AHL bay weapons

[Hemdian]

I’ve just noticed a little anomaly with various AHLs. The original Fleet Intruder configuration had a PAWS spinal mount, missile bays, and a mix of laser/energy/sand turrets. In the Frontier Cruiser refit, these were changed to a meson gun spinal mount, PAWS bays, and some of the laser and sand turrets were replaced with missile turrets.

In Supplement 9, the AHL is titled a Frontier Cruiser but the Fleet Intruder’s weapon load-out is listed. “Arrival Vengeance” has it right. The version by Mongoose is different but seems closer to the Fleet Intruder.

Focussing on the bay weaponry (big turrets) for a moment, a missile bay has multiple launchers but a PAWS bay just has one large gun. In all the depictions of the AHL, I’ve only ever seen multiple gun barrels (which could be missile launchers), suggesting the Fleet Intruder.

Are there any illustrations (canon or otherwise) of what a PAWS bay might look like? Or any non-spinal mount PAWS? (I know magmagmag favours an anime-style fork thing. Given a choice, are people happy with that look?)

 

[Shonner]

Are there any illustrations (canon or otherwise) of what a PAWS bay might look like? Or any non-spinal mount PAWS? (I know magmagmag favours an anime-style fork thing. Given a choice, are people happy with that look?)

I'm used to seeing different illustrations and descriptions of the AHL. I just figure that no two refurbs are alike. I would like to model a Tigress soon. But it looks like the same deal with that vessel also.

 

[mike wightman]

Could it be that the original artist drew the painting without considering what a PA bay, missile bay or any other weapon bay would look like?

They always looked more like big laser turrets to me.

 

[Hemdian]

Could it be that the original artist drew the painting without considering what a PA bay, missile bay or any other weapon bay would look like?

They always looked more like big laser turrets to me.

Me too. And you're almost certainly right about the original artist. I believe, from other canon sources, that the missile bay version should look like an MRL, and the PAWS bay version only contains a single weapon ... therefore, any depiction showing multiple 'guns' is not a PAWS. Right now I'm thinking the bay PAWS, which is based on a cyclotron, should be round (possibly snail shell spiral) with a single off-centre gun.

 

[mike wightman]

I picture a single aperture for a PA bay - since the cyclotron is internal to the bay.

I think you are right about the MRL look of a missile bay.

 

[SanDragon]

I second what Mr. Wightman says.

Those are my visions as well.