"15mm Martian Chronicles Sand Ship: How Hard Can It Be?" Topic

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I wonder how hard it would be to make something like that, but with these 40K Eldar blades underneath:

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And one of these sails on each side of the hull:

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NOTE: That's about as much 40K stuff I would like to use, though. And I would like to avoid buying the SW skiff:

QUESTION:

Got any suggestions on how to scratch-build such an exotic-looking hull? Please!!!

Dan
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About the size I want to scratch-build the hull . . . no longer than 5 inches, if possible.

Ideas?

I would even welcome suggestions on how to make something really simple, like this little kayak-looking boat:

But I want it to look like it was made from some fancy metal and not wood, of course.

Dan

You could try cutting the outside shapes of the hull from plastic card . Then shape some foam and add plastic aplicase….

Plastic card it is then!

Now, should I start with the 3-point frame for the blades and then build the hull on top of that? Or should I start with the hull and then figure out where to attach the blades?

I don't know why anything that has to do with boats freaks me out. I think I'm just too 2 dimensional when it comes to ships and designing something with graceful curves.

Dan

Just because … I converted a MicroMachines Desert Skiff to be used with my 6mm Epic Eldar Exodite Force …

Along with a couple of Sail Barges …

Okay, but the Action Fleet Star Wars skiff seems like it would be perfect for converting to your use easily…..

That's too easy, Mako11!!!

I need to force myself and develop whatever part of the brain allows people to make symetrical craft. Perhaps I never had it, but I won't know until I try.

So far, most of my attempts look ok, until I look at them again against a mirror. Maybe I got banged in the head too many times or something.

Dan

Tip draw one half from the center line Paste it to some card, then cut it out.

Now you have a template.

Draw a center line on your choice of material then trace said template on one side then flip it over and do the reverse for the other side….

Build up from there….

Reminds me a bit of the Pirates of Blackwater toy I have…

I'm planning on using what those blades that you mentioned are attached to to make sky kites. Could always add skis to those.

Notice that a number of those lines match curves of eggs. Whether large styrofoam or smaller poly Easter eggs, sectioning and matching same are things I've played with.

Ditto some wine glasses.

Doug

I need to force myself and develop whatever part of the brain allows people to make symetrical craft. Perhaps I never had it, but I won't know until I try

as you can see (from that illustration of the Cloudships of Mars ship I did) I did resist! The only ones we built from scratch we used balsa or balsafoam (ie pink foam) to get the b asic shape with detail added over the top.

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John T

John,

Those other pics look amazing! Incredible work. Fuels me on for sure.

I needed that.

Thanks,

Dan

Great looking stuff as always JT !!

Thanks Dan and L4. I always find both of your inputs to these forums to be both inspiring and good eye-candy so: right back at ya!

John T

I would recommend starting with some toy boat hulls. I built some martian skiffs starting with a couple of these:

And ended up here:

Those are Black Hat figs on the deck.

Martin

Martin, those are great!

I do not need them for Martians, but thank you for posting them as they may work nicely for my VSF Hawaiian Kingdom.

-Eli

Martin,

Wow. Awesome!

Imagine that with a high bow and stern, with blades underneath, like hydrofoils, but for sand:

The sails will be closer to the front, and on either side of the ship.

After that, I'll go on to embelish it a bit with small round or oval half-beads for "eyes".

Dan

Thanks all!

Eli – VSF Hawaiian Kingdom.. the mind boggles – what do you have in mind for THAT besides hi tech outriggers?

Dan – Sound like a cool concept – pictures by the weekend? ;-). Heck, I'd love a kit of that hydrofoil as is! That would make a sweet sand ship in a far future setting. Dune 3000.

Martin

How cool would these be, if done for 15mm figures?

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Dan
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I'm not sure if this helps the OP, but it could be a good starting point:
Lead bones makes martian skiffs in two sizes
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you could convert the 28mm one a bit to be a larger craft, and use the smaller ones as is. with a few bits they could be close to what you want.

Honestly, I'd just support the evil empire and buy a couple GW Dark Eldar Raiders or Ravagers for the start of my desert skiffs. But I'm lazy that way.

And CC, Roman triremes with treads? What was the artist smoking, and can I get a hit of that when he's done?

Lion: "Roman triremes with treads? What was the artist smoking, and can I get a hit of that when he's done?"

LOL

I don't know if Gurney was smoking anything at the time but it seems he was just trying to accommodate the writer and his odd requests. :)

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Dan
PS. But, you've gotta admit, they do look alien-ish.

Guys,

Check out this 1/70 scale "papercraft" version of the SW skiff:

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Dan

Direct link to download the 3 pdf files for that "papercraft" skiff:

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Maybe they should draw inspiration from long-dead creatures from Mars' ancient past:

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What do you think?

Dan

Here's an interesting hydrofoil idea:

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I wonder how difficult it would be to make something similar, but with blades for skimming over sand.

Dan

Guys,

Check this out. It almost looks like a sand ship:

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Dan

These are not the sand ships you are looking for

But gives me a great Idea for something else

How about something on wheels

Like sand Pirates

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Perhaps with spokeless wheels or rotating blades then?

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Dan

Of intrest:

Still think the Red Planet Miniatures skiff could be used as a non-wheeled sand sailer, if you use the upper half.

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Lovely, though, as I said, a bit pricey, so might start with Ironclad's beast, currently on the front page.

ironcladminiatures.co.uk

Not sure if that's also split upper/lower hull.

Doug

And why do you need such ships?

Sorry, was a bit wimpy of moi; I'm abashed, and shall saunter across the burning wastes, immediately… NOT!

;->=

Doug

OMG!!!

That would definitely freak me out. I already have issues with sharks in water (since I was 7 or so). Wow.

Dan

Hope this might help
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Nice but too pricey

@ CC I know the feeling if I can't see the bottom I'm not going in!

Nothing more needs to be said :)

How about something like this, or even

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Maybe my original idea of having keel blades under the Sand Ship was a good one:

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Unlike this gorgeous vessel, the blades on my Sand Ship will point the other way, so as to be able to skim over the sands:

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And if, for some reason, you thought you were safer here on Earth . . .

vimeo.com/13621353

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Dan

That's right "DON'T FALL OUT OF THE BOAT!"

WM,

Wow. Where did you find that last pic? Awesome.

Dan

Here's the link
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He has alot of other art there too, someone need to ask if it's ok to make minis of his stuff

OMG. Too cool. Thanks,

Dan

I feel there is just not enought wild sci-fi creatures in the 15mm range for adventures in RPGs, and what about random encouters in skrimish games coming to eat the dead

WM: "What about random encounters in skirmish games coming to eat the dead?"

I posed that same question once again on our Cave Wars group not too long ago:

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Dan

My opion as to flying, other then speed is to avoid dangers that's on/in the ground, otherwise ground transport has to be cheaper.

More of this is what we need

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Check out this "wind wagon":

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Dan

Wow. Check out what I just found.

This Larry Elmore giant sandcrawler reminds me a lot of the land galleons done by Gurney:

starfrontiers.us/node/8263

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Dan

LANDSHIPS!! I would love to build something like that! with multi levels and open bays and gun turrets lots of gun turrets! :D

P.S. and a landing pad too!

wonder if it's MDFable?

MDFable!

I love that word.

Dan
PS. These might be MDFable then:
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