Okay, this has been bugging me for a while:

Why does the Z-95 Headhunter's mini have those missile pods under the wings? No illustration I've ever come across had them, and I think it detracts from the look of the ship.

Has anyone seen this in an illustration or a comic somewhere?

The only place I've seen them is in Star Wars Galaxies . I don't like them either, I'm used to the blocky Z-95 models from TIE Fighter with the shark teeth modeled on.

I wish FFG was a little more permissive in allowing model modifications, then I'd have no hesitance about clipping them off and pen-drawing in chutes on the nose.

Star Wars official encyclopedia doesn't show the missile pods.

http://starwars.com/explore/encyclopedia/technology/z95headhunter/

Maybe it is just to differentiate them a little more ....

P.S. The encyclopedia states:

I guess on the model they are not so recessed?

Looks like it originated in Star Wars Galaxies, because this is the only image I've seen of it. That said, I like the pods considering the Z-95 carries missiles in XMG.

Presumably, FFG has consulted with Lucasfilm on the model, and the model we're getting is now canon.

The only place I've seen them is in Star Wars Galaxies . I don't like them either, I'm used to the blocky Z-95 models from TIE Fighter with the shark teeth modeled on.

I wish FFG was a little more permissive in allowing model modifications, then I'd have no hesitance about clipping them off and pen-drawing in chutes on the nose.

No sane person is going to kick you from a tournament for clipping the pods. If they did, thats a tournament you don't want to play in anyway, because "Fly Casual".

I think the z95 is ok. I mean at some point if guess the idea came from it being a pre X-wing so it needs to look like a step back. I think with the flaws it still is ok.

The only place I've seen them is in Star Wars Galaxies . I don't like them either, I'm used to the blocky Z-95 models from TIE Fighter with the shark teeth modeled on.

I wish FFG was a little more permissive in allowing model modifications, then I'd have no hesitance about clipping them off and pen-drawing in chutes on the nose.

No sane person is going to kick you from a tournament for clipping the pods. If they did, thats a tournament you don't want to play in anyway, because "Fly Casual".

Yeah that's what I was thinking.

Besides, you could always just say that it accidentally broke.

Its an EU ship that has had iterations in how it appears over the years, i have no problem with how FFG have handled it as it helps differentiate the model from an X-Wing at a glance.

The only place I've seen them is in Star Wars Galaxies . I don't like them either, I'm used to the blocky Z-95 models from TIE Fighter with the shark teeth modeled on.

I wish FFG was a little more permissive in allowing model modifications, then I'd have no hesitance about clipping them off and pen-drawing in chutes on the nose.

No sane person is going to kick you from a tournament for clipping the pods. If they did, thats a tournament you don't want to play in anyway, because "Fly Casual".

Yeah that's what I was thinking.

Besides, you could always just say that it accidentally broke.

This is the only configuration I knew growing up because it is drawn that way in the Expanded Guide to Vehicles and Vessels. I didn't get into computer games as a kid so I never got to play X-wing vs TIE fighter or the other games in that series. I think it looks fine and much better than the other permutations of the Z-95 that could have been used.

yeah but if you clip the missile tubes off then your Z-95s cant have missiles.....

The way I look at it is that it's a different variant of the Z-95. We have plenty of examples in the real world where later models of military aircraft were changed externally from the original model. Just look at the aircraft of WW2 for examples of this.

The way I look at it is that it's a different variant of the Z-95. We have plenty of examples in the real world where later models of military aircraft were changed externally from the original model. Just look at the aircraft of WW2 for examples of this.

Either way I love the FFG Star War's miniatures. They look great!

Wonder what people would think if FFG minted the version with "triple blasters" =p

The only place I've seen them is in Star Wars Galaxies . I don't like them either, I'm used to the blocky Z-95 models from TIE Fighter with the shark teeth modeled on.

I wish FFG was a little more permissive in allowing model modifications, then I'd have no hesitance about clipping them off and pen-drawing in chutes on the nose.

No sane person is going to kick you from a tournament for clipping the pods. If they did, thats a tournament you don't want to play in anyway, because "Fly Casual".

Yeah that's what I was thinking.

Besides, you could always just say that it accidentally broke.

"The size and shape of a ship model cannot be modified in any way." Wouldn't the pods be considered be part of the shape? So by standards you could be kicked from event / play if you didn't have a replacement.

As for pods, I probably wouldn't have realized them myself, but definitely not original design, only supported by SWG concepts.

Yeah, that used to be the rule. That exact line is no longer in the tournament rules. It currently says:

"Players are welcome and encouraged to personalize their squads according to

Presumably, FFG has consulted with Lucasfilm on the model, and the model we're getting is now canon.

I really wish that FFG would comment on these kinds of things, maybe even have an "ask the developers" section.

I have been involved with the Battletech Community and their developers are always on the forums. I wish that were the case here...

Presumably, FFG has consulted with Lucasfilm on the model, and the model we're getting is now canon.

