ATHENA - Steampunk airship (81)

Hey guys,

thanks for your feedback.
Gathering the various suggestions I looked into mounting the Hydras sideways.

It actually looks better than I thought, however, the space is just too limited, and once the engines are mounted on those two stubby wings, these would interfere dramatically.
Scratch idea 1...

Mounting them directly on the side, is also too limited, as the field of fire isn't very good, and actually the deck is too narrow to really rotate the turret.
Scratch idea 2...

Mounting the Hydras behind the superstructure would work, but since I already have the Nemesis CIWS planned to be positioned here, this won't work either.
Scratch idea 3...

And mounting the Hydras below the current deck line, on new "islands" would be another major overhaul. However, by now (after 2 years) the plasitcard is too brittle to sustain another one of these operations, and I'm afraid it would really mess up the current outline and silouhette of the ATHENA.
Sorry
Scratch idea 4...

So it looks as if I will keep the Hydras where they are (at least for now).


But I wasn't lazy :)
I painted the ATHENA mural.
I started off by spraypainting the background.

Then I applied the basic skin color, using Elf Flesh.

The base color for the gold is Boubonic Brown.

For some of the metalic parts I used Shadow Grey,

while I used Fortress Grey for the lighter metallic items.

For the "brush" on the helmet, the purity seal, and the "I" bracelet I used Scab Red.

For the leather straps I used Bestial Brown,

and Bleached Bone for the skulls and Kommando Khaki for the parchment.

Terracotta for the hair,

and finally Skull White completed the base colors.

After that I worked out the details, starting with the skin and the face.

Then I worked on the details for the golden items.

Details on the metal.

And then all the rest :)

Some shadows and first dirt stains and she was completed.

So here she is :)

So what do you think?

Thank you for your time and feedback.

Cheers

Klaus

ATHENA - Steampunk airship (80)

Thank you guys.
I'm glad you all like the progress on the ATHENA and am very grateful for your feedback.

As promised here are the first shots with the command deck in place.

As you can see, the interior is not very visible, that's why I plan to add some LED lights inside.

The LED's are ordered and shipped on Thursday, but since it's slow surface mail from the US, I guess it will be a while before they get here.


Looking at the current layout, with the tripple Earthshakers and then the two Hydras,

I realized that the two Hydras are blocking the side windows completely.

They rotate OK and would be fully functional, but they really make those side windows obsolete, don't they?

However, looking at the deck layout I have no real clue where else to put them.

In the rear, at the landing deck they don't really look good, and the take away quite a lot of the limited space back there...

Also, what else should I put on those platforms instead?

I will have to tinker about this for a while.

Most likely I will keep everything as it is (with the two Hydras on the platforms), but maybe you guys have some brilliant ideas?

BTW, here is a rare shot of the interior of the ATHENA.

As you can see there's plenty of space to accomondate any LED power source and cabeling. And some of those cut and bent plasticard strips show how often the layout of the ATHENA has changed :)

So, while tinkering about the deck layout, I built the rear wall of the superstructure.

As you can see it has the neccessary ornaments and also some blast doors that can be opened...

... I will most likely have a little scene back here, where some technicans and officers ready two drones. One will be a pure recon drone (just lifting off), while the other one will be an attack drone with armament being readied...

And a very specific liaison officer will be there too :)

But this rear wall has a lot of empty, plain space - and you know that I can't have that, right?
So I decided to add a new mural to it.

ATHENA herself watching over the landing deck :)

BTW, the image is based on this wonderfull 3D rendering of a Draenei by Denisa Mrackova.

So, what do you think?
I hope you like todays update and thank you for your time and feedback.

Cheers

Klaus

ATHENA - Steampunk Airship (79)

Thanks guys :)

Well I spent the last few days painting the Servitors and the supervising Tech Priest.

The Tech Priest at an early stage.

After the base colors were applied I gave them a thorough wash with Badab Black.

In addition I applied some specific washes with Baal Red (for the skin), Grisiphone Sepia (for the Bones and Leather) and Devlan Mud (can't recall which pieces that were).

After the washes dried I did the highlights.

Since they are all on the bridge in a relatively dark room I didn't do any strong or bright highlights.

The Tech Priest.

Otto, the Servitor in charge

And some group shots with all members in their positions.

Closer up from the front

And with the superstructure in place

Peeping through the window.

I will not glue everything in place yet, as I'm still tinkering with the idea of installing LED lights.

But next image will be with everything in place and then I will finish up the superstructure (the rear is still completely open) and apply lots of rivets and ornaments.

Then it will be most likely the completion of the main turret with the tripple Earthshakers (final position and ornaments), and then....

...who knows :)

I hope you liked this little update.

Thank you for your time.

C&C welcome.

Cheers

Klaus