Metalworks Incorporated "Silhouette" class Hover Sports Car:

Many people are fixated on the combat vehicles on Rifts Earth but there are wealthy individuals who are interested in sport and luxury vehicles. Hover vehicles are very popular due to the ability for them to traverse most terrain. Metalworks is well know for designing combat equipment but was not known for very many non military applications. In spite of this, the "Silhouette" is gaining widely in popularity and sales have been steadily increased. Metalworks has a different style than most companies when it comes to their sports vehicles. When they were making studies in a few major cities, they asked what type of looks would people like. Metalworks got a huge number of different opinions and the most popular vehicle looks were those of old Pre-Rifts sports cars. A giant line of different car designs was impossible so what they decided to do is construct a basic vehicle and then add an external cover that is available in many different looks available. While changes have to be made to the basic looks to fit the frame and the vehicles do not have tires or wheel wells, the hover vehicles are available in many different designs. The one pictured above is based of off a 1970's style mustang.

While the vehicles may look like antiques, the are no such thing inside. The insides are designed to look a little like the originals but have many new features. The displays are in many cases designed to look like old style gauges but use computer generated holographs and may be switched to digital displays. Where the steering wheel would be, the hover vehicles use a flight yoke system. Each vehicle is control by an advanced and powerful computer system that is capable of flying to destinations chosen by the pilot as well as normal computer functions. The vehicle also carries a communication system that is about as capable as those mounted on most power armors. The car is also equipped with a 20 mini-disk entertainment system. The seats are constructed of comfort gel and are incredibly comfortable. The vehicle are available with both two belt style restraint or five point harnesses. The vehicles has air restraint systems on all sides of the pilots compartment. As a final emergency, the Silhouette is outfitted with a parachute. While the vehicle is technically designed for a pilot and three passengers, the two rear passengers area is extremely cramped and uncomfortable.

The vehicle flies by a high power hover jets that give similar performance to the Kittani hover vehicles . While not as fast as many military combat hover jets, the Silhouette hover sports are quite fast and the engines do not overheat. There are several different power systems available including conventional liquid fueled internal combustion, battery generated electrical, fuel cell systems, and nuclear powered. The fusion reactor design for the vehicle is copied from one mounted in a medium power armor. The technology for the fuel cell design was purchased 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 aircraft. Unlike many of the ground vehicles that use the fuel cell system, the main aircraft fuel tank is fixed. The main fuel tank can be refueled by midair refueling but the external fuel tanks cannot be refueled the same way. The fuel tank hold enough Hydrogen to allow the fighter to travel 1360 nautical miles and the fighter can carry fuel tanks on its external hard points which each extend the range by 400 nautical miles. The fighter also has a fuel cell to provide power to the twin laser cannons. The fuel cell to the laser guns are relatively small but has a good payload.

Because the vehicle is designed to operate in an environment that can become dangerous, the vehicle is equipped with light armor. It is also available with additional light weapon systems. It is available with light lasers and an eight shot missile launcher system. The lasers are concealed within the headlight and the mini missile launchers are mounted on the sides of the vehicle and take up part of the space for the trunk.

Model Type: M.I. SHS-150 Silhouette
Vehicle Type: Hover Craft
Crew: One (and technically three passengers, one passenger can ride in comfort beside the driver)

M.D.C. By Location:
[1] Headlights (2 / 4- Depends on model)5 each
[1] Mini Missiles Launchers (2, rear near truck)40 each
[1] Light Laser Cannons (2, in two of the headlights)30 each
[2] Hover Thruster Units:125
[3] Main Body:320
Cockpit:100

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. If the hover system is destroyed, a parachute will be deployed. The parachute is tough for being as thin as it is but if it has more that 5 MDC inflicted on it, it will be destroyed.
[3] Destruction of the main body will cause the vehicle to crash. All systems, including emergency parachute, will not function.

Speed:
Hover Speed: Not Possible but can hover at ground level at from a hover to up to 220 mph (354.2 kph) over both land and water. Minimum hover height is 2 feet (0.6 meters) and maximum altitude is 300 feet (91.4 meters).
Maximum Range: With gas or electric, 800 miles (1,287.5 km), with fuel cells, 1000 (1,609.3 km), and with fusion, effectively unlimited.

Statistical Data:
Height: 4.8 feet (1.46 meters)
Width: 6 feet (1.8 meters)
Length: 17.5 feet (5.3 meters)
Weight: 2.8 tons (2.54 metric tons)
Power Source: Four versions. Nuclear with 8 year fusion reactor, Electric, Conventional liquid fuel that uses aviation gas, and Fuel cell version that uses Hydrogen as a fuel to produce electricity.
Cargo Capacity: 400 lbs (181.4 kg) in cargo in trunk and 800 lbs (362.8 kg) in back seats without passengers in the back.
Market / Black Market Cost: 500,000 credits with Internal Combustion engine, 625,000 with Electrical engine or fuel cell power system, and 1.1 million for fusion with a 8 year life. Weapon systems cost 50,000 credits extra.

Weapons Systems:

  1. Twin Light Laser Cannons: These laser cannons are fairly powerful but have a fairly short range. They can be fired together to inflict greater damage. These light laser cannons are mounted inside the headlights. These weapons are copies of the Wilk's 237 "Backup" Pulse Laser Pistol fitted into the vehicle.
    Mega-damage: One laser: 3D6 per single blast and 6D6 per double blast. Both lasers: 6D6 per single blast and 1D6x10+6 per double blast.
    Rate of Fire: Equal to number of combined hand to hand attacks (usually 4-6).
    Maximum Range: 500 feet (152 meters)
    Payload: Nuclear Reactor: Effectively unlimited. Other versions: 200 shots (bursts use 2 or 4 shots)
  2. Mini-Missile Launchers (2): The missile launcher systems are side by side in the nose of the cycle. Both launchers hold four (4) mini-missiles for eight (8) total.
    Range: Varies with mini missile types (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
    Damage: Varies with mini missile types (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
    Rate of fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2, 4, or all (8). Can be fired equal to the pilots combined hand to hand (usually 5 or 6).
    Payload: Four (4) Mini-Missiles each launcher for a total of eight (8) mini-missiles

[Golden Age Weaponsmiths, Kittani, Wellington Industries, and TRIAX are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembiedact and Palladium Books Inc. ]
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.]

Image drawn and copyrighted by

Mischa (E-Mail Mischa).
He has no art home Page at present but many other items on my site.

By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune ).

Copyright © 1999, Kitsune. All rights reserved.


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