Converting Kirovs

[Zarathustra Suicune]

Has anyone done any modification to the kirov model? Whilst it is one of my favorites, after having 3 they start to look the same and I was wondering if there should be any difference looks wise between the varients, one I was thinking of trying was taking elements from the lexington or Gettysburg and use them on it.

 

[scoutdad]

I haven't yet... but I will.
When I get around to doing the variants, the weapons mounts will be modified to reflect the actual vaiant the decaled name indicates.

Plasma torpedo launchers will be added...
Drone racks will be added...
And on my BC(P), phaser mounts will be added.

And of course, photon torpedo mounts will be removed as needed.


None of this will be visible at 5 or 6 feet, or at least not very visible... but it will be accurate.

 

[Zarathustra Suicune]

How are you going to do that?

 

[Ben2]

It'll be like a montage in MacGyver.

 

[scoutdad]

How are you going to do that?

Easy Peasey:
Kirov-class BCH: No changes
Use as is, straight from the box.

Bismark-class BCF: replace two AD of drones with 2 Plasma F toredoes.
Step 1: File off drone racks.
Step 2: Construct plasma tordedo launchers.
For these, I will probably build htese out of green-stuff and make them look similar to the Gorn launchers (since technology was exchanged with Gorn allies). I may build each from scratch - or I may construct one and make a mold and cast resin versions of them. The jury is still out.

New Jersey-class BCJ: Replace two AD of drones with two AD of torpedoes.
Step 1: Again - file off existing drone racks.
Step 2: Add two photon tubes.
Couple of options here:
Drill two more photon tubes just outside of existing ones below bridge section.
Using green-stuff, scuplt a two-photon box similar to the CF and mount that on the BC saucer - top-side
Or, I could place the two new photon tubes on the underside of the saucer, just to show they are a separate weapon system.

Unbuilt-class BC(P) [Phaser variant]
Step 1: Add two phaser 3 mounts. One to each nacelle.
Phasers can easily be made by building up drops of two-part epoxy until the size is correct.
Or more quickly by cutting the head off a fine, silk pin (the kind used to sew silk, not write with) and drilling a small hole in the proper location. Drop the pin shaft in the hole, glue the head flush with the miniature, and prime/paint to look like a phaser mount.

 

[Zarathustra Suicune]

What is the drone racks on the model?

 

[Nerroth]

The alternate weapons are each in the "gun house" at the bottom of the neck connecting the saucer to the secondary hull. You can see it more clearly in this pic.

If the two gun house drone racks come out of a Kirov, the added photons of a New Jersey (or the two plasma-Fs of a Bismarck, or the added phaser-1s of a BCP) go into that same location. (You can compare the Ship Cards for the four BC variants over in the Fed section of the Commanders' Circle. Note that all four retain the same drone racks on the saucer, but have different weapons in the gun house.)

 

[dix]

I've a thought to put a Kirov saucer on a Wolverine rear-hull to kitbash a Vincennes CX advanced cruiser. The Wolverine spade saucer could then be put on the Kirov rear-hull to make a Fast Battlecruiser (from Captain's Log #28). The latter would be better with another set of fast cruiser nacelles, though. But, considering that I don't have the extra components of either, it's just academic at this point.