15mm aliens riding on flying creatures - ideas ?

[Wolfslord]

Hi,

for all those who don't like Avatar, no I'm not trying to build Na'vi in 15mm  (btw I love Avatar  )

I just like the idea of some alien natives or rebells that use flying creatures to attack Galactic Alliance settlements. I thought of Spartan Games Uncharted Seas dragons, but they are quite expensive. In 15mm Fantasy I really didn't find any good looking dragon or in general flying creature. I don't want to use Teradons, as I don't like the dinosaur look.

[HerbyF]

Perhaps you might look at some plastic toy sea creatures. Find a manta ray the right size and mount any 15mm alien you want on it.

[sukhe_bator]

The reason Avatar works is the amount of conceptual design that went into realising the Pandoran flora and fauna...
A manta ray is designed for moving through dense liquid (i.e. seawater). It would work in a dense atmosphere world, but then the riders would be stockier and more massively built to withstand the extra pressure and gravity etc etc.
A flying creature capable of being ridden by a humanoid would have to be light boned from a relatively low gravity world... think Pterosaur.
The flying reptiles in Pitch black have echo location and a ferocious front end for aerial combat at night but also digging claws to tunnel...
Work out what sort of environment you want and design solutions for the fauna will present themselves...

For the ultimate adaptation to environment I like the Tran from Alan Dean Foster's Icerigger series... light-boned furry humanoid mammals with elongated skate-like claws and membranous wings so they can wind-skate on ice-floes - awesome!

[The_Beast]

...
A manta ray is designed for moving through dense liquid (i.e. seawater)
...

True, though an alien manta might be made of less dense materials. Maybe conformal sleek outer 'fluff', and skin, bones, wiry muscles underneath.

Also, if  you assume it's stretched to the right shape, might make a passable glider. Would need method of draggin' up to launch, though.

I think it could pass with a bit of handwavium.

Doug

[Stroezie]

What about this one from 15mm.co.uk
http://www.15mm.co.uk/products/f25-chaos-knight-on-flying-reptile

[Hobby Services]

Any reason they need to be winged critters?  If you're looking for single-person mounts maybe some sort of aerial jellyfish with paddle-tendrils or biological jets, which could be probably be sculpted from putty and added to existing models.  For multi-person mounts, maybe a big skywhale-thing ala the Black Company books?

[Commander Roj]

Hi,

for all those who don't like Avatar, no I'm not trying to build Na'vi in 15mm  (btw I love Avatar  )

I just like the idea of some alien natives or rebells that use flying creatures to attack Galactic Alliance settlements. I thought of Spartan Games Uncharted Seas dragons, but they are quite expensive. In 15mm Fantasy I really didn't find any good looking dragon or in general flying creature. I don't want to use Teradons, as I don't like the dinosaur look.

I would get 28mm mounts and attach 15mm figures. For example Scotia Grendel do some very nice pterosaurs in their Void Viridian range. You would then need to mount your figures of choice, but moulding on a saddle outdoor allow you to fit some carefully selected figures.

[Rob_bresnen]

Demonworld (sold by Ral Partha Europe) have goblins riding giant mosquito and Beetles.

[dijit]

Demonworld (sold by Ral Partha Europe) have goblins riding giant mosquito and Beetles.

this is probably your best bet.

[KONNOC]

Try Brigade Models....15mm Tolero

Tolero are primitive but intelligent creatures who outwardly resemble terrestrial bears.

Some are mounted on fearsome Thaeyax steeds, a flightless avian similar to an Emu and nicknamed 'Terror Birds'.

Might be a good place to start....hell just add wings.

[sukhe_bator]

Beetle riding... reminds me of
http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/ferngully/images/9/9e/Beetal_boys.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130922054552
For terrestrial parallels there are flying squirrels, gliding draco lizards, beetles and insects galore, but I like the idea of a finned, paddled jellyfish/squid thingy
a casual google search for 'alien flying creatures' images seems to be quite productive