"Traveller Starship Miniatures?" Topic

What's Out there?

Anyone still have the old RAFM miniatures, and what scale (size) were they?

Let's see, I remember

Scout/Courier
Free Trader
Fat Trader
Mercenary Cruiser
Patrol Cruiser
Gazelle
SDB
shuttles/pinnaces
Aslan cruiser
Lab ship
Subsidized Merchant

There's a list here

link

Much bigger than the Ad Astra stuff (RPG scale, not fleet scale).

Some of these can be had through the Silent Death line. Others are long gone. I sold all mine off last year.

I have these in 15mm. I have been told they are Traveller.

BCM,

Those are available today through RAFM. They are indeed old 15mmTraveller miniatures (but not starships).

I think RAFM only has the new designs published in the Regency Sourcebook (TNE) still available, as those originated with RAFM. The other well known Classic Traveller designs are not available from RAFM at this point. MegaMinis had a few new ones done in a larger scale, then sold them to Ad Astra, who have the fleet scale Traveller minis and the current license.

Some of these can be had through the Silent Death line.

Silent Death is currently OOP, so not much help there. Ad Astra's really the go-to source right now.

I'd be interested in some of those as well.

Is there anyone that currently has any surplus inventory of these? I suspect there must be some in various shops, that are just collecting dust.

Hopefully, with the upcoming release of T5, they'll put them back into production.

It'd be far more satisfying, at least to me, to be able to use minis on the tabletop for the games, including the ships.

There are lots of options now, in 15mm scale, for the figures, unlike 30 years ago, when the supply was very limited.

God, that's a real Kickstarter I'd go for, Licensed Traveller miniatures in 28mm and 15mm so you could jump scales effortless or just used you favorite.

Also, these below where never put into production, but I did see someone once selling some pre-release figures for sale on eBay, the guy was painting them for the RAFM, but the line was cancelled, I have a Jpeg somewhere of them.

5850 Coalition / Ship's Crew (3) 7.95
5851 Traders & Merchants (3) 7.95
5855 Nobles (3) 7.95

Silent Death is currently OOP, so not much help there. Ad Astra's really the go-to source right now.

*Temporarily,* yes, but only *temporarily*…

Leland R. Erickson

Well, that is good news.

So, does that mean that some of the Traveller vessels will be available again from you?

If so, please let us know which ones, and what the pricing will be.

5821 Aslan-RQS Quarantine Cutter (4)
5822 Darrian Patrol Cruiser (4)
5823 Cuspid Class-gunboat (5)
5824 Fang Class-gunboat (5)
5825 Jump Ship (Boat) (5)

These are the ships that exist in both TNE and Silent Death, and are the only ones likely to reappear when Silent Death returns. The rest are Traveller specific and would require a renewal of that license. Unlikely, as Ad Astra currently has it.

…and would require a renewal of that license. Unlikely, as Ad Astra currently has it.

Exclusive? That wasn't my impression, but that and a buck fifty will get you a cup of coffee…

Also, anyone with a list with Trav/SD names side by side? I was thinking that the Scout/Courier might be Conestoga. I have some of the Aslan, but the names aren't coming to me.

Lastly, did the renaming thing with SD catch any of these?

Doug

They all post-date the renaming. They first appeared in Silent Death NM in the Universal Night Watch book.

TNE name -> SDNM name

Barekdoldin -> Javelin Code 650 2 models per pack
Trekhyair -> Hornet Code 649 2 models per pack
Cuspid -> Firebat Code 654 2 models per pack
Fang -> Rattler Code 651 3 models per pack
RQS Modular Inspection Launch -> Praying Mantis Code 653 2 models

Much thanks, GC!

Doug

leland,

Hope you can enlighten us further on SD being "temporarily" OOP--would luv to get some more SD ships that I couldnt get from ICE store.

Find SD ship models are the most utiliatrian ones I own--use them as every class of combat vessel (and some support ones) plus they form the basis of my Capellan Raiders fleet (from the old Terran Trade Authority book "Great Space Battles") in my Full Thrust campaign:

Let us know some good news on SD please.

Thx,
Mark

Does anyone know who produced this Type-S Scout Courier miniature, and if they are still for sale?

link

It looks superb!

If you click on the tabs at the top, you can see a nice rendering of a Beowulf too.

I suspect these may just be nice 3-D renderings, but hope someone will put them into production.

I suspect they are the Ad Astra miniatures mentioned above.

Alas, no piccies at the store.
link

Concerning SD:
Leland has been dropping hints here and there, and detailing NOTHING. 'In talks…' 'Interest shown…'

Bloody cold war machinations, if you ask me, and you din't. ;->=

Doug

Perhaps, but all of the pics I've seen online seem to show older, original type versions of the Traveller vessels, e.g. the more triangular, pointed Scout vessel, etc., so not really sure.

