Updated August 05, 2000
Web Posted September 23, 1998

The designers in this contest had to design a mini-bus whose value was equal to or less than $50,000. The mini-bus would be used in a convoy, therefore one of four specialty convoy roles had to be the focus of the design: point-guard; anti-personnel and anti-aircraft; cargo carrier; rearguard ("Tail-End Charlie"). Design rules are located in CWIN 1.04.

CWIN is asking for its subscribers to vote for the best vehicle. Please use the following point scale to evaluate each vehicle. You should consider each vehicle and its car trailer (if there is one) separately and in combination. Partial credit for each area may be given.

Mail your ballots and submissions for other VDCs to either of these elmay addresses. The names of the creators of the designs are kept confidential at the request of many participants in these contests.

CWIN Vehicle Design Competitions
owemp@hotmail.com

Special Abilities = 25
5 for Vehicle Range (Yes, this attribute is evaluated twice in this competition)
20 for Anti-Aircraft + Anti-Personnel / Rearguard / Cargo Carrier

Defensive Capability = 15
3 for Frame Armor
3 for Accessory Armor
3 for Tires
3 for Weapons
3 for Accessories

Offensive Capability = 20
5 for Weapons and Damage Potential
5 for Special Abilities (Incendiary, Indirect-Fire, Tire Sniper, Etc.)
5 for Firing Arcs Covered
5 for Accessories

Driving Pleasure = 15
5 for Acceleration, Top Speed and HC
5 for Accessories, Personal Equipment
5 for Vehicle Range

Cost = 5
Lowest Price (Bonus for every $1,000 below required Division)

Analysis/Background = 20
20 for Verbal Description

Total Score = 100

SLEEPER
ROAD MASTER AND VENATOR
FROZEN JEWL

"Hey… over here. I hear you are looking to shop some cubic? Never mind where I heard or how I know it's you. You just have that look.  Before you get started wasting my time and yours, let me see the color of your money. Cash . . . good, adequate.  Talk."

"Whatever you want hauled, I'm the one who can do it. My rig can handle over 3/4 ton of cargo with cubic to spare. You got the green to put a hitch on the back, and she can pull over three more tons. You want it there quick? I always collect on the punctuality bonus. No hassles from the cops? That'll cost you extra. Plenty extra. Don't ask how, but it can be done. If you really need to know how much for that little perk, then you really can't afford me either."

"Good, I see you have some functioning grey matter between your ears, as well as an appreciation for a professional's secrecy regarding his methods. The extra cash also helps in my opinion. Yeah . . . that's my rig outside. Doesn't look like much? Isn't worth what I'm asking? Says you . . . You gotta remember where you are at townie. Out here things aren't always what they seem. You should be looking inside the machine where it counts. Chrome and glitterjunk just attract problems out here . . . we've got plenty to begin with without advertising for some more."

"What's so damn special? I got at T-Cat wrapped into that frame with many hours of custom work under that fading plastic. Do you know how hard it is to get the armor to peel back so it looks like it hasn't been replaced in years? I guess you wouldn't. Do the work myself for the most part. Haven't found anyone I entrust my life and business to just yet. Got that engine off my first kill. Took me forever to find something to put it in. Worth the wait though. With a full load of cargo, she'll do 0-60 in six seconds flat. That's why I call her 'the Sleeper' . . . no one expects that kind of thrust from a vehicle that big. Especially one that 'Doesn't look like much.'  Don't believe me? Lets drag. I got all kinds of faith that my machine will take your little Piranha Courier and clean her teeth with it. Light snack is all. Even with a full load of cargo."

"You are just full of ignorance aren't you? Whaddya mean I don't have the firepower to protect the load? Your city-boy ideas are showing again. Sure, a laser is a decent weapon, but a good fog will make you next to defenseless in a heartbeat. Besides, I get into a serious dustup and who's to say I will have enough juice to get to the next stop? Then where will your cargo be? My armament is simple, effective, easily replaced or repaired. Ammo availability is rarely a problem with rockets; I usually re-arm from the vultures that started the problems in the first place. Armor piercers for trikes, standard HE for bikes. They get so confused when they don't immediately swarm me that they don't realize they are now doing 120 mph. At those speeds I don't have to even hit the bikes, just the ground next to 'em, which sends shrapnel every which way. One to two rockets usually shakes 'em off their bikes, and at that speed there's not much left for the buzzards. If that doesn't work, then there is always the tear gas / smokescreen combo in the back. So many people these days hide nastiness under the cover of smoke. Most don't have the stones to drive blindly into something they can't see, and drive around the clouds. Can't do that to easily at those speeds . . . even on a bike. 'Sides, that CS gas really tears 'em up when they can't get around the clouds. They get past that, and I let them get in a little closer so I can ram an AP through their roof armor on the trikes, or those thin candy-like shells cyclists are streamlining their bikes with these days. Any questions?"

