"Looking for small minis to represent Bussard ramjets" Topic

9 Posts

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flintlocklaser	06 Sep 2012 4:25 p.m. PST
I just bought a copy of the old wargame Orion: link which is a chits'n'hex wargame about relativistic combat using Bussard ramjet starships. But it would be nice to upgrade my chits to better markers, like small minis. By small, I mean something where the base could be around the size of a roughly half-inch map hex; the ship could extend past that but I'd still want it to be pretty small. But the biggest issue is that I want it to look like a Bussard ramjet; while the ramscoop field is obviously invisible it still ought to look like the various concept paintings you used to see for ramships: I have an idea for a Lego version that I may have to go with, but I was hoping someone out there could point me at some wonderful 70's style lead mini action. Any help?
Editor in Chief Bill	06 Sep 2012 4:29 p.m. PST
Wouldn't a peg-and-a-thumbtack work better, size-wise?
flintlocklaser	06 Sep 2012 4:31 p.m. PST
Maybe, but I was hoping that at some point in the history of sci-fi ship gaming someone had made some ramjets in a 'fleet-scale' size. If not I'll go with the Lego idea, or the office-supplies idea, or maybe just stick with the paper counters.
John the OFM	06 Sep 2012 4:37 p.m. PST
Check out "Industrial Chic" jewelry at Michael's craft stores. There is a nice parabolic reflector for Death Rays, errrr… earings.
flintlocklaser	06 Sep 2012 4:41 p.m. PST
Certainly not something I'd have thought about! Thanks OFM.
John the OFM	06 Sep 2012 4:47 p.m. PST
I found out doing GASLIGHT that jewelry is your friend. There is a LOT of good stuff in the jewelry aisles.
Allen57	06 Sep 2012 4:54 p.m. PST
Ad Astra has torchships link I think they could be easily converted. Al
Parzival	06 Sep 2012 5:16 p.m. PST
Ramships can be easily made from a bit of brass rod (or a thin nail), craft beads, sequins and small cone-shaped plastic wall anchors (or mollies). Thread the sequin onto the nail so it opens forward like the scoop dish, then follow up with craft beads as you like. Last, stick on the wall anchor with the cone end forward so that the open end is your engine nozzle. Clip off the excess rod/nail, spray on some white or grey primer, and dab colors where you like. Voila! Fleet-scale ramscoop.
flintlocklaser	06 Sep 2012 6:04 p.m. PST
Allen, those look nice, especially the Haifeng squadron. Definitely under consideration. Parzival, that sounds like a pretty good recipe for a ramship! Thanks.