Hey all,

Figured I would come out of lurking and join you all in your painting and modification endeavors!

I finished this little project over the weekend...

It's my take on an updated ARC-170. I love the original look of this ship, but to keep the old clone wars bird competitive against modern TIEs she was in dire need of an Alliance Overhaul!

First order of business by Rebel technicians was to move the wingtip cannons inboard. The lasers were taking too much wear and tear from space/starship debris and due to costly repairs/parts they were deemed safer against the fuselage!

Next on the list was modifying the crew compartment. According to Rebel Doctrine, in an effort to reduce manpower, a crew of three was too taxing and tough to field for just a single fighter. Thus crew positions were removed in favour of an advanced power generator/converter and avionics package from a spare/scrap parts T-65. Naturally keeping the R unit droid slot was a must, so the socket was moved forward, closer to the pilot!

Lastly, without the space for a crew, the rear gunnery positions were removed. An argument arose that in the absence of gunners to defend the vessel, it would be left vulnerable to enemy craft. Again referring to Rebel Doctrine and the favoritism toward Hit and Fade tactics, it was decided to add two T-65 Incom fusial thrust engines to the lower rear compartment of the ARC-170. The end product was a sleeker, faster heavy weapons platform that could get in and out of trouble quicker, pilot skill depending of course!

Hope you all enjoy my minor modifications to this already awesome ship!

Cheers, Jim

Very cool mod. Thanks for coming out of the shadows to share your ship!

Hopefully the proximity of those cannons don't produce too much heat or those engines might give out at an inopportune moment!

No tail gunner for you!

Great job with that power plant, looks like it always meant to be there.

Would love to see an underbelly shot, to see how (where) those cannons are affixed.

FM -Thanks for the kind words! I didn't think about the cannons diffusing heat and disrupting the engines... Errr I mean I'll have to have a talk with the lead technician!

ABXY - It was a tough decision to scrap the gunnery positions! I really like the Tail Gunner card, artwork and all. If only it was applicable to a Y-Wing! I digress... I think the T65 engines hanging off the back look great, so overall not too broken up about it. As for the cannons, the whole bottom portion of the fuselage is removable. By using slight pressure with fingers it should wiggle free then pop out. I simply glued the cannons in place with the bottom piece off, let them set, then glued the part back up! Here is a shot of the underside as per your request:

Cheers,

Jim

3 hours ago, Red Jammer said:

... As for the cannons, the whole bottom portion of the fuselage is removable. By using slight pressure with fingers it should wiggle free then pop out. I simply glued the cannons in place with the bottom piece off, let them set, then glued the part back up! Here is a shot of the underside as per your request:

Awesome!

The arc-170 is one of my favourites and this mod is brilliant ! If I get a second ill have to try this mod !

I've always thought of the ARC-170 as the Star Wars version of the P-61 Black Widow Night Fighter of WWII, with its three crew and gunner position. However with your mod it makes it more like a P-38 Lightning Heavy fighter which is always been a favorite.

Very cool modification, I love it.