I have been running through designs I would change or do differently, but the STUN is one that doesn't yield many ideas for me, so I was wondering as if it was your call what would be your take on the Cobra STUN? What changes would you do or would you change it at all? Also would your changes keep it recognizable as the STUN? What are you thoughts on the STUN overall?

I normally try and keep the overall concept of the item I'm working on, but the STUN has so many odd points that it doesn't point me in any direction on it. Looking for others point of view on it to help me overcome my creative block. Thanks for any ideas and help.

momaw nadon

_________________

Interesting... my first thought was to see what STUN stood for, but it doesn't seem to be anywhere on the original box or in the bluebrints. The box does mention it being built on high speed sentry technology, which means it's related to the HISS tanks.

The main thing the stun has going for it, in my opinion, is the black and red color scheme. It's a funky design, one that I've never been drawn to, but that might be because I've never seen one in person.

One approach might be to come up with a acronym from STUN, what do those initials stand for? Can you make another design based around those ideas?

_________________

When I played with a STUN, I never opened up the gunner positions while it was moving. I had visions of one side not opening as quickly, which threw the balance of the vehicle off.

I only opened them when it had *arrived* at the position to attack or defend. I just couldn't see it driving down the highway at 80mph with the pods way out. All it would take was running into a pylon or catching a pod on a Jersey barrier to put it out of commission.

I also thought it just looked stronger with the pods shut.

I also never used the vehicle on rough terrain. The front wheel and spar didn't feel strong enough. I could *see* it buckling after bouncing off of a few small boulders.

It's more a road/field/beach vehicle capable of climbing up dunes or gradual inclines.

If I were to fix it, I would add another spar on the left side of the front wheel so it would be stronger, like a motorcycle forks. I'd also rig up a roll bar and light armor over the back with a bigger turret on the center line. No fancy bubble turret, just a scale 3 foot by 4 foot armor plate like this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/122_mm_howitzer_M1910/30 with the heavy machine gun poking out.

_________________

To me, it's a high speed sentry/stationary gunnery post. It circles the perimeter in the closed position, then splits once parked at its defensive post, like DJ says.

If I were to update it, I'd try to go with the Devil's Due version that had the split-off 'unicycles' *and* try to enforce the original's resemblance to a snake's head. How that would be accomplished, I've no idea.

_________________

I don't think I ever opened the pods myself back in the day. Just didn't look right, but then again the vehicle in a whole is odd.

Turret is an idea, are you saying you would cover the driver with it or the back section with the machine-gunner dragging his feet?

Any pictures of the Devil's Due version you speak of? Might be something to give me some ideas.

Thanks again guys
momaw nadon

_________________

I never liked the wheels as a kid, it didn't seem to me like it would be reliable and/or stable. I would probably make it a treaded vehicle, but then that may make it slower. It was not one of my favorite vehicles, don't remember playing with it much.

_________________

Can't find any pics of it, but I recall it from the issue where Serpent or kills Daemon/Firewall/whoever. I don't recall there being any real good pics of it anyway, but I had the impression that the tri-wheel configuration was switched around with the two wheels in front and the third in back. The front end was reminiscent of the SW Hailfire Droid, with the big hoop wheels being the split-off unicycle bikes that the drivers side inside of. Once they split off, the main STUN was still operable, so I guess it's really a 5-wheel vehicle.

_________________

I used it like a mobile anti aircraft battery. It couldn't fire if thelwheels were engaged, and the pods only opened if the thing was stationary

_________________

I would use it as a high speed patrol boat and ditch the splitting function. The wheels could be a carriage that self transports to the waters edge.

_________________

Issue 22

_________________

I'd make it 4 wheeled, and change the way that the pods opened to be parallel to the body instead of diagonal. I'd also change the way the guns were attached to the pods, or at the very least add a rotating gun turret like the Dragon fly had under the nose of each pod. The two bigger ones on the side would be longer range while the ones on the turret would be shorter range.

_________________

Honestly, I'd make it sleeker. It's supposed to be a fast attack vehicle but it looks like a fat wedge on wheels. I'd slim down the front pods by making them parallel to the ground instead at an angle and moving the front wheel in between them. Angle the nose of each pod so it comes to more of a point in the front. I'd then flip the guns so they are in an over/under configuration instead of side by side. This will bring them in tighter to the body of the pods and keep the center of gravity over the wheel. The pods can still split open because that's the main feature of the vehicle and what keeps it from being another tank variant. But as others have said I'd make the split feature something that only can happen when it reaches it's firing position. It can be overridden but that makes for a wild ride.

_________________

I was out on travel and just got back. You guys are helping my gears to turn with this one. I did think about some of the ideas before on the road, and Mysterious Stranger and I have a similar concept going. I saw a comic picture with Commander in the driver seat which looked like the pods were not angled up, so going with angling down to level out the vehicle would make it look better just in itself. I was thinking of maybe some covers over the pods too, much like the Septic Tank has. I do like the idea of moving the front wheel in between the pods, will have to play around with designs for that. Maybe make the pods as the front wheel's fender in a way.

Also that gun configuration with them being up and down sounds great too. Though in reading the entry for it on Joepedia, it sounds like they are recoilless rifles in a way. Which makes sense in that you could keep the vehicle fast and light with a big punch. I was thinking of reworking the guns to something like a twin 90mm recoilless rifle with side load design. Though I can't see the thing being able to hold 400 rounds per gun, but I think the stores could be in the back of the pods. Maybe having them belt fed into each rifle.

How does the front wheel rotating down like on the ASP and Whirlwind for gun pod mode sound? So it would be a fast attack vehicle that morphs into artillery? So it would race onto the battlefield, put a hurt on the enemy fast or be able to race to high ground and setup for ambush or defense as I'm vision it now. Could be that the STUN was made to be the replacement for the ASP, as it needed to be towed into action.

Also I do like the turret for the driver/possible rear section, but having a hard to figuring out how to make it fit with the look of vehicle. I have been playing around with an artillery type turret design like how most WWII self-propelled artillery had with an open top and maybe keeping the cannon/MG like Dark Jedi was thinking, but just facing back. Though it would be able to rotate up and down and side to side, just in a defensive rearward direction.

I was thinking 4 wheels too, but couldn't come up with a configuration to keep the features viable, as I think then the front wheels would be in the way for the pods to open up. Though that is always an option, but I think then you move too far way from what the STUN is. I will play around with this idea though.

Tsunami, the boat idea is interesting, as it does have that look about it. I don't know I would go that far, as the Moray covers any gunboat needs for Cobra. Though that gets me going on a similar direction, as to maybe make it amphibious. Would fill a big hole in the Cobra motor pool if it was. Have to think on this more.

Thanks guys for all the ideas, if you have any other input or ideas let me know.

momaw nadon

_________________

Yes, if I didn't make it clear, the gun I mentioned would be rear firing.

_________________

The Stun was actually my 2nd favorite Cobra vehicle as a kid. I thought as basically a Cobra dune buggy. Fast, hit and run vehicle for rougher terrain.

_________________