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Darkwing Lieutenant Commander
Joined: 23 Oct 2010 Posts: 249 Location: ZZ 9 plural Z A
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Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 12:45 am Post subject: The Planet Killer |
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Just for fun and to keep myself busy while I wait for the Klingon fleet boxes to get here, I decided to build a planet killer that was a "little" closer to proper size.
The first step was to create a skeleton for the weapon, which I did with a paper cup, a cardboard roller, and a few pieces of scrap card stock. Masking tape held the thing together while the glue dried. I intentionally created it segmented and jagged as that was the way I remember seeing the weapon. I also added a little card stock up front to create a point on the cup's rim. In the second picture below, I posed to with a SL2500 Fed CA for size comparison.
Once that dried, I applied the skin. This was a brown paper bag torn into strips, wadded up, and glued into place. I again intentionally made the segments visible to match my vision/memories of the monster weapon.
Beware that maw!
Over the years I have learned several ways not to try and apply paint. Since I did not want a smooth, even finish on this, I pulled out my bag of tricks of how NOT to apply paint. Instead of priming the skin, I simply applied some white spray paint knowing that the paper would absorb the paint unevenly and unpredictably. Then I did not wait the manufacturer's recommended time before I applied a thin blue color that needs primer underneath. The result was an icy blue, streaky, uneven, and blotchy surface that was just PERFECT! (It looks better in real life than the pictures show.)
Now, since it is sooo much larger than other minis, it would interfere with game play. Being something like two feet long it would be impossible for other ships to get proper position in front of or behind the weapon. But, by raising it up above the other ships it can be this huge and still usable in a game. (The weapon is, of course, only in the location [hex or otherwise] where the stand is.) I used an old metal gear as a stand base as it provided enough weight to keep the thing standing even if the table shakes or the weapon is bumped.
Here is the finished weapon in a simulated game with a D6J, and two Star Fleet vessels.
Approaching the weapon from the rear.
An assault from three sides is not effective.
After much discussion, the Klingons came up with a cunning plan. The two Star Fleet cruisers are busy beaming the Klingon crew off the ship.
With the weapon destroyed, the surviving ships take a few sensor readings before taking the Klingon crew to a starbase for processing and transfer back home.
I have yet to paint the inside of the maw, but that will complete the model. _________________ Let's get DANGEROUS!
Tice Leonard, U.S.S. Lexington & IKV Annihilation |
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djdood Commodore
Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 3418 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 1:27 am Post subject: |
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Looks great. the larger scale certainly makes it quite imposing.
Do you intend to try and remove the errant fibers around the maw when you detail that, or just leave them and call it good?
Regardless, cool "mini" (too big to really use the term). _________________
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bluebirds38 Lieutenant Commander
Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Posts: 238
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Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 1:39 am Post subject: |
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great job. |
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Darkwing Lieutenant Commander
Joined: 23 Oct 2010 Posts: 249 Location: ZZ 9 plural Z A
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Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 2:03 am Post subject: |
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After seeing the photos I had started trying to removing the fibers from the maw and right around the segment joints, but it is very hard to see them in real life. I showed the model to my oldest son (since his eyes are a couple of decades younger than mine) and even after I showed him the pictures, he was barely able to see the fuzz. I finally decided that I would just leave them for now since they are so difficult to see (except in pictures). _________________ Let's get DANGEROUS!
Tice Leonard, U.S.S. Lexington & IKV Annihilation |
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Scoutdad Commodore
Joined: 09 Oct 2006 Posts: 4755 Location: Middle Tennessee
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Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 2:18 am Post subject: |
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Incredible. Simply incredible.
Makes me want to build a Starline 2500 scale Juggernaut even more. _________________ Commander, Battlegroup Murfreesboro
Department Head, ACTASF |
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ctchapel Lieutenant JG
Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Posts: 84 Location: Federal Way, WA
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Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 3:29 am Post subject: |
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Tony,
Don't you have that resin PK I gave you at Origins a few years ago?
The albino Space Carot. |
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Scoutdad Commodore
Joined: 09 Oct 2006 Posts: 4755 Location: Middle Tennessee
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Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 3:45 am Post subject: |
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I wish.
You must have given it to someone else as it certainly wasn't I. _________________ Commander, Battlegroup Murfreesboro
Department Head, ACTASF |
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djdood Commodore
Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 3418 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 4:57 am Post subject: |
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I did my own, at a much smaller scale than Darkwing's truly monstrous monster.
I trimmed it out of gray foam, really fast before some friends came over for a session.
Later, when I had more time, I coated it in epoxy glue to give it a hard shell. I added some detail and ridges in greenstuff putty. _________________
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Steve Cole Site Admin
Joined: 11 Oct 2006 Posts: 3841
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Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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cleverly done! _________________ The Guy Who Designed Fed Commander
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Darkwing Lieutenant Commander
Joined: 23 Oct 2010 Posts: 249 Location: ZZ 9 plural Z A
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Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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Here are pictures of the painted maw. There may be some touch up work later, but for now let's call this project complete.
_________________ Let's get DANGEROUS!
Tice Leonard, U.S.S. Lexington & IKV Annihilation |
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ctchapel Lieutenant JG
Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Posts: 84 Location: Federal Way, WA
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Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:01 am Post subject: |
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Tony
Well I'm sure I gave one to SVC and a few others at the Mini seminar.
I thought you got one. I have some left if you want a copy or two.
Let me know if you do. |
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Scoutdad Commodore
Joined: 09 Oct 2006 Posts: 4755 Location: Middle Tennessee
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Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:31 am Post subject: |
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PM inbound! _________________ Commander, Battlegroup Murfreesboro
Department Head, ACTASF |
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Jack Bohn Lieutenant JG
Joined: 10 Aug 2009 Posts: 76 Location: Lima, Ohio
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Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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And thanks for the unconventional tip on how to do What NOT To Do.
(Speaking of unconventional, imagine the D6J commander saying, "My ship was destroyed, but I came back in the enemy's ship. That counts as Legendary Captain, right?") _________________ --
-Jack |
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Darkwing Lieutenant Commander
Joined: 23 Oct 2010 Posts: 249 Location: ZZ 9 plural Z A
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Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 12:41 am Post subject: |
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My son has finally taken the plunge and is learning to play SFB. Since he is still very new to the game I thought I would toss him an easy yet classic scenario. Guess what? It was The Planet Killer!
To give him a taste of what it's like in a bigger ship and since he favors the Romulans, he took a K9R against the huge machine. He learned some valuable lessons about turn modes and how to maneuver with damaged shields. For this battle, we increased the damage needed to kill the planet killer from 200 to 400 points. It proved to be no problem for a plasma armed dreadnought.
Here are a couple of pictures of the battle and the giant planet killer "mini" in its combat debut.
_________________ Let's get DANGEROUS!
Tice Leonard, U.S.S. Lexington & IKV Annihilation |
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Steve Cole Site Admin
Joined: 11 Oct 2006 Posts: 3841
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Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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Do you mind if Jean shares those on Facebook? _________________ The Guy Who Designed Fed Commander
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