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Author Topic: Space 1889 - sky galleons of Mars - Fleets review and flypast (in 1/600 scale)  (Read 19739 times)

Offline Ironclad Paul

  • Bookworm
  • Posts: 62
Hi,    Thought I'd post for info (and maybe inspiration?) some of the creations my friend Dave and myself made around 20 years ago, mostly due to the influence of Ironclads and Ether flyers by Frank Chadwick (who was my hero at the time and could do no wrong).  But first a little story to set the scene for the pictures..

"In 1889 there were few princes of mars who could have realised that what started as a small fleet review to show the city population the strength of the martian air fleets, would end with the British showing who was really in charge !      The martian city with its stately canal was quiet on that morning with few about (pic1) then at the appointed time, with great pomp and band playing, the great fleet of martian galleons passed slowly overhead. almost blotting out the sun! (pics 2-4)
  Pride of place was the princes new sky galleon of the line the 'Great Nelsaan', all 100 guns of her!  A true sky galleon of the line!
 But then, after their passing, a new and unexpected fleet of noisy droning Earth gunboats and airships passed over, making the princes and the people afraid, and most cowered in their homes until they had passed. (Pics 5)    Then more swift gunboats appeared with the now well known British flag flying proudly.(pic 6)  There was also activity down on the canal, but few noticed with the droning overhead..
Few were there that day who would forget the final flypast by the monstrous floating flagship of the British space fleet...The Duke of York, followed serenely by the Imperial Airways Rigid 'Brittanic' with the attendant escort of Aphids.
Its the beginning of the end, the martian princes all agreed, but we wont go quietly, of course".

so, these fleets are all inspired by space 1889 and scratchbuilt in polyfoam and cardboard. the city is on 2 inch hexes.  Over the years I have played on 5"/3"/6" hexes until finally arriving at 2 inch (currently).   the modular stands have height functionality but I gave that up years ago as an unnecessary complexity.  simplicity is the name of the game these days.  sadly I havnt used the space 1889 rules (ironclads and ether flyers) for a decade or so but home grown rules always keep me busy with the odd campaign now and then.

Offline The_Beast

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  • As my grandchildren see me...
The sound you heard was my jaw hitting the floor.  :o

Sorry, nothing else coming at the moment.

Doug

Edit: Of course, took me five minutes to admire, send a note to mates to have a look, admire some more, shake myself out enough to remember the 'nef sticky, 'Oh, I should look as he may have already posted this there....'

OMG! 28mm! I've not noticed in all this time!

*ahem* This review should be preserved, or, at least, a link, in same sticky.
« Last Edit: February 22, 2015, 01:37:11 PM by The_Beast »

Offline Commander Carnage

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 300
Awe inspiring :o
Having looked at the pics before I read, I was so hoping to find those minis commercially available. Alas it is better for my wallet that they are not!
"Just don't roll a one!"

Offline The_Beast

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  • As my grandchildren see me...
Aw, Bill, after I saw them, your wallet would be in no danger, just your paint queue.  lol

Doug

Offline VSF Gamer

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 255
 :o I can feel the drum of the engines as they pass over! Indeed a site to behold! Well done!!!

Offline Bullshott

  • Scatterbrained Genius
  • Posts: 2878
  • I need a bigger hammer
    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/27772452@N07/sets/
Very impressive :)
Sir Henry Bullshott, Keeper of Ancient Knowledge

Offline Joe Fish

  • Librarian
  • Posts: 124
Quite a collection, very nice modelling.  I had to smile with your opinion about Chadwick early on.  Hmm, I have a bunch of foam board,  someday I may try something like your fleet, lbeit on a much smaller scale.

Offline harleyface

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 456
Just WOW...
 :o



Cultist#83

Offline WitchfinderGeneral

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 779
Wow, very impressive fleet! Someday I'll build some airships but it will never be as big as this collection!
"I'd like to send this letter to the Prussian consulate in Siam by aeromail. Am I too late for the 4:30 autogyro?"
"Uh, I better look in the manual... This book must be out of date. I don't see "Prussia", "Siam" or "autogyro"...

Offline robh

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  • Spanish offworld colonies
 :-*
Superb collection, absolutely awe inspiring.

Offline AndrewBeasley

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1228
Amazing collection of figures and scenery.

Story in the op is neat as well.

 :o

Offline Ironclad Paul

  • Bookworm
  • Posts: 62
Thanks for the kind comments chaps! I suppose we did get a bit carried away back then. It was a bit of an arms race for me and Dave, trying to outbuild each other.  The airships were mostly my own personal obsession and are mostly French, to the exclusion of most french gunboats which never got built. Funny thing is most of the french airships in that picture are really historical designs, some of which had very full real careers in ww1.     
I did start out in 1/1200 scale but found it too small for gunboats to be handled effectively. The very smallest gunboats in these pictures are about an inch long, the majority are about 3 inch or so.   A big aspect of this whole game was the naval ships and to me 1/600 scale was great for ironclads in this period, Though the naval side doesn't quite seem appropriate on this forum so I only showed the flyers.   There is always more inspiration for flyers coming all the time so I don't think I'm over it yet..
 Also, apologies for starting a new thread but I had already posted my 28mm flyers on that sticky as it seemed mostly that was where they were supposed to be (big flyers).  This seemed a little 'different' maybe, cheers anyway, hope it inspires others to go for it!

Offline The_Beast

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...
 Also, apologies for starting a new thread but I had already posted my 28mm flyers on that sticky as it seemed mostly that was where they were supposed to be (big flyers).  This seemed a little 'different' maybe, cheers anyway, hope it inspires others to go for it!

I refuse! It's WORTH a separate thread!

I just meant it needed to be in the sticky AS WELL. What part of 'all things airbourne.' confuses you?  lol

So, I added that link.

Doug

Edit: And I'm JUST getting around to asking about your personal rules. Not asking for a copy; the pile of playtest waiting even a first read is a continuing embarassment... *missing blush emoticon*
« Last Edit: February 22, 2015, 08:43:42 PM by The_Beast »

Offline Bullshott

  • Scatterbrained Genius
  • Posts: 2878
  • I need a bigger hammer
    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/27772452@N07/sets/
We need a sticky on BIG flyers. Unfortunately Jimbibbly's megalomaniac plnas would mean him taking over the entire thread ;)

Offline Metternich

  • Scatterbrained Genius
  • Posts: 2559
That's an amazing collection of flyers.  Did you gentlemen fight with them?  I have Cloudships of Mars, but only bought it for the period detail (and to accompany the rest of my Space 1889 collection - I have an unfortunate tendency to be a completist).

 

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