Rusty
Purveyor of Fine Weaponry
Kinda like this, but bigger.
Image Source
Intent: To create a weapons mount and power source for the Dantooine Plains Turkey on behalf of the Mandalorian Clans
Development Thread: If Necessary
Manufacturer: Rusty's Custom Firearms and Cutlery
Model: T.U.R.K.E.E. MMS
Affiliation: Mandalorian Clans
Modularity: Can accept most common heavy blasters, repeating blasters, and autoblasters. Can also mount slugthrowers, but is not optimized for them.
Production: Limited
Material: Lightweight alusteel, armorweave, power generator, mounting components
Strengths:
- Versatile mounting platform that will allow the Mandalorian Clan's Turkey Division to mount and employ a wide variety of weapons systems. Compatible with most heavy blasters, repeating blasters, etc that can accept a tripod or pintle mount.
- Lightweight power generator provides power for up to 24 hours of continuous operation before the core needs to be swapped out.
- Use of armorweave wrap provides a measure of protection for the bird from energy weapons, as well as preventing it from being burned by the blaster bolts.
- Built in saddle and stirrups makes riding comfortable and easy.
Weaknesses:
- Requires extensive training for both the birds and their handlers. Birds tend to be easily spooked, and the sound, light, and heat from the blaster bolts takes a considerable amount of conditioning on the part of the turkey to get used to. The handler, meanwhile, has to adapt to the fact that they're shooting high powered weapons mounted on a turkey.
- In order to save weight, a lightweight power generator with a limited lifespan was used. The core only weighs a few kilograms and requires little to no monitoring, but is only rated for 24 hours of continuous operation. Spent cores are easy to replace, but are to be handled with care. On the bright side, if you want an easy dirty bomb, it fits inside the IET with room for a few ounces of detonite.
Description: Originally, the MMS was going to be several different weapons systems, but Rusty had a better idea. [member="Ra Vizsla"]'s vision of a Turkey Force required lightweight weapons systems that packed a punch without packing a whole lot of extra baggage along with them. So, instead of designing a separate mount for each weapon system, he figured it made a lot more sense to devise a single mount that could accommodate a wide variety of weapon systems.
This approach has a number of advantages. For starters, commonality means that they can carry fewer spare parts without compromising readiness. It also means that they can change the weapons loadout on the fly, without having to completely retool the system. The mounts are designed to work with just about any weapon that can be mounted on a tripod or pintle, and the power generator's feed cables come with universal adapters that can mate with most any weapons system safely.
For the sake of balance, the MMS is designed to field dual weapons, one on either side of the bird. Though the MMS itself is quite light, the actual guns tend to be somewhat weighty. That usually isn't a problem, so long as the load is balanced. A balanced bird is a happy bird, and with the proper conditioning, they get used to the extra weight. If you overload them on one side, however, they've a nasty habit of running in circles or toppling over.
It can take months to get a turkey accustomed to the mount. The younger the bird is when you start, the better. Not only do they have to be conditioned to accept the mount and the rider, they have to get used to blasterfire as well. This is not an easy process, and will require patience from the handler. The handlers, in turn, must build a report with the bird. It's not enough to just throw an MMS on a turkey and ride off into the sunset. It requires a relationship of mutual trust, an unbreakable bond between warrior and feathered steed.
The construction of the MMS is simple. It consists of a lightweight alusteel frame, upon which the gun mounts, the power generator, and the saddle assembly are mounted. Between the frame and the bird there's a lightweight armorweave wrap, not unlike a saddle blanket. It protects the bird from direct contact with the frame, while also protecting it from the muzzle blast from the blasters, as well as from incoming fire. The frame mounts securely to the bird via a series of custom fitted armorweave straps that are both comfortable and sturdy. They're gentle, yet firm and supportive, much like the Mandalorians who will be relying on them.
The gun mounts hold the weapons about 15 centimeters from the bird's flanks, and sit about knee level to the rider. It's important to have them down fairly low, as a low center of gravity will improve handling. A simple drop in trigger kit will allow the weapons to be fired from a handheld device that can mount to the saddle horn or can be held in the hand. Once the weapons are in place, they may be zeroed to the desired range, but must be locked in place after zeroing. The turkey's gait is deceptively smooth, but leaving them mobile presents an unnecessary risk to rider and bird.
Primary Source: http://starwarsrp.net/topic/34635-dantooine-plains-turkey/
