ATHENA- Steampunk airship (87)

Wow! The 87th post for the ATHENA - really a marathon :)

As mentioned yesterday, she's back on my desk.

 

The first pieces I worked on were the two Manticore launchers. 

The actual launch tubes were pretty much done, so all I had to do was to create a mount.

 

After the mount was completed I added details, such as rivets, lids for the launch tubes and some minor stuff.

 

Another open piece was the actual mount of the Earthshaker turret.

Quick and simple...

 

Of course rivets were needed too...

 

 

 

 

One item I am not sure about yet is another CIWS.

Do I need one?

 

What do you think? Is another turret needed for the right side, or will it make the deck too crowded?

Let me know what you think.

With the CIWS question undecided I wanted to improve the rear mural in preparation to adding lights.

For this I opened the rear wall and removed the mural (http://fischers-design-shop.blogspot.de/p/stained-glass-windows-step-by-step.html)

Then I cut some clear plastic from an old keyboard packing and glued it into the mural frame.

 

Once this glue was cured I mounted the mural to the clear plastic.

 

Now it is protected and looks like a real mural on glass :)

And now the ATHENA is on its back, ready to receive the first light apparatuses...

 

not bad for the first hobby evening back :)

I hope you like this little update and I look forward to your feedback and suggestions.

Cheers

Klaus 

ATHENA - Steampunk airship (86)

Sorry for the lack of updates, but work got the better part of me for the last few days :(

I continued with the warhead of the Manticore. Last time it was still curing on the top of a battery.


Once it was fully cured, I removed it, mounted it on my drill, and then carefully sanded it down.

I usually let it run across a rasp first and then across a sheet of sandpaper.

In addition I worked on the head of Sir Horace's dog.

It looks huge now, but remember the body of the dog will also receive another layer of muscles and skin.

For Else I added details.

She received sleeve buckles, a kind of belt at the rear.

Some shoulder pads.

Plus a bit of cleanup.

Some of you inquired about a casted copy of the two girls.

I really like the idea, and since they are 100% sculpted it would be legal too. I will start some experiments on mold and cast for the two. I will also try to make an additional head, probably with a kind of fedora :)

If it's not too frustrating for me, I will try to update you on the experiments :)
Cheers

Klaus

ATHENA - Steampunk airship (85)

Hello all,

well the sculpting of Else and Emma proceeded last night.

Else now has her jacket completed, and I think I managed it to keep her nice rear visible enough :)

Then Emma received the first pieces of her blouse and the forward section of the corset.

I think this looks pretty good, doesn't it?

Well, as mentioned before, I plan on adding some Manticore Missiles. But I don't want to add any turrets or the like.

I rather want to have plain and simple, soviet style, launcher missile tubes. They will be located in the forward are, left and right of the Earthshaker turret:

Here you can see the angeled tubes I cut for this.

I'll have a total of 6 tubes.

And I will mount them in two sets of 3. Most likely 2 will be closed while 1 on each side will be open, with the missile visible inside. I'm not quite sure if I will point them straight forward, or a bit angeled to the side. What do you think?

Speaking of the missile - or rather the warhead:

I looked through my stash of bombs and ammunition, but the only pieces remotely big enough are these 3.

Hmm.

Even the biggest doesn't really look convincing, does it?

*sigh*

So here I am again, scuplting :)

I used a battery as base, since the diameter would fit nicely into the tube.

But in the end I will only use the sculpted tip, cut it in the right angle and mount it in the tube.

Once it is cured, I will mount it on an electric drill and sand it down, smoothen it, and maybe add some details.
Since I had some PC left, I sculpted another warhead...

...nothing specific in mind yet, but I'm sure some of you will have a brilliant idea on how to use that one, right?

I will create a mold for both and then simply make another of each to fit the launchers.

Well, I hope you liked todays update.
Thanks for your time and feedback.
Cheers
Klaus

Sir Horace - Praetorian Liaison Officer

Yesterday I was pretty happy and was about to post the images of Sir Horace here, when DaemonForge at Ammobunker pointed out the hand behind his back was wrong!

Aaaaargh!
I couldn't believe it, I added a left hand to his right arm :(

I went through my bits box - this one is only arms :-P
But I couldn't find an open right hand (usually found on the Tank Commander sprue)

I conducted a quick amputation (I save you from the gruesome images ) and now, here he is!

Major General Sir Horace, former member of the Dragoon Guards Black Watch, now liaison officer aboard the ATHENA. Sir Horace is bearer of the Praetorian Order of Merit, the Commander of Praetorian Empire, and the very rare Dencarian Air Cross.

I think his pose is pompous enough.

The new right hand.

He will be observing how the Stingray drone is readied and taking off.

In addition there will be a kind of retinue around him, as well as crew readying the drone.
This is one of the officers built for the former ATHENA island.

He needs some final cleanup.

This will be the drone operator.

I will probably have to build a connector cable to his glasses, won't I?

He'll have a black bandana with white skulls :)

Another officer observing the launch operations.

And a guard.

I'm pretty satisfied with his face nad the way his hat turned out.

From the old build I still have this Tech Priest.

But I'm not so sure if he'll fit the scena, as he has his pistol and sword drawn.

What do you think?

As mentioned before, I'm still working on a dog for Sir Horace, plus one or two surprises. I will also build some NCOs and sailors that are readying the drones (like the second drone being pushed onto the deck), but here I'm awaiting some bits first.

I hope you liked todays update.

Thanks for your time and feedback.

Cheers

Klaus