"Flat bed aerial cargo platform" Topic

I'm looking to kit bash/scratchbuild a 15mm Victorian Science Fiction version of this link

I'm not sure about the cranes. The basic idea is a flying/anti gravity version of the Rhino ferry, F lighter sort of craft. It would either be covered over or the deck would be open to allow the cargo of fighting machines to add their firepower to the limited guns carried on the craft.

I was thinking of using either Airfix pontoon bridge parts as the deck, or model railroad bridge parts. I could use Computer muffin fans as the propellers.

Should I have one control cabin or two? If I have one should the ship be asymmetrical or should the cabin be on the center line?

What other ideas do folks have for parts with which to build it? I was thinking of resin casting the landing skids, which would have large "ski" type feet.

Suggestions are most welcome.

Thanks

There is lots of inspired work out there.
Look for "Cloudship", "Skyship", and "Victorian Airship"

Some times on Kickstarter, this is in the Skyships of Mars style
link

Some can be purchased as kits:
link
For example:
link

This is a very nice "How-TO" on making your own Martian styled one:
link
Like:

You might want to tell us what scale you are hoping to build. That will help us with suggestions on specific parts.

Here are a few real world Victorian photos to inform your build.

For boats with little or no structure on the deck look for bardges:

This illistration of a Victorian era ferry, includes some fun details your could include:
link

A dock side sceene with boats and cranes:

And some cranes, both dock side and potentially on ship:

15mm scale is where I'm at! Thanks for all the good ideas!

If I was doing this, I'd start with an LCAC. You could get a 1/72 scale model and scrub the apron in favor of some kit bashed anti-grav understructure.

No need for cranes. Portable antigravs would obviate their need.

15mm is good for me, as that is my scale as well.

15mm works out to be about 1:100 scale.
Ship models do come in 1:96 which looks quite a good match.

A good jump start might be this kit:
link

The Fulton's Clermont Steam Boat offers a number of good parts.

Some open deck and a nice exposed steam engine to impart that Victorian feel. P.S. the price is very low.

There are also source of detail parts, including cranes, and textures:
link

Another source of 1:96 scale ship parts:
link

The Airfix pontoon bridge kit does give you some nice deck plates:

Not really sure it the pontoon boats would be of much use for this project. And I do not think it is in production at this time.

Here is a source for a similar kit at 20mm which is about 1/72 so the same as the Airfix, and nicely workable with 15mm.
link

The lower profile boats might be useful.

There is this kit with a single floating bridge section:

And is sold direct often a big discount, I think as cheep as $6 USD at times:
link

This is another nice source for fittings.
link
With items like this crane:

link

I have picked up two sets of pontoon bridges.I have a plan!

Plan > Attack > Victory

link

So the plan required a trip to the hardware store. I bought a sheet of plastic lattice for ceiling lights.

The lattice was cut to size to match the deck parts from the Airfix bridge kit

I used three layers of the lattice to give a good thickness

The question is should the decking be symetrical or asymetrical?

Now I need a control cabin, some ramps, four fans and some rudders. Maybe a few defensive guns.

I got the lattice sheet on discount because it was broken on one edge. The sheet was less than 4.00!

Next steps!
I looked through my part boxes and have a number of Airfix WW1 British tanks. The sponsons will provide the weapons emplacements and the various other parts nice details.

https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/a74c93b4-294c-41c7-81cf-dd41f9970156/ddrvobz-e5f0963c-5baa-49ed-a89a-51df4ca4eee1.jpg/v1/fill/w_1032,h_774,q_70,strp/some_decking_detail_pieces_by_tsofian_ddrvobz-pre.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9MzAyNCIsInBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2E3NGM5M2I0LTI5NGMtNDFjNy04MWNmLWRkNDFmOTk3MDE1NlwvZGRydm9iei1lNWYwOTYzYy01YmFhLTQ5ZWQtYTg5YS01MWRmNGNhNGVlZTEuanBnIiwid2lkdGgiOiI8PTQwMzIifV1dLCJhdWQiOlsidXJuOnNlcnZpY2U6aW1hZ2Uub3BlcmF0aW9ucyJdfQ.zeoKBWH_Jwk1wIcgB2EzBd8NBnAubF6NbV5JVs04XE8

Here is a pic of the main parts.

The first layer of the main hull

Second Layer

Third Layer

Main cargo deck

Secondary cargo deck

Base structure for pilot house

Basic structure for engine air intake

Basic Structure for exhaust funnels

Starting to place detail parts