If anyone could provide a definitive comment, that would be appreciated.

I'd also like to see what their Pinnaces look like as well.

Here's what I can tell all of you without having to kill all of you immediately afterward…

Yes, it is coming. Soon. Yes. I am personally making an inquiry about those wayward Traveller minis, even if I have to design their SD:TNM stats myself and give them new identities to bring 'em back to all of you.

You've been warned.

We are evil.

We are coming back. Soon. Very soon, and there is nothing you can do about it. MWAHAHAAHAHAAAAA!!!!!!!

Leland R. Erickson

Sadly, those renders are not what Ad Astra sells. Ad Astra has two lines of Traveller ships. The fleet scale ships for Imperials and Zhodani were done by Ad Astra in connection with them publishing Power Projection, the Traveller adaption of Full Thrust. The Adventure Class ships, including a classic arrowhead Scout, the Beowulf, and a couple subcraft, were done by MegaMinis and later sold to Ad Astra.

The renders are from a project, or scam, depending on who you talk to, several years ago. It reads like a Kickstarter project but too early: invest even a little in our attempt to get Traveller ship minis on the market. The public story is that they did all of this before actually talking to Marc Miller about a license, despite lots of pointers in that direction. When they had collected a modest sum ($10 each, IIRC) from a number of people, *then* they talked to Marc, and were reportedly shocked by his licensing terms. The project died right then.

Note that of at least twenty known or potential licensees of Traveller over the years, only two have ever had a problem with his terms that I've heard of. These guys were one of them.

The Scout linked above is the T20 version of the Type S. A very nice ship. I'd love to see more of the T20 period ships get more exposure.

Thanks for the info.

Sorry to hear that.

I wish someone would purchase the rights to the 3D sculpts, and put them into production, since they look superb!

The scout is especially nice, since no one produces anything like it.

The renders are from a project, or scam, depending on who you talk to, several years ago. It reads like a Kickstarter project but too early: invest even a little in our attempt to get Traveller ship minis on the market. The public story is that they did all of this before actually talking to Marc Miller about a license, despite lots of pointers in that direction. When they had collected a modest sum ($10 each, IIRC) from a number of people, *then* they talked to Marc, and were reportedly shocked by his licensing terms. The project died right then.

I backed that project, and for considerably more than $10. USD They spoke to Marc before calling for funds, but got no written agreement on terms. I also confirmed independently that, as they'd said up front, all funds donated to them were turned over to the ASPCA in the event of the project failing. If it was a scam rather than Miller jacking the licensing cost unreasonably when he realized they had more funding than he thought, it was run by an animal lover.

As that would be the only time I've ever heard of Marc doing that, you'll understand if I'm a bit dubious about that explanation. I don't think it was a scam, but even early on it gave every indication of having put the art before the horse, as it were. There *was* a bit of grumbling after it all collapsed, and the "s" word came up more than once.

Be as dubious as you like. The fact of the matter is that Miller's licensing costs killed that project, and the money that was donated went to a respectable charitable organization as arranged before they even started taking money.

If you ask me, they should have said the hell with Traveller and gone ahead with the minis anyway as generic spaceships. They were more than good enough designs to sell without the brand name attached to them. The ships were clearly Traveller-dervived, but since when has that mattered to starship buyers? Just look at all the Trek/SW/BSG/B5/SST/SAAB knockoffs on the market, all sans licenses.

The only thing that project did wrong was bothering to ask Miller's permission.

Mark (aka the drake),

have you seen the news lately:

TMP link

We're BAAAACK!!! MWAAHAAHAHAHHAAAA!!!

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

The fact of the matter is that Miller's licensing costs killed that project, and the money that was donated went to a respectable charitable organization as arranged before they even started taking money.

I do not doubt either of those statements. What is new in your account is that Marc changed his terms. This would be the only time in ~20 years if his sole control of Traveller (after GDW closed) that I have heard of him doing that, or of having any terms other than his standard two: "no profit, no fee" (for all the fanzines and websites), and the fixed term (quite reasonable according to everyone else I've ever talked to) for fixed period.

By the way, the topic Leland just linked to also has pictures of the RAFM Type S and Beowulf compared to the Ad Astra/MegaMinis Type S and Beowulf. Big difference in size.

On a different Traveller starship note, is anyone familiar with Ad Astra's decals (Zho and Imp) for their ships? I'd like to repurpose them for 6mm and 15mm vehicles. I presume one of the sizes will work for 15mm, not sure if they're small enough for 6mm, but then they seem to be made for fleet scale ships.

I'm not sure, so you might call the retailer to inquire as to the sizes of them.

I've seen some Imperial decals on the noses of the Topgun Marketing Grav Tanks, but don't know if those were custom made, or if they are the Ad Astra decals.

Thanks Mako, might just take a flyer on them and see what I get.