Specialist Arms Forum

Battlefleet Gothic => [BFG] Discussion => Topic started by: wargame_insomniac on October 05, 2011, 06:11:45 PM

Title: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: wargame_insomniac on October 05, 2011, 06:11:45 PM
Hi

I have been sorting through my BFG ships in recent weeks. I cam across some parts that are not current BFG range and don't fit in with old Spacefleet range.

There is a curved prow, similar to Voss prow but with more pronounced ram. There are some weapon batteries, with height just a bit more than the current plastic ones. And what I would guess are lance turrets.

Sound familiar to anyone who know old GW models?

I picked the up second hand years ago- they had been attached to a balsa wood ship hull which I scrapped and put the bits to one side.

Thanks

James
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: Vaaish on October 05, 2011, 07:11:02 PM
Pictures could help if you've got them. :)
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: wargame_insomniac on October 05, 2011, 07:20:29 PM
Pictures could help if you've got them. :)
Hi Vaish. I thought they might so i have taken some pictures after making post. Comparison of prow to Retribution/Apocalypse and comparison to GW Spacefleet ships. I'll e0mail you the pictures.

Thanks

James
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: Sigoroth on October 05, 2011, 07:26:42 PM
Put the images in this post so we can all see.
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: lastspartacus on October 05, 2011, 07:34:00 PM
Duh.  Pics please :)
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: wargame_insomniac on October 05, 2011, 07:35:53 PM
Tried but did nt work- pics too large
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: Sigoroth on October 05, 2011, 07:53:20 PM
Tried but did nt work- pics too large

Stand further back from your computer, the pictures will get smaller.
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: horizon on October 05, 2011, 08:20:49 PM
Upload them to photobucket, flickr etc.  the upload option in the forum is too small.


Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: Sigoroth on October 05, 2011, 08:26:15 PM
Upload them to photobucket, flickr etc.  the upload option in the forum is too small.

Well, if you want to go around giving practical advice ...  ::)
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: horizon on October 05, 2011, 08:34:48 PM
Your advice was funnier. ;)
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: Vaaish on October 06, 2011, 05:54:15 AM
I took the liberty of reducing the image size so it could be posted. Here's the image that had the clearest overview of the parts. I wasn't for sure, but I thought the battery bitz and prow were familiar. I checked in the BBB and on p. 63 you can see the prow and batteries on the scratch built ship in the lower left image.

(http://www.twolandscreative.com/wip/bfg/parts.jpg)
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: horizon on October 06, 2011, 06:37:25 AM
Yup. So a famous ship ended up in bitz...
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: mangozac on October 06, 2011, 08:12:32 AM
Wow very old school! Will be keen to take a look at the actual ship in the BBB when I get home!
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: wargame_insomniac on October 06, 2011, 09:58:09 AM
Thanks Vaish. It was a shame that the balsa hull was in such bad shape when I found it in second hand shop.

Does that mean that the prow and batteries were scratch built? Or that they were a limited run that they did nt put into production.

I was thinking of using the prow for a Grand Cruiser, as it is quite tall.

Thanks

James
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: mangozac on October 06, 2011, 11:04:13 AM
The parts are metal right? My guess is that they were perhaps prototype parts for Imperial ships. GW may have done a run of them for playtesting or something?
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: wargame_insomniac on October 06, 2011, 11:29:26 AM
The parts are metal right? My guess is that they were perhaps prototype parts for Imperial ships. GW may have done a run of them for playtesting or something?
That would make sense- there was a total of 2 prows, 6 weapon abtteries and 2 lance batteries that I rescued from their balsa ships. And looking at the picture on pg 63 of BBB - that certainly was nt the ship that I bought.

As i said one prow I have long ear-marked to go on a Grand Cruiser hull. For the other prow and the lance/weapon batteries I am not sure what to do with. If they were unpainted I would offer them up to someone to cast up and preserve for BFG community.. I guess I could paint strip them of their black undercoat.

But I don't know how GW's IP works if they were un-released models?

Thanks

James

Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: lastspartacus on October 06, 2011, 11:33:16 AM
Howd you come by those bits?  I like them in more than a simply retro way.  Wish I had one :)
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: lastspartacus on October 06, 2011, 11:34:23 AM
And yes, give it over to the community! :p
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: wargame_insomniac on October 06, 2011, 11:44:48 AM
Howd you come by those bits?  I like them in more than a simply retro way.  Wish I had one :)
As I said before- I bought them n second hand store along with a couple other BFG bitz-  over a decade ago - shop up in Mansfield so guess not far from Lenton if someone was getting rid of them way back.
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: wargame_insomniac on October 06, 2011, 11:49:15 AM
The parts are metal right? My guess is that they were perhaps prototype parts for Imperial ships. GW may have done a run of them for playtesting or something?
Yes the prow and weapons are metal.
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: horizon on October 06, 2011, 12:04:42 PM
These are so obscure recasting won't ever be noticed. 

