[BFG] - Designing new ship types - 3d printing madness

[Malika]

It all kinda depends on how fast Vanguard Miniatures can get their ships range produced. I've noticed that lately John has been very enthusiastic about ships. Expect a lot of new models in the coming weeks/months.

Also, I've gotten a little update regarding the ordnance models. Most likely the fighter designs I've submitted won't see the light of day. However, there is talk about potentially re-doing the entire (except for the Eagle Dropship) ordnance line in an attempt to create some 'internal consistency'.

[osjclatchford]

Yeah I see he's given up on the crowdfund. That was a sinking ship to start with, who can warrant crowdfunding in this financial day and age!?

Would be more excited if it was some new stuff tbh. Not that it's not nice to see Zac Sodens stuff (also must credit Armand for the 'hull' of the full-Zeus cruiser) available more freely. It's just for me it's like, "yeah I've bought, built and painted all of these I'll ever need... "  I'm just hungry for fresh meat I suppose. Not complaining. Just being honest.
In truth, It's good that there'll be so many that are new to these ships that will get the pleasure of building and painting them we all had nearly a decade ago... Lol...

The ordnance thing is a constant irritation and bugbear for me. It's an important part of bfg and it keeps getting sidelined by so many producers. Not just John and the vanguard crew but others too... I can't help thinking he's someone else's designs in mind for them or something but it seems so wierd, waiting and waiting to do it when you've so many designs available already, more than enough to create a consistency , especially considering the panthera, lynx and others are your design and therefore match aestheticly.
I know you're more than happy to take a design job that would require you to work to a specific specification so perhaps if you can get in on it you could design a whole range of stuff. Who knows, we might actually have a set of affordable ordnance in our futures!

Only thing that concerns me is what you said about consistency and the fact the eagle dropships are staying.
That is to say that if the rest of the ordnance is going to be the same proportion as the eagle, that's going to be some seriously out of scale ordnance...
Don't get me wrong. The desgn is beautiful just 7 or 8mm bigger than it should be...
Just my opinion, but, well you know...

That's a soapbox I can't seem to get off of at the minute...

[Malika]

Yeah I see he's given up on the crowdfund. That was a sinking ship to start with, who can warrant crowdfunding in this financial day and age!?

I still see it happening though. I'm currently working on a 6mm project outside of Vanguard that will probably never see the light of day without some crowdfunding. So I'm kinda hoping the ship won't sink that far.

Would be more excited if it was some new stuff tbh. Not that it's not nice to see Zac Sodens stuff (also must credit Armand for the 'hull' of the full-Zeus cruiser) available more freely. It's just for me it's like, "yeah I've bought, built and painted all of these I'll ever need... "  I'm just hungry for fresh meat I suppose. Not complaining. Just being honest.

Most of it was indeed existing stuff such as the Panthera, Lynx, and Zeus line. But there were also some new kits in the form of 4 Tainted escorts, big prow cannon variants of the Lynx and Panthera, and a Cybershadows Light Cruiser.

The ordnance thing is a constant irritation and bugbear for me. It's an important part of bfg and it keeps getting sidelined by so many producers. Not just John and the vanguard crew but others too... I can't help thinking he's someone else's designs in mind for them or something but it seems so wierd, waiting and waiting to do it when you've so many designs available already, more than enough to create a consistency , especially considering the panthera, lynx and others are your design and therefore match aestheticly.

It's a tricky one. On one hand there is a demand for them, on the other hand the previous sales numbers of the models didn't fully justify an expansion and/or restock. It feels a bit like a catch 22 to me that Vanguard was scared of breaking.

Only thing that concerns me is what you said about consistency and the fact the eagle dropships are staying.
That is to say that if the rest of the ordnance is going to be the same proportion as the eagle, that's going to be some seriously out of scale ordnance...
Don't get me wrong. The desgn is beautiful just 7 or 8mm bigger than it should be...
Just my opinion, but, well you know...

Personally I fully agree with you here, I'd make the Eagle a bit smaller and do the same for the Fighters and Bombers. Consistency now means that if I'd want to make a craft bigger than the Eagle (let's say a Stormbird proxy), then it would already be the size of a Civilian System Ship or even a small warship.

[horizon]

The ordnance doesn't bug me personally as I have always used the markers.

