Specialist Arms Forum
Battlefleet Gothic => [BFG] Discussion => Topic started by: mangozac on September 17, 2014, 08:20:06 AM
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It will be pretty obvious to my followers that I'm a big fan of small scale, highly detailed space ship models. As with many of you my good hobby friend and mega talented artist Vaaish and I were both bummed at the demise of the Battlefleet Gothic range over a year ago and set in motion plans to create our own line of highly detailed space ship models in the aesthetic that we love. Thus Battlegroup Helios (http://www.battlegrouphelios.com/) was born.
Vaaish has come up with a beautiful style for the first fleet (known as Helians) and created a stunning 3D model for the cruiser sized vessels (you can read about it here (http://www.forum.specialist-arms.com/index.php?topic=5958.0)). Now that the 3D printing is under way (we had a couple of false starts) I have begun work on the Helian frigate design. I'm doing this as a traditional scratchbuild (although maybe I should call it a hybrid scratchbuild, considering the processes I'm using), since I prefer to work like that rather than 3D modelling.
Fortunately Vaaish flexed his creative muscles again and drew me some awesome sketches to work from:
(http://www.resinaddict.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/BGHFrigate02-300x240.jpg) (http://www.resinaddict.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/BGHFrigate02.jpg)
I then used Inkscape to draw vector artwork over the top of the sketches, working out all of the shapes required for the main forms of the design. Note how close Aaron's freehand symmetry is!
(http://www.resinaddict.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Escort_tracing-300x225.jpg) (http://www.resinaddict.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Escort_tracing.jpg)
From there I used my CNC router and a 1mm diameter cutter to cut out the shapes from various thickness styrene sheets. I forgot to take a photo by the result looks very similar to CNC cut terrain as it is supplied. It's then a matter of trying to work out how all of these tiny bits are supposed to go together. And I do mean tiny: the parts look much larger on screen, but the overall length is approximately 55mm.
The base shape is starting to take form. Things are very rough at the moment and not many details are actually glued on (they've just been sat in place for this photo), but it gives a pretty good feel for the design. It's now just a matter of slowly filling in details. My next step is to fill in the prow area with Milliput.
(http://www.resinaddict.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Helian_frigate_WIP_1-300x225.jpg) (http://www.resinaddict.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Helian_frigate_WIP_1.jpg)
I'm trying to get a little bit done each night, so hopefully it shouldn't take too long to complete. Once I have some resin copies I'll then be cutting them up to make other weapon fitout variants.
Thanks for looking!
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/clap
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Awesome!
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It will be pretty obvious to my followers that I'm a big fan of small scale, highly detailed space ship models.
;D
Slick ship.
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Awesome to see the process at work. And yes, Aaron's artist competency sickens me in the best possible way! :D
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:o Incredible !!!
How many are thinking to produce for this fleet ?
And your were talking about a seconf fleet ????
Really ? ;D
Could we have some spoiler on it ?
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Thanks guys! I slapped some putty on the prow and began initial work on the engines last night! I'll post another update when I have the engines attached ;)
How many are thinking to produce for this fleet ?
We'll have a standard range of ships from small escorts right up to a battleship.
And your were talking about a seconf fleet ????
Really ? ;D
Could we have some spoiler on it ?
We actually plan to make 3 fleets (gradually, not all at once). The next one is still secret. And the third one we haven't even started thinking about designs for yet.
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:o 3 ?
Thanks for the quick feedback.
I am really looking forward to see the development of this fleet(s).
By the way will you develop some fleet list with them ?
(A french BFGaddict lost in an english forum)
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The concept of new rules/lists/etcc has been kicked around, but at this stage people can just use them as proxy models for their favourite fleets/games ;)
(A french BFGaddict lost in an english forum)
For a French person in an English speaking forum you're doing well. I know lots of French BFG fans so maybe I should try to come and post in a French forum. I'd have to use Google translate though, as my French is very poor!
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For a French person in an English speaking forum you're doing well. I know lots of French BFG fans so maybe I should try to come and post in a French forum. I'd have to use Google translate though, as my French is very poor!
