ATHENA - Steampunk Airship (16)

Tatatataaaaaa!
Finally I can reveal my secret project:
STALINZ ORKAN!

My Ork Multi-Rookitbomb-Launcher Vehicle (MRLV) "Kazushaaah" for the Artillery Contest at Work in Progress :)
It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it.
The competition is pretty tough again, so I hope I can end in the forward third of the contest.

Anyhow, I did continue with the ATHENA.
I painted the plotting table

As you can see, I tried to use standard military markers (as I don't have an epic model, or a planetary empire hex handy)

added some highlights

And then I begun construction of the windows - these are the sides

here are the main window panes

and cut

then I base coated them and cut some clear plastic for the actual windows.

The mounting of the windows went pretty well, so there's no visible frosting on it.

And then I mounted them on the side panels

and mounted these on the lower deck.

The lower deck in position :)

Then I added some more ornaments

Since Matt asked, here's how I cut my plasticard.

I use a metal ruler - important is the corc base, that prevents accidential sliding

Then I do a first light cut

which I follow with about another 3-4 cuts (depending on the thickness of the plasticard), then I can bend it

and it snapps apart neatly

When drilling holes, I do them before I cut, and I start each hole with the fine GW drill, then with the next thicker (from left to right) and so on - I only use hand-drills, as power drills tend to get out of (my) control to fast... :-P

And the final ornament, nice industrial, steampunky

Since I did a major goof-up on the nose that I couldn't cover up easily, I decided to add a battle damage that was field repaired.

So this simulates some crude metal patching and riveting that will also be just in a base paint to show it is not original

Well, that's pretty much my update from this weekend :)

Oh, the rest of the evening I spent creating more rivets.... *yawn*

Cheers

Klaus

End of an Era

:)
After almost 20 years I finally got a proper haircut :-P
Ponytail is gone.
Feels good, and looks good too :)


Well, besides getting a haircut I also worked on the Siege Cannon some more, adding more rivets as well as shielding.

This is the upper shield, before mounted inside the nose

mounted :)

Here you can see the extended jump deck, covering now the full length of the blimps bottom.

Details for one of the new decks walls - this will be the wall for the observer room.

And here is the plotting table in the observer room

Here you can see the plain wall of the observer deck, this will have a huge tilted window, allowing observation of the ground too.

I base coated the observer room black last night (but no photo), so I can do the painting before I continue.

Cheers

Klaus

ATHENA - Steampunk Airship (16)

Well, I guess you all know I love building guns....biiiiiig guns :)

As I'm still fancying the idea of mounting a Siege Cannon, I started to build one.
First I did a rifled barrel

Thanks to Ultramar for his tutorial (http://ultrawerke.blogspot.com/2007/09/scratchbuilding-tip-barrel-rifling.html)

And then I added details

cooling ribs

and rivets

And then I mounted it in the nose of the former jump deck.

When I turn the image upside down, you can see it at maximum depression, firing to the ground.

Cool, isn't it?

It's nice to be working on the ATHENA again :)

Since this is going to be an Imperial vessel acquired by the Inquisition, I'm going to look into using Melta-Torpedoes (Str 8, Ap 3, Ord/Blast/2D6 Armor Pen) from a side mounted launcher tube :-P

Speaking of Inquisition, I think I mentioned that I'm incorporating some Witch Hunters into my guard to help eradicate the Orks on Dencara. I will try to base them on a kind of Dragonslayer theme - just instead of Dragons they kill Orks. Heraldry will possibly be some medevil Knight fighting an Ork.

Anyhow, my Latin is a bit rusty, and I'm not sure how I should name them...the original is the "Officium Draconis" (Office of the Dragonslayers) and I'm not if they should be called:
a) Officium Orkis

b) Officium Orkanum

c) Officium Orkanis

One of you has an idea?
Cheers

klaus

ATHENA - Steampunk Airship (15)

Aaaaaah :)
Finally she's back on my table.
Eventhough she's allready subject to a major operation, and I cut the jump deck apart, it feels good to work on the ATHENA again.

