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| KNS Pteranodon - heavy cruiser |
I don't really think I have any kind of obsessive compulsive (convulsive??) disorder, but I simply had to build one of these: a heavy cruiser. The smallest navy - Kiivar - gets it; a desperate measure, perhaps, in the face of the vastly superior Ra'esharn cruiser fleet. From start to finish to make: the course of an afternoon and evening, off and on.
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| Serial 83 |
It dimensions are pretty much the same as those of all the other cruisers in the three fleets, but this fellow, KNS Pteranodon, has nine primary guns in three triple turrets - half as much again the firepower of the 6-gun cruisers. I reckon into the bargain I'll give it 15FP (Flotation Points) instead of the standard 12.
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Below are comparative pictures, top to bottom: battleship, battle cruiser, heavy cruiser.
The comparison is clearer from this overhead photo.
Itch scratched: I don't reckon I'll be making any more of these...
The comparison is clearer from this overhead photo.
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Itch scratched: I don't reckon I'll be making any more of these...
Cracking little model and should help the Kiivar navy big style. Be interesting to see how it gets on when it makes its debut on the table.
ReplyDeleteDonnie -
DeleteIt will have to undergo a shakedown cruise some time! Problem is: what kind of match? Its not as good as two standard cruisers.
You know, I think Great Britain's policy of staying with smallish cruisers was probably more cost effective than other nations'. Even their heavies, which they stopped making in the early 1930s, were at the smaller end of the scale compared with those of other powers.
I just wanted to make one. :-)
Cheers,
Ion
A useful addition to your scratch built fleets. I like the look of the models.
ReplyDeletePeter-
DeleteI find these close up pics an interesting view of what these things look like up close. That lead pic is half the length again of the finished ... erm ... 'model'. The war gamer's view is a deal more distant.
But here's a thing. Owing to the 'cartoonish' design, I find the distant view a deal more appealing than similar sized 'to scale' models.
Now, I face a slight dilemma. Should I varnish these fellows... or not?
Cheers,
Ion
I really like this style of model ship Ion, they're really appealing.
ReplyDeleteMaudlin Jack Tar -
DeleteIt is hard to explain why, as I don't normally take overmuch pride in what I do, but I do like these little navies. A lot. That is probably why I keep adding to them. I really have to stop!
I don't reckon I would ever have bought so many commercial models of a similar scale.
Once of got this project out of my system, I'll be trying out your 'Hares and Hounds' campaign system with my Byzantines and Friends...
Cheers,
Ion
Cheers,
Ion
Looking forward to reading how you get on with H&H Ion.
DeleteIf you drop an email to maudlinjacktarAToutlookDOTcom I'll send you a pdf of where the Campaign Rules stand at the moment
Thanks -
DeleteI'll get in contact soon. I'm having some ideas about incorporating the system in my 'Byzantiad' campaign. I'll enlarge upon that once I've given it more thought.
Cheers,
Ion
Just loving these Ion and they really make me want to make some! I can't remember if I've asked this before, but roughly how long are they, so I can get an idea of scale?
ReplyDeleteSteve J.
DeleteFair question! I think at some point I mentioned my hexes are 6cm across. That was mistaken: they are 5cm across.
OK, the ships:
Battleships: length 60mm; beam 15mm.
Carriers: length 60mm; beam (flight deck) 20mm; beam (waterline) 15mm. The command island is about 4mm wide, half the width extending out 2mm from the fight deck.
The Kiivar carrier is slightly longer - about 65mm
Battlecruisers: length 55mm; beam 13mm
Heavy Cruiser: length 50mm; beam 12mm
Standard Cruiser: length 50mm; beam 10mm
Destroyer: length: 40mm, beam 5-6mm.
Merchant cruiser: length about 45mm, beam 10mm
Merchant ships vary, around 35mm length by 9-10mm beam.
You will note that the length to beam ratio is considerably lower than the real items. My battleships' L to B ratio is 4:1; compared with, say, 'HMS King George V' or 'USS Washington' at roughly 7+:1.
The aircraft are, of course, way overscale. They would be overscale even compared with my 'Mighty Armadas' toy ships. But the scheme seems to 'work' - air attacks in mass looking reasonably spectacular.
Hope all that helps.
Cheers,
Ion
Very useful Ion and even more impressive to see your scratch builds, given their size!
