't know that until yesterday. If you click the pic and go to the imgur album, I linked to pics of the original kit that I found on a site that catalogs historical model kits. Check the last picture. It took me various searches of "space shuttle rover model 1980s" to find it.

Northpin · Oct 4, 2019

It's a Crusader NOT a Chieftain - notice the aft wing (spoiler)

Zemzam · Oct 4, 2019

Northpin said:
It's a Crusader NOT a Chieftain - notice the aft wing (spoiler)

Lol. The Crusader definitely matches there. I concede the point. But I feel its slim look lends itself more to the Chieftain.

TheSaiZo · Oct 4, 2019

Zemzam said:
Yep! Although I didn't know that until yesterday. If you click the pic and go to the imgur album, I linked to pics of the original kit that I found on a site that catalogs historical model kits. Check the last picture. It took me various searches of "space shuttle rover model 1980s" to find it.

Oh, it does. It is a Hasegawa model!
Remember Macross series? That was Hasegawa as well.

STRONTIUM DOG · Oct 4, 2019

personally I was struck by how much the chieftain looks like a patrol hopper and copyright infringement

mbar · Oct 4, 2019

SHIP KIT!

Zemzam · Oct 4, 2019

TheSaiZo said:
Oh, it does. It is a Hasegawa model!
Remember Macross series? That was Hasegawa as well.

Honestly I was always fascinated with models, but I really only built about 6 in my entire youth. The others I did were a few pirate ships, a Mig-29, and a few cars. It is sheer blind luck that I happened to build THIS one 30+ years ago....and then find it three months after starting to play this game. What are the odds?

I think it might be something I explore some day. But sadly I can't speak about different models of that era.

IPFreely · Oct 4, 2019

There are several TV shows and movies that have designs seen in Elite, - (too many to name individually here), - These designs share the same commonality - Rear thrusters and forward weapons - Weapons and thrusters should be Omni-directional - ship designs should take that into account