Metalworks Incorporated SHS-150 “Silhouette” class Hover Sports Car:

Many people are fixated on the combat vehicles on Rifts Earth but there actually are wealthy individuals who are interested in sport and luxury vehicle designs. With few roads, hover vehicles are very popular due to the ability for them to traverse most terrain. They can fly over water, travel over tree tops, and use the flight ability to avoid hills and mountains.

Metalworks is well know for designing combat equipment but was not known for very many non military applications. In spite of this, the “Silhouette” is gaining widely in popularity with sales having been steadily increased. Metalworks has a different style than most companies when it comes to their sports vehicles. When they were making studies in a few major cities, they asked what type of looks would people like. Metalworks got a huge number of different opinions and the most popular vehicle looks were those of old Pre-Rifts sports cars.

A giant line of different car designs would be impractical so what the company decided to do is construct a basic vehicle and then add an external cover that is available in many different looks available. While changes have to be made to the basic looks fit the frame and the vehicles do not have tires or wheel wells, the hover vehicles are available in many different designs. The one pictured above is based of off a 1970's style Mustang. Other designs include Corvettes, Chargers, Porches, Ferraris, and Lamborghinis.

While the vehicles may look like antiques, in engineering terms they are far from it. Where possible, the interiors of the vehicles do try to emulate the original designs but are otherwise advanced modern designs. For example, while the displays are in many cases designed to look like old style gauges, they actually use computer generated holographs and may be switched to digital displays with the flick of a switch.

As they are hovercraft, their flight systems are more like one would expect from an aircraft than an automobile. Where the steering wheel would be in a conventional automobile, the hover vehicles use a flight yoke system. There are also advanced computer controlled flight systems. If the operator wishes, the vehicle is perfectly capable of flying itself to a preprogrammed destination.

There is an advanced communication system which is considered approximately the equal to that which is mounted on most power armors. As these are meant as personal vehicles, these is a powerful entertainment systems that is incredibly advanced and well designed.

For comfort, while the vehicle does not have the full life support systems of most military vehicles, it does have an advanced environmental system which does include individual climate settings and a filtration system which will filter out most toxic gasses.

While the vehicle is technically designed for a pilot and three passengers, the two rear passengers area is considered on the cramped side and is often described as a bit uncomfortable. Both the pilot and side passenger seating is quite comfortable. As far as the seats themselves, they are constructed from special comfort gel which molds to the occupant.

The vehicle is designed to use either two belt style restraint or five point harnesses at the choice of the owner. For additional safety, there is an air cushion system which is designed to protect the occupants from impacts on all sides of the occupants’ compartment. As a final emergency, the Silhouette is outfitted with a parachute in case the flight system is damaged.

The flight systems of the Silhouette uses powerful hover jets that are remarkably similar to those used on the Kittani hover vehicle. It is unknown if it is an actual copy of the Kittani design however. Even though not rated as fast as most military design hover craft, the Silhouette hover sports car is quite fast with a top speed of just over three hundred and fifty kilometers per hour. In addition, the engines do not have any issues with overheating even when run at maximum speed for extended periods.

For power systems, the Silhouette hover sports car is available with one of four different options. There is a conventional liquid fueled version, there is a battery powered fully electric model, a fuel cell model which uses hydrogen as fuel, and finally a nuclear powered model. The most popular designs are the nuclear powered and pure electric models. With the fusion powered model, the fusion reactor is basically a slightly modified version of one from a medium power and gives effectively unlimited range. Otherwise, the electric and liquid fueled versions gives a range of right around twelve hundred kilometers.

The technology for the fuel cell design was purchased from Archangel Heavy Industries who got the designs of fuel cells from pre-rifts records. The fuel cells operate by pulling the electrons off of an H₂ molecule, splitting it into 2H⁺ molecules and 2 electrons. The electrons pass through the “load” (engines, weapons, avionics, etc.) creating current and powering the systems. Meanwhile, the 2H⁺ molecules pass from the anode to the cathode through the electrolyte. At the other “end”, the electrons then recombine with the 2H⁺ molecules and Oxygen (from the air) and are release as water from the rear of the aircraft. Unlike many of the ground vehicles that use the fuel cell system, the main fuel tank is fixed. It gives a range of approximately sixteen hundred kilometers.

