Mechanizing the Martian Hinterlands (Finished Aeronef page 5, Dec 22 2011)

[Froggy the Great]

First off, I cannot praise Dr Mathias and his thread here highly enough.  I am in his debt for the inspiration and help.

(Jump to the finished pics of the trucks and small flyers here, if you want to skip the blow-by-blow)

(Jump to the finished pics of the large Aeronef here, if you want to skip everything else)

Starting with wedding favors, purchasable here (though I'm sure better deals exist somewhere - I found cheaper models, but then the shipping was punitive on the level of the RIAA and MP3s):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-Cinderella-Coach-Wedding-carriage-Plastic-clear-/140418334303?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20b195be5f

Tools used so far:
-xacto knife
-pin vise
-hacksaw
-razor saw
-wire cutters
-superglue
-keychain-sized level
-cutting mat
-small children

Here are two WIPs of my steamwagons, copying Dr. Mathias's models enough to be copies, but changed enough make them my own.  They're to the point of needing final cleanup and then a marathon rivet-session with 2-part epoxy and a toothpick:






And since I bought a 12-pack and still have 8 of these suckers to use, I started playing around:


In GASLIGHT terms, this'd be fairly hard-hitting, fairly slow, and as it works on the electrical excitation of the luminiferous aether, its Start and Sustain rolls would be pretty difficult to make.

Now I'm pondering whether I need to make another one, and what to do with the other 7 coaches I have.

[Mancha]

I like that.  You turned something way too futuristic into something quite obviously VSF.  Nice.

[Froggy the Great]

http://spielorjh.deviantart.com/gallery/?q=hinterland is what I'm trying to make these fit in with, by the way.

[Svennn]

The carriage/tanks are great but that flyer is awesome

[Froggy the Great]

Thank you!  I'm still a little worried that it's not VSFy enough.

[Mancha]

http://spielorjh.deviantart.com/gallery/?q=hinterland is what I'm trying to make these fit in with, by the way.

You didn't have to plug me.     

[Traveler Man]

Thank you!  I'm still a little worried that it's not VSFy enough.

Add rivets. 

Awesome build BTW. 

[Froggy the Great]

Thank you!

And as it happens, I have indeed added many rivets, but the image doesn't show them well.

[Dr Mathias]

The aircraft is pretty interesting. The new wheel configuration makes it appear to be a VSF version of an anime dual rotor helicopter from Ghost in the Shell, or maybe the Scorpion from Avatar. I'll be curious to see it painted up, along with the sweet rides.

[The_Beast]

Here are two WIPs of my steamwagons, copying The_Beast's models enough to be copies, but changed enough make them my own.  They're to the point of needing final cleanup and then a marathon rivet-session with 2-part epoxy and a toothpick:

Whoa, I'm just the cheerleader; Matt's the genius. 

I'm still 'visualizing' what I'll do with my coaches; you've already surpassed my imagination, much less whatever I may eventually realize.

If I'm not mistaken, Froggy, I've already added you to my list of folks to hate for embarrassing me by their competence. ;->=

'Walk with pride, man!'

Doug

[Chairface]

Wow, the flyer turned out really well.

[Froggy the Great]

Instead of painting, I decided making another flyer would be more fun.  I took a pre-priming pre-riveting WIP of the new model, in case anyone wanted to see the parts used:

[The_Beast]

Two? I suddenly want Capt's Morpheus and Niobe at the helms. 

I kid you not, one of my coaches had a rear wheel at almost that bad an angle...

What ARE those fins from? Star Wars?

Doug

[Froggy the Great]

Most of the styrene parts are actually ripped from a bunch of the Rocketmen CMG from a couple years ago.  Those fins are either the small flying bases or the fusilages of one of the smaller fighter type figures.

Painting, I think, will be along the same lines as the uniforms of my existing Hinterland figures - Olive with blue shading, white and gold trim, with some pink somewhere.

I haven't decided on the flags yet, since these are supposed to be either High Atlantean, Martian, or whatever they get retconned into next.  Certainly not German or Prussian, but I don't want to rule that out either...

The flags, by the way, are various Rocketmen flight stands.

[The_Beast]

Thanks, Froggy!

Should have known; I've a number of Rocketmen packs waiting another attempt at War Rocket. Some of the ships are quite good proxies.

Needless to say, inspiring to see you keeping the ladies so well equipped. I'm certainly anticipating the painting.

Doug