22 Chickwing 2

Build: Autumn 2002, pieces 156, steps 30
L/W/H: 35/27/12 studs, 27,70/21,23/9,28 cm

Multi point jumper technique. Compare the lower blue grid with the upper red one and think like the knight from chess when moving back and forth along the two planes.

Multiple point jumper technique: The reason why I suddenly became so busy pillaging the 21 Cargolifter was a major breakthrough with the jumper technique:
I discovered that this four point angling technique is highly scalable (unlike most of the three point angling techniques). But due to scattering of fixation points, it demands pretty large pieces, so the many 4x8 wingpieces released from the Chickwing were of no help: I needed the big 8x8 wings with cutout from the Cargolifter to try out the technique.

Multi point jumper technique; the green marker is only included as the theoretical step between the lower and middle fixation point, and the blue grid has been raised above the angled part.

Technique 1: Wings Adapting the multiple point jumpertechnique to the big 8x8 wingpieces wasn't entirely easy as there aren't that many studs available, but with a little extending by a 1x3 plate, it was there; a new and advanced version of chickwing.
Although not all the theoretical points was used, the wing was strong enough to be left at only 3 plates thick with sandwhiching at the innermost fixationpoint on top of the 1x3 plate. The buildup around this, in turn, gave enough space to fit in a 1x4 technic beam for mounting the wing on the craft.

All in all a much more elegant wing than earlier ones as the sandwhiching was confined to the inner part of the wing, and I kept the rest in a slim unsolid "disassembled" look by using only a few dark transparent pieces to keep it together.

Technic connector toggle joints (toothed).

Technique 2: Mounting With the 1x4 beams, I didn't have to build the wings together with the craft, as they could be clicked on with technic pins and this demanded a brand new approach to angling than usually. So instead of the usual big beams hanging out from the side with the wings between, I now had the pleasure of using some pretty neglected and discreet technic connector pieces instead.

As it can be seen, I exploited the free angle to get a pair of nicely angled tailfins stuck on the model, like with the cargolifter but in a flatter, more speedy configuration.

Some use of free angles. Don't rear end this one!

Aesthetics, engine: Pretty basic stuff, the top fin is angled with the basic sandwiched jumper technique.

The two lower fins fixed with the brackets were inspired by the tail of the old 03 Protodiamond, just split in halves and placed on either side of the craft.

Nice spiky look, inspired partly by medieval clubs, and partly by the Tusken Raider Gaffi Stick seen in Star Wars episode 4.

Originally the antennas were trans acid yellow, but that was simply too hideous, so I turned them trans red when I recreated the model in MLCad.

Aesthetics, nose: After creating the (rear) wing configuration, I developed the split nose from the first Chickwing (#20) into a cleaner form, inspired by Japanese broad arrows and crescent European halberd blades.
Note how I've intentionally left a gap between the wingpieces and body to get a couple more spikes.

The two antennas weren't originally a part of the design, but the gaps left from the basic jumpertechnique fitted too well.

Note how the small wings beside the cockpit almost seem to fit the inside of the chickwings - almost like they have been ripped and pulled apart.

Aesthetics, general: In the end I wasn't really satisfied with the result: I had the perfect rear and the perfect nose but they didn't fit together, because the broad and solidly mounted nose made the chicken wings look flimsy.
On top of that I'm afraid I rushed the central part around the cockpit too much, giving it an unfinished look: especially because of the big flat sides of the slopes on either side of the cockpit.

Too bad.