Because the Earth after the apocalypse can be an extremely dangerous place, the vehicle has both light armor and is available with light weaponry. Optional weaponry include light lasers and twelve shot mini-missile launcher systems. The lasers are concealed within the headlight and the mini missile launchers are mounted on the sides of the vehicle and take up part of the space for the trunk. In all models except the fusion powered model, power for the light lasers is provided by a high density capacitor. Most purchasers do elect to mount weaponry on their vehicles. The company is looking towards possibly adding additional armor to later models.

Model Type: M.I. SHS-150 Silhouette.

Vehicle Type: Hover Craft.

Crew: One (and technically three passengers, one passenger can ride in comfort beside the driver.)

M.D.C. By Location:

	[1] Headlights (2 or 4- Depends on model):	5 each.
	[1] Optional: Mini Missiles Launchers (2, rear near trunk):	40 each.
	[1] Optional: Light Laser Cannons (2, in two of the headlights):	30 each.
	[2] Hover Thruster Units:	125.
	[3] Main Body:	320.
	Cockpit:	100.

Notes:

[1] These are small and difficult targets to strike, requiring the attacker to make a “called shot;” but even then the attacker is -4 to strike.

[2] Destruction of the hover unit will cause the vehicle to be no longer under the pilots control. If the hover system is destroyed, a parachute will be deployed. The parachute is tough for being as thin as it is but if it has more that 5 M.D.C. inflicted on it, it will be destroyed.

[3] Destruction of the main body will cause the vehicle to crash if in flight. All systems, including emergency parachute, will not function.

Speed:

Hover Speed: Can hover at ground level at from a hover to up to 220 mph (354.2 kph) over both land and water. Minimum hover height is 2 feet (0.6 meters) and maximum altitude is 300 feet (91.4 meters).

Maximum Range: With gas or electric, 800 miles (1,287.5 km), with fuel cells, 1,000 miles (1,609.3 km), and with fusion, effectively unlimited.

Statistical Data:

Height: 4.8 feet (1.46 meters).

Width: 6 feet (1.8 meters).

Length: 17.5 feet (5.3 meters).

Weight: 2.8 tons (2.54 metric tons).

Power Source: Four versions; Nuclear with 8 year fusion reactor, Electric with high capacity battery, Conventional Liquid Fuel that uses aviation fuel, and Fuel Cell version that uses hydrogen as a fuel to produce electricity.

Cargo Capacity: Without Mini-Missile Launchers: 400 lbs (181.4 kg) of cargo in trunk. With Mini-Missile Launchers: 360 lbs (163.3 kg) of cargo in trunk.

In addition, 800 lbs (362.8 kg) of additional cargo can be carried in back seats instead of passengers.

Market / Black Market Cost: Conventional Liquid Fueled: 500,000 credits. Electric: 625,000 credits. Fuel Cell: 650,000 credits. Nuclear: 1.4 million credits with an 8 year fusion reactor.

Weapon systems cost 50,000 credits extra each (100,000 for both lasers and mini-missile launchers.)

Weapons Systems:

Twin (2) Light Laser Cannons: These laser cannons are fairly powerful but have a fairly short range. They can be fired together to inflict greater damage. These light laser cannons are mounted inside the headlights. These weapons are copies of the Wilk’s 237 “Backup” Pulse Laser Pistol fitted into the vehicle.

Maximum Range: 500 feet (152 meters).

Mega-Damage: One laser: 3D6 per single blast and 6D6 per double blast. Both lasers: 6D6 per single blast and 1D6x10+6 per double blast.

Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the pilot (usually 4 or 5)..

Payload: Nuclear Reactor: Effectively Unlimited (Draws power off the main engines). Other versions: 200 blasts in capacitors (bursts use 2 or 4 blasts.)
Two (2) Mini-Missile Launchers: These missile launcher systems are side by side in the sides of the hovercraft. Each launcher can hold four (4) mini-missiles for a total of eight (8) mini-missiles. Most commonly carried mini-missiles are armor piercing and

Maximum Effective Range: Varies with mini missile types (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

Mega-Damage: Varies with mini missile types (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

Rate of Fire: Can fire mini-missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), or four (4) mini-missiles. Can be fired equal to the pilot’s combined hand to hand (usually 5 or 6).

Payload: Six (6) mini-missiles each launcher for a total of twelve (12) mini-missiles.

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Image drawn and copyrighted by Mischa (E-Mail Mischa).

Mischa has no art home page at present but many other items on my site.

Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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