"Why is it that I always get the ones who think I'm nothing outside of my machine? Your greed is showing. Get your hand away from your hogleg and put it back on the table where I can see both of 'em. C'mon, I know the look. People see the ride, get to look inside and fall in love. Want it for themselves. Look under the table. That's an H&K needle pistol, technically non-lethal and pointed where your flak jacket just doesn't cover. I get to carry this little baby into most places you can't take a gun because of that. 'Course you don't know what's in the needles now do you? This foam grenade you laughed at will buy me enough time to get away while the drug works its way into your system. You either wake up or you don't. I'm in a good mood tonight, so I'll let you walk out of here and leave first. Don't try anything, because the people out here know me and 'the Sleeper'. They don't know you. Leave now, and I'll still haul your cubic. See you at the meet. Drive careful."

Sleeper -- Mini-bus, hvy. chassis, thundercat PP with overdrive, 10 PR tires, trucker left-front, 2 linked RLs (each with standard rockets, extra AP magazine and magazine switch) in universal 4-space turret, 2 SSs (each with tear gas; 1R, 1L), SS (with standard smoke colored like tear gas) back, plastic airdam, plastic spoiler, link (2 RLs and 3 SSs), FE, HDSAs, HD brakes, HRSWC (trucker and 2 RLs), personal equipment (see below). Cargo capacity: 1,562 lbs. Plastic armor: (250 points), two 10-pt. plastic WGs front, four 10-pt. plastic WGs back. Acceleration 10 (5 with overdrive), Top speed 120 (130 without cargo, 140 with cargo and overdrive activated), 150 without cargo and overdrive activated), HC 1 (2 at 60 mph +); 11,638 lbs., $50,000.

Sleeper Personal Equipment -- Body armor, needle pistol (with 20 sleep darts), foam grenade.

The Road Master and the Venator are two recent additions to the DKI line of oversized vehicles. They are intended for small- to medium-sized convoy operators, whose vehicle choices are most often limited by budget considerations. At under $50,000 each, these vehicles are efficient combinations of armor and firepower; perfectly capable of undertaking their assigned missions.

The Road Master is designed for convoy rear-guard operations. Its dropped weapons are capable of sealing off a stretch of highway up to 250 yards long, while the turreted blast cannon and the linked grenade launchers can simultaneously threaten cars where they are most vulnerable (the top armor and the tires).

The Venator is designed to accompany the Road Master and provide anti-aircraft support, along with a secondary anti-personnel function. In convoy operations, it is most often placed directly in front of the Road Master.

Road Master -- Mini-bus, x-hvy. chassis, small OV power plant, 10 SB HD tires, trucker, gunner, 2 VMGs in 4-space turret, 2 linked GLs (impact-fused grenades) back, 2 linked SDs (each with 4 extra magazines; 1R, 1L), MD (with 4 extra magazines) back, Swc, 2 links (MD and 2 SDs, MD and 2 GLs). Metal/plastic armor:  F0/50, B15/40, R0/50, L0/50, T0/50, U0/10 (15 points/250 points), two 10-pt. plastic AWHs front, two 10-pt. plastic WGs back. Top Speed 102.5, HC 1; 14,400 lbs, $49,200.

Venator -- Mini-bus, x-hvy. chassis, small OV power plant,10 SB HD tires, trucker, gunner, VMG (with 10 standard rounds, 10 proximity-fused explosive and rotary magazine) and 2 SAMs (each with 5-space SAM magazine) in universal 4-space turret, 4 flechette guns  (2 linked R, 2 linked L), 2 HDSSs (each with tear gas; 1R, 1L), SWC, 2 links (right HDSS and right FG, left HDSS and left FG). Plastic armor: F45, B45, R45, L45, T35, U10 (225 points), six 10-pt. plastic WGs. Top speed 102.5, HC 1; 13,950 lbs, $49,850.

Frozen Jewl -- Minibus, hvy. chassis, medium OV PP with laser battery, 10 HD tires, trucker, gunner, laser in universal 2-space turret top-front (higher turret), 3 SAMs in universal large rocket platform top-back, 6 FGs (1F, 2 linked R, 2 linked L, 1B), 6 FDs (1F, 2R, 2L, 1B), 2 TCs. Plastic armor: F60, R50, L50, B50, T20, U30 (250 points). Top speed 120, HC 1; 13,160 lbs., $49,370.