So I've decided to try my hand at scum.

I've built the following list.

Kihraz Fighter

Talonbane cobra

Predator (31 pts)

Y-wing

Kavil

Unhinged Astromech

Ion cannon turret (30 pts)

Firespray-31

Kath Scarlett (38 pts).

If I can roll well then it seems to work well.

What I'm wondering is, how do I make Talonbane effective? He seems to usually die horribly before he can get a 5 dice shot off and I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.

He needs Engine Upgrade. It gets him into Range 1 to attack, or out to Range 3 if he's being chased.

If you run Crackshot + Engine Upgrade + Glitterstim, you can pretty much guarantee 4-5 to the face at Range 1 during the first engagement.

You slow roll to stay at Range 3 and take a target lock with your range bonus of 4 dice keeping you alive. Next turn, go slow again so you don't overshoot, then Boost into Range 1, pop Glitterstim, Fire, re-roll from your Target Lock (keeping all focuses obv), and use Crackshot to get rid of an evade. If you don't outright kill the target, Glitterstim keeps you alive from the return fire.

If you wanted to go full alpha strike, then drop Kath and add:

N'dru + Crackshot + Homing Missiles + Glitterstim

Just keep him away from your other guys so you get that extra die, and slow roll to stay at Range 3 for Homing Missiles, and then that coupled with Talonbane is 8-10 hits almost guaranteed in the first engagement with Kavil around to mop up the last few points of damage. http://xwing-builder.co.uk/view/415234/scum-alpha-strike

N'Dru is better with cluster missiles and Glitterstem and Crack shot or Lone Wolf. 8 dice to attack with.

Predator + EU looks like the best long term value, but why not VI, stims, EU? Moves last so if he doesn't need to boost then TL. Need to boost or for some reason finds himself in arcs then pop stims..

Thanks for the advice guys!

The build I ended up going with was

Talonbane

Engine upgrade

Glitterstim

Homing missiles

Crackshot

Kavil

Blaster turret

Unhinged Astromech

Push the limit

N'Duru

Glitterstim

Cluster missiles

Lone wolf

Hull upgrade.

Working like a dream so far!