Federation Commander

Darkwing · Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:04 pm Post subject:

That does look really great and the dishes in place of the broken weapons boom (or whatever the official name is) are fantastic. I think what you have there should be the official configuration of the CLS. I know mine's going to look similar to that when I get around to making one.

Again, great job!
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Let's get DANGEROUS!

Tice Leonard, U.S.S. Lexington & IKV Annihilation

Jim Lewis · Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 4:45 pm Post subject:

Thank you Darkwing! Very Happy

Will - photos of the underside decaling here. I noticed this morning that I didn't orient the port side registry as suggested. I have no idea why. I think I got too excited at the end - they were the last decals to go on. I was distracted by the Landing Gear Door decals! (Yeah - that's my story and I'm sticking to it!)

Not only do I want to model the other CLS (974 / Voyager) but now I'm wondering what the Landing Gear would look like deployed...

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Jim Lewis
GunTruck Studios

djdood · Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:14 pm Post subject:

Aw shucks. You didn't have to go and add more photos. Embarassed

It's appreciated though; first time I've gotten to see those applied by a customer. Thanks, Jim!

As far as the landing gear goes, I did the art on our decals assuming the outline *is* the landing pad itself and would just be a reinforced portion of the hull plating that would extend out on struts.

I was probably inspired by things like the ME-163's landing skid, which cinches up flush as part of the airframe when not extended.
( http://www.hyperscale.com/images/me163bs_2.jpg )

I also took a cue from some fanion sources (and an old Doug Drexler drawing) that proposed that the triangular features on the forward lower face of the Enterprise's saucer are extendable landing skids, for use when the saucer has to make landfall in an emergency.

However, the outlines could just as easily be interpreted as doors, covering pads underneath that extend out (like Voyager's or a Star Wars X-Wing fighter's), as you suggest.

To me, using the outer hull plating as the skid is a more-efficient use of volume inside the hull (which is always at a premium). The amount of needed space inside the hull's mold line is reduced, as you don't have to enclose a set of pad/skids and the strut mechanisms, you're just enclosing the strut mechanisms.

Given how infrequently the ship would be landing, why waste that space on dedicated pads? Provide the function with less hardware, and use the extra room for a Captain's private aromatherapy spa or a bowling alley. Especially since you don't care if the hull-plate/landing-skids get all banged up (only the commando variants of the oCL would be taking off again after a landing and even they need a lot of preparation to do it, at least in SFB).
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Bill Stec · Lieutenant SG Joined: 25 Jan 2012 Posts: 110

Here's some Fed DWs awaiting decals:

I have really got to build a better light box; with flash it's all washed out, and without it's a little dark.
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Jim Lewis · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 12:38 am Post subject:

These are very nice Bill!

I've got my SQ #7 set primed, but not color and detail painted yet.
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Jim Lewis
GunTruck Studios

djdood · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 2:34 am Post subject:

Looking good, Bill.
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bluebirds38 · Lieutenant Commander Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Posts: 223

great job on painting the fed.

Darkwing · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 12:47 pm Post subject:

Those look great. Can't wait to see 'em all decalled up.
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Let's get DANGEROUS!

Tice Leonard, U.S.S. Lexington & IKV Annihilation

Scoutdad · Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 3:35 am Post subject:

I finally started painting my Starline 2500 Klingons. First up was a single F5.
This one was the paint sample. Several of the details were painted 3 or 4 times until I found a scheme that appealed to me.
This is what I settled on:

Here's the rest of the frigates, base coated, washed, and dry-brushed. And with warp cooling radiators painted:

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Scoutdad's minis photos here!

bluebirds38 · Lieutenant Commander Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Posts: 223

great job on painting the f5's. cool f5 klingon fleet.

djdood · Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 6:09 am Post subject:

Old-school and gray. Love it.
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Darkwing · Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 11:48 am Post subject:

Gotta love the classics. Those look great!
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Let's get DANGEROUS!

Tice Leonard, U.S.S. Lexington & IKV Annihilation

Jim Lewis · Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 4:01 pm Post subject:

Ditto - I love the classic look!
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Jim Lewis
GunTruck Studios

storeylf · Fleet Captain Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 1690

Bolo_MK_XL · Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 7:59 pm Post subject:

Time to have that monitor of yours adjusted Storeylf Smile