Most Common/Needed VSF deck guns and light guns?

[fergal]

I've got a few ships in the works at the moment and a few that have finished but need some decoration.

I'm just curious what the general consensus of what's needed.  I've ordered from a few places and I'm not knocking the products that I've received, they just aren't what I'm looking for.  Different scale, older molds, lots of reasons.

If you had your choice, what armaments would you like to see more available for your VSF airships?  I'd like to produce a light machine gun, a smaller caliber gun and a larger deck gun for English ships, perhaps something for the martian factions.  I'm hoping for the 1889 or Barsoomian vibe.

Anyway, interested in the discussion as there are sooo many knowledgeable folks here, I'd love to hear what you think.  I want to start talking to a sculptor, but want as much background knowledge as possible.

[fergal]

OK, I'll start.

I'm thinking a very useful gun for the Brits would be a 37mm Hotchkiss like so...



Is there anything more VSF-y than this for a mid level armament?

[Malamute]

The Hotchkiss is a good choice, I also like Nordenfeld or Gardner guns on ships. They also have the same VSF look in my opinion.

[OSHIROmodels]

HLBSC has a good range already so maybe look for something a little different?

cheers

James

[fergal]

HLBSC is fantastic, but I'm looking for a few guns that I can include with my ships rather than to buy occasionally. I'd like to give people what they want and most of the guys I sell to are US based.

[N.C.S.E]

My thinking is you'd want some large calibre pieces and small calibre pieces so they can be bought together when fitting out your ships.

You might have to double up on gatling guns etc, you really don't have much room to manouevre, its either gatlings or vickers or something and they're all more or less covered, but I suppose you could go somewhere special with the large calibre guns.

HLBS has a glaring hole in their line up in that department as all they offer (as far as I can see) are boring Dahlgren guns which, whilst fine for ACW, aren't really proper steampunk to my mind. (not enough machinery!)

My suggestion would be to have a range of guns ranging from the Armstrong guns on HMS Warrior.



to the naval artillery of the turn of the century.



These sorts of guns would look awesome on anything, especially on your aeronefs etc, are not easily scratchbuilt and aren't available anywhere on the market (as far as I know), the closest you can get is world war II artillery, which is pretty obvious to anyone who knows artillery pieces.

So yeah, that's my 2 cents on the matter. Make your shop stand out by fielding these awesome looking guns.

[The_Beast]

... I'm hoping for the 1889 or Barsoomian vibe...

You have a kite similar to Martians in Space 1889, so a perusal of Sky Galleons of Mars, and Ironclads and Ether Flyers, certainly suggest tether mines, liquid fire, lob guns, and spike droppers.

I seem to recall Barsoomians used radium guns. RAFM's Dr. Johan's Doom Ray?

Doug

Edit:  ERBzine has a truncated image of Heritage Models Radium Cannon.



Personally, I'd hope for something a bit archaic and filigreed.

[The_Beast]

Here's another gun as possible Martain deck gun, though would take a lot of work to make swivel-style.

I've bought off of eBay from Russia, but thanks to Cool-Mini-or-Not for the image.



Doug