[BFG] Battle Fleet Maelstrom

[Vaaish]

Have you decided on what ships you plan to use?

[Brother Argos]

Oh my mini fleet ..

 

1 x Mars Cruiser

1 x Tyrant Cruiser

2 x Gothic Cruiser

3 x Dauntless Light Cruiser

 

But as everything is magnetic, I should be able to change my mind easily.

 

This is just for the 1st stage, once thats done I will work on escorts and battleships!

[Brother Argos]

Just a quick update this morning, to show the light cruiser and its weapon modules ready for their mould.

In the first mould are all the basic components, the body, the bridge section, the wings, and the belly of the ship.

You can see the sprue and pouring funnel are already in place (this saves rubber while casting, instead of cutting it out later). The mould has also been keyed (the small holes which force alignment).

In the second mould we see all the weapon modules, with attendant turrets for the lance bay, and both the normal and torpedo prow. I had a spare resin funnel and sprue I could use for this one (saves time).

The Silicon Rubber has already been poured and they both sit in the pressure vessel as I type, in 8 hrs time I will be able to remove them, flip it over, tidy up any clay on the model and get ready for casting the second half of the mould.

If all goes well the mould for the light cruiser will be usable tomorrow morning!

[Brother Argos]

Both moulds were set by around 7pm, so I removed the silicon rubber, cleaned up the light cruiser parts (they almost always have clay on them) and reseated the parts into the rubber.

I then built lego containment around them sprayed them with "wax" barrier spray (to stop the new rubber sticking to the rubber we just poured) and added another 200g of rubber to each mould after mixing it with the fast catalyst (10 min potlife, 6 hrs demould, 8hrs can user to cast).

Here are the resulting moulds ready for the next rubber pour.

You will note most of the components are at an angle, this is to help the air evacuate out of them ahead of the resin as it rises from the bottom. It reduces the chance of trapped air and therefore ensures better results.

Now I just need to wait till around 8am tomorrow morning when I can get started on cutting the feeds for the resin into the moulds.

[Captain Idaho]

Cool. I didn't realise it was that possible for us normal people to do such a thing. You hear about resin modelling and assume it's this arcane science beyond mortal comprehension.

 

Seeing this thread I went and dug out my Imperial Navy fleet with the intention of getting them ready. I doubt I would do such a good job as yourself, but as long as they look uniform I would be happy.

[Brother Argos]

Well sadly ... the lack of information and good clear tutorials about resin casting keeps it mainly in the realm of arcane science. However logs like this one and my previous work with the Steel Legion both contain good information for those looking to get started with resin casting.

 

Now go get your fleet ready and post me up some pictures! ... maybe if you ever get near to London we can arrange a game!!

[Brother Argos]

The light cruiser mould is all finished and here are some pictures showing the results. There was a single trapped air pocket and for the second cast I have hopefully fixed that.

First up a couple of comparison shots against one of the cruisers.

I wanted to achieve a "similar" feeling between the cruiser and light cruiser and am pleased to say I feel as though I managed it. They certainly feel as though they are from the same "pattern" when just sitting next to each other.

The replaceable weapon modules should now allow me to field an interesting range of light cruiser variants: -

With the addition of a magnetised lance to the prow ... or even in its torpedo variant .. the Dauntless ... or an Endeavour class.

With the change to launch bays we can field a defiant class light cruiser (although I would cut the dome and place a weapon battery or two on the prow)

and finally the Endurance class light cruiser.

So with minor modifications (adjustments to the prow using magnets) I think that's all the variant models of Kar Duniash Light Cruisers I need!

Now I need to cast three of them so I can take them with my while travelling next week and paint them.

Overall I am pleased with the result ... what do you think?

[Vaaish]

They seem to have turned out rather well. Looking back at your painted one, have you thought about making the turrets on the lance deck and the spine white? I think it might look nice to pull the white back through the rest of the ship and break up the solid blue as well as make the turrets stand out a bit better.

[Brother Argos]

Well I am on the 08:30 train to Swindon, having spent most of yesterday making light cruisers from the new mould. Sadly I did not remember to cast the mast mould at the same time, so I will need to do that upon my return.

I am going to be living out of hotels for most of this week, so no opportunity to do any casting. However as you can see below I have brought with me the five unpainted models to paint: -

(Note the sad lack of masts!)

If I complete the painting on these five models I will have successfully finished my first project in 3 years. I should have about 1100pts worth of fleet, with all the weapons magnetised so I can make any light cruiser or cruiser I desire (including the 'missing' light cruisers from Battlefleet Armageddon) in the characteristic style of the Kar Duniash dockyards.

I have brought the selection of paints, brushes, etc. I require for the models with me and there is a GW in Swindon that I can use to get anything I forgot. I have my iPhone with me so you can expect blurry dark pictures of any progress till I get home.

