[swordtart]

Shiruken Lightning Bug by Mad Jack Motors:
Luxury; Light chassis; Light suspension;
Large PP w/HTMs;
4 Hvy Duty Radial tires.
Driver; Gunner.
6xAnti-Power Plant Rocket F (all linked).
Fire Extinguisher.
Armour 8 pts. LR Metal and 60 pts. Plastic (F: 8/10 R: 0/10 L: 0/10 B: 0/10 T: 0/10 U: 0/10);
2x2 pt. Plastic Hubs F; 2x2 pt. Plastic Guards B;
1x10 pt., 4 spc. Plastic CA (Crew); 1x10 pt., 6 spc. Plastic CA (Rockets); 1x10 pt., 5 spc. Plastic CA (Plant).
Cargo: 36lb 0 Spc
Cost: $9,860, Wgt: 4,914,
HC: 2, Top Speed: 102.5 (77.5), Accel: 5 (10).

The Lightning Bug combines two of the worst ideas in auto combat history. The pitiful Shiruken basic design has been married with a battery of the extremely niche APPR.

To be fair, some useful improvements have been made, some protection for the tires against pedestrian weapons, a slight handing improvement and a useful performance boost. Protection has been improved overall with extensive use of internal armour.

The single biggest change is the massive slab of metal protecting the front aspect. This really shows the designers intent, this is a zoom and boom specialist and presumably intended to disable a vehicle quickly.

The removal of the MG is not much of a loss, but it is questionable whether such a small battery of weak munitions are an improvement. The addition of a dedicated gunner somewhat mitigates against the inherent inaccuracy of rockets but it may just be putting another person in harm's way. At least the gunner could carry a hand weapon to provide a second shot capability.

In this reviewers opinion it would have been better to lose a little of the metal and the APPRs and replace them with a barrage of 18 mini rockets. Whilst not the best platform and weapon fit it would be a more credible that this lamentable offering from Barking Mad Jack.

I'd like to see this take on a simple Division 5 vehicle. Even starting from an ideal stern chase position I suspect it will be a washout.