Dart C.1
An express courier aircraft.
As the trade in greebles grew increasingly important to the economy of the galaxy, mini-fig hands were used for more and more purposes, as were other body parts. Arms smuggling became a major problem across the galactic disc. Greebles were grown in vats and then rushed to eagerly waiting MOCers to be used whilst the ABS was still fresh. A specialist courier service grew up around this trade and Dai's Dart was part of this.
Llwyngwril Space Systems were commissioned by the Tarren Trade Authority to design a practical and useful VTOL transport plane. It had to be capable of landing in small spaces to make deliveries of high-value items in built-up cities. Unfortunately the designers' search of the internet turned up plans of the Convair XFY-1 Pogo and so they decided to base their aircraft on this.
The unusual shape of the Dart was also down to the architects at Llwyngwril Space Systems deciding to take a spaceship design and stick a piston engine and propellor on the back. The engine used was the Watt & Pritney Cerberus, notorious for needing a lot of maintenance due to leaky gaskets on its eight cylinder heads.
Some versions of the Dart were equipped with drop tanks to increase their range. The nose cone hinged down as the cargo hatch and could also be opened for rescuers to gain access to cockpit in an emergency. The version illustrated here was flown by Dai Roberts, on the planet of Abergynolwyn VII. It was also equipped with a search light and weather radar to help it fly through the notoriously cloudy mountains of Eryri. Dai's company owned 6 of these aircraft, which were always kept immaculately clean. Dai Roberts was famous for his tidy darts.
Although the Dart met the specification for VTOL in confined spaces, the cockpit was awkward to access and the cargo hatch was even worse. Once again, a ladder was need to climb in and out. 137 years later, an investigation by the Galactic Revenue & Customs revealed that Llwyngwril Ladders Ltd. was a wholly owned subsisduary of Llwyngwril Space Systems.
FOURTH WALL TIME...
The main inspiration for this build has to be Jon Hall and especially his chapter in the Lego Adventure Book. I also liked Nathan DeCastro's Skypirates and other MOCs. Lastly, doing a degree in aeronautical engineering and loving the Dastardly & Muttley cartoons must have played their part too. The background story is better viewed on this model's MOCpages page.
Dart C.1
An express courier aircraft.
As the trade in greebles grew increasingly important to the economy of the galaxy, mini-fig hands were used for more and more purposes, as were other body parts. Arms smuggling became a major problem across the galactic disc. Greebles were grown in vats and then rushed to eagerly waiting MOCers to be used whilst the ABS was still fresh. A specialist courier service grew up around this trade and Dai's Dart was part of this.
Llwyngwril Space Systems were commissioned by the Tarren Trade Authority to design a practical and useful VTOL transport plane. It had to be capable of landing in small spaces to make deliveries of high-value items in built-up cities. Unfortunately the designers' search of the internet turned up plans of the Convair XFY-1 Pogo and so they decided to base their aircraft on this.
The unusual shape of the Dart was also down to the architects at Llwyngwril Space Systems deciding to take a spaceship design and stick a piston engine and propellor on the back. The engine used was the Watt & Pritney Cerberus, notorious for needing a lot of maintenance due to leaky gaskets on its eight cylinder heads.
Some versions of the Dart were equipped with drop tanks to increase their range. The nose cone hinged down as the cargo hatch and could also be opened for rescuers to gain access to cockpit in an emergency. The version illustrated here was flown by Dai Roberts, on the planet of Abergynolwyn VII. It was also equipped with a search light and weather radar to help it fly through the notoriously cloudy mountains of Eryri. Dai's company owned 6 of these aircraft, which were always kept immaculately clean. Dai Roberts was famous for his tidy darts.
Although the Dart met the specification for VTOL in confined spaces, the cockpit was awkward to access and the cargo hatch was even worse. Once again, a ladder was need to climb in and out. 137 years later, an investigation by the Galactic Revenue & Customs revealed that Llwyngwril Ladders Ltd. was a wholly owned subsisduary of Llwyngwril Space Systems.
FOURTH WALL TIME...
The main inspiration for this build has to be Jon Hall and especially his chapter in the Lego Adventure Book. I also liked Nathan DeCastro's Skypirates and other MOCs. Lastly, doing a degree in aeronautical engineering and loving the Dastardly & Muttley cartoons must have played their part too. The background story is better viewed on this model's MOCpages page.