MacrossMartin | 20 Nov 2016 7:54 p.m. PST |
Greetings once more, starship fans! After presenting a run of battlewagons recently, it's time for me to downsize somewhat, and show off the zippy Arrow class Fast Response Ship.
Created to liberate Starfleet's cruiser fleet from the shackles of being emergency responders, Fast Response Ships were staged at strategic points throughout the Federation's expansion zones following the Four Years War. Nimble, quick and reasonably armed, (Only one torpedo tube, but its a cruiser-sized one!) Arrows proved to be excellent interceptors along the Neutral Zones, as well as providing an armed courier service for vital supplies and VIPs.
The artwork, once again, is a preview from the starship miniature combat rules I'm working on – "Klingons on the Starboard Bow!" – of which I will share more details very soon. Getting the last of the pre-playtest release bugs squished at the moment… Arrows were among the first classes fitted with linear warp drive, which is more efficient at higher FTL velocities than its radial predecessor. This will be a 47mm long pewter miniature (in 1/3125 scale; I believe we will be releasing it in 1/3788 also), available soon from Studio Bergstrom. Stay tuned for more designs soon; the Klingons have been neglected for a few weeks now, and they are not happy with me…. O_o |
PaddySinclair | 21 Nov 2016 2:59 a.m. PST |
Very nice :) Have you done a Phase II Heavy Cruiser in view of your comments on the warp drive for this one? |
MacrossMartin | 21 Nov 2016 4:51 a.m. PST |
Interesting thought, Paddy! That's a concept I might explore, although I suspect Paramount / CBS are more likely to jump on a 'very nearly Enterprise' than they might on a ship like the Arrow class. Of course, I could be wrong. I might have a go, just as a personal exercise, rather than to release as a miniature. Hmm… if alternate 'upgrade' nacelles were released to fit on a Connie from the ADB lines, that wouldn't breach any IP or other concerns. People would still need to buy the licensed miniature, everyone wins… *goes off thinking, tries to avoid falling down Jefferies' Tube this time, trips over Gorn exchange officer instead…* |
wminsing | 21 Nov 2016 8:37 a.m. PST |
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Ravenstar | 22 Nov 2016 7:22 a.m. PST |
you hit the bullseye……..:) |
Sargonarhes | 22 Nov 2016 5:41 p.m. PST |
A fast response ship… so what does that mean? Is it a destroyer, cruiser, frigate? |
MacrossMartin | 22 Nov 2016 6:28 p.m. PST |
It's a small vessel, roughly the equivalent of a large escort or small frigate. However, its mission parameters are significantly broader than those traditionally assigned to a combat-focused design like a frigate, being a mixture of ambulance, police cutter and fast courier. Game-wise, in the 'Klingons on the Starboard Bow!' rules I'm working on, Arrows can form up into hit-and-run squadrons, specialising in running the flanks of an enemy formation to threaten the rear or pick off wounded vessels. Arrows are amongst the fastest units in the game. Of course, they are not too tough to swat, and vulnerable to boarding actions, same as most smaller ships. But the fact they have a solid punch with their single, over-sized torpedo tube means they are a threat that cannot be ignored in squadron strength. |
LoudNinjaGames | 23 Nov 2016 8:22 a.m. PST |
It is a lovely ship and I love the smaller classes that are appearing these days. -Eli |
Fergo113 | 26 Jun 2017 5:13 a.m. PST |
Just finished painting up the first of the Arrow class models I received the other week. I wanted to do a test colour pattern first before I paint the other ones. I'm pretty happy with the result. Maybe some minor modifications still to do with some detailing. You can see it here along with some size comparisons with other Federation miniatures: link The Arrow miniature has a lot of detail for a mini that size. Great job MacrossMartin and Studio Bergstrom. |
MacrossMartin | 26 Jun 2017 7:27 a.m. PST |
Fergo, thank you so much for posting your painted Arrow! I have not actually seen it 'in the pewter' myself yet, so it's a real thrill for me to see other people's examples. I've posted a link to your blog on the Studio Bergstrom Facebook page. Lots of fellow starship gaming fans, who will be delighted to see your work! link - Martin |
