![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirejExbwIbl21FTlDKhiCHM1QZk0KJ9GT0AWls6bm43EBAV6XWU0NfQsbiQnUVgyCBTwmNbwMD0MnI2s22WkFdk5THe0w8cTTav5xMxna5DC-q9bvcjvaKApjFUaHrMivDECgnALA1Qshq/s320/Flying.jpg) |
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I intend to build vehicles for my test armies. For the Free Martians, I want a flying ship. One of the classic Martian images consists of a skiff or skimmer or ornithopter. Since I'm using ancient models as my Martians, a classical ship seems the most appropriate base.
For this project, I purchased two model ship kits, Academy's "Roman Warship" and Zvezda's "Niña." I intend to use the hull from the Roman ship as my base model. I will then use the masts and sails from "Niña" as my vehicle's wings. Each ship cost about 30$ online.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1i8K-zgrWpHyWZwGL4menkhqvmbNVED8k8UENKH1kBbuE_rgwsr-4waUOgTcTOfRGSDEt2WeZ7cbEW3WBDrlc5tYfodtQ7dUU3yyJ0FA8tSP_dIv47KpPerXbRpxqcHygZDWJCYRc-K2y/s320/Academy+box.jpg) |
The Academy ship. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aGa00CefH6xU5itY2lQoNoJuirvDJdAa5u7SH3SZBue5kb3Od26KOgvMIa7zrkU09prMhFGXPGKSzX6STkIHchyphenhyphenuMzaRDyyEqWxBkLc6J-u3Su2khUYfWt4bDoBV8AQysLGWibKoNzGv/s320/Zvezda+Box.jpg) |
The Zvezda ship. |
My first step is to make the ship compatible with a Games Workshop aircraft base. I have several of these for my Warhammer 40K armies, and they are sturdy and attractive. As you can see, the base has a cross-shaped section, onto which the aircraft sits. The only odd thing is that the curve in the base bends the opposite way you'd expect.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47DnV-f9EOAEjN8XCJZYKqMyW6NweEd2n82FW45Za-CmCT6o-O-RXN0rEQf6CLRfpY-z1Hy_U4tnHORFM6eXWxOHSXDkabxVInHbB2IbJ5Ax85bscB3Dc_-pkAadE1XcLd8yBk-t7NnW-/s320/GW+Flying+Base.jpg) |
A GW aircraft base. | | |
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So I assemble the lower part of the ship: the keel and rower's space. (I'm not going to assemble the oars.) I cut a hole in the keel to accommodate the flying base, and reinforce the interior with a plug of green stuff. I wet the end of the flying base, and press it into the green stuff for the correct shape.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlGTOAioxUoxWEHiA-YC4KkqzwmJqBfzFu-cBTnY7ltaNrHvX7eUZcRBavBeUVu4T0x6IA3oPXNKPifamkHgi8Zh3Ro9l3CDdlucnuMP11NYjxZTcdTKbZ6OagR6NGWfvOThSN136A0xu/s320/Keel+2.jpg) |
Here is the underside, with the base hole carved. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEP63Vd23TV0YcwFjn9SXn8_iozFcLwprcVIigmPTviP4MH4BmVcMUajRSKfE9qjRn89ArH59fjUkVdr81AvBovkAV5ri8aCPaiz42DepHJEGpP2DI4JO9IcRLKCyMwOz0kVLjrS_CkEN/s320/Keel.jpg) |
Here it is from above, with the green stuff blob visible. |
Now I can rest the ship on the base, or remove it if I need to. I assemble the upper decks of the ship.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tb3oVSvf5DmYlrHmGA1x-6mFy27WZ3Oy4WZpc_hzfxcOmayV9wfcthky8RTzi3UyYm1ycxEwteAO0cp3m4uTa6Fa_XE_Iq1B62dmxnep_her8_JsMgsVpyt7OJJiQHx2uGoatPP1vcC6/s320/Keel+on+Base.jpg) |
The ship on its base. |
Now I take out the Zvezda sails from Niña. I envision the final craft looking like a dragonfly or ornithopter. Anti-grav holds up the keel, and the sails adds propulsion or maneuvering. I really like the Niña's Lateen sails. They look Middle Eastern, and add an Orientalist touch reflecting retro setting.
I mount the masts to the sides of the ship, at an angle. One is larger
than the other, so the final vessel will be asymmetrical. I hope it
will look cool and not goofy, but danged if I'm going to cannibalize two 30$ Niñas.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGL5ouDxWNDKPe-VCglrNj0tkE-oU98aNab-U6fCXuZIbyJZeDy7b7mWdUBvP0bJSUeyaDQBi0jNa57yFfEH16Na68CrgfPyD7Bs4HSlLgkdqC86L64QmP41liKJknrPqfTQxU-9qNeJqk/s320/Masts+2.jpg) |
The ship with side masts. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAE50BGjObDuL7E513Y5W2kwmLUfnOu6HVfF3FnVSu4ypL3LguF-085yuLsZKqzjJRqRzaAjH5YIUxNhznrvD7ie102MluancID6cyphyphenhyphenq49tq4xaY8sV3wJ1J0K9OdeojCsnMv4sD8kX/s320/Masts.jpg) |
The ship from another angle. |
The sails themselves are an extremely thin plastic, which is slightly flexible. I don't know whether it will hold primer without cracking or flaking. So I intend to leave the sails off until the rest of the ship is painted. I test them out for size but do not attach them.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Q2J60RQu2Mh2BskMYdSL9OSrZg3gikrTRMw9w1G1KmhHmGQ9gTrJgFjQOxTNf_l0IbQonInPZYKeeedvjL_y9UJJvJoxW2n5DIQPlLalY-Y67Tgzc8i2WEebpKSt3FezduFS14oPm4fw/s320/Sails.jpg) |
The sails. |
Here is the resulting ship, on my gaming table for scale. I will post more as I complete the project.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirejExbwIbl21FTlDKhiCHM1QZk0KJ9GT0AWls6bm43EBAV6XWU0NfQsbiQnUVgyCBTwmNbwMD0MnI2s22WkFdk5THe0w8cTTav5xMxna5DC-q9bvcjvaKApjFUaHrMivDECgnALA1Qshq/s320/Flying.jpg) |
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