Yet another aeronef build thread (build complete: 3/21/09)

[Mancha]

For cleaning up the soft plastic I have used a brand new blade on my craft knife and very carefully cut off the rough bits.

I guess that's what I'm going to have to resort to.  I was hoping there was some magical method I was unaware of.   

Are you going to explain what the square hole in the deck is for.

Nothing special; just the companionway to the engine room.  I've started working on that and will post pictures in the next couple days.

[Ray Rivers]

Excellent progress!  I think that calls for a beer!   

I really like the shape of the 'nef.  Do you intend to have the bottom detachable from the upper structure?

[Mancha]

Excellent progress!  I think that calls for a beer!   

(Looks around blearily, having already followed this advice.)  Huh?

Do you intend to have the bottom detachable from the upper structure?

Nah.  Sooner or later I'll glue it on.  Would there be any particular gain to allow the bottom to detach from the top?

[Ray Rivers]

Do you intend to have the bottom detachable from the upper structure?

Nah.  Sooner or later I'll glue it on.  Would there be any particular gain to allow the bottom to detach from the top?

Well, depending on construction, you might be able to use it as a normal gunboat or such for other adventures.

[Doc Twilight]

Brilliant work, so far. Really like what you've done.

Question for all of you building these beauties, as I'm a landship builder, but haven't gone on to the "aerial" types. How do you support them on the table top? It's the flying base that has me stymied. What about you, Mancha? Any thoughts on how you'll set this thing up as a flyer, or do you plan to have her sit on her keel? (Valid solution, actually, given the shape.)

-Doc

[Mancha]

Question for all of you building these beauties, as I'm a landship builder, but haven't gone on to the "aerial" types. How do you support them on the table top? It's the flying base that has me stymied. What about you, Mancha? Any thoughts on how you'll set this thing up as a flyer, or do you plan to have her sit on her keel? (Valid solution, actually, given the shape.)

Thanks for the positive feedback.

Regarding your question above: I am not the man to ask.  I am basically a painter and modeller, and don't wargame at all.  So I may very well just leave her resting on her keel on a shelf.  On the other hand, I may choose to display her, in which case I would probably have to come up with some way of suspending her off the ground.  Hm, how would I do that?  I can see myself using a couple of those largest Games Workshop clear plastic bases with their matching plastic uprights.  With two or three holes drilled into her under-keel, I suspect two or three plastic bases would hold her up.  I doubt that would work on the gaming table though. 

In the last few days I've seen some pretty ingenious flyer stands around the LAF.  There's the excellent two-man balloon in a recent game thread, the beautiful shed holding up a dirigible, and the ACW observation balloon attached to a base with a cart. 

Any other good ideas, folks?

[Ray Rivers]

Blunderbuss will be equipped with 3 wooden dowel rods to take to the air and a triangular wooden base of some sort.

[gamer Mac]

I haven’t worked out how I am going to mount mine yet. But even though I am a gamer and modeller I don’t play VSF and I don’t know anybody in the area who does. So mine is very unlikely to be used in a game. I am just building it for the fun.
I have some thin dowel that I will probably mount on a stand of some description. I suppose before I go much further with my build I should give it some thought. I have got a couple of the large GW flying bases for my elder grav tank. I could maybe borrow them but I think they are a bit low.

[Dewbakuk]

There is a new plastic flying base coming out from GW for their flyers, not skimmers. So it's bigger and stronger. Here's a pic (I'd embed it but it's big)
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4nzgPbHlNo4/SZhfmwVPTSI/AAAAAAAAEGk/w27Hf3xW4jo/s1600-h/valk-base.jpg

And here's a shot of them in use
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4nzgPbHlNo4/SZhfXOsozsI/AAAAAAAAEF8/Ojnvhzl5pJg/s1600-h/valk-squadron.jpg

Being GW, if it gets sold seperately it'll probably cost far too much, but shouldn't be long before someone like Litko do a cheaper version.

[Mancha]

Spent hours on this build over the last couple days, but have little to show for it.  You can see the new front gangplank in the picture:



Much of the time went into constructing the engine room, its entrance and skylight, seen here:



I dig the skylight.  Nothing reminds one of the Victorian Era like a skylight; well, that and rivets.  On that topic, I have only ten of the precious brown rivets remaining! 

Can't wait for my Reverisco order to arrive so I can plant some funnels here and there and throw a ladder down to the engine room door.

[gamer Mac]

Love the engine room. I really like the skylight.
 I was thinking about adding these as well to mine (Honest).
What are the small grey bits you are using for rivets/bolts?
What flag is this glorious ship going to fly?

[Mancha]

Love the engine room. I really like the skylight.

Me too! Maybe I'll add some more to the top of the fighting bridge.

I was thinking about adding these as well to mine (Honest).

Yeah, sure you were.   

What are the small grey bits you are using for rivets/bolts?

Those are plastic bolts from a model train shop.  They're probably Grandt Line.  Every time I find myself in a model train shop (and there aren't any in the city I live in), I buy up a bunch of these in various sizes.

What flag is this glorious ship going to fly?

Hadn't gotten that far.  Any suggestions?

[Sinewgrab]

Norwegian! We'll take over the world together!

[Chairface]

It's absolutely lovely! My expectations keep getting higher and higher. Well done!

[gamer Mac]

That’s it I am going to have to start my own thread about building my Aeronef.
Sorry if anybody is sick of seeing these being built but I have to prove my honesty to you doubters.
Got to be British flagged. We seem to be getting out numbered here.