Tunnel Scout

Art of the Tunnel Scout from the LEGO Rock Raiders video game

The Tunnel Scout is a fictional aircraft in the LEGO Rock Raiders theme. It is depicted as a small helicopter that can transport a single pilot across any terrain. It was never released in a LEGO construction set and is exclusive to the LEGO Rock Raiders video game, though it is largely constructed out of pieces used in LEGO Rock Raiders sets.

Design

The Tunnel Scout is a small helicopter. Like the Hover Scout, it is built around a 6×6 "cross with dome" plate (part 30303), which was introduced in and heavily used by LEGO Rock Raiders sets. Its footprint is increased in the front by two black 3×3 wedge plates. At its front is a Rock Raiders logo tile tilted forward on a hinge brick to form an angular front. It has two small jet engines attached to the sides of the dome plate. Its back half features two Rock Raiders 3×2 engine slopes connected over the jets and dome plate that hold down the jet engine parts and make up a large part of its profile. It has a single large brown propeller tilted back slightly on a hinge brick. Two tool clips under its steering wheel carry two handheld circular saws.

Although it largely is constructed out of parts found in LEGO Rock Raiders sets, the Tunnel Scout features several elements different from other LEGO Rock Raiders models, including unreleased elements. While the jet engines (part 3475b) are the same parts as the ones that the Rapid Rider uses, they are black in the Tunnel Scout instead of dark grey. Black had previously been the most common colour for this part, and had been produced since 1985; it was first released in dark grey in 1998, while the LEGO Rock Raiders theme was in development. The large brown propeller (part 30332) is also used in the Tunnel Transport, which introduced the part; however, the pin tile (part 2460) it connects to, which is yellow in the Tunnel Transport, is here coloured dark turquoise, a colour it was never released in. The two black wedge plates forming the front of the vehicle are positioned in a way that they would clip through part of the dome plate if they were standard 3×3 wedge plate elements (part 2450). They are likely unreleased versions with a notch in the corner where the dome plate could fit.

The Tunnel Scout was designed specifically for the LEGO Rock Raiders video game. The game's developers felt that more vehicles and buildings than the construction sets offered were required to create a more in-depth experience. While it was never released in a LEGO set and uses prototype pieces that were never produced, the Kabaya set Heli Transporter slightly resembles it.

Depiction

Chief flying a Tunnel Scout

In the story of the LEGO Rock Raiders theme, the Tunnel Scout is one of the vehicles used by the spacefaring Rock Raiders to search for power crystals underground. It is described as being useful for more advanced reconnaissance than vehicles like the Hover Scout and Rapid Rider. It can fly over a variety of terrain, including water and lava. It is resistant to the heat of lava and is one of the only Rock Raider vehicles that can fly over lava lakes. Its high speed helps it scout quickly and lets its pilot escape from danger. Though it has two small circular saws attached to it, it is not capable of using these to drill.

The Tunnel Scout appears exclusively in the LEGO Rock Raiders video games for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation. In the Windows version of the game, it is the only vehicle that is capable of crossing lava, and can carry a single pilot to places no other vehicles can reach. In the PlayStaion version, it is a speedy vehicle that the player can fly across water and lava: the Tunnel Transport can also cross lava in this game, but requires landing pads for the player to disembark. A Tunnel Transport piloted by Chief appears on the games' loading screen.

Game information

LEGO Rock Raiders (Windows)

The Tunnel Scout in the LEGO Rock Raiders game for Windows

In the Windows version of LEGO Rock Raiders, the Tunnel Scout is classified as a Small Vehicle. It costs three Energy Crystals to transport down one Tunnel Scout. It transports down at the Teleport Pad. Rock Raiders must be trained as Pilots to use this vehicle.

The Tunnel Scout flying over lava

The Tunnel Scout can travel across land, water, and lava and moves at a speed of 2.5 blocks per second. It can strafe by pressing Z or X, an ability shared only with the Rock Raider, Hover Scout, and Granite Grinder.

The Tunnel Scout has the following dependency required before it can be transported down:

• Rock Raider
• Tool Store (Level 1)
• Teleport Pad (Level 2)
• Power Station (Level 1)
• Support Station (Level 1)

The Tunnel Scout does not have any upgrades. It is the only non-aquatic vehicle in the game that cannot be upgraded.

Game files

In the game's configuration file, the Tunnel Scout is defined as SmallHeli in the VehicleTypes {} section. Its files are located in the Vehicles\SmallHeli folder in LegoRR0.wad, and its animations are controlled by the AE file SmallHeli.ae.

LEGO Rock Raiders (PlayStation)

The Tunnel Scout in the PlayStation game

In the PlayStation version of LEGO Rock Raiders, the Tunnel Scout is one of the vehicles that the player can control during certain missions. It can fly over land, water, and lava at high speeds. It flies at an altitude that puts it out of reach of many creatures, though it is still vulnerable to Monsters, Rock Whales, and geysers. If controlled by Jet, it will travel faster than it otherwise can.

Its models, textures, and animations are found in the file shelicop.hmd in the VEHICLES PWP file (Europe)/directory (North America).

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  Flying over water

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  Flying over lava

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  Monsters can still attack it

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  HMD Model

References

• Data Design Interactive (25 September 1999). Main Lego Config File. LEGO Rock Raiders (Windows). LEGO Media International. File path: Rock Raiders\LegoRR1.wad\Lego.cfg.