EZ-106 BLAZEWING
Chassis: Harrier
Power Plant: EZ-100-A (Empire Infantry Zoid –Class 1 – Avian)
Primary Mission: Interceptor
Secondary Mission: Aerial Assault
Crew: 1 (minimum rank requirement: Lieutenant)
Statistics
Length: 15.5 meters
Width: 31.75 meters (wingspan)
Height: 9.5 meters
Mass: 36 tons
Performance
Air Speed: MACH 4.2
Ground Speed: 20 KPH
PARTS LIST
Zabat
torso
Evil Pegasus
wings, tail
Elephander
torso, shoulders
Geno Saurer (x2)
wing engines, wing cannons
Dimetra Ptera
core engine exhaust
Gundam
legs, core engine intake
Polystyrene
tail
CAPABILITIES
The secret of the Blazewing’s shocking speed and maneuverability stems from the fact that the original wings were designed to carry the RPZ-008 Orudios, a 140 ton Zoid, to a speed of MACH 3.8. Almost half of the Blazewing’s mass lies within the wing structures, and the entire Zoid weighs only a total of only 36 tons. Each shoulder of the EZ-106 has one upper and one underside atmosphere annihilation engine, the top pair also carry the Zoid’s primary armaments. Near each wing tip is a further, smaller boost and maneuverability engine. Finally, if required, the Blazewing can vent its core energy out a seventh dorsal engine mounted just forward of the tail. At full thrust the EZ-106 has achieved a sea level speed of MACH 4.2, exceeding the prior record held by Gilvader.
Maneuverability: Terrifyingly deft in the air, the Blazewing required a special pressurized cockpit and a unique bodysuit to preserve pilots' cognitive abilities during tactical maneuvering tests. It is capable of aggressive dog fighting beyond MACH 3, and can snap to a stop within seconds. Pilots have been known to react so quickly at top speeds that the use of projectile and missile weapons are considered irrelevant against the EZ-106. On the ground, however, the Zoid has difficulty due to its wingspan and limited leg and body actuation. Though it is hardly helpless when landed, it is clearly only an efficient machine in the sky.
DEFENSES
The primary defense of Blazewing is its speed. Though it has countermeasures and some ECM properties (perhaps a 10% reduction in signature) it can outrun most missiles and bullets and outmaneuver most rockets. The EZ-106 is a mixed bag when it comes to armor; the wings, head and feet are heavily reinforced, but the body and legs have slightly substandard protection. One major point of vulnerability lies in the sheer number of engines; so many intakes make the Zoid quite susceptible to flak. The inverse is also true; many engines also allows multiple shut-downs while remaining aloft.
ARMAMENT
Originally intended to carry eight linked, high speed cannon and various missile payloads, the Blazewing was redesigned as it demonstrated its speed and maneuverability restricted projectile weapons (it outran its own armaments). Instead these were replaced by two pairs of terrifying weapons to be found on an aerial Zoid. On each shoulder is same 30mm and 20mm cannon array found mounted on the head of the Genosaurer. These four guns give the EZ-106 respectable firepower for such a light Zoid, and they are complimented by its ability to get them into the best firing position with intimidating speed. The standard configuration Blazewing also sports a pair of twin defensive lasers on the tail hardpoints. While designed to destroy incoming missiles, they are useful for firing on any targets within a 200° angle to the rear. For different missions, these may be replaced with various other guns, missiles or systems. Though not an energized weapon, the super-hardened beak can cause heavy damage to lighter Zoids, Finally, the talons not only can grip and gouge with their claws, but each toe has a breaker blade mounted on top. It was discovered that the Blazewing was hard pressed to grasp an enemy at such high speeds, but the addition of the blades allows it to fly by an enemy and rip at its wings at speed.
20mm Fireaxe Pulsed Cannon (x2) – Shoulder mounted, forward arc, fixed
The most intimidating thing about the Fireaxe 20mm is that it is considered the Blazewing's light armament. The coil-sped energy rounds compress between firings, loosing a rapid burst of condensed energy pellets that melts through most avian and "softer" targets with ease. On the lightest setting, many Blazewing pilots use the dual sprays of energy as a deadly sighting system to line up the 30mm Hellbores.
30mm Hellbore Cannon (x2) – Shoulder mounted, forward arc, fixed
The Hellbore resides on the upper shoulder engine pods alongside the 20mm Fireaxe and delivers the heavy punch of the EZ-106. Though these weapons charge and fire in a similar manner, they typically loose a single, powerful bolt of energy more akin to an armor piercing knife. Aside from dealing half-again as much damage as the Fireaxe, this damage is almost universally done to a single location. Even a single Hellbore shot can eviscerate a Liger, and the pair can be fired in unison to penetrate almost any armor common on the field.
