Three models used by the 86th on display in the Alcon Showroom in Upper Boston

Alcon Model 1187 Mobile Missile Platform

The Alcon Robotics Corporation Model 1187 is designed to deliver an arsenal of both ground to air and ground to ground conventional rockets. Easily configurable, the "Archer" can be quickly configured to carry a variety of ordinace from armor-piercing anti-tank and explosive warheads to anti-personal incindary submunitions. It can also be adapted to carry low-yield nuclear missile.

Equipped with twelve missile tubes in the standard configuration, and a lightning fast auto-loading mechanism, the 1187 is capable of firing its entire capacity of 168 missiles in 78 seconds (firing 14 volleys of 12 missiles.) The fire control system allows a high degree of flexibility. All missile tubes may fire simultaneously, in rows, pairs, or interleaved (a single missle firing at a time alternating between the left missle pod and the right missle pod.)

Additional armament includes twin .55 calibre caseless high-velocity auto cannons, and two short range 2 gigawatt lasers.

With a gross weight of 35 metric tons (unloaded), the Archer is the heaviest mech in the Mobile Armor division. This is due to the stronger mechanical superstructure and heavier armor. Additionally, the Archer is the only mech that has the ability to twist its torso. This allows the operator to fire on targets in two separate directions. This unique skill does come at the price of additional mechanical complexity and weight. As a result, the Archer is the slowest mech in the AMPD.

Model 1187 Images

1187 Front View	1187 Back View	Alcon Model 1187 "Archer" Front View

Model 1187 Specifications

The Archer is considered a medium to long range weapons platform. At close range, its primary weapon systems are not effective and it must rely on its cannons and lasers which are primarily designed for use against lightly armored personnel.

1187 Front View	Alcon Model 1187 Torso Detail	1187 Torso Detail (cab removed)

Design Notes

The design of the torso mount is very clever. The non-technic pieces are built on top of a 3x2 plate (rounded on one side with vertical axle hole. See image, right.) The technic spacer underneath provides support and the dual axels provide stability. The technic bushings and stops create a hole in the middle where the ball joint of the throwbot Leg piece is recessed.

This arrangement is very simple and effective but proved to be quite a design problem which involved lots of trial and error. The throwbot pieces do not easily lend themselves to integration with non-technic pieces, and creating a stable platform to build on in a compact space was quite difficult. The other two mechs use a similar approach, but they are much simpler and do not allow torso rotation.

One of the most common questions I am asked is "How did you make the decals?" There are no decals on the models. All decorations, numbering and logos were created in Photoshop.