Yeah, I admit, currently I have a hard time concetrating on my projects and finishing them up. But I think this change of plan will find your approval :)
So, lets see why.
As I stated in my last post, I wanted to experiment with OSL (Object Source Lighting) for the Ork mole.
However, I am not very pleased with the results:
It is not yet convincing.
I think I need to use stronger colours and deeper shadows - and I need to paint during day time, so that my overhead lamp doens't give me false impressions and colours.
This means I have to experiment a lot and try different things.
I will do so, but not non-stop and not daily.
So what's the cange of plans then?
Well, the re-design of the ATHENA!
Yes!
She's back on my desk :)
I hope to hear some happy cries and see some dances through the internet :D
As discussed I am no longer satisfied with the "Aircraft Carrier" idea. The reason is simply scale.
If I was to make her a "plausable" carrier, she'd have to be a lot bigger - even with VTOL aircraft.
So lets take another walk around her hull and upper deck - I have already put the "island" aside.
Hull side view with all weapons mounted.
Here you can see the Gatling/missile launcher combo beneath the jump deck.
Front view with the quad-Las canons, the twin auto-cannon, and the huge Siege cannon.
The torpedo launchers.
The rear propellers and twin AC's.
The deck, with the multiple rocket launcher (http://fischers-design-shop.blogspot.com/2009/09/athena-steampunk-airship-21.html)
And here are the two Hydras as well as the Nemesis Close-In Weapons System.
And the STRIX on its elevator.
Looking back at my original plans you can see the ATHENA was not designed as a real carrier - but I got carried away while building *grin*
So what purpose should she serve then?
Her main task will be to support ground attacks by delivering massive firepower and at the same time either establish air-superiority or at least defend herself against any aerial attacks.
For the ground attack role she currently has:
- Siege Cannon
- 2x Mk XV Imperial Torpedo Launcher with Mk VIII Draconis Melta Torpedoes
- 2x Quad Las-Cannons
- Missile/punisher combo
- multiple rocket launcher
- 2x 500lbs Bomb racks
For Air Defense she currently has:
- 2 Hydra turrets
- Nemesis CIWS
- 4 twin Autocannons
- 4 twin Machine Guns (they were mounted on the island, and I will re-use them)
- STIX Interceptor VTOL
From a pure space point of view, the weapons arrangement could look like this.
So I decided to "open her up" again, and removed the entire deck.
One of the reasion for this is that I no longer need the elevator, but I may be able to use it as a display piece for the STRIX...
A new sheet of plasticard on the rear.
This layout gives me a good 30 cm for the actual bridge area (on which I want to mount the two Hydras and TWO Nemesis turrets), as well as it gives me room for another big turret - symbolized by the wooden box.
So what do you think?
What kind of weapon should I use for this large forward turret? Any more weapons that would be plausable or neccessary?
Well, let me know :)
Thanks for reading
Thanks for reading
Cheers
Klaus