As you can see about I managed to cast three light cruisers last night and could not help myself from setting up a Dauntless class, Defiant class and a showing the magnets at work: -

[Gillyfish]

Wow! They're looking very impressive and it's nice to see the project moving swiftly forward.

 

I've managed to dig out my old BFG models and I will try to prepare a fleet list and buy any additional models in advance of our game in October.

 

I suspect I may also need to read the rulebook again...

[SCC]

Very neat, I'll be interested to see how you go 'painting on the road'. Are you anticipating a lack of distractions will compensate for a lack of facilities/equipment (even though you have the vast majority of what you need with you it would appear)?

 

Are you working out of a suitcase/armycase or something a little fancier with all the gubbins to hold paint etc.? My wife keeps threatening me with one of those all-in-one cabinets to keep the place tidy...

[Brother Argos]

So far I have managed to spend a couple of hours last night undercoating the five models and will tonight hopefully finish the blue paint on them. Nothing fancy I am afraid, just some Tupperware boxes with various bits and bobs wrapped in tissue.

 

I am also looking forward to the game Gilyfish ;)

[Captain Idaho]

Battle report please!

 

If you have the time, do one like the old White Dwarf batreps, as they were so enjoyable.

[Brother Argos]

Let the first of the blurry hotel pictures roll ...

Rather boringly I painted the thin white undercoat on all of the cruisers last night. Took a couple of hours of mind numbing boredom: -

As you can see iPads are good for something!

Today I visited Gw in Swindon and got a book I wanted (Enforcer), a stipple brush (looked interesting) and an old white dwarf I missed. I then found an artshop called Ink Spot and blew some more money on a small pallete for tonights painting (at 79p I will throw it away at the end of the week).

With any luck I should complete the initial "Blue" phase tonight!

[Gillyfish]

Coming along nicely!

 

I think I am going to need to try and paint my ships quickly otherwise any photos will show a painted fleet squaring off against a group of plastic and metal kits. Not so good.

 

By the way, I have bought some more ships. :)

[Brother Argos]

Ok ... So what fleet am I playing against?

 

And what did you buy ???

[Gillyfish]

I thought I'd try out Chaos (although I have Imperials too, I thought Chaos might be more appropriate to play against). I simply bought some cruisers and some Idolator and Infidel escorts. I will have to proxy any ordnance.

 

With that little lot, I may be able to assemble a fleet worth c.1500 points. I will need to sort out the fleet list first though.

 

I'm guessing you can easily match that from what I've seen in this thread?

 

I just need to assemble and paint everything. No pressure then! :)

[Brother Argos]

Ooh Chaos ships huh?

 

My fleet isn't worth 1500 however I should be able to get up there easily enough!

 

Looking forward to getting a few games in.

[Hemal]

Bro Argos - have you considered entering your fleet to the best 40K squad in the GD comp? I think that fleets such as BFG are fair game and this is a VERY impressive fleet indeed, especially since the ships are heavily modded when they haven't been entirely scratched...

[Brother Argos]

Well last night was a good night for painting, I completed the three light cruisers and got 2/3rds of the way through each of the cruisers.

If all goes well tonight I should finish the cruisers and be all done, ready to return home on Friday night. It will have taken 12 hrs work for 5 cruisers, which is the best speed of painting I have achieved in years at 2.5 hrs per model.

Anyway here are the blurry, non-macro, iphone, under a 40w bulb, hotel pictures.

Endeavour, Endurance & Defiant class light cruisers

Dauntless Light Cruiser

I am now quite eager to get home and take decent photos!

@ Hemal : BFg never wins any GD entry in recent times. I am also not going to GD this year!

[Aurelius Rex]

Very impressive! I am really getting used to the look of the prows on this style of ship.

 

The pictures of the Defiance light cruiser and Dauntless Light cruiser look very similar. Is the difference the underslung 'lances' (proxy adapted nova cannon?) on the Dauntless?

[Brother Argos]

Yes, I must admit the prow is a quite striking feature and combined with the wings gives a unique feel for an imperial fleet. The weapon bays help to tie it all back to its Imperial roots, without which I suspect it would have been a bit too different.

 

The Dauntless / Defiant is the same ship with the weapon bays swapped, they are quite similar, both possessing prow lances. The only thing I am considering now is the Defiants added weapon batteries on the forward prow. I might make the hemi-sphere magnetised and swap for a weapon turret, or just put two flanking small turrets either side, not sure yet.

 

As far as work on the cruisers goes ... I did none last night. I spent the night socialising and tonight I am travelling home!

[Gillyfish]

A break isn't bad at all and might help you re-focus. Possibly. Maybe I should start a thread on my fledgling fleet?

 

By the way, if you want to borrow any Imperial ships for the game, I can bring them down with me too.

[Brother Argos]

Go for it ... Would love to see another bfg fleet painting thread!

[Gillyfish]

Okay, I shall see what I can do.

 

It might start off with a 'how to get ill fitting metal parts to stick together' section though. :D