As you can see, I cut the lower jump deck apart, so I can extend it across the complete length.
Why you ask?
Well, I was thinking about armaments while I worked on my secret side project.
So far I had mainly worked on the upper deck, where the aircrafts will take off, and where the main focus is on Air-Defense.
But besides the aircraft carrier role, it is also a base for jump/drop troops (the jum deck obviously), as well as a weapons platform for ground attacks and bombardments.
So I was looking at the available weapons that would/could make sense.
So we have:

1. Hellstrike ATG Missile - unlimited range
2. Gryphonne IV Mk3 bomb (500 lbs) - 48"
3. Gryphonne IV Mk17 Incinary bomb - 48"
4. Marauder heavy bomb - 12"-48"
5. Multiple Rocket Pods - 24"
6. Demolisher Cannon - 24"
7. Stormsword Siege Cannon - 36"
8. Manticore Missile - 36"-300"

Yummy :)
Plus I think the ATHENA could be used to simulate planetary bombardments... Hmm, the Inquisition has some nice options for torpedoes....

Well, as you can see, there are quite some options. So I think I will mount the Siege Cannon in the nose of the Jump Deck - so it can be depressed quite far down. I'll surely have several bomb shafts, and maybe some launchers for two torpedoes plus a Manticore array...

Ideas, suggestions, criticism?
Cheers
Klaus

A first trend in the vote...

Wow, a pretty clear trend here!
19 Imperial Guards, and the next up's have only 3 votes each:
Daemonhunters
Orks
Witchunters
I see mostly the Valkyres and Russ' as reasons.

So what would the other armies need to become more attractive?
Lets say, how would you vote if the ForgeWorld range was included?
Any different?
What would be your wish unit - since we're dreaming anyway :)

Cheers
Klaus
P.S: My secret project was finished last night :) I will now do lots of photo shooting, get the competition image done and send it in.
So hopefully there will be ATHENA progress to report soon.

Dreaming Time

I woke up last night and somehow my thoughts wandered to the GW Prize Draws and the Megaprize of the 5.000 point army of your choice.
Whoooo, how cool would that be (regardless of the chances).
Then I thought about which army I would choose.
Obviously I thought of the IG fist, as it is a modellers dream and leaves sooo much room for customizing and pimping....Kriegs, Titans, all the nice toys...
but wait
Since it is a GW Prize Draw I am relatively sure Frogeword and the Kriegs are out...

OK, still, IG, with the nice tanks, the flyers, heavy tanks, Ogryns...a quite large chice for a good force, and with the new codes, a challenging one too.
What about Orks?
Also a new codes and new models, with the Stompa model and shokk attack guns...yum...warbikers, DeffKopta, buggies...oh so many toys.
But there other armies too, some very attractive from a modellers perspective (mostly mine), but also from a gamers perspective (not really mine).
Daemonhunters with their Grey Knights, Inquisitors, Dreads and Landraiders...tasty
Dark Eldar with their Incubi, Wyches, Warp Beast, and Jetbikes...yummy

So, which army would you choose and why?
I look forward to see the poll and hopefully some comments from you.
Cheers
Klaus

Is this Santa Klaus?

The IIDS released another security update today.
Within todays publication a new image, supposedly depicting the wanted terrorist "Santa Klaus" aka "Klaus, not Santa" aka "Not, Santa Klaus".
Eventhough there are similarities between the old mugshot provided in the left corner and the new IIDS image, several specialist doubt that the new image from the Officium Claudio, Germanicum Sector, really shows the notoriuos terrorist.

Forensic specialist point out that the obvious fake beard and red hat could be a very clever disguise.
We are expecting new updates by the Imperial Intelligence Agencies soon.
:)

Is Santa Klaus an Ork terrorist?

Today the IISD released aother detail image of the mysterious Kazushaaah vehicle.

It seems to be in service for quite some time, as extensive wear and tear is visible. Also of note is the grafitti on the side "SANTA WAZ HERE", which points the IISD to some ancient religious cults of Terra.

If there are any real connections between the mystery figure of Santa Klaus and the Ork activities on Dencara 5 is yet to be revealed.

Stay tuned for more news.

Cheers

Intelligence Update

Today the Imperial Intelligence Service of Dencara (IISD) released an intelligence update on the spotted Ork vehicle.
According to this wanted poster, the vehicle was identified as the notorious Kazushaaah of Boss Stalin.

We are expecting more detailed releases be the IISD over the next few days.

:)

Who's that man in black?

O how I hate, that I can't show you all the progress and details...
But I HAVE to leak some...

Cheers
Klaus