Hahah !! And i am thinking we should also start too shake our ass to be more english-friendly with the BFG community. There is so much good stuff too share on BFG FR. Hevygear is working on the same idea.
But we should also be more present here :)
I am closing this extra-forum discussion, and will wait too see the next step of this project.
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Just a quick update with a bit more progress to share. The prow and bridge areas have been puttied in and engines have been mounted. As you can see I've started detailing the engines, but there's still a bit of work to do there. I need to hit the prow with some primer to check for smoothness and ensure there are no issues where the putty meets styrene. It's hard to tell, as there was superglue involved in the construction and because of its relative translucency it will appear as a gap to the naked eye.
(http://www.resinaddict.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/BGH_frigate_WIP_3-300x225.jpg) (http://www.resinaddict.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/BGH_frigate_WIP_3.jpg)
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Made some more progress over the weekend. The prow banding has been done (which was actually far easier than I was expecting) and more work has been done on the stern. The really fine detailing has begun too.
I'm now deciding whether to chop the prow off off or not. It will make casting easier if the prow is separate to the rest of the model, but it makes casting faster and cheaper if it's all one piece. The downside to having it single piece is that there will be a gate attaching on the bottom of the prow, so removal will leave a flat, featureless area...
Anyway it's progressing nicely ;)
(http://www.resinaddict.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/BGH_frigate_WIP_4-300x225.jpg) (http://www.resinaddict.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/BGH_frigate_WIP_4.jpg)
(http://www.resinaddict.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/BGH_frigate_WIP_5-300x225.jpg) (http://www.resinaddict.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/BGH_frigate_WIP_5.jpg)
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I'd go for a single piece. The featureless area on the bottom isn't going to be seen and can easy be gussied up with a wee bit of plasticard strip if needed. The relative size and the narrowness of the hull will mean that a 2 part ship will be weak there and will require a drill and pin operation to make it secure. It's bringing back bad memories of the metal space marine strike cruiser which was notorious for getting knocked off.
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Yeah, I agree with jimmy, single piece seems better to me.
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There's still a lot of bulking up to be done to the middle of the ship, so I'm sure that there would not be issues like the strike cruiser. The fact that this will be resin helps a lot too.
But at this stage a single piece is the way to go so I'll progress with that in mind.
While we're on the topic of parts, does anybody think it will be preferable to have the little dorsal turrets as separate pieces? The alternative is that I mould them with the turrets already attached but all oriented slightly differently, just to give a bit of variation. Of course, separate parts is a pain for me and increases the cost.
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Aaaand just to contradict myself I'm back to tell you that the prows will be separate :P
I realised that the Assault Frigate variant has a split prow so there won't be any suitable spot to put a gate. A separate prow is also less likely to have mould slip issues so I think is overall going to look better.
Don't fret - these parts are so small and light that I guarantee you won't need to pin them ;)
Vaaish also cast his vote on the turrets - he says either separate pieces or have them all facing forward (no variations). We'll see what I end up doing - in either case I won't be attaching turrets until one of the very last steps...
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Regarding the fiddly bits of such small turrets, I have no issue with them being fixed and facing forward. (Or build in magnets and make metal turerts so we can turn them as we wish. ;) )
So a separate prow it'll be. Just make sure the connections can be easily lined up, and I'm sure that'll happen. :)
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So a separate prow it'll be. Just make sure the connections can be easily lined up, and I'm sure that'll happen. :)
Did I ever send you any of my Zeus escorts, Roy? There are no locating features on the prows for them and I've not had any complaints about difficulty lining up. Due to the orientation when casting it's difficult to do the mating recess for a locating nub to slot into.
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No, Zeus escorts are still on my 'to order' list. I see your point. :)
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Ahh ok I'll send you some when I return that part you recently sent me ;)
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I've had a heap of real life stuff going on lately that has been diverting my attention from hobby stuff. I've lately managed to get some more progress done on the Helian Frigate though:
(http://www.resinaddict.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/BGH_frigate_WIP_6-300x225.jpg) (http://www.resinaddict.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/BGH_frigate_WIP_6.jpg)
There's not a real lot to talk about. The prow has been separated from the hull (to facilitate casting). Detailing is progressing slowly. The prow is mostly done and just needs a coat of primer before I can add the final small details. Next job is to start detailing the underside.
