Martian Flora and Fauna (updated 12-31-12)

[Sinewgrab]

As opposed to my Free Norwegians, there are native creatures (or, at least, beings who have been on Mars longer than the Norwegians), so I thought I would start up a new little thread for them, as I have been a busy little bee lately.

First off, we have the Chasme Boreale variety of liftwood, which stores the sap in large fruits on the plant's limbs, and when it reaches a certain size, tends to pull the ground up and float away, forming forest 'islands' that float on the currents of wind.  Free Norway as well as native populations of these areas have taken to chaining the islands to the ground keeping them in place for harvest.  Doktor Helga Fabius has been credited with an amazing discovery - that when the fruit is prepared in a particular manner, it can be ground and added to a fluid solution to create a compound that has 100x the lifting power of the wood or fruit alone.  She has named this dried material disbelievitite, and with the proper suspension, she believes that it will revolutionize Norwegian air power.

This was my first attempt - what I refer to as a proof of concept model. Most of the time, I pitch these, but this will suffice.


And these are what followed. I should be able to forest a small end of a board with these.




And one with a model for scale.


I am up to five of these islands, and there I will stop.

[Sinewgrab]

And, while probably not native per se, we have what most Earthlings think of when they hear Martian, the Cephalopods (to steal the V&S&F nomenclature).



I press molded a giant tick model body to make their body, dremeled some spaces for eyes, added beads and green stuff tentacles, and then made a couple of press molds of theones I liked. I ahve about 20 of these guys made right now, and they will be getting artillery, and personal tripods made from these...



I will also be adding Deep Desert Martians, Greens, and Reds to this list eventually.

[Svennn]

I like the islands a lot - brilliant

[OSHIROmodels]

I like the islands as well, especially the roots that appear out of the side 

cheers

James

[marianas_gamer]

Very creative, I also really like the islands.

[Sinewgrab]

I like the islands as well, especially the roots that appear out of the side 

cheers

James

Thanks - I know it isn't up to the kind of standard you set for terrain, but I am just not that patient...
or talented, for that matter.

[Malamute]

Thanks - I know it isn't up to the kind of standard you set for terrain, but I am just not that patient...
or talented, for that matter.

You do yourself a disservice there Sir, I think your floatwood model is a triumph.

[chantyam]

If you what to go a bit bigger perhaps one with a small farm shack or processing building for the sap collection (sort of mini "Laputa") then not only could you have roots thoughout the 'island' but a bit of industrial run off 

[Froggy the Great]

The islands are beautiful.

I will watch with interest what you do with the tripods - I've made a couple vehicles from those myself.

[gamer Mac]

Some very nice stuff

[HerbyF]

Love that Martian terrain. I'm looking forward to seeing it some time in a game. You will have to let me know when you are going to put one on. I might have to come on down to Portland.

[Ray Rivers]

I am just not that patient... or talented, for that matter.

Ahhh... talent comes in many forms.   

Those are awesome pieces of terrain.   

[Cacique Caribe]

Sinewgrab,

Have you considered using these?  Or are they too big for your needs?

http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=243246

Dan

[Alfrik]

I likem!

[Sinewgrab]

Sinewgrab,

Have you considered using these?  Or are they too big for your needs?

http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=243246

Dan

Hmm, no I had never considered that.  Of course, now that I have my molds...

And thank you for the compliments - there are just some days that I see what some of the phenomenal minds here throw together, and feel like throwing it all in a deep lake somewhere.  Of course, other days I make the Free Norwegians, and mentally punch their forces in the mouth.