When the first Andromedan X-ships were being worked up for Shapeways earlier this year, Steve Zamboni worked up the Conquistador-X from SFB Module C3A, which is now available in both 3788 and 3125 scales.

He also worked up a would-be "X-Krait" as a reference model; smaller in size than the Conquistador-X, yet larger than a would-be Python-X. That design is also now on Shapeways, again in 3788 and in 3125 scales. Its Shapeways writeup suggests that this design is "something neither fish nor fowl": too small to act as a Mothership, yet too large to work as a satellite ship.

Of course, the "Krait" designation has long been used for the tournament Andromedan ship. At the time of writing, there is a (non-X) Krait model in 1:7000 scale on this sprue of tournament cruisers, though no dedicated Krait miniature yet exists in 3788 or 3125 scale


So, I was wondering if it might be possible to do two things: first, to consider a non-X version of this hull that could act as an "historical" Krait design; and second, to provide an SSD for the X-Krait miniature itself.

I admit that the idea of a neither "fish nor fowl" hull type for the Andromedans was something I had doubts about back when the X-Krait mini was being designed. But in retrospect, I wonder if there might be scope for a ship of this type after all - not least so as to enable the X-Krait miniature to be properly unleashed on the tabletop.

By Robert Cole (Zathras) on Monday, April 03, 2023 - 10:45 pm: Edit

I designed a non-X Krait years back. It uses a "Medium" Tractor-Repulsor Beam to reduce overall power, but also doesn't have any room for SatShips.

The TRM would be armed with 5 total power over 2 turns, either 3+2 or 2+3; it could be downfired as a TRL, but not "upfired" as a TRH.

Andromedan Krait SSD

By Steven Zamboni (Szamboni) on Monday, April 10, 2023 - 10:37 am: Edit

(missed this one first time through)

The "X-Krait" on Shapeways matches the tournament SSD. It borrowed the Conquistador-X wings to give Andro players a bit more pizzazz on the table and to push what Shapeways was capable of. The design didn't really survive downscaling to 1/7000, so the mini on the tournament set got the basic Python-style hull. (Hoping that the new plastics will open up some options for this style of mini.)