Author Topic: NEW- Terran Trade Authority Cutlass...Little Metal Spaceships (Read 3975 times)

CompanyB · « **on:** 27 October 2017, 08:10:50 PM »

Its time for retro sci-fi!

I was a big fan of Chris Foss and other Sci-Fi-Fi artists when I was growing up. I've started creating more models based on these designs.

So here's a thread dedicated to those ships. If you have requests, post the ref images here and I'll add them to my sculpting Que!
I'm not sure I'll cast these...but they will all be up on my shapeways site:

https://www.shapeways.com/shops/companyb

TTA Hornet work in progress.

Does anyone have any scale/size related info on these compared to pilots?

And the Shark from the other thread:

gamer Mac · « **Reply #1 on:** 27 October 2017, 08:22:39 PM »

I remember the book with those ships, loved them?
I don't remember much from the pictures to help you scale them though

Vanvlak · « **Reply #2 on:** 28 October 2017, 07:46:01 AM »

Oh wow!
Painting the Hornet will not be easy though!
Scale: not much in the pics to provide scale, although we do know from the TTA book that the Shark has a crew of 3 and the Hornet 2. But the Shark's drive sounds as if it could be smaller. The Manta would be a nice addition, and that looks as if it has a cockpit - and it's a 4-man ship - so an idea of scale can be had from that. An Alpha ship would be a nice addition - the Stingray would be nice, but there's no clear view of the nose; alternatively the exotic looking Minnow.
The Tarantula would be cool too...

CompanyB · « **Reply #3 on:** 01 November 2017, 07:19:16 AM »

Work started on the Manta

Vanvlak · « **Reply #4 on:** 01 November 2017, 10:13:49 AM »

Ooooh!

CompanyB · « **Reply #5 on:** 02 November 2017, 06:36:25 PM »

Quote from: Vanvlak on 28 October 2017, 07:46:01 AM

Oh wow!
Painting the Hornet will not be easy though!

Easily solved with decal sets which are already in progress. I'll have the hornet and shark sets complete later this week.

Vanvlak · « **Reply #6 on:** 02 November 2017, 06:46:03 PM »

Quote from: CompanyB on 02 November 2017, 06:36:25 PM

Easily solved with decal sets which are already in progress. I'll have the hornet and shark sets complete later this week.

That's sneaky, that is!

CompanyB · « **Reply #7 on:** 03 November 2017, 02:41:25 AM »

Well, seeing as how none of these models existed last week, or even were started...the goal right now is to see if there any interest in these as miniatures. Right now that's unknown, and I would say this project is pretty much my own fleet to game with, or for those who ask for copies. There is some enthusiasm, but its unknown if that would translate into actual sales. The 3D printed models are currently at shapeways cost for zero profit, as I can't get them printed at a price thats reasonable unless I get my own printer. It's currently a catch 22 as the costs for me to manufacture these are considerable, so I'd need to see real interest before that would happen. It would also take some time to rebuild the models to be turned into multipart kits.

Further research will also show that the Hornet is by Colin Hay. The original painting was used for an Isaac Asimov novel, and I suspect the TTA book was a secondary showcase to see the paintings without all the book titles and text. Mr Hay has been selling off the originals. I'd love to sell enough minis to buy an original painting from him, or even a print from Foss.

That said, I do have the full capability and partners to create rules that would use these miniatures and incorporate the lore of the TTA universe. That would be a fully licensed project. We could incorporate these into the rulesets I'm currentlyexploring for the other miniatures I'm doing, by creating a supplement or even a standalone game.

I'm literally a week into this though. Last week I was debating more original designs for miniatures and ended up creating these to just kill some time. For now it's about getting people interested for anything to be able to happen.

CompanyB · « **Reply #8 on:** 03 November 2017, 04:42:46 PM »

I have my team currently making inquiries with the TTA owners about licensing the ships, story and name. I'm thinking either a full set of simple rules for a game that would come with a few ships, or some sort of supplement that lets you skin an existing ruleset like 5150.

This will be a very "indy" game...as I hate kickstarting, and don't like borrowing funds for anything in my hobby endeavors. So, hoping folks get interested in the other ships to help support the TTA work. I think these will end up being the main focus now.

So...all TTA fanatics, please chime in with your thoughts, wants and wishlist!

Which other ships?
Fleet Scale?
More original designed ships?
Decals to make other ships fit the look?

Vanvlak · « **Reply #9 on:** 03 November 2017, 05:29:22 PM »

Keep it small - skirmish sized, say two ships against two.
Scenario based would be nice - nuke the planet from afar; hide and seek in a maze of skyscrapers; Tarantula, bait and prey...all scenes from the book incidentally (ok, the Tarantula doesn't have a bait ship, but it could work).

I'm a fan of one of the crummy ships (as per description, that is) - the old Cyclops.

Hobby Services · « **Reply #10 on:** 03 November 2017, 09:33:54 PM »

The license issue is definitely something to consider, although I doubt Foss (or Hay) comes into it directly. Someone (apparently Cowley, the author) owns the rights to the TTA as an IP, and that someone licensed an RPG (unreleased AFAIK) and a modernized printing of the books not all that long ago, through Morrigan Press at first and later a failed KS from Battlefield Press. They're the people you need to talk to. The wiki page for the Terran Trade Authority has all this info, but you'll have to dig deeper and get some legal eagles to do proper research. Morrigan ran into problems with an erroneous licensor originally themselves, don't want to have that happen again.

Oh, and I've said it before - the ACM 113 Fat Boy gets my Most Wanted Mini vote, followed immediately afterward by the Proximan Toad.

If you want a rules system for the figs, I'd strongly advise talking to Jon Tuffley about a Full Thrust mod, and if he's not game, to Dan Kast about Starmada.

CompanyB · « **Reply #11 on:** 02 December 2017, 02:44:17 AM »

The manta is now up in Shapeways! Though I will also be offering a resin cast version early next year. The original painting is by Bob Layzell. Bob also painted the Cutlass and Piranha, and he has graciously offered to send me sketches and plans for accuracy. So these two will be next