Metalworks Incorporated "Red Robin" Light Hover Hauler:
Metalworks Incorporated is most famous for two main type of products, those are various aircraft and hovercraft designs. While most people picture their combat hover designs, their various cargo hauling hover designs are sold in much larger numbers and are in many ways the products which help to keep the company as profitable as it is presently.
Hovercraft are popular because they can travel almost anywhere and long as not too mountainous or thickly forested. As well, most models can travel over water at high speeds. Some of the first hover designs were designed primarily for use over water. In many places, not bridges exist and even roads are scarce. Even eight wheeled vehicles and tracked vehicles have problems is some places where a hovercraft can travel over with very little problems.
The World after the coming of the Rifts can also be an extremely lawless place. Bandits are quite common and many are surprisingly heavily armed. Most hovercraft designs are extremely fast which often makes it impossible for bandits to set up ambushes. As well, their high speed often allows them to escape from ambushes when a slower vehicle would be trapped.
Smaller than either the "Redball" or "Red Ryder," the Red Robin is a bit larger than most Twenty-First Century Jeeps. The vehicle has the ability to haul approximately the same cargo load, around two and a half metric tons of cargo. It is the single most popular line of hover vehicles produced by Metalworks Incorporated, outselling both the larger designed combined. Many adventures love this vehicle but it is also purchased by merchants and military companies.
Originally, the vehicle was available with only three propulsion options. One was fusion powered with effectively unlimited range and requires refueling approximately every five years. The power plant is adapted from a rector system of a power armor. The second replaces the fusion reactor with a high capacity battery. This can be recharged from most fusion plants and is far cheaper. The third was a gas turbine power plant. Designed to run on diesel, including bio-diesel, it can run on a variety of other fuels including kerosene, gasoline, and even alcohol.
It was only after the vehicle had been in production for some time that a fourth propulsion option was added. This was a fuel cell system. Before the coming of the Rifts, the propulsion system was extremely common but was virtually lost after the coming of the Rifts. Metalworks purchased the technology from Archangel Heavy Industries who got the designs of fuel cells from pre-rifts records. The fuel cells operate by pulling the electrons off of an H2 molecule, splitting it into 2H+molecules and 2 electrons. The electrons pass through the "load" (engines, weapons, avionics, etc.) creating current and powering the systems. Meanwhile, the 2H+ molecules pass from the anode to the cathode through the electrolyte. At the other "end", the electrons then recombine with the 2H+ molecules and Oxygen (from the air) and are release as water from the rear of the vehicle.
Top speed is slightly faster than the larger hover design with a maximum speed of around two hundred and twenty-five kilometers per hour. Maximum altitude is also slightly higher with a maximum height of around five meters. Gas an electric models have a maximum range of around twelve hundred kilometers and fuel cell versions have a maximum range of around fifteen hundred kilometers.
There is no tanker variant of the Red Robin which leaves two basic variants of the vehicle. One is an open bed while the other has the main cargo bed enclosed. Some adventurers have converted this over to living quarters. While the quarters are a bit cramped, there is enough space for around four to sleep. The space is too small to make a good command and control vehicle although some groups have tried. In most models, there is no cargo crane provided and loading the vehicle is mostly done by hand although some places do have the equipment for loading.
The vehicle is only relatively lightly armored but has the option of additional armor. The crew compartment is usually not fully environmental but is air conditioned. There is the option of full life support but it is more expensive. Full life support is more common on vehicles in military service. There is space for a crew of four in the passenger compartment. Sensors on the standard model are fairly basic but the sensor and communication suite can be upgraded to a system similar to those carried on most power armors.
Unlike the larger hover cargo vehicles, this vehicle does have some options for weaponry beyond self defense. All the standard self defense weapon mounts are available. These include a weapon mount can be carried above the main cab similar to what is carried in the larger models. These options include a heavier pulse laser copied from the JA-12 Laser rifle, the Northern Gun NG-202 Rail Gun, and the Wellington WI-GL21 Automatic Grenade Launcher as the most popular choices. As might be expected, the pulse laser is the most popular weapon mount. Once it reaches full production, Metalworks plans to replace the rail gun with their own model of rail gun on new vehicles. In addition, the vehicle can mount a pair of mini-missile launchers on the sides of cab. Each launcher has a capacity for twelve mini-missiles.
