Federation Commander

I got a little "grab bag" of the fighter miniatures (one each). I have to say I am completely impressed. They have amazing detail on such small chunks of metal. They are very nicely done.

However, I think that anyone who plans on using decals on them is dreaming. I can't even imagine trying to cut them down small enough to work on those surfaces. The Admin Shuttle is doable, but probably not with the fighters. (For scale, the F-18 is 5/8" long. The Admin is 9/16" long and a shade under 1/4" tall.)

Too bad I suck at painting miniatures. (My skill with plastic models is OK. Miniatures are just outta my league.)

Actually, a lot of us deal with decals quite a bit smaller than that (individual phaser banks, etc.). Decals would be about the only way to go for putting any kind of "markings" on fighters beyond basic engine glow, etc.

Oh yeah, I'm ready to do those designs! I can actually create decals smaller than I can apply. That's ironic, because that's the reason I got into creating decals in the first place.

In any case, I can produce readable text in 2 point type or smaller (its readable if you have really good glasses). Things like stripes, insignia, etc., are pretty easy. I'm also pretty sure I can make canopies, too, which might make finishing fighters and shuttles a little easier.

I just can't wait to get that ADB package!

Bob

I ordered a squadron of each, plus an extra squadron of F18s (for Gorns) and two extra of the ZYs (for Lyrans & Selts). Can't wait for 'em to get here.

My fighters and shuttles arrived yesterday... WOW! I'm speechless (about time for that). Although it won't be a walk in the park to design decals for these, I don't anticipate huge problems, either.

The ship numbers on the side of the admin shuttles will be too small to see more than a few inches away. I'm still going to put them there, but I'm also going to put them on the top.

I've always operated lots of shuttles in SFB, but I'm unsure about FC.

Question: On average, if you you could make a broad generalization, how many shuttles do you operate at one time, and from how many mother-ships? I'm thinking about marking them "01-01" through "05-10." (I probably should make them something like "1701-01," i.e., the Galileo, but that would be too restrictive). I could also create decals to apply to the stands, making it a moot point.

What do you think?

Bob

Shuttles don't come out to play nearly as much in FedCom as they do in SFB. There aren't any Wild Weasals in FedCom, so there is a lot less for shuttles to do.

Suicide Shuttles exist, but are every bit as hard to employ as before, so I haven't seen them all that often.

Shuttles usually just act as buses for "MacGuffins" in scenarios, or as a target in a more general sense.

I've never seen more than 2-3 on the board at any one time. Numbers 1-5 ought to be plenty.

Numbers for the stands would be handy, but those would almost certainly need to be printed in ALPS white, to show up on a black stand.

djdood wrote:Numbers for the stands would be handy, but those would almost certainly need to be printed in ALPS white, to show up on a black stand.

My thoughts exactly! That being said, I often paint the stands with the ships, so with the Feds, that's not an issue for me.

Bob, I want to use my shuttles and fighters with SFB and probably Klingon Armada as well as FedComm, so I would like a number system like you are describing.

hobbybob wrote:Question: On average, if you you could make a broad generalization, how many shuttles do you operate at one time, and from how many mother-ships? I'm thinking about marking them "01-01" through "05-10." (I probably should make them something like "1701-01," i.e., the Galileo, but that would be too restrictive). I could also create decals to apply to the stands, making it a moot point.

What do you think?

Bob I may be wrong but I think even the Fed SCS only has room for 6 ADMIN/MRS/SWAC sized Shuttles not sure if the Battleships have more or not can't find my SSDs right now. That said I think 01-01 through 01-06 then rinse and repeat might be alright for 5 or 6 ships (that would be 30 numbered shuttles). Of course now that I think about it... the Gorn Dreadnaught may be loaded also...

A GSC has eight shuttles, that's the most I can think of off the top of my head.

My fighter miniatures arrived today.

I may weep openly.

These are a thing of rare and true beauty. Can't wait to get them painted. The detail is simply AMAZING.

I can't wait to see what a painter of your caliber can do with them Dale. Please post pics!

I'd like to see one next to a 'regular' ship mini to compare the scale of the two.

Wolverine

Jump over to the starfleetgames.com site. All the fighters are there in three views and a size scale shot with cruisers per kind of fighter. Hold the mouse over the picture and it flips through the cycle.


Charles Chapel

ctchapel wrote:Jump over to the starfleetgames.com site. All the fighters are there in three views and a size scale shot with cruisers per kind of fighter. Hold the mouse over the picture and it flips through the cycle.

Found it! Thanks CT!