Shelf Queen: ATHENA Steampunk Airship

[Klaus not Santa]

Well, if there is one project that qualifies as a shelf queen, then it must be the ATHENA.
I started this project on May 22, 2009
http://fischers-design-shop.blogspot.de/2009/05/new-project-code-name-athena.html
and the last time I worked on her was on September 3, 2013
http://fischers-design-shop.blogspot.de/2013/09/athena-steampunk-airship-105.html

As I just finished the "Meeting of Scouts" diorama, I decided to throw her into the competition and see if I can use this as an ass-kicking to get her finished.
So here she is:


the plastic is by now quite brittle


and many pieces are warped


Still a beauty though


She even got some real spider webs


I'm not sure how far I'll get this time


There's still a lot to do


She defenately needs a good cleaning


So I started to glue some of the broken pieces - like a wheel on the STRIX VTOL aircraft and a blade on the propeller


Oh, and with the amount of patches she has, she fits the "Repaired and Restored" theme quite well
Cheers
Klaus

 

[urumomo]

There she is !
I thought you had finished this way back

Why would the plastic become brittle ?

 

[Grendels]

Nice entry!

Plastic can become brittle with exposure to UV light.

 

[Klaus not Santa]

Thank you
@urumomo - I wish I had
Maybe this time

Well, last night I decided to remove all the masking off the windows and stuff - or rather see if it still comes off after 3 years.


It was never intended to remain so long on the windows - and I don't think it was made for it.
But luckily the rubber mask from Vallejo came off pretty well.


First time in years these 3 guys see the light of day again


Another important part is the bridge.


After a battery recharge, the lights still work.


How would the Tamija Masking Tape come off?


Great!
No problems at all. No damage to the Goddess.


The large rear mural was covered in standard, no-brand masking tape...
Lots of paint ripped off


But well. I already have an idea here.
So I checked the wiring and lights for the body area. Still working.


Lower observation room too


And this morning she was still on my desk


So I decided the first thing to fix was the rear area.
I simply changed the scene here, so that the two guys *should* actually be painting the rear are, but are taking a break and do some golf


Even added some spilled paint.


Then it was time for some serious work.
Damages.
Like last time I started with the dark grey.


Then Terracotta in the upper parts (simulating the rust resilient paint) and Fortress Grey for the lower highlights.


Then the dark grey with a sponge.


And finally Boltgun Metal for the deeper damage areas.


The top of the deck received a new paint coat to support the scene there, where a bunch of guys are in process of painting the deck.


You can also see the simulated color transition of the "cloud pattern" with the two colors.


Well, that's as far as I got.
Feels good to have the old lady back on the desk.
Cheers

Klaus

 

[urumomo]

Nice entry!

Plastic can become brittle with exposure to UV light.

Inside ?

You had this up against a window , Klaus ?


Anyhowz -- I'm excited to see this thing being revived ;D

A good while back I sent this link to Klaus : http://i-am-modelist.com/2015/02/09/kind-boat/
.. since it immediately reminded me of the Athena

Cheers !

 

[Quaralane]

Good to see this one coming back

 

[Klaus not Santa]

Thank you guys!
@urumomo - not by the window, but on a shelf - and remember some of the plastic is 7 years old. Also the plastic glue makes the plastic very brittle too.

I think it is time for the old lady to be finally completed. She survived 3 cats and began to think she was cursed.
Currently we are without cats - so what better time ?

Well I decided to experiment a bit more with the already painted part. Trying to tell more of the "painters" story. So one understands what is exactly happening.
So I took the challenge of doing the Dencara Cloud Pattern with a brush.


While that dried I completed the damage of the upper story of the body.


Wow, that damage stuff IS time consuming.
So maybe more already painted elements?


I also started the blue ornamental flag on the observation deck.
I still need a good Latin phrase - so if you can spare one


To provide more context on the paint process, I also provided a strip of bare metal in front of the rust resilient paint.


Uff!
The base for the body damage done.


It starts to tell a story of its own.


But it took my quite some hours to get all the damage painted on her.


So how could I continue with the upper decks?
More damage?


I decided to take the easier route
The upper and command deck is already painted. She is returning to Xantium after a successful campaign in the south and we want her to look representable when she returns for her parade.
Of course the command deck with the officers as well as the landing platform where first visitors are arriving, must be spit-shining sharp, right?


So I started to do the cloud pattern to the sides.


Here at the front some bare metal.


Then the lower deck left.


Not much new here.


And the right side lower deck.


Back to the front


Here you can see the instructions for the paint detail.
Indicating the two colors (Solarblau and Sturmgrau) as well as the transition line.


And this is how she looks


This will be the last post for the next two weeks.


I hope I will continue when I return from Scotland.


