So I recently purchased some 3D Printed models from Gosric's shop on Shapeways.com

The models came in and I painted them. I am not a very good painter and don't really do Gosric justice as his models are great. Anyway here is the Preybird

http://s1168.photobucket.com/user/jambopirate/library/X-Wing%20Miniatures%20-%20Preybird

And here is the IRD

http://s1168.photobucket.com/user/jambopirate/library/X-Wing%20Miniatures%20-%20CSA%20IRD-A

The Preybird is from the Thrawn Trilogy and the IRD is from Han Solo at Stars End. The Preybird is from the book cover I guess and the IRD is a Gosric custom as they are not really described in the book. I have played two games with them using the cards in the galleries and I won once and lost once. They seem pretty balanced. I use the X wing dial for the Preybirds and the Tie Interceptor dial for the IRDs, but I am thinking of changing to a regular tie as they are not as new as the Interceptor but newer than regular Ties. Any constructive tips would be appreciated.

Additionally I forgot to mention that I give the preybirds a rear firing arc for their missiles only as that is in the fluff.

what plastic did you get them in?

Those look great; thought about getting some myself.

Re: Preybird- some of the fluff I read implied front and rear launchers, so I was going to give them Front & Rear secondary arcs. That would make them quite unique.

Chris

Where did that IRD design originate? It is different than the ones I have seen to date.

what plastic did you get them in?

I got them both in Frosted Detail.

Where did that IRD design originate? It is different than the ones I have seen to date.

The IRD design is a custom design by Gosric. In their first appearance in the book "Han Solo at Stars End" the IRD is not really described very good at all. The only description is something llike, a bubble canopy and distinctive engines. Using that description and the fact that the IRD was made by the same company as the Tie Fighter, Gosric came up with the design. I loved it right away. It feels way more "Star Warsy" than the Wookieepedia version that comes from some comic book adaptation of the book. That version looks like a helicpter mixed with a 70s muscle car(engine wise) I painted mine light brown because I wanted a change from the gray/blue of most fighters in the game and to distinguish a different faction - The Corporate Sector Authority.

Interesting. I almost bought an IRD-A just to have another unique looking imperial ship (already have a fan blade), might have to get 1-2 now. Interesting stats: bomber dial might not be bad for it with a 3 kturn and a 1 turn red? Seems like it should have some other upgrade than just modification, otherwise it's just a tie with an engine upgrade on the cheap. Maybe put it starting at a 2 PS base?

Preybird seems like such a weird xwing... just missiles and no R2 with a sheild/hull swap? Odd. A reverse secondary weapon arc is also odd but I kinda like it. Feels a bit off at the same cost as an xwing. Not sure if I'll pick one up or not.

Awesome work!

That IRD ship doesn't look anything like I've seen them pictured. In some ways it reminds me more of the Scyk Fighter than an IRD. Do a google