DeleteSteve J.
DeleteI don't recall whether you have seen my Blacklands War predreadnought ships. They are a deal larger, and much more 'cartoonish' (Chibi Maru) in style.
https://archdukepiccolo.blogspot.com/2020/10/first-blacklands-war-naval-developments.html
These vessels saw action during my Blacklands War campaign.
Cheers,
Ion
Thanks for the link Ion, as I haven't seen these before, but they look good too. Lots to think about for some supporting vessles for my ImagiNations forces for sure. Most likely in shore waters vessels of for the Danube etc.
DeleteSteve J.
DeleteI'm inclined to think inshore operations are more interesting in a campaign - plenty of variety of operations. That is why for the 'Second Blacklands War', Chervenia (Bulgaria - 6 torpedo boats) and Rhum-Babaria (3 torpedo boats and a very small cruiser) get their tiny navies.
Just by the way, I made half a dozen dhow style boats, a couple of them gun-armed, to go with a riverine paddle steamer for a campaign in a vaguely East Africa setting. They belonged to the 'Corsairs of the Coast'. Unfortunately COVID set a term upon that campaign just after a successful Corsair raid on an Azeitonian (vaguely Portuguese) colonial settlement. Pity, that...
https://archdukepiccolo.blogspot.com/search/label/In%20Darkest%20Aithiops
Cheers,
Ion
Gotta love a scratch built warship! I have been very wary about tackling ships later than 1905 with my own building but seeing this lot isn’t half tempting - you may have pushed me over the edge old chap!
ReplyDeleteLovely job and I am looking forward to seeing her action.
All the best,
DC
David -
DeleteThanks for your comment! I do get a bit jealous of your own ship-building technique, but, having begun with balsa so long ago (1980s, ACW riverine), have become set in my ways. These little ships are more 'impressionistic' than 'realistic', being modelled on a generic type, rather than actual vessels. At that, the cruisers are more cognate to early Post-WW1 British and Japanese types than anything else.
Incidentally, I have not differentiated between 6-inch and 8-inch guns. I'm figuring that the rate of fire of the former (about 3 times the latter) would make up the difference.
I still have to figure out how to continue the Laroc Sea battle narrative. The surface action became a little confused, as I didn't note the shooting and damage turn by turn for it. I'll be going through the pics to build the story from there.
Cheers,
Ion
Clever work, nice outcomes. Looking forward to the actions at sea these are destined for in short order.
ReplyDeletepancerni -
DeleteI might be forced, you know, to have a crack at something resembling Midway and Leyte Gulf. The latter will probably have to begin about the time the US main battle fleet had been lured away from the shore landings.
Actually, I have a vague 'shore landing' operation in mind for the actual war between Ra'esharn and Kiivar. I dare say at some point I'll have to outline just who these warring nations are!
Cheers,
Ion
Love them. Somehow balsa warships seem a lot more appealing than plastic kits - I always feel that kits are too detailed somehow.
ReplyDeleteRob -
DeleteI think you have something there. I do have a handful of kitsets - a German destroyer and Btitish minelayer; plus the cruiser 'Prinz Eugen' and carrier 'Ark Royal', but I find my 'Mighty Armadas' toys more appealing. Mind you, a couple cruder examples required the addition of extra 'bits' to make them look more 'comme il faut'. I really don't know what to do with the kitsets. Mind you, I have been VERY tempted to incorporate the Ark Royal aircraft into teeny-tiny navies scheme...
The main appeal of balsa ships is that they are comparatively easy to make, and one need not be too finicky about accuracy.
Cheers,
Ion
To say your balsa warships are simply scratch-built they actually look rather well detailed. Your paint job is nice and effective. Well done 👏👏
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Geoff
ps/ I look forward to reading further adventures from Byzantium.
Geoff -
DeleteMuch of the detail is of the 'this looks good' variety. I have a bit of a thing about Japanese warship design, in particular the rather dramatic command towers. I made my battlecruisers, especially, somewhat that way.
Adventures from Byzantium ... h'mmm. I could continue on from the campaign set-up that I did for the 3rd Wargames Compendium. But I'd also like to do more of my 'big table' Portable Byzantium some time. I think I have that rule set very nearly as I'd like it, but a couple of more 'shake down' battles are indicated, I think.
Cheers,
Ion