Mid XIXth century naval miniatures: would there be any interest?

[Yuber Okami]

Hi!

Some weeks ago I went to Navwar's shop in Essex, and talked for a while with the owner. I told him it could be interesting to expand his line of 1:1200 miniatures to cover not only the ACW, but other conflicts of the mid-century like the naval battles of the Boshin war, the battle of Lissa or the two Pacific Wars (the first between Spain and a coalition of Peru, Bolivia and Chile, the second between the former allies). Unfortunately, a few days ago he told me it was too expensive to make the masters at those scales. As I want a Boshin war line of ships to play along with Roku's 28mm miniature range, i've thought about making them myself.

The question is, if no one would be interested, i will build them as one-shots, but if more people are interested i could consider building them as masters (i have experience casting miniatures).



Anyone interested?

[fastolfrus]

Not sure about Boshin but Lissa might be interesting.

[sjwalker51]

I'm just amazed you found the Navwar shop open!

[CptJake]

Could you do them as 3d models and offer them on Shapeways or something similar?

[Yuber Okami]

I was about to say "no" when i remembered i did an entire dreadnought in 3D using CATIA, so yes, i definitely would be able to do so

[Yuber Okami]

Well, this stuff never got intro fruition as I only knew how to use CATIA and the license is crazily expensive. Anyway i wanted to bump it because Spithead Miniatures is:

- Already producing a battle of Lisa set (well, two sets, one for each side)

- Considering producing a Boshin War set. If anyone is interested contact him via Facebook (or ask me for his e-mail) as he will make them once another four people ask him

And no, he doesn't pay me for the advertising 

[carlos marighela]

Probably a bit far off the mark for you but I would be interested in Brazilian and Paraguayan ships for Riachuelo.

[AndyG]

Hi

I’m pretty sure Spithead do Paraguayan and Brazilian ships  for Riachuelo, if they never made it into full production I’m pretty sure I saw some here or on a Tmp forum when they did w one of those mini kickstarter type things they do when they ask for interest

[robh]

Boshin War naval actions could be interesting, (if rather one sided).  Wonderful looking rag tag assortment of ex major powers cast off ships.
Probably only limited number of times you could game the same few actions but from a modelling perspective the table surely would look great.

I will drop Phil a line and express an interest if he does go ahead. I don't do Facebook so was not aware he has thinking about it.

Hi

I’m pretty sure Spithead do Paraguayan and Brazilian ships  for Riachuelo,

They certainly do or did? Special Order sets for occasional limited run productions, like the Lissa range he has (although iirc that one may have been retired totally now)

[Yuber Okami]

For me Boshin War fleets is quite interesting because you can use them alongside Roku's fine 28mm miniature range to play a full campaign. Also, if the imperial forces didn't acquire Kotetsu (they did only near the end of the war) and didn't loose two of their main units in storms things get a lot more balanced that it may seem (and a campaign in which the shogunate stabilizes a front in Honshu makes for a case in which the USA  would probably held the Kotetsu...).

And as for the retired ranges... if enough people asked him for a relaunch, he would do.

[robh]

Fair analysis, but Kotetsu is kind of the iconic ship of the war
An interesting "what if" would be a French response to the death of some of their "advisors".  Under Napoleon III they were pretty quick to involve themselves in colonial adventures and had ships in the area.

There is something appealing about building a force based around a British built Royal Yacht, an American Revenue Cutter and a Prussian Side Wheel steamer then sending them off to war.

[NickNascati]

Matt Lawson of Brown Water Navy does a large range of ships covering ACW, mid century Ironclads and later ships in 1/1250th for Shapeways.