But right now I feel pretty confident I will

So, what do you think of the different paint versions and the story to it?
Cheers
Klaus

 

[Klaus not Santa]

I'm back
The trip to Scotland was great!
We had excellent weather,


visited SAS country,


did some boat trips,


listened to many Pipers,


and enjoyed the local pub-live


Scotland really is worth the trip

And against fears, the ATHENA was still on my desk when I got back, and she continued to draw me to her.
I think this time I'll finish her.

The first thing I did was to extend the "clean-and-paint" scene.
So I added some platforms


and extended the areas already re-painted.


The entire front of the ATHENA is now freshly painted,
while the rest is being worked on.


The Tech-Priest has already added his instructions and paint guide.


And here on the right, I will add a welding scene.


Similar to what I did for the "Prototype" dio.


Here you can get a rare glimpse of the underside.
As you can see most of the paint is already "stripped" and some rust resilient paint applied.



While completing most of the body paint, I was thinking about adding another piece to the nose area.
This is the first sketch.


But first I had to complete the rest of the paint job.
Top deck and radar completed.


I added the paint with the closed armored shutters over the windows.


But mounted them open.


Top deck and railing completed.
I also completed the railings for the main deck.


And the rotors.


One of the rotors is already painted in rust-resilient paint


With the body completed I started with the weapon systems - like the
KERES Forward Rocket Launcher System


Then I painted the Hydras.


And the NEMESIS Mk MCMLXIX CWIS Trieste Pattern


Wow, this really felt like the final spurt.
Only some more weapons!


The PHRIKE Quad Lasguns and POLEMOS Mk XV Fuzz Pattern AA-System


So I decided to add another Athena image to the nose area.


Pretty stylized and golden.


Yesterday I had some daytime hobby time and was able to build the stand for the ATHENA.
I used some 4mm Plexiglas.


Wit this I can add the belly-mounted AA system and it generally looks like flying
I'm pretty pleased with the result - first time working with Plexiglas.


And I decided I need a proper backdrop for her. I still had some mounted canvases around and splashed some paint on it


Sorry for the blurry pic.


And last not least I finished the nose image.


I still have to add the slogans to the two flags on the observation deck to finish the ATHENA itself.
After that I will paint the various crew members and painters.
MAYBE (but that's a large maybe) I'll add a shuttle scene to the landing deck, where a high ranking representative is landing and being welcomed...
We'll see.

Wow guys!
It's been quite a trip from here




And I thank you all for being part!
I can't count all the comments, suggestions and encouragement you provided.
THANKS!

 

[Grendels]

It is looking good!

 

[Quaralane]

Definitely liking how she's coming along

 

[urumomo]

Getting even better ;D

The base rules !

I can't wait for the dio
And definitely a good choice on the bow art 8)

 

[Klaus not Santa]

Hi all,

thank you all for your feedback on the ATHENA
Unbelievable, but she's done - everything left is now Eye Candy. Whatever is not finished now won't hurt the ATHENA at all.
But I still have many ideas for the ATHENA.
The painters and welders on the ATHENA will be important to tell the story and make the paint-job better understandable.

There are also the two golf players on the rear deck


And as mentioned before I'm looking at a shuttle/reception scene for the landing deck.
I already have some characters sculpted for this:


So the idea now is to have s shuttle on the landing deck.
The shuttle transported an important passenger - I'm thinking of a female Consul or Ambassador or a High General - and a reception party is waiting for her to exit the shuttle...
maybe with a piper?
:-D

So I drew out some plans.


Maybe you can see the first images on the right, were leaning towards my old THANTALOS Airborne Carrier (Dec 2007)



But I'm also trying to incorporate the newer PONOS family looks into the design.


Still bulky, brutal and retro.
Lets see if it works.

The job of the HERMES is similar to the old Sikorsky Sky Crane


Which could also carry a personnel pod/container.


So I started with the passenger pod.


With doors at the side


As usual a lot of Green Putty is needed


And here's the basic body of the HERMES already on top of the pod.


Needs putty.


Initially I had planned to do a visible cockpit like I had on the THANTALOS,


but the windows will be way too small and narrow. So it will be painted windows instead.


Next I worked on some of the thrusters.


Which are mounted on the underside.


After an extended sanding session the basic body of the HERMES looks very much like I intended.


Then some more thruster works for the "wings".


And a first layout plan for the passenger pod.


Maybe you can see that the VIP pod will have a large throne like seat at the left -centered to the rear wall - with two consultants seat next to the door, and then 4-6 bodyguard seats along the right center line.
Well, that's the plan
So, what do you think?
Cheers
Klaus

 

[urumomo]

;D ;D

Gonna be awesome . I love the golfers

 

[Jeeves]

Pretty amazing stuff right there-- I am really digging all the details!

