People have asked for this, and several emails and comments poured in...

Etching a full bird is a gigantic pain in the rear which is very hard to get Shapeways to use. I don't see us going that direction.

Etching a small stylized bird doesn't seem to accomplish much and has the same Shapeways problems in key materials.

I think the way to go is with decals, and to start with those we need artists (Loren, Xander, eyes look to you) to create them and then Tennishingwankado can make decals. (I can never spell their name so I eventually just give up and type anything.)

By David Bostwick (Zarquon) on Sunday, July 30, 2017 - 05:44 pm: Edit

For what its worth, it is pretty easy to make your own decals (if you buy some decal paper, and don't use white).

You might consider just selling the art in a pdf.

By Mark Hutton (Trynda1701) on Sunday, July 30, 2017 - 06:35 pm: Edit

Both options sound good actually. Plus, non SFU players could be attracted to them for their Romulan ships also.

By Will McCammon (Djdood) on Monday, July 31, 2017 - 12:10 pm: Edit

Doing decals for Romulans is something Tenneshington could do, with the understanding that they would be on clear decal film. It's a limitation of the laser-printing technology we use.

What that means is that they would only look good on SFU-traditional white or light gray Romulans. They would look bad and basically disappear on the green or metallic colors some folks use.

Decals also only really work on smooth, painted sufaces (preferably gloss). They would never work on unsealed grainy "Strong & Flexible" materials. Self-Adhesive stickers would be a better fit, there.

The kind of decals that everyone remembers from "dime store model kits" are lithographed, with a layer of solid white under anything printed. That's why they don't blend in and they "pop" on dark colors.

On-demand or small-run printing with a white under-print involves different, more expensive and far more fussy technology. We've actually had one of the ALPS printers that can do this for several years now. ACTASF 1.2 and 2.0 stole all the time that it needs to get fully implemented.

Another option would be to have the decals lithographed, but that involves investing in a print run before sales and is not to be entered into lightly.

Of course, any of this would have to be approved by Armadillo Design Bureau.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, July 31, 2017 - 03:22 pm: Edit

I never claimed to be an artist, just a competent draftsman. But even someone with my skills can download a belly bird to get the general idea and build a new graphic belly bird of the same general size and shape and style. If built carefully, it can be colorized for whatever color anyone wants. I showed it to Jean and she said "purple" and four minutes later we had had one.



For now I'm going to "own" this but we'll see what is the best thing for the customers.

By Mark Hutton (Trynda1701) on Monday, July 31, 2017 - 04:48 pm: Edit

Nice work, Steve.

I hand painted a belly bird on some of my SL2300? War Birds, copied by eye as best I could from the Micromachines Bird of Prey! I've tried to post a pic, but can't get it to show.

Now I have a few new designs to copy!

Plus, thanks to Will for that explanation about decals. Just shows you how complicated things can be behind us customers just wanting belly birds for our Romulan ships!

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, July 31, 2017 - 05:22 pm: Edit

I will in a few days export a proper jpg of those four color patterns (maybe one or two more if there are requests) and have Simone put it on the download page.

Anyone who wants to make his own decals for his own use is welcome to do so. They are also available to Tennishington if they want to make them for sale. Nobody but Tennishington is authorized to sell them.

I might comment that this one more or less proportions to a war eagle, and you might have to play with size and proportions to get it to fit anything else.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, July 31, 2017 - 05:44 pm: Edit

I did a green one. I'll do one more color pattern tomorrow if there is a request.

By wayne douglas power (Wayne) on Monday, July 31, 2017 - 05:56 pm: Edit

A plucked one.

By Mark Hutton (Trynda1701) on Monday, July 31, 2017 - 05:58 pm: Edit

Tartan or polka dot!

Seriously, a yellow one or maybe a gray and white one?

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, July 31, 2017 - 06:04 pm: Edit

Gray and white? That is easy. Gimme a couple of minutes.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, July 31, 2017 - 06:07 pm: Edit

done

By Randy Blair (Randyblair) on Monday, July 31, 2017 - 06:10 pm: Edit

Armadillo...haha!

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, August 01, 2017 - 01:28 am: Edit

Yeah, Jean told me I am not as funny as I think I am and that I should learn to spell Tenneshington.

By wayne douglas power (Wayne) on Tuesday, August 01, 2017 - 02:04 am: Edit

I do like the Romulan war eagle.

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Tuesday, August 01, 2017 - 06:00 am: Edit

We've been trying to tell you that for years, Steve.


Garth L. Getgen

By Tony L. Thomas (Scoutdad) on Tuesday, August 01, 2017 - 09:57 am: Edit

But I like Tenneshingwankado...

I need to talk to Will about changing the name...

By Randy Blair (Randyblair) on Tuesday, August 01, 2017 - 10:17 am: Edit

Reminds me of the first time I met SVC many years ago.
"Armarillo...I've never been there," I said.
"Amarillo," SVC replied dryly, looking me square in the eye.
"Huh?" I said, blinking.
"AMarillo," he repeated, expressionless.
"Amarillo"
Then we continued talking about whatever it was we were talking about.
Hilarious moment.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, August 01, 2017 - 10:20 am: Edit

Nah, it couldn't be. I'm one of the top standup comics of all time!

By Randy Blair (Randyblair) on Tuesday, August 01, 2017 - 06:46 pm: Edit

The Steve and Petrick Show
With their Fralli puppet, it's a shockingly good time.
And with their Hydran footstool, it's a gas!
Yeah, could totally see this happening!

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, August 01, 2017 - 07:43 pm: Edit

Here ya go, free belly bird art for my customers as I am a river to my people.

http://starfleetgames.com/ArtGallery/RomulanShipArt.shtml

This is the 300 dpi version

http://starfleetgames.com/images/Eight_Belly_Birds_1.jpg

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Wednesday, August 02, 2017 - 01:35 pm: Edit

Here's a good one. Scroll down to the seventh photo: Red-Tailed Hawk


Garth L. Getgen

By A. David Merritt (Adm) on Wednesday, August 02, 2017 - 01:37 pm: Edit

14 is nice too, although back lit.

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Thursday, August 03, 2017 - 12:29 am: Edit

Nice. I only just saw this. I've been so occupied with life and other efforts.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, August 03, 2017 - 01:57 pm: Edit

I am a river to my people.