As for financing all of this I can understand all the shizzles.

And, yes, getting the Zeus line back is excellent. Especially for beginners. I mean 3D printing is an option and on Reddit you see a lot but they stil miss character. They aren't the real deal yet.

I really would appreciate more variant races. We have more then enough Imperial ships. Ork's, Chaos, Eldar, Tau style ships are missing.

[Malika]

Funny you should mention Chaos. I've already submitted four escorts for their Tainted range, yesterday I've sent them a hull for a Tainted transport ship (heavy frigate sized), but with some different broadside bits it could function as a Chaos counterparts for whatever people are using my Panthera design for.

I've also started work on a Light Cruiser sized craft for the Tainted. Pics of all that can be found on this thread even, just look a few pages back. ;-)

As for Ork proxies, there's a big internal debate going on at Vanguard Miniatures for what aesthetic we want the Skinners fleet to have. We aren't that big fans of the armoured goldfish look the original Ork models have. I am planning on experimenting with some 'looted Novan' ships for the Skinners, lets see how those will work out.

[horizon]

Ah cool.

As for Tyranids, has Vanguard ever had contact with https://wintersbioforge.com/product-category/space-bugs/ ?
Wintermans is still producing/selling these but development seemed to have halted.

[Malika]

Several times I've suggested to John that he should contact Winter's Bioforge. No clue if he ever did, that guy's Tyranid proxies (both the ships and 6mm models) are amazing!

[osjclatchford]

@horizon.

The ordnance doesn't bug me personally as I have always used the markers...

yes its true I tend to use card in any games (just to have enough on the go at one time) but as far as modeling is concerned, I love to have a few stands to go with the rest of the escorts and capitals, simply for collections sake... I know that sounds mental but, well there it is...

...I mean 3D printing is an option and on Reddit you see a lot but they stil miss character. They aren't the real deal yet...

Agreed on the "actual" models vs 3d prints.
theres a 'magic' that's sorely missing from prints.
I love the fact that vanguards ships are cast, not printed. that's purely my experience of 3d printing has left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth for the medium as a whole. I don't trust it long term. it sometimes breaks down and goes oily/crusty over time even after painting and this is not something I want to risk wasting money and time on anymore. I want a medium I can trust.  Its best used to print high-end masters and then cast from those. however, the lack of bfg alternatives out there has led many of us to 3d prints but no everyone has access to their own printers and as such the cost effectiveness is a real issue...

...I really would appreciate more variant races. We have more then enough Imperial ships. Ork's, Chaos, Eldar, Tau style ships are missing...

and yeah,  damn good point. the xenos need some love!

@malika

Funny you should mention Chaos. I've already submitted four escorts for their Tainted range...

Thanks for reminding me of your "tainted" range, my nurgle lads could use some of those for reinforcements. the escorts you've designed are especially way better than the gw officials...

...We aren't that big fans of the armoured goldfish look the original Ork models have...

armoured goldfish?
genuine class. ROFL to that one!


so nice to talk to folks about bfg ships again...
feels like ages since I have!

[Malika]

Agreed on the "actual" models vs 3d prints.
theres a 'magic' that's sorely missing from prints.

It's one of the things I'm missing from 6mm lately as well. Everybody is printing stuff, which is fine, but scratch building and kitbashing has all but disappeared from the scene (perhaps because of it?). It's one of the reasons why I'm very interested in getting #INQ6 (basically a 6mm version of the whole INQ28/blanchitsu movement) off the ground. But the same is of very visible in the fleetscale scene as well.

All of this is very ironic of course since I do most of my modelling work for 3D printing. But often to do try to design stuff in such a way that people can physically convert/kitbash it.

the escorts you've designed are especially way better than the gw officials...

Wow, thanks!!! 

By the way, I'm currently working on another Light Cruiser sized ship. The broadside weapons bit is compatible with the broadsides from Battlegroup Helios.

[osjclatchford]

thats a real beaut! the angled/rear shot reminds me of the big ships from the opening of quake2!
https://youtu.be/miHAh2Q-U94

[Malika]

The great work continues...

[Malika]

Work on some new escorts continues.

[osjclatchford]

is that lance/torpedo escort hull destroyer sized? if so yes please!

[Malika]

They are 35mm long, so I guess Destroyer sized?

[Malika]

Quick update!