Finished Mauridian Squadron

I finally finished the Mauridian squadron from Ravenstar Studio's Cold Navy line. First, props to my favorite mini designer John Bear Ross. I really love the aesthetic of these ships. They have a very anime style to them and they'd feel right at home in a Macross fleet.

I'm really glad that I started with the big boys, as by the time I got to the smaller ones, my painting chops had degraded fairly following the deployment and subsequent PCS. If the battleship had turned out like the Ba'Rada frigates I'd have been really pissed at myself. In the end though, they are Done and at tabletop distance still look decent.

He Paints!

Finished off two of the three Ba'Rada frigates last night. Let's just say that you'd think I forgot how to paint as they are not anywhere near the same level of quality as the other Mauridian ships. I've got one more primed and ready for paint. May try to knock it out tonight. Once that one is done I'll post pics of all three and the completed squadron (though really, is any fleet ever "complete").

Painting Recession

Well, I seem to be experiencing a painting recession. Just haven't had the motivation to do much painting, which is bad becuase like most everyone else I have a lot of stuff that needs pigmentation. Thankfully I haven't been expanding the lead mountain either.

That being said, I finally did the last little bits on the Felid squad last weekend and got base coats on two of the three Mauridian frigates.

I'll post pictures eventually, just not real sure when...

Ven'Tara Carriers Complete

I actually finished these a couple weeks ago, just now getting a picture of them. These are Ravenstar's Cold Navy Mauridian Ven'Tara carriers.  They are resin like the rest of Ravenstar's miniatures and the quality is the same high level of the rest of the pieces I've ordered from him. They were already base coated before I deployed so they only needed the darklining, highlighting, and details but that was more than enough to remind me that it has been a while since I painted anything.

Little Bit of Progress

Did some work on the Mauridian carriers. Fully basecoated and mostly lined, just need to take some brown liner to the orange bits, highlight, and pick out the detail bits. Remembered to use the original darker gray as well, it looks better after the highlighting.

Also did the base on the Black Lighting Dictator '60. This is a project that's been on the back burner for some time now. Nothing fancy, same basing scheme as the rest of my Rach force, sand and rock desert. (there's been more added since this really old picture, should really take a new "family photo") Should be ready for primer tomorrow, we'll see how much the paste sinks into the base. I know it would make the miniautres cost more, but sometimes I wish the plate on the bottom of the CAVs feet fully filled the recess in the hex base, it's a pain making sure that whatever you're using gets under the feet and around the edge, then when it dries it sunk making it look like there's a mini sink hole in front of your CAV. Anyway, I've already got the paint scheme in my head, just want to finish these ships first.

Speaking of ships. I received my latest order from Ravenstar Studios. The Basestar and Starbase mentioned in an earlier post. Not sure when I'm going to get to them, but I would at least like to get them cleaned up and assembled, if not even into primer.

Some Finished Mauridians

OK, I know I said I'd be scarce, but I did finish the Mauridian Gal'Ethon battleship and the two Val'Naveg cruisers from Ravenstar Studios. I ended up changing paints with the cruisers. Reaper's Master Series Paints are great paints, especially if you're doing a lot of blending on a miniature. However, when you need two coat coverage it just isn't going to happen. So I switched to Reaper's Pro Paints which have better coverage. This resulted in the cruisers being noticeably darker, but I don't mind it too terribly. As more ships get painted, the ones painted with MSPs will be the minority.

Most of these pictures include the original metal frigates I bought when Xtreme Hobbies was still making these. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the difference in detail in the resin ships blows these away. I'm going to have a hard time going back to metals after these.









Oh, yeah, the battleship is missing the aft ventral fin/wing/thingy. It came off while I was painting at some point today and I'll be darned if I can find the thing.

2,000 Words (and a few more)

OK, the VSD is from Studio Bergstrom and is mounted on Ninja Magic magnetic flight stand adapters and Litko Aerosystems clear acrylic flight stand. The battleship is from Ravenstar Studios. You won't find it on his website, but you can email him for a quote.

Here's where I go into a mini rant. Ravenstar Studios has had the license to produce the Cold Navy ships for some time and his website shows no way in which to order them. If you don't know somebody who knows how to get them or don't check Starship Combat News (excellent source for starship gaming BTW) you'd never be able to get these beauties. I was very hesitant about just sending off money to somebody I didn't know from Adam. I glad I did, because the ships are outstanding in resin. Much crisper detail than the metal versions. He could be doing so much more business if he would get his site updated. Apparently he has a total facelift in the works, but has apparently gotten somebody rather unreliable to get it done. At any rate, he could be making so much more if he had an updated site with pictures of these wonderful pieces.

Mr. Ross, if you're reading this, the Mauridians are the ships I wanted for a long time. Sleek but deadly looking, detailed without being covered in stuff just to be covered in stuff, and a cool anime style.

Painting and A New Distraction

First, I did manage to get the adapters prepped and attached to their bases. I forgot to take pics and I apologize for that. The Victory Star Destroyer looks frickin' awesome on it. Especially since it makes it a bit taller than the other ships on the same shelf in the cabinet. Today I got the base coat and engine "glow" done on the Mauridian BB and it looks quite promising. Next up is mixing a lighter blue and a lighter orange (without going too yellow) for some of the panels, some highlighting, and darklining. While it doesn't have a lot of panel lines and greeblies compared to most CAVs or GZG starships it does have enough to make it a time consuming proposition. At least with the GZG ships I can wash them, drybrush them and call it a day. These Mauridians look so good that they deserve more than that.

And the distraction, I bought Star Trek Online. If you happen to run into Captain Aaron H. Perry in the Alpha Quadrant open a hailing frequency and send your complements. Still flying the noob ship, a Miranda, the U.S.S. Athena though it shouldn't be too much longer until I can pick up a more modern Cruiser.

The Next Fleet

I can't really say anything the picture won't except that these were designed by my favorite sculptor, John Bear Ross, for the Cold Navy line. They are available from Ravenstar Studios, though you have to email him as these aren't up on his website.

More Stuff

Added more stuff to the "To Do List." Namely the rest of the Mauridian battlegroup (still need fighters though) and a Victory Star Destroyer from Studio Bergstrom. I'm very happy with the details and quality of both orders. Just need to get my Ninja Magic adapters in now. Hopefully this weekend I can finish the FSE corvettes and remaining escort cruiser. Doubt I'll get the battlecruiser and battleship done, those always seem to take longer than I think they will.