I’m always on the lookout for ships that fit the Micro Galaxy scale. This Gundam support aircraft is one such vessel.
Instead of following the build booklet, I took one of its wings and turned it into a space-faring version of the venerable T-16 Skyhopper.
The Tickbalang is supposed to be a support carrier for mechs
Original version vs Star Wars version
Incom T-20 Spacehopper
With the success of their T-16 Skyhopper airspeeder, Incom Corporation decided to follow it up with a space version, The aim was to create a basic, no-frills system jumper that could do short-range hops from planet to planet. Thus, the T-20 Spacehopper was born.
The T-20 took the layout of the T-16, added a pressurized cabin, and a sublight engine for intra-system travel.
The T-20 is a basic transport shuttle with a low price tag and economical maintenance. With only one sublight engine and a class 3 hyperdrive, it is designed for short range inter-system journeys.
“It’s just me, a pleasure droid, our own cabin, and no questions asked.”
To keep costs low, the Spacehopper has hoverjets instead of repulsorlifts for atmospheric flight. This means it requires a short takeoff roll to get airborne, so it uses a landing gear system instead of the skids normally found on most spacecraft.
A Spacehopper on landing approach with landing gear extended.
View of the the undercarriage. To minimize takeoff distance, the shuttle has directional thruster nozzles at the back, as well as extending body flaps.
Thanks to its budget-friendly price tag, the T-20 can be found in almost any system, from rich Core worlds to backwater planets in the Outer rim. It is said that Han Solo first learned how to fly in a hotwired Spacehopper. The joyride landed him 2 years in an Imperial juvenile work camp, but left him with a lifelong dream to get his own ship and become a pilot.
A battered T-20 in Rebel Alliance colors. Here you can see the directional thruster nozzles on each side.
A civilian Spacehopper awaiting departure clearance, with sublight engine spooling up.
A Star Tours Spacehopper moments before getting shot down for violating restricted Senate airspace.
Word of advice: never fly Star Tours.
Where to Buy
The Gundamn Tickbalang is available on Hobbylink Japan for less than $12. It is a snap-model kit that doesn’t need any paint or glue.
Total build time is less than 15 minutes. While it doesn’t have a cockpit, you get many moving features like opening landing gear, swiveling side and rear thrusters, and an extendable body fairings.
Leave a Reply