Custom HISS Contest - Salamander

[Venomfang]

I've never customized anything before and I was limited in the tools I had - I did it to try my hand at it without seriously messing up my tank! These other customs blow mine out of the water, but I at least had fun making an otherwise plain looking HISS look more busy! =D

So, here I have my Salamander
Specs:
Armor: 3' Durasteel™ Armor "It doesn't stop everything, but it stops most!"

Engine: ARIES-12 @ 650 HP
Fuel: Diesel
Max Speed: 60 KPH Open / 45 KPH Terrain
Communications: Argus X950 Cryptsignal Multiway Master Type
Armament:
80mm Cannons x 2
75mm Cannons x 2
M134 Vulcan Minigun x 2


Overview: Maintaining the ability to remain concealed until it is needed, and able to keep up with the more lightly armed HISS tank, the Salamander was built with the idea of letting HISS tanks engage enemy armor and infantry, keeping the Salamander in reserve until the time is right to unleash it on the rear or flank, or to lie in ambush and spring into attack on unsuspecting forces. Its multiple weapons readout lets it maintain a continuous barrage of fire from its cannon arrays while one set reloads and the other fires. It is fast enough to stay a step ahead of heavier armor, but it still suffers from light armor. Its twin M134 Vulcan guns with internal ammo feeds give it a devastating edge over enemy infantry, allowing for supressing fire that is otherwise absent on the normal HISS tank. Salamander crews also benefit from improved communication gear with the Argus X950 antenna, which keeps the driver instantly updated on the battlefield and gives two-way communication with his gunner. Salamander tanks are also authorized to equip field tools and spare treads. These treads, aside from permitting speedy repair of broken ones thanks to mines or rockets, can double as armor extensions. Issued shovels and wire-cutters allow troops to dig in or cut barbed wire for infantry forces at a moment's notice.

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t319/TheDaftKnight/GI%20Joe/SalamanderIsometric2.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t319/TheDaftKnight/GI%20Joe/SalamanderProfile1.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t319/TheDaftKnight/GI%20Joe/SalamanderIsometric1.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t319/TheDaftKnight/GI%20Joe/SalamanderFront.jpg

[Venomfang]

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t319/TheDaftKnight/GI%20Joe/SalamanderFieldtools.jpg

[Dark 5cythe]

SALT. The most unique customizing tool ive ever seen. Is that to kill the salamander, by drying out its skin?

[Venomfang]

Yes. I don't want the damn thing going berserk on me. It has to know who's boss. o_o

[Dark 5cythe]

Yes. I don't want the damn thing going berserk on me. It has to know who's boss. o_o

LMAO. Nice use of the "The Corps!" spring loaded cannons. The miniguns on the front and the antena are also a nice addition. Looks "stock" Which, I think is cool, cuz you tricked me into thinking those were actually part of the normal hiss.

The wire tools and tread though, I dunno. And maybe, a salamander isnt the most fearsome animal (salamanders are water animals btw).

[zephyr]

But Salamanders are Fire Elementers in olde times! :)

[Captain Carstein]

Nice job on your first custom! I like the upgraded firepower, and every tanker worth his "salt" know the importance of always having spare tread around. Because breaking track is sooo fun! :)

I know you already put the stickers on, but maybe you can go back and try your hand at a custome paint job in the future.

[Captain Carstein]

So I'm on Wikipedia because I know that there some mythology connection with salamanders and fire and that they got their name from the persian word for fire. What's funny (if true) is the origin of that myth. Here's what Wikipedia has to say:

"This connection likely originates from the tendency of many salamanders to dwell inside rotting logs. When placed into a fire, the salamander would attempt to escape from the log, lending to the belief that salamanders were created from flames - a belief that gave the creature its name."

I guess I find it funny that the little guys are running for their lives and since they're aquatic, fire is the last thing they want anything to do with, but somehow people believed that these "wet" little creatures were born from the flames. lol

[CdtWeasel]

Cool. I guess it would take 3 feet of armor to stop whatever could get past those guns.

[Unclassified]

thats nice man

[Venomfang]

Thanks for the feedback guys! I named it the Salamander for two reasons, first being that, like Carstein said, Salamanders were born from (and were impervious even) to fire. In WW II, there was a German Panzer crew that ran away with that mythology, and painted "Happy Salamander" on the side of their tank. I thought it was hilarious.

[Cobra88]

thats great, gotta love big guns on a hiss!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JR0d28]

DAMN salamander I would have gone with Komodo Dragon that thing is mean looking.

[MAJOR WOLF]

Nice! :) looks good!