(MODIFICATION ALERT: THIS IS JUST A WIP SESSION OF PHOTOS.... I HAVE CHANGED SOME OF THIS SLIGHTLY AND WILL BE RE-POSTING IMAGES SOON THAT WILL BE MY OFFICIAL ENTRY... my bad for jumping the gun! :/ doh! should have known I'd need to change SOMETHING!)
MR-UT
Multi-Role Utility Transport
The MR-UT is not so much a transport as it is a glorified fork-lift. Similar in design to most republic walkers the MR-UT is bi-pedal. However, unlike other walker designs the unit incorporates two forward facing arms.
These arms are equipped with a set of hands which mimic the human hand in dexterity, this allows the vehicle to be used in a multitude of ways.
The unit has a sophisticated gyroscopic stabilizing system which automatically compensates for any load which it is lifting and any shift in the driver's weight or position.
due to it's similarity to the AT-RT in size and mechanics Clone soldiers trained in piloting the AT-RT are able to pick up the Loader's controls easily.
Commonly the MR-UT is used for loading munitions and supplies into transports, but can be modified for combat if the need arises.
However, the MR-UT is built for brute strength, not speed. Nor is it designed to withstand weapons fire as it has no armor what-so-ever.
The MR-UT has the unique ability to fold up into a storage configuration, making it much smaller. This allows the MR-UT to be transported easily to new staging grounds or from hangar to hangar. Once in the storage configuration the unit takes up less space than the typical speeder bike.
I was going to take photos of this thing transformed into "storage mode" but my camera battery died. I'll get some uploaded in the morning.
to construct this monstrosity I used parts from a 1:18th scale motorcycle and the rest is made from a transformer tank. I took the tank completely apart and then pulled off everything except the arms and legs. The legs still retain their basic "transforming" process and this is what I used to fold them up to get the vehicle into a smaller size.
when I think of the classic mini-rigs I think of those vehicles that were so ridiculous they didn't even look practical... I wanted to make something that was small enough to fit well within the size restriction of the contest but also would be similar in size to the original mini-rigs. I also wanted it to look totally absurd, and untraditional. I think I achieved that look without going TOO far into the absurd!
Like I said, I'll have some more photos in the morning when the battery for my camera charges back up. Let me know what you guys think of it!