stumer | 26 Jun 2017 7:30 a.m. PST |
Beautiful work! With credit and your permission I'll add these to the catalog pages so folks can see actual miniatures. |
Darkrazor | 26 Jun 2017 9:13 a.m. PST |
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Fergo113 | 27 Jun 2017 3:20 a.m. PST |
Thanks guy's. Thanks Martin for the link. Always happy to share inspiration. I never really know how to paint some of my mini's. Stumer, go for it. Do you want me to email you a bigger photo that I used, or are you happy to copy it off the blog directly? |
TheBeast | 27 Jun 2017 6:21 a.m. PST |
No thanks needed from you, mate. We need SO many more comparison shots of Drew's excellent work. Given you've shown so many various, from MM's to ADB's, to compare with and across, all the better! Oh, nice paint, too. ;->= Doug Edit: "…I'll add these to the catalog pages…" I know you hear from folks all the time 'this is what you should do' and understand how hard it is to find enough material. You get part of the pat on the back. Oh, heck. Martin, great work. *group hug* |
MacrossMartin | 28 Jun 2017 4:04 a.m. PST |
Aww, Doug… there's more love here than was ever at Woodstock! :) |
Fergo113 | 28 Jun 2017 4:13 a.m. PST |
Thanks Doug. Martin, I haven't purchased the Klingon L18's as yet but plan to in the near future. Considering you haven't seen the metal versions yet, I'll post a link to them too when I get them painted up. Cheers. |
MacrossMartin | 28 Jun 2017 5:10 a.m. PST |
Awesome, Fergo, and thanks. 'Drew's first priority – naturally – is getting the new minis to customers, so I have not asked him to send me any examples yet. You guys are seeing them before I do! :D |
Part time gamer | 29 Jun 2017 11:06 p.m. PST |
@Fergo113 Beautiful work. I love the detail. Great to see how well they fit in w/ ADB'2400 line. IMO, "Fast Response Ship", kind of a 'jack of all trades'. Each has a medical, security and research section, only more limited. Perhaps even a small Marine detail, depending on their patrol area. As for weapons, enough to let hostiles know, 'we're not helpless', but combat Is Not a priority for them. I dont play ST Attack Wing, but agree w your comment; "the stupidly small original Enterprise" they produced for the game. When I saw it. I could only think: "Its a Cute LITTLE thing. But when do they release the 'real' miniature?" |
Fergo113 | 30 Jun 2017 4:32 a.m. PST |
"Fast Response Ship", kind of a 'jack of all trades'. Each has a medical, security and research section, only more limited." Yeah, that's kind of my thinking also. A kind of policing and anti-piracy role as well as for emergency response. I don't play Attack-Wing either. I prefer A Call To Arms – Star Fleet as its simple to learn or teach and has enough complexity to make a game interesting but not take forever to play. I also played Star Fleet Battles when I was a kid and as such, I have a soft spot for the ADB take on the Star Trek universe. The Attack-Wing / HeroClix do have a nice range of miniatures (other that the Enterprise) that I co-opt for ACTA, and they fit pretty well with the ADB's 2400 scale miniatures line. |
MacrossMartin | 30 Jun 2017 5:12 a.m. PST |
FRS's were created in an attempt to 'liberate' Starfleet Cruisers from tasks which simply do not require the capabilities of a capital-class starship in order to be accomplished. You'll all have seen 'The Galileo Seven' and 'Metamorphosis' – in both episodes the Enterprise (or her crew) is at the mercy of Federation bureaucrats, engaged in tasks that do not require nearly 1 million tons of heavy cruiser to get the job done. Thus, my inspiration for creating the FRS, and, the Arrow class. I suspect that there are literally hundreds of classes of corvettes, lighters, police launches and similar, smaller starships, getting the everyday work of Starfleet done, while the Constitutions grab the headlines, and Dreadnoughts sit around praying they're not scrapped with the next Federation government's cost-cutting election promises! ;) I might have a go at more ships like the Arrow class in the future. Some folk have already expressed interest in variations on this theme. We shall see! :) - Martin |