ATHENA - Steampunk Airship (34)

Last night the main deck of the ATHENA underwent another major overhaul.
I wanted to reposition the aircraft lift to the rear, where it makes more sense and aircraft can then take off to the forward end of the ATHENA - against the wind.

So I cut the lift section (some say it looks like a pool - but in the final display it will carry an aircraft, so everyone will see what it is) out of the forward deck section and opened the space in the rear.

This is how it looks in place, together with the command island.

Here's a shot into the "guts" of the ATHENA - this is the left side, that still has to be done completely.

Lift and forward deck together with the Island in place.

Just for fun with the THANTALOS

Frontal view.

And a shot from the "good" side :)

In the meantime I conducted a very successfull image search on the net (most results came via "Inquisition") and collected a lot of images that I intend to use on the ATHENA - not all, but at least some...

Here's what I have for the HEAVEN section (mostly heroes and Inquisitors):

And this is for the HELL section:

I think this will give me plenty of options, but if you come across any good ones, don't hesitate to point me to them :)
Cheers

Klaus

The Contest Entry

My Fast Attack contest entry is the Imperial Guard - Armored Battlegroup fast attack option "Storm Troopers", which are transported either by a Chimera or a Valkyrie. The Thantalos acts as a Valkyrie.
So, here it is:

During a battle raid against Ork forces in the southern hemisphere of Dencara 5, Storm Troopers of the Dencarian 8th Armored Battlegroup establish a safety parameter around their landing zone, while their Thantalos airborne assault carrier of the 3rd Transportation Brigade prepares for list off.

...piece by piece

The main frame of the passenger compartment



The opening for the main ramp

The side doors


Side doors closed, first details inside





The rear ramp


Passenger seats

First paint job - lots of rust, wear and tear :)

A last look before adding the roof

Pilot and Gunner

and the cockpit

The canopy slowly comes together




Adding paint before adding the glas

now with glas :)


The crew ladder

The engines

First wing


Lots of little pieces - access hatches, wires, hydraulics and tons of rivets

The exhaust jets for the upper wings



Now both wings and the main engine thrusts

the rear finns

The missiles - if you look close you'll see that these are the tips of ballpoint pens :)

The nose



Still some filling and sanding to do

Better :)

The "Brute Cute" slowly takes shape

The lower wings/thruster combo added

Ready for priming!

and the base paint

Adding the Dencara pattern camouflage

I LOVE the doorgunner

Isn't this a nice face?


A first staging shot for my contest photo




details, details, details

Well, she has a good dentist at least :-)

The diorama base and a first look of how the camouflage pattern looks in the real environment (Note: These are not the storm troopers, but the Elites of the XIX Guards Regiment http://z11.invisionfree.com/Work_In_Progress/index.php?showtopic=8416&hl== )

Now the full storm trooper squad

Staging the contest entry

Ammo and backpacks



Prone 1









The Vox Operator

The Flamer (note the shortened airborne version)

Ready to snipe

The crew sergeant

And the final shot