Note: Everything for the stage 3 Kickstarter is now expected in Q3
Iron Core, is no longer just a mans world!
First up, the Eisenkern Heavy Support Troopers, The core kit
contents remain mostly the same with the acceptation of some backpack changes for
the energy weapons and the multipart optional leg selection.
Here you can see the same options available in the Valkir update
with a selection of choices for the leg accessories as well as the helmet
choices that will be included in this kit.
Next up, we have some amazing paint work by David Woods, a
very talented artist and backer whose brush work will grace the APC box art.
Looking at the feedback, (I always do) there were some who
felt the nose looked a bit empty, although the flat armored plate look is what
I was going for as it matched the 251 this vehicle is modeled after, I must
agree that it looks a bit plain. We have decided to include a few optional
items that you may or may not use as you choose when assembling your kit. A
grill or nose badges for the armor plate.
As with the APC grill feedback, there was also a great
discussion and feedback given in update #122 regarding the female Stormtroopers,
many great insight were offered but Jacqualine gave some particularly poignant
insight on the subject. As this is the first time you have seen this kit, I
will go over it in depth.
There were many changes to the base mesh, most of them very
subtle. The best way to compare is to discuss what has changed from the Ada
model.
Tilted the Coxis back slightly change the posture.
Pulled in the front crotch to minimize the look of an
armored sports cup.
Thinned the waist and gave fuller hips to give a more
defined hourglass shape.
Removed the web harness belts from the torso as they blocked
out the shape too much.
Lowered the rear thigh armor and gave the posterior more of a
fuller heart shape. The leg torso ratio was also adjusted to help emphasize the
female form.
Changed the chest armor to remove the sternum plate.
Pulled the sternum in slightly below the chest armor to
accentuate the transition between chest and waist.
More detail in the hair
Changed out the shoulder plates with the Kriegsmarine, they
are smaller and the smooth shape helps minimize shoulder bulk.
Aside from the change in the chest armor and shoulders the
most drastic change is one that would not be evident in these renders. I made
them the same size as their male counterparts. This was a decision that I
wrestled with for some time before deciding it was the only course of action if
I wanted to have these fully integrated with the line. By making them the same
size, you can swap parts from the current kits to these and vice-versa. There
are some nice weapon options in this kit that I know some of you will want to
use for your male counterparts. It also gave me the opportunity to future proof
the release with other Eisenkern kits and accessory packs not yet created. If
you want the ladies to serve as Stormtroopers instead of Special Forces, swap
the helmets and shoulders with the Stormtroopers and you are good to go!
I will now go into the kit and some of the available
options, please not that I have not put a quantity on these yes but I know I
will need to limit some options, you cannot have ten of every weapon and head
as the sprue count will skyrocket. If you have a preference (count) for a
specific item I am always willing to listen.
We have talked about the armor and small tweaks, but what
about their weapon choices… These are Special Forces, as such they have access
to the latest and greatest tech available.
Starting at the top and working down:
Plasma Rifle: A heavy capacitor rifle, it fires a projectile
containing a plasma charge, shortly after the projectile leaves the gun, its
protective shell burns away and the projectile superheats to the point of
plasma (matter on the verge of energy). On impact, the shot imparts both
kinetic and massive energy damage to its target. This is the primary tank
hunting weapon of the Black Widows.
SAW: here we have a proper Squad Automatic Weapon, not just
a rifle with a high capacity magazine. You cannot kill a tank, if you cannot
get in range…. This light infantry weapon will buy you the time needed to maneuver
to your target.
Assault Rifle with Grenade Launcher: This is the most common
weapon used by the Black Widows. A smaller overall length with a full size
magazine the rifle is only slightly less effective than the Stormtrooper battle
rifle. Where this weapon shines is the Grenade launcher, firing thermite bombs
it can decimate a 2 meter area with enough heat to melt a lightly armored
vehicle or destroy power armor.
Assault Rifle: This is the base Assault Rifle, primarily
used by insertion teams or MOS that require more maneuverability or a lighter
load.
As with the core Stormtrooper kit, each weapon has three
positions (Yes, you can use these directly with the male Storm Trooper kits as
well).
Here we have a selection of heads, slouch caps, helmeted
without mask and helmeted with the same options fount in the other Stormtrooper
kits to allow full compatibility. (Yes, you can use these directly with the male
Storm Trooper kits as well, although the full helmeted heads may be best J
Here we have the leg selection, some of these poses will be
mirrored to provide more diversity. I tried to include a couple of new poses in
this kit. After studying Special Forces vids and some shots of real world
operators doing their job, I noted a fairly specific form, ‘hunched over, knees
together while moving’. When the position is especially hunched, you will need
to shave a little plastic off the bottom of the neck ball to get it to fit as
it should, I will illustrate this in the instructions, it is a very minor tweak
and with the options to use and head or helmet there was no easy way to solve
this issue in the base model.
Here are a couple Ortho view shots so that you can see the
models without fisheye distortions, as with the male models they range in height from 20mm to 30.5mm to the eyes.
