"Best way to scratch build a 1/56 scale zeppelin?" Topic

I am sure this has been discussed before but I am curious as to any thoughts on how to go about doing a zep for 28 mm figures or for that matter any kind of VSF flyer. I know Parroom station had some models for the flyers but I think it would be cool to have a nice medium sized zep for a large game set on Venus. Plus I just like to scratch build stuff.

Kim

Hmmm, I'm interested too in this too – I have a toy zepplin that needs some conversion work.

You might want to try a long balloon and paper-mache

the best way to build anything trom scratch is to start at the beginning and continue till you are finished.
do a google search for r100/ its an airship paper model.
its not in 1:56 scale though but you can upscale the parts proided and use them as a template.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R100
currell.net/models/r101.htm

Unless you own a mansion, you don't….

A 1/56th Zeppelin with be long….

You might get some hints here:

link

An amazing scratch-built 28mm zeppelin.

Unless you absolutely need it to be zeppelin shaped, there are a number of cheap alternatives to making the balloon part of an airship.

It being Halloween season, a plastic Pumpkin turned upside down, has a great bag shape, and has great lines on it for the ropes to the basket.
Other shapes I've looked at, include Christmas Ornaments, and even fake plastic fruit (Pears in particular).

One chap, who's work I've seen, made a more zeppelin-like body, from a large plastic pop bottle, with a cone added on the front, and little tail wings and propellers.

ElGrego that is an amazing scratch build. I will have to clarify that I would not want to make the zep that big as the chap in the photos is doing in the provided link by ElGrego. That thing is a table top adventure in its own right. So perhaps I need a different term other than zeppelin something a bit smaller and perhaps crewed by 5 miniatures at tops.

I think the soda pop bottle has some potential as does the more out of the box idea behind the upside down plastic pumpkin. Hmm…may be time for a trip to Michael's.

Consult the Major general's Page:
link

I'd only worry about the crew space on any airship. Sure, this means that you're building the whole thing if it's a liftwood beast, but you can get away with only building the gondola for a zep (a much smaller volume).

I think you'd still be looking at about 3 feet long for the gondola on something like the Hindenburg, though.

I know that some years ago the guys at Honourable Lead Boiler Suit built a 6foot Zepplin. The construction was done from foam ceiling tiles and covered in tissue which gave form and structure but also gave great strength.

I am not sure there are any photos or build-it articles, but it may be worth looking into.

Other Google links will give you loads of images and even work-in-progress shots of some HUGE airships being built as static or even flying models, but these will be very fragile.

Good luck – this is something I have wanted to do for some time.

Tony
link

PS the earlier Zeppelins have and easier shape to model – parallel sides, rather than bulbous!

Yep the airship from the Major General's page is perhaps more of what I am looking to do as several have already pointed out something in actual scale would be HUGE. I plan to use the airship for a VSF game with Earth forces against the Venus natives using GW plastic Lizardmen and Kroot for the natives. I want to have a wing of pterodactyl riders be able to attack the airship. I am curious on how well swift flying reptiles with bow armed riders would fare against maxims.

Reviresco has a paper model of a small zepp used to try to ship supplies to South West Africa link

Teh model is pretty good and is historically based on a reall aircraft. I think you can get something similar from the method used from the Major General's page. The ability to get figures in and out of the gondola would be key for pulp gaming

If you want to go big, a couple of guys at Little Wars a few years ago built one. THey made the body out of one of those cardboard concrete forms thay make for setting basketball poles. It was very impressive.

Here is another one:

link

Here is a picture of one a buddy of mine made. Is this more of what you had in mind?

picture

He took a zeppelin model(plastic} and added his own gondola.

1/56 scale would be huge! Several feet long.

If you're prepared to built a kit, try this:

link

Micman and GarrisonMiniatures, YES! That is what I am looking for. Hmmm…well now time to get to work. Thanks to all of you for the ideas. I will be more careful about stating I want something in "scale" because after going to all the great links all of you provided I can see where a true 1/56 scale zep would be a game table in its own right. Perhaps some day though…

Kim

Hey Micman after looking at all the photos on the link you posted I see you and your buddy have kind of the same idea I have in mind for a Venus game. I noted all the GW skinks that were being used in the battle and I have the same Old Glory "walker" that is in some of the photos. Well done. How did your buddy build his zep?

Kim

Lion in the Stars:
IIRC, the Hindenburgs cargo and passenger compartments were not limited to the gondola, but continued upwards into the envelope; crew may also have to fend off boarders within the envelope; and one could even enter the engine pods.
I would say therefore, unless you are insane, do it as 2d tiles…

whitemanticore: Will the airship serve as the scene of individual figures battling from deck to deck or merely point at which attacks are measured?

It may be simpler to build a sturdy airship for the table and have 2-D tiles for adventuring within the vessel's interior.

I've used the Major General's plastic soda bottles and expanding foam technique with some success: link

Hope this helps!

Al | rivetsandsteam.com

Yeah, I go with Broadsword. Zep as a stylish marker maybe. Internal battles fought on a Hex/square pattern map. Quick,easy and cheap. What are you going to do with a 10' model Zepplin after the game? …or 3 games?
When you go nuts over terrain, it better be pretty versatile or it will just be something someone always drags to the convention year after year.

I am such a wet blanket…