Psi Corps Conversion - the mothership

[Greg Smith]

So, I bought a civilian fleet box set with the intention of converting it into the beginning of a Psi Coprs fleet.

Why? Because the Psi Corps fleet box isn't available yet and it's cheaper.

What I'm hoping to achieve:

That was the best picture of the mothership I could find, including from the show.

Step 1:

I have .32mm brass rod, two brass tubes that fit snuggly inside one another and snuggly round the rod; two Hyperion engines, to bulk up the back of the ship a little; a Ninjamagic adaptor for the stand and the component parts of the mothership.

Step 2:

After much filing, the main body of the ship fits together. I cut the larger diameter tube into 1" sections, the smaller tube into 3/4" sections and the rod into 1" pieces. This involved much hacksawing, since snipping squashed the ends of the tubes. These were glued together to form aerials of differeing lengths.

The engines were pinned and glued the back part of the mothership drilled in preparation.

Once the glue has well and truely dried, I will need to site the aerials on the front of the hull and then drill it. I'll probably leave that till tomorrow now.

 

[H]

ooh, an ongoing progress report, cool. I have seen a mod of a liner that looked very much like the mothership, dunno if it was Wing commanders or one of his customers. think it was the customers, as Wingys has been around for years...

 

[Da Boss]

looks cool - if scary complicated !

 

[Triggy]

Looks good

I'm still waiting on mine like everyone else but you've stolen the initiative and gone out on your own to build them! Can't wait to see how they turn out.

 

[Ripple]

Just started the same project... your much ahead, your aerials look great.

Ripple

 

[[Omicron]Urobach]

can´t wait to see it..

 

[Greg Smith]

Okay, I couldn't resist doing some more tonight.

As I started to drill holes for the aerials, I realised I had only made eight aerials and there are 16 on the ship. However, I quickly realised that 16 would look very cluttered on the model. I decided 10 would look good, so made two more (many more than that I would have had to go back to the model shop for more tube!).

Anyway here's the results:

And a close up:

 

[CaptBavo]

Very cool, Ive considered doing the exact same thing. good to see it can be done

 

[Ripple]

I'm trying to find a smaller bridge section, may have to make one. In the picture the fore section is tiny compared to the globe.

The project does look good though, and it's coming along quite quickly.

Ripple

 

[Greg Smith]

The bridge section on the starliner model is larger than it should be. I think you are right, the mothership should have a smaller bridge still.

 

[Greg Smith]

The construction is complete. You'll notice I swapped the stand for a metal one, since it is a big hunk of lead.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with it. If I were to do it again, I'd probably find something larger for the engine block. I'd also make the aerials a little shorter. I'd like to make the bridge section smaller, but I'm not sure how I'd accomplish that.

Now to paint it. Don't hold your breath for more pics, 'cos I'm a slow painter.

 

[M1ndr1d3rs]

Looks mean and dangerous already :twisted:

About the bridge, well you could pretend this particular mothership is for the Psi Corps top brass. They'll demand more elbow room right? :lol:

Or if you want the bridge size as a constant, it's a light-mothership (if there is such a thing) :roll:

BTW, do you think we can kitbash a B4 from the transport and B5? I'm not sure about the size of those two miniatures.

 

[Greg Smith]

I'm not too bothered about the bridge. It doesn't quite look like the one in the picture, but then the picture may not be accurate to the one glimpsed in the show.

I was thinking that I could have used the whole engine block from the Hyperion, but then that the negates the cheap part of the conversion.

 

[Da Boss]

Thats some fine work there

Also it would make a useful weapon next time I have trantrum and need something to throw :wink:

 

[Greg Smith]

:shock: Yeah, it will be positively lethal.

 

[Ripple]

Yeah, I was thinking about the engine block today, I have a some other ships I might be able to pilfer from another game.

The bridge I'm thinking of cutting the back half off and just going with the smaller raised section.

I hate to give up my second liner, as I liked being able to do the Omega's slicing the liners in half diorama but mother ships are cool too.

Ripple

 

[Shadow Queen]

Fantastic..... you sure you not want another Space Liner? going cheep, ok it's not a chicken you can have it, low milage, needs a fresh paint job.

does that sound like a dodgy second hand Space Liner dealer?

 

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

Very nice Greg, can't wait to see it painted.

 

[Banzai]

Very nice work!

Tom

 

[Greg Smith]

It is now painted and varnished. Not my best paint job, but the spherical body didn't lend itself to a lot of detail.