Isn't it written that the ship was build from lotsa Epic bits? Need to check at home.

Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: Vaaish on October 06, 2011, 02:17:04 PM
The only epic bit I can find on that ship is the superstructure which is from the epic chaos line.
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: wargame_insomniac on October 06, 2011, 06:00:32 PM
Maybe but that is all academic as it was nt the ship pictured in the BBB that I bought- hopefully that is still in someone's display cabinet.

Cheers

James
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: lastspartacus on October 06, 2011, 07:14:53 PM
This is truly an ancient piece of archeotech recovered from a space hulk :p
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: mangozac on October 07, 2011, 12:42:02 PM
If they were unpainted I would offer them up to someone to cast up and preserve for BFG community.. I guess I could paint strip them of their black undercoat.
The paint won't be any hindrance for moulding, however like you say being metal they can easily be stripped.

Honestly though other than nostalgia I don't see any point in recasting them. IMO they're inferior to any of the production BFG parts and look more akin to Space Fleet. I suppose the prow is interesting for something different.

But I don't know how GW's IP works if they were un-released models?

Technically they fall under the same laws as any other sculpts, production or not. But I'm sure nobody would complain if a few copies were shared by friends.


Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: wargame_insomniac on October 07, 2011, 02:34:18 PM
If they were unpainted I would offer them up to someone to cast up and preserve for BFG community.. I guess I could paint strip them of their black undercoat.
The paint won't be any hindrance for moulding, however like you say being metal they can easily be stripped.

Honestly though other than nostalgia I don't see any point in recasting them. IMO they're inferior to any of the production BFG parts and look more akin to Space Fleet. I suppose the prow is interesting for something different.

But I don't know how GW's IP works if they were un-released models?

Technically they fall under the same laws as any other sculpts, production or not. But I'm sure nobody would complain if a few copies were shared by friends.
I think you are right re look. I have always wanted to do a fleet based off the old Spacefleet ships. Currently I have 4 of the old Emperors, 3 of the old Dominators and 2 of the old Tyrants. Was nt sure which officail BFG stats I should use for these (I have seen the alternative stats in Warp Rift).

But I have always thought these prows would be nice on a BB/GC which would give me a nice mix of ships along with the aforementioned Spacefleet ships. I would just need some suitable escorts.

And re demand for them- yes you are right- a few copies between friends would not go amiss.

PM reply sent.

Thanks

James
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: mangozac on October 08, 2011, 12:10:59 AM
But I have always thought these prows would be nice on a BB/GC which would give me a nice mix of ships along with the aforementioned Spacefleet ships. I would just need some suitable escorts.
You know I thought about it some more and I think the prow and broadside battery pieces would be great for converting a BB into an ancient, venerable vessel. The other weird cannon pieces IMO don't belong in BFG at all...
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: lastspartacus on October 08, 2011, 01:26:15 AM
Agreed. The batteries and prow are the main points of interest for me.
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: AndrewChristlieb on October 08, 2011, 02:05:24 AM
The cannons remind me of the grand cruisers in looks, might have something there, espically if your looking to use the prow for a gc project.
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: wargame_insomniac on October 08, 2011, 08:51:15 AM
But I have always thought these prows would be nice on a BB/GC which would give me a nice mix of ships along with the aforementioned Spacefleet ships. I would just need some suitable escorts.
You know I thought about it some more and I think the prow and broadside battery pieces would be great for converting a BB into an ancient, venerable vessel. The other weird cannon pieces IMO don't belong in BFG at all...
I was wondering if they would suit something similar to your lovely Black Ship kit. The only problem I saw is the height- the batterries are taller than the standard plastic WB.

Cheers

James
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: lastspartacus on October 08, 2011, 09:08:54 AM
I think resizing is possible.
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: wargame_insomniac on October 08, 2011, 09:42:01 AM
I think resizing is possible.
Praise the de-bigulator!
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: Lex on October 09, 2011, 11:15:03 AM
But I don't know how GW's IP works if they were un-released models?

Technically they fall under the same laws as any other sculpts, production or not. But I'm sure nobody would complain if a few copies were shared by friends.

Actualy the main question for these would be if they are clearly marked as GW, or if they at anytime where identified as such in a publication or other public venue of identification. Other then that the only IP claim that could be made was on the iconografy of the bow as it is similar to the actualy TRADEMARKED models.

Most of the IP claims that GW actualy makes are on the "name"use and imagery...
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: GlynG on October 11, 2011, 02:32:35 PM
The only epic bit I can find on that ship is the superstructure which is from the epic chaos line.
I instantly recognise the big gun piece as a cut-down main battery from a plastic Imperator Titan.
Title: Re: Old BFG parts- possibly unreleased
Post by: BaronIveagh on November 10, 2011, 02:15:35 AM
You know, it looks almost like a 3up for one of those old space fleet ships.  Did they do that back then?