X-Bomber (My Version)

A convoy of Earth Defence Force transport ships traverse an asteroid field; escorting them are a number of astrofighters led by the EDF warship the X-Bomber. The supplies are vital; fighters are good against similar foes – larger predators need a big brute of a defender – and the X-Bomber is that.

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This is my version of the famed warship X-Bomber; for those unfamiliar with this vessel (and there are a few in that bracket), it is the ship from the Japanese show “Super Space Machine X-Bomber” – better known as Star Fleet in the west.

The story is set around a crew whose initial mission is to thwart an alien invasion by the Imperial Alliance; however, the heroes learn that the aliens are after something called the X01 and as a result head off into the unknown, into adventure to uncover this mystery.

Think Star Trek + Star Wars + Getter Robo.

This show was famous for two things – first it was the only major puppet action show that was NOT done by Gerry Anderson; it was done by legend Go Nagai.

The second was the narrative of the story; unlike Anderson’s shows, Star Fleet had a single story arc with an ending; it was also full of very mature elements that western shows would not follow; death, heroism, sacrifice, loss, betrayal, vengeance, and the characters were flawed. The heroes maybe this on paper but they were as fragile and as imperfect as us; they may have had awesome machines to fight with, but none possessed any remarkable abilities except their skills.

Puritans may be offended by this simple synopsis – all I say is look up Star Fleet, watch it and come to your own conclusions.

As for the titular machine, I love the vessel but it had a number of flaws and design traits I did not like; the engine arrangement, the swan-neck to reveal its weapons, and some weapons that appear to fire out of nowhere. The X-Bomber could take punishment that would put the Galactia to shame and it was absurd in many ways.

That said, I love the show, love the design, and love the effort that went into it; the ship is a design masterpiece – up there with the Odyssey, the Liberator, the Enterprise, and the Discovery just to name a few. It is a very clever piece of design despite a few things I do not like – so I went for making it more robust looking, having emitters for weapons, changing the nose into a battery of arms instead of it being the bridge with rip-off manned gun turrets akin to the Millennium Falcon. As for its super weapons, I mounted most into an armoured hatch that would sprout open. The nose is fixed and unlike the original, I made her more warship-like and does not carry the supermech Dai-X.

The other ships are mods on Go Nagai’s designs which are also smart and very innovative.

Like to hear your thoughts

Enjoy!