For greater firepower, the vehicle can have a medium range missile launcher
with six medium range missiles in the cargo bed. There is no ability to
carry reloads. The weapon is considered quite useful for battlefield support
with a missile range of fifty to one hundred and twenty kilometers. There
weapons can also be useful for air defense for convoys. In addition, the
company offers the vehicle with a light or medium mortar. The light mortar
is the 60 mm electromagnetic mortar. The medium mortar is the electromagnetic
81 mm mortar.. The light mortar has 160 rounds provided with 60 rounds
provided for the medium mortar. The weapon does not tie in with the vehicle's
crew and requires a crew of two, in addition to the driver, to operate.
Metalworks is considering dropping the weapon as an option when the "Thunder
Rain" enters production. They are already trying to get customers to purchase
the new hover mortar vehicle to fill the same role. Their reasons is that
the vehicle carries far better armor, is faster, and carries a heavier
payload. It also has a full integration of sensors with the weapon system
and an automatic loader for the main weapon system.
| Model Type: | M.I. HH-02A | Open Bed Cargo Design |
| M.I. HH-02B | Enclosed Bed Cargo Design |
M.D.C. By Location:
| [1] Headlights (4): | 10 each | |
| [1] JA-12 Pulse Laser Rifle Mount (Optional): | 40 | |
| [1] NG-202 Rail Gun Mount (Optional): | 75 | |
| [1] MI-RG-40-X Rail Gun Mount (Optional): | 75 | |
| [1] WI-GL21 Automatic Grenade Launcher (Optional): | 70 | |
| [1] Mini-Missile Launchers (2, Optional): | 30 each | |
| Medium Range Missile Box Launcher (Optional - Cargo Bed): | 80 | |
| 81 mm Electromagnetic Mortar (Optional): | 80 | |
| 60 mm Electromagnetic Mortar (Optional): | 60 | |
| [2] Hover Thruster Units: | 60 | |
| Crew Compartment | 80 | |
| Cargo Compartment / Bed / Tank: | 80 | |
| [3] Main Body: | 140 (240) |
Notes:
[1] These are small and difficult targets to strike, requiring the
attacker to make a "called shot;' but even then the attacker is -4 to strike.
[2] Destruction of the hover unit will cause the vehicle to be no longer
under the pilots control.
[3] Destruction of the main body will cause the vehicle to crash. All
systems, including emergency parachute, will not function. Standard armor
is 140 M.D.C. but can be upgraded in increments of 20 M.D.C. up to an addition
100 M.D.C.
Speed:
Hover Speed: Can hover at ground level at from a hover to up
to 139.8 mph (225 kph) over both land and water. Minimum hover height is
2 feet (0.6 meters) and maximum altitude is 16.4 feet (5.0 meters).
Maximum Range: With gas or electric, 745.6 miles (1,200 km),
with fuel cells, 932.1 (1,500 km), and with fusion, effectively unlimited.
Statistical Data:
Height: 6.89 feet (2.1 meters) for cab (does not include weapon
mounts)
Width: 9.19 feet (2.8 meters)
Length: 21.33 feet (6.5 meters)
Weight: 10,582.19 pounds (4,800 kilograms) empty and 16,644.90
pounds (7,550 kilograms) fully loaded.
Power Source: Four versions. Nuclear with 5 year fusion reactor,
Electric, Conventional liquid fuel that uses aviation gas / diesel, and
Fuel cell version that uses Hydrogen as a fuel to produce electricity.
Cargo Capacity: 5,511.6 lbs (2,500 kg) in cargo compartment
for all models except for expanding van model. Crew can also carry basic
equipment including weaponry in crew compartment.
Market / Black Market Cost: 150,000 credits with Internal Combustion
engine, 225,000 with Electrical engine or fuel cell power system, and 800,000
credits for fusion with a 5 year life.
Upgrades: Sensory / Communication upgrade (equal to a standard
power armor) costs 12,000 credits. Fully contained life support system
costs 50,000 credits. Mini-Missile launchers costs 400,000 credits for
a pair. Pulse Laser Mount costs 60,000 Credits. Wellington Automatic Grenade
Launcher costs 150,000 credits. Northern Gun Rail Gun costs 70,000 credits.
MI-RG-40-X Rail Gun costs 150,000 credits. Medium range missile launchers
cost 300,000 credits. 60 mm Mortar costs 75,000 credits and 81 mm Mortar
costs 150,000 Credits. Additional armor costs 50,000 credits per 20 M.D.C.
Weapons Systems: The vehicle can mount the following above the rear section of the crew compartment. Direct fire weapons are controlled by a gunner who sits behind the weapon mount. Missiles are controlled by a remote control system.
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.]
By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).
Copyright © 2009, Kitsune. All rights reserved.