50mm Calliber Defensive Cannon (x4) – Tail mounted, 200 degree arc,
Mounted behind the core exhaust engine is a pair of double-barreled defense batteries. Each of these can swivle to cover targets beyond center to the rear and over the shoulders (they are wired to not fire when the Blazewing's should pods are inclined into the line of fire). Given the speed of their host, they usually have ample time to target and destroy any warheads approaching from the rear, and skillied pilots also use them as a parting shot after swooping over a ground target with the main cannons.
Hardened Breaker Blades (x4) – Talon mounted, lower arc, integrated construction
The small hardened blades affixed to the Blazewing's outer toes seem of little consequence ... until they are raked across your Zoid's wings at MACH 4. The sturdy weapons were designed to take tremendous punishment and convert the EZ-106's speed and agility into a weapon as much as a defense. To safeguard more delecate structures withing the feet and legs, redundant armor has been placed on the forward surfaces. At top speed, a Blazewing may shave the wings off of a Salamander.
Hardened Allow Beak – Head mounted, forward arc, integrated construction
If the Blazewing finds opportunity, it can use its beak to shear through heavy armor and compromise internal systems of its prey. To protect the pilot during beak attacks, extra armor has been built into the head and the eye ports have been recessed and reinforced.
SUMMARY
In all, the EZ-106 Blazewing has been an extremely successful design. Even outnumbered six to one, it is often the comfortable victor of an engagement. The newest versions now carry a designator to assist the indirect artillery targeting capabilities of the EZ-501 Fusillade, granting them a dual role over inland battlefields and at low altitudes. It is fortunate that the construction of Blazewings is so cumbrsome and expensive, as it has thusfar kept their numbers from escallating.
THE BUILD
THE CONCEPT
I have had a quite broken Evil Pegasus for some time (it's okay, I have both a mint Orudios and Evil Pegasus, still!) and have always been drawn to the wing design. I also took notice one day at the enormous number of aerial units Helic possessed and how few Zenebas had. Any modern military warfighter knows that air superiority is vital, and so I set about designing an Empire air Zoid. The wing coloration sinly cemented the alliance and final scheme for the custom, and the name as well! I wanted the body to proportional for the bird, and I wanted the flexibility to pose it and take advantage of those beautiful wings! /sigh. Alas, no such body in my collection... I'd have to build it.
OF HARRIERS AND RAVENS
I decided to use the Pegasus tail for the bird... but what predatory bird had a tail like that?! After looking though Google, I saw that the wings and the tail parts I had were perfect for a harrier. As the design came together I also realized it would need a sleek head, but all I had was a Savinga head. The vast majority of Blox models cannot seat a pilot in them (don't get me started on Blox architecture!) but to be a Maethius custom, it HAD to seat a pilot! It took almost an entire day to reshape the head to actually fit a pilot, and the only pilot that would fit was Raven. I hate Raven. :) So he is now a permanent resident of Blazewing! I suspect that new new HMM or even new Zoid pilots might fit... but I'm not going to find out. The legs were the easiest part of th design, initially. I had an old broken Gundam model someone had given me, and I re-engineered the legs to work for a bird. Add some toes and, TA-DAH! We just have to put it all together.
HISTORY
Zenebas had long withered against the staggering host of Helic’s aerial firepower, the Empire’s only true avian unit being the Storch with limited flight capabilities found in the Sinker Ray and Sacurtis. As Helic began to make a drive into the ocean theater with the RZX-610 Sea Saber, the Emperor decided that it was time for Zenebas to on the ancient foe in the skies. Within a secret facility the Empire had dismantled an age old spoil of war for the design; the husk of a defeated Orudios. Its body was destroyed, but one wing was fully intact. This became the design for the EZX-606 Blazewing, the fastest Zoid in known history. Due to the design's rarity it was reserved for only top priority missions, and therefore almost half of them survived the Bluefire. Those that did became the template for the EZ-106 chassis, the Blazewing currently in use.
EZ-606 BLAZEWING
The original Blazewing carried the famous
"Black & Red" scheme of the Empire. There
are currently six Blazewings that retain this
coloration, designated as trainers for pilots
in training. They no longer bear the "Red'
Diamond" crest, however.
EZ-106 BLAZEWING
The units currently serving the air corps of
the Empire in A0W bear the "Steel Serpent"
crest and the "Burned Blood" colors of the
Empire. The new version also sports green
tinted canopies and polished alloy cannon
barrels, superior at dispensing heat.
A MAETHIUS FIRST
Blazewing represents the first avian custom I've made, and I am quite pleased with him. He's a sleek looking machine and, even though he's about the same size as Raynos, he carries his own menace. He could also be consereded "under-gunned" for one of my customs, but really that's just because my big, stompy units have that niche on the battlefield. Now to fix Buster Eagle's head to fit a pilot....
