by wbd » Mon May 04, 2009 9:49 pm
The SCM-07 is the heavier mecha in general use by the Colonial Republic Army and Militia. It is the companion to the lighter SCM-05 (image here: [link]), and is mainly used on larger ships or space stations where the increased mass has less overall affect on the performance of either. Lighter ships would be more adversely affected by the greater mass, which is why the SCM-05 is used on them.
The heavier mass is offset by more propellant and more powerful engines. That extra mass allows the SCM-07 to carry heavier weapons, a higher-performance power source, and more armor than a lighter mecha.
Originally, the SCM-07 was designed for Militia usage, but the military found it useful, and now uses it in preference to the SCM-06 that was originally intended for that role. It is an easy to handle and operate mecha, designed for the needs of the Militia. As such, it is easily repairable and very durable. It is easy for a pilot to get the most out of it, unlike the harder to handle SCM-06 or even the SCM-05 light mecha.
It is armed with a machine cannon, an energy saber (I'll show the full concept later), a series of guided missiles (that tube thing below the gun) and has a shield for defense (to be shown later). Oh, it also has ECM/ECCM launchers built into the upper torso.
Of the -05 and -07, this is Mindy's favorite, because she thinks it looks cooler (and also because she does better using it).
Concept:
I realized that I wanted a variety of mecha designs that are seen frequently, so I decided that the Colonial Republic (the nation that Mindy and her friends belongs to) should have a couple mecha designs for visual interest. Thinking about needs in space, I figured that two separate designs that had different purposes but were roughly the same in size and configuration would suffice.
I wanted the designs to look different, but also to have a family resemblance- two different designs from two different companies, but from the same nation.
The design is still simple, but that's because I will have to draw it a lot, and it is at my current skill level to draw this design at that rate. As I get better I can add more detail.
For sizes, they are much smaller than a Mobile Suit from Gundam- I think they're about a third the height. They're closer to the size of a Labor from "Patlabor", and have a similar secondary use in construction and service in space. Think of them as really big space suits, with much better protection against the elements and more comfort than the smaller variety.
Art Notes:
Drawn in OpenCanvas.