For those who aren't aware the Battlegroup Helios site is up at http://www.battlegrouphelios.com/ (http://www.battlegrouphelios.com/), but the actual site content won't go live until we have our first products ready to go. Vaaish has done an amazing job on the site and you're in for a real visual treat!
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Progress continues! I've been doing more detailing and completed much of the bottom of the ship. I'm ready to do the final pass of detailing but before that I had to hit it with some primer to check for smoothness in a few spots. It's mostly good, I'll just have to run around with some Milliput to clean up a few areas.
(http://www.resinaddict.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/BGH_Frigate_WIP_7-300x225.jpg) (http://www.resinaddict.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/BGH_Frigate_WIP_7.jpg)
The next step is to do all of the deck detail inset into the "intake" areas. I've been putting that off because it's going to be really fiddly and there's a lot of it to do...
Oh well, no pain no gain!
Oh and rather than make a second post I might as well share this here too (it is related):
(http://www.resinaddict.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/BGH_Dreadnought_masters-300x225.jpg) (http://www.resinaddict.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/BGH_Dreadnought_masters.jpg)
This is the set of production master parts, taken from the first moulds of the 3D prints. I'll use these to make multiple new sets of moulds which will in turn be used for mass production of the Dreadnought and Firedrake kits. Everything else is lined up ready to launch the new kits as soon as I've built up some stock. Soon, I promise!
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;) Magnifique !!!!!!
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8)
Look good! Even without detailing. ;)
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Thanks guys! Yeah it really is coming together now :)
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Great stuffs!
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Great looking!
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Your stuff looks pretty nice. Have you come up with some custom rules for it or what?
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Your stuff looks pretty nice. Have you come up with some custom rules for it or what?
Thanks! No we don't have any custom rules at this stage. The intention is for people to just use their favourite space combat rule set and use these ships as proxies for existing ship classes ;)
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Just found this on Facebook:
(https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/10926183_898247560219955_3086057681046040355_n.jpg?oh=ac67667d8b0ce0856c787012c530b0ed&oe=553EFAA9)
Hi BGH fans! From Zac's workbench we're excited to share a final sneak peak of the Helian Frigate master model prior to final priming and then moulding. If all goes to plan they will be available for order from the Battlegroup Helios website in early February. Next up we will begin work on the Assault Frigate variant.
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Aaaaaaand to get an idea of the scale:
(http://www.resinaddict.com/forum/download/file.php?id=483&mode=view)
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Aaaaaaand to get an idea of the scale:
(http://www.resinaddict.com/forum/download/file.php?id=483&mode=view)
Your pic doesn't work.
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Works perfectly fine here.
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Works perfectly fine here.
This is the message I get from following this link (http://www.resinaddict.com/forum/download/file.php?id=483&mode=view) in his post: You are not authorised to download this attachment.
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When I click that link the image opens on a new tab and with right-click I can download it.
The picture is a link from resinaddict.com, so perhaps you need to be logged in on that forum to have it available as a download.
Or it might be a problem with your browser?
For convenience I attached the picture in an attachment.
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I suspect that only members of the Resin Addict forum will be able to see the original pic clearly though, probably something to do with the forum setup
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nice! So looking to be about Sword/Firestorm size
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I so want these and I in no way need them! Beautiful, beautiful work, and done in the - pretty much - old fashioned way! Superb stuff.
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(https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/10917107_908798365831541_85535936869306302_n.jpg?oh=958ba0256cb93befa212b9f3f8f8b0ff&oe=55527763)
First resin cast of the Helian Frigate. More will be made which will then be used as production masters to make the production moulds from. It won't be long now until we add them to the BGH store!