 

[Klaus not Santa]

Thank you!
There are so many options, so much room for scenes and details - that's why I had stopped working on her so often - I lost focus

All in all 12 months work time:
22. May 2009 – 21. Dec 2009 (7 months)
4. Nov 2010 – 29. Nov 2010 (1 month)
19. May 2012 – 28. June 2012 (1 month)
5. July 2013 – 3. Sept 2013 (2 month)
10. May 2016 – 10 June 2016 (1 month)

As promised here's what I've planned for the passengers.
I absolutely want to try these Eisenkern Stromtroopers


and these Female Panzerjägers.

Both sets are from Dreamforge Games, come at a reasonable price and offer some nice poses and weapon choices.

From a modding perspective the parts offer lots opportunities and scale wise they fit nicely into the WH40K scale.


For the two females I'm not sure if they'll be additional Bodyguards and get weapons, or if they'll be more assistants, maybe holding PDA's or the like.

What would you think?

As for the Governor, I fancy this Raging Heroes TGG Strategist
(http://www.ragingheroes.com/collections/tgg/products/ludmilla-magdanova-strategist-kst)


With either this head


or helmeted with mask.


Again, what do you think?

But on to building
I continued with the wings.


Which are mounted to the rear, so they don't hinder or obscure the VIP pod (or any other transported stuff)


And mounted on these wings will be the rotatable fins with additional thrusters.

These will also act as additional landing gear.

While the putty for the fins cured I started the main rear thruster.


Which looks rather nice to me


On the ATHENA it would look like this.


Enough room to accommodate the reception scene, don't you think?




The visiting party with the HERMES.


Lastly I built the frame for the pilot's windows.


Looks just like I had envisioned it.


I hope you like it as much.

I look forward to your feedback - especially on the head choice for the Governor and the role of the two female troopers.
Thanks

Klaus

 

[urumomo]

heh heh -- I'd go with choice A on the head .

I don't understand choice B

 

[Quaralane]

As far as the governor/dignitary goes, I'd stick with the helmetless head.

The shuttle is looking good, as is the entourage

 

[Grendels]

Nice work on the shuttle

 

[Klaus not Santa]

Hi all,

thank you guys
I hope you had a great weekend with lots of family- and hobby-time.

Some of you have asked me for a scale-/comparison-shot of the Eisenkerns and TGG compared to the 40K Guards.


Here's a 40K trooper between an Eisenkern and a Tough Girl.


Here I mounted two standard IG arms on an Eisenkern Panzerjäger female.


And this Panzerjäger has two Forgeworld Krieg arms, with a standard IG trooper on the right.

All-in-all I think they fit together well and since the Empire of mankind spans many different worlds with very different gravities, the differences in physique can be explained easy.


Well, in the meantime I built another, greater turbine fan.


And I mounted it in the forward section of the HERMES.


With this last major piece of the built in place I started to add armor plates and a front grill.


With the help of the great tool by Camkierhi it was quite quick. These PVC Cutters make the cutting/snapping of thicker (1.5 or 2mm) plasticard really easy.

Thank you Camkierhi!

Before I could add more plates and panels I wanted to try and add light effects again
Those LED strips are really easy and once you know how it's done you can lights quite quickly.


I decided to add light effects for the thrusters first.


Powered by a 9V block battery.


I mounted the cables, so they would add to the Imperial look and feel of the HERMES shuttle.


While digging through some of my old build stashes I found this old seat section I had build for some obscure project


With these it was quite easy to build the interior of the VIP pod.


And of course the Pod needs lights too, right?


I also tinted the thruster LED's blue and the interior lights red, using Airbrush transparent ink.


The VIP pod also needed a throne like seat for the governess.


Then the pod doors.


Which are mounted in the open state for the scene.


Together with the ramps.


Light test


After the successful lighting of the model I completed the additional panels and plates.


The final HERMES.


So I started to finalize the reception scene. For this I decided I'll need a piper


After some GreenStuff sessions I got this.



The two female Eisenkerns received assistant's accessories.


And I decided I needed a saluting officer on the deck.


Two guards for this side.


The complete reception scene.


A welder working on the bomb shaft completes the crew.


The 23(!) crew memebers assembled for priming.


The VIP pod received the first lick of paint.


Since the HERMES with the black primer looked quite menacing to me, I decided not to go for any of the Dencara campuflage patterns, but to keep it (almost) black instead.
So I painted it in a very dark violett.


And I will try to add dark red highlights and maybe skull ornaments, similar to what I did with the ZEUS.



So, what do you think?

Cheers

klaus

 

[urumomo]

Good grief , Klaus .
How long did it take you to paint all those skulls on the Zeus ?


I especially like the fact that the two on the fantail are hitting golf balls while the dignitaries are arriving ;D
.. .. sounds about right