I really wish that FFG would comment on these kinds of things, maybe even have an "ask the developers" section.

I have been involved with the Battletech Community and their developers are always on the forums. I wish that were the case here...

Well, we know that last year at gencon the model for the corvette was "awaiting approval from lucasfilm" or something along those lines. So it is pretty certain that all the models have been looked at and rubber stamped by LFL.

The only place I've seen them is in Star Wars Galaxies . I don't like them either, I'm used to the blocky Z-95 models from TIE Fighter with the shark teeth modeled on.

I wish FFG was a little more permissive in allowing model modifications, then I'd have no hesitance about clipping them off and pen-drawing in chutes on the nose.

No sane person is going to kick you from a tournament for clipping the pods. If they did, thats a tournament you don't want to play in anyway, because "Fly Casual".

Yeah that's what I was thinking.

Besides, you could always just say that it accidentally broke.

"The size and shape of a ship model cannot be modified in any way." Wouldn't the pods be considered be part of the shape? So by standards you could be kicked from event / play if you didn't have a replacement.

As for pods, I probably wouldn't have realized them myself, but definitely not original design, only supported by SWG concepts.

Yeah, that used to be the rule. That exact line is no longer in the tournament rules. It currently says:

"Players are welcome and encouraged to personalize their squads according to

the following rules. The TO is the final authority on any component’s eligibility

in the tournament. If a component is ruled ineligible and the player does not

have a replacement for it, that player is disqualified from the tournament.

Ship models may be painted as desired as long as the alterations are not

offensive and do not adversely affect another player’s experience."

Hence my comment that "No Sane Person" would kick you out of the tournament. Taking off the pods does nothing to change the game experience and if my opponent wants to "win" like that and the TO backs him up then I made a mistake coming to this tournament. I guess if you are SO competitive that you want to win the game for a minor cosmetic change to a ship, then I didn't want to play with you anyway. Keep it casual, guys.

You missed the relevant part from the Tournament Rules. The very next sentence states "The size and shape of a ship model cannot be modified in any way."

Yeah, good luck playing in an FFG-sanctioned event like at GenCon or Worlds with a Z-95 that's had its missile pods snapped off. But I guess they're insane and not flying casual, right?

The solution: buy double. Modify half. If someone has a problem with it, you can whip out the unmodified ones.

I agree, fly casual and have fun. I sure wouldn't complain if you wanted to modify your little plastic ship as long as you don't change the size of your base. Doesn't change one thing about game play.

The only place I've seen them is in Star Wars Galaxies . I don't like them either, I'm used to the blocky Z-95 models from TIE Fighter with the shark teeth modeled on.

I wish FFG was a little more permissive in allowing model modifications, then I'd have no hesitance about clipping them off and pen-drawing in chutes on the nose.

No sane person is going to kick you from a tournament for clipping the pods. If they did, thats a tournament you don't want to play in anyway, because "Fly Casual".

Yeah that's what I was thinking.

Besides, you could always just say that it accidentally broke.

"The size and shape of a ship model cannot be modified in any way." Wouldn't the pods be considered be part of the shape? So by standards you could be kicked from event / play if you didn't have a replacement.

As for pods, I probably wouldn't have realized them myself, but definitely not original design, only supported by SWG concepts.

Yeah, that used to be the rule. That exact line is no longer in the tournament rules. It currently says:

"Players are welcome and encouraged to personalize their squads according to

the following rules. The TO is the final authority on any component’s eligibility

in the tournament. If a component is ruled ineligible and the player does not

have a replacement for it, that player is disqualified from the tournament.

Ship models may be painted as desired as long as the alterations are not

offensive and do not adversely affect another player’s experience."

Hence my comment that "No Sane Person" would kick you out of the tournament. Taking off the pods does nothing to change the game experience and if my opponent wants to "win" like that and the TO backs him up then I made a mistake coming to this tournament. I guess if you are SO competitive that you want to win the game for a minor cosmetic change to a ship, then I didn't want to play with you anyway. Keep it casual, guys.

You missed the relevant part from the Tournament Rules. The very next sentence states "The size and shape of a ship model cannot be modified in any way."

Ah, my document from 4/14 doesn't have that. I see it was updated on 4/21 with that sentence. Noted.

Yeah, good luck playing in an FFG-sanctioned event like at GenCon or Worlds with a Z-95 that's had its missile pods snapped off. But I guess they're insane and not flying casual, right?

Correct.

Star Wars official encyclopedia doesn't show the missile pods.

http://starwars.com/explore/encyclopedia/technology/z95headhunter/

Remember, that is the 'clone' version whose cannons and little front wings are also different.

I am less familiar with the versions that have those big underwing missile pods, but depiction of even the 'regular' headhunter is somewhat variable. Some versions have two big engine intakes that feed into 4 rear rockets, others have 4 smaller engine intakes that feed into the same kind of 4 rear rockets.

This is the kind that looks most normal to me