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Hey guys sorry I haven't posted here in a bit. For some reason I didn't receive the topic reply notification emails I had configured :(
The reason that the picture linked from the RA forum wouldn't show is because it was shared in a private subforum that is only visible to members. So it can't be hotlinked ;)
I had a few issues with the mould of the Frigate hull and just couldn't get satisfactory casts so I've had to reorient it and make a new mould. But I'm excited to report that the new mould is perfect and I've been pumping out perfect quality copies to use as production masters. Hopefully I'll start making the production moulds tomorrow night, then it shouldn't be too much longer until they're available for sale!
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Awesome
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Will you be selling them individually? I'm keen for 5.
I did notice a few tiny spheres of resin on my cruiser hulls but they weren't too hard to remove. Looks they were air bubbles in the mould. No worries though as i know how difficult it can be to make perfect casts in resin ( do they even exist? :) )
Just thinking that if you do get bad casts, you could sell them to make drifting wrecks. I'd love to make a few exploded ships!
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Will you be selling them individually? I'm keen for 5.
I did notice a few tiny spheres of resin on my cruiser hulls but they weren't too hard to remove. Looks they were air bubbles in the mould. No worries though as i know how difficult it can be to make perfect casts in resin ( do they even exist? :) )
Just thinking that if you do get bad casts, you could sell them to make drifting wrecks. I'd love to make a few exploded ships!
The plan is to sell them in packs of three, so you'll end up with a spare ;)
Out of interest, where exactly were the spheres on your cruiser? I'm only aware of one in the exposed decks behind the aftmost weapons recess in one of the moulds I have.
I do have a handful of miscasts with hollowed out areas due to bubbles. Selling them cheap for use as hulks isn't a bad idea!
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If you look at the hull as if its closing, the spheres were in the top corners of the exposed decks and one in the middle of the right side exposed deck. i just drilled or popped them out with a sharp blade and tidied up.
Two packs it is. Definitely keen on making some hulks so let us know if you decide to sell the miscasts.
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Ahh yeah that was only on the original mould - indeed I figured that anybody who noticed them would have the skill to pop them out with a knife. I'm transitioning to a new silicone and vacuuming process for the moulds which will guarantee this kind of flaw won't occur.
I'm happy to sell you some miscasts - drop me a line at my username at resinaddict.com and we can tee it up ;)
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Just found this on Facebook:
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t31.0-8/s720x720/10830657_922624861115558_6712100460822929944_o.jpg)
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I moved house last weekend so I'm working frantically to get my casting gear set back up. The Frigates will be available very soon!
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Quick update time! We'll be launching both the Helian Escort Frigates and the Helian Weapons Pack this Tuesday 3.3.2015.
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Just found this on Facebook:
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t31.0-8/s720x720/11025876_924521834259194_8116847344891949776_o.jpg)
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Man mango does some amazing work!
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Hey folks! Just an update to let you know the Helian Frigates and Helian Weapon Pack are now available for purchase on our brand new store page. Head on over and check it out!
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Helian Weapons Pack
Helian capital ships use modular weapons to allow the limited number of hulls in the fleet to quickly adapt to changing battlefield requirements. Contains resin parts for two of each capital class weapons module type.
EACH KIT INCLUDES:
2x Cannon deck modules
2x Hanger deck modules
2x Beam cannon deck modules
4x Beam cannon turrets
KIT DIMENSIONS:
Weapons module: 18mm wide x 9mm tall
(http://www.battlegrouphelios.com/images/Products/000005c.jpg)
http://www.battlegrouphelios.com/index.php/9-helian/12-helian-weapons-pack
Helian Escort Frigate
Helian Escort Frigates are used as transports for important diplomats and as quick reaction squadrons to screen larger Helian ships in combat. Contains three multi-part resin Helian Escort Frigates.
EACH KIT INCLUDES:
3x Hull
3x Standard prow
9x Beam cannon turrets
3x 32mm diameter mounting stand
KIT DIMENSIONS:
Hull, assembled: 51mm long x 20mm wide x 19mm tall
(http://www.battlegrouphelios.com/images/Products/000003c.jpg)
http://www.battlegrouphelios.com/index.php/9-helian/10-helian-escort