Flashback 1942: a tale of two Kloggs

[classicdrogn]

I continued straight on from modeling the FW-190 and roughing out a possible Toggel (Zzard command mecha) to the alien mook suit, the Klogg, but found the thing a real fight to figure out all the mechanisms for, and kept switching back and forth between two basic designs as one of the parts cleared up... then I discovered that I had two workable designs, intended for the same unit but related only in that they have two main engines and three omnidirectional vector fins, and use the same super parts.

Which one is better, do you think?

The Klogg Naro is based directly on my original paper sketches, though the torso and shoulder transformation ends up completely different. It'll have to have a narrower head than planned, but not too badly so, (and that doesn't make the origin of the subtype name obvious AT ALL.)

bare - red patches are for texture mapped missile racks


with the space version super parts, that are all engine and fuel/remass


the Klogg Jau, based on "a flying saucer would be cool, but I have to keep the cockpit ball in one piece this time."


the Jau with atmosphere type super parts, which include a smaller engine and about the same amount of fuel as the space type, but have more mass due to the wings and swing hardware. Having aerodynamic lift and control surfaces more than makes up for the mass, as long as you are in fact inside an atmosphere, though the mecha can operate fairly well in its base configuration.


The Jau is 2-3 components ahead of the Naro, able to transform the torso and shoulders. The barely-opened flap on the side of the shoulder is to let the arms hang down in its hybrid mode, or lift them up to the sides in full humanoid form.


The super parts also include a part that straps onto the outer surface of each leg vector fin with chaff/flare launchers and another micro-missile rack on the top, each also including a fuel tank, though the top one is small and only meant to feed the vector fin microturbine, since they usually just run off small tanks built into the center part of the fin. The robot toes provide some vectoring for the main engines and there are small reaction thrusters distributed across the unit as well for fine adjustments, but most attitude control is intended to be done with the fins, which can swing 180 degrees forward for reverse thrust and have butterfly paddles in the exhaust ports on their tips to control yaw, pitch, and roll inputs. They also provide atmospheric stabilization like the feathers on a badminton shuttlecock if it's flying in base configuration.

All of which is true for both of them. The main difference, aside from outline, is that the Naro's cockpit section has to tip down at the nose, how far I've not yet determined but hopefully only 15-20 degrees, during transformation, requiring an internal gimbaled pilot seat, while the Jau keeps the cockpit pod level, like all of the variable WW2 planes I've made. That alone is tipping me in favor of the saucer design, but I like the other one too... So I'm asking for opinions to help decide.

Yes, again.

Despite hardly getting any responses the other times. The replies I did get were useful, so I'm running a new one up the flagpole to see if anyone will salute.
--
"Anko, what you do in your free time is your own choice. Use it wisely. And if you do not use it wisely, make sure you thoroughly enjoy whatever unwise thing you are doing." - HymnOfRagnorok as Orochimaru at SpaceBattles
woot Med. Eng., verb, 1st & 3rd pers. prsnt. sg. know, knows

[Bluemage]

Why are you having us compare apples to oranges? 
As it is, the first one looks like a better space fighter, and the second one looks like a better air fighter.  I suspect that I'd think the opposite if you'd put up the air pack on the first option, and the space pack on the second.  Give us both packs on both options, and we'll really have something to compare.
If I were doing it, I'd consider adding lateral nose-mounted weapons packages to the space pack.  Attach points would be on the side of the Naro fuselage, just fore of the cockpit, or on the bottom edge of the Jau's forward weapons pods (on its wrists, in B-mode).  When I'm not at work, I could give you an image of what I mean.  The thing is that those designs look a bit tail-heavy, and some missile pods there would balance the design while being very Macross.
Also, your air pack has its lift surfaces well back of its apparent center of gravity.  Just saying.

---

My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.

I've been writing a bit.

[classicdrogn]

Well if that's what you want...


Klogg Jau Super Space


Klogg Naro Super Sky

And yeah, I know the wings are pretty far aft - they're mostly just something to hang a control surface off of, though. It'sprobably true that the Jau would be better in atmo as its form lends itself to being a lifting body, while the Naro is jus' plain brickly. The Jau is also mechanically elegant, with a scissoring dual ring frame that wraps around the cockpit pod where the Naro has a single basic lever linkage to bring the nose up over the cockpit and simple hinges for the backpack and pelvic section.

I suppose they could be the products of two different production centers - I've been thinking that the Zzard empire would have two planets whose industrywas tuned from the first setlement to producing them to fill the huge space navy's needs, but in the stratified and ordered society I've envisioned not having a single standardized design doesn't really fit, though having the same engines, avionics, etc. even to the point of the same super parts fitting both types so they use standard parts aside from the actual airframe would.

Or, the one could be a new model introduced in the two decades between when the inital ship crashes and when the alien fleet shows up in force. Either the Jau, with its better survivability with the self-sufficient pod with volume for all the life support gear and a few emergency maneuvering rockets, or the Naro having reduced material and fabrication costs as compared to its curvier kin.

The Bluo spacy is gender-integrated, at least, so itcan't be a Zentrady/Meltran power armor style split, though it's true that the generally higher G-tolerance of females means they're more common as variable device pilots with males filling shipboard or ground forces roles. It's also true that I haven't even given a thought to fixed configuration ground units aside that they exist.
--
"Anko, what you do in your free time is your own choice. Use it wisely. And if you do not use it wisely, make sure you thoroughly enjoy whatever unwise thing you are doing." - HymnOfRagnorok as Orochimaru at SpaceBattles
woot Med. Eng., verb, 1st & 3rd pers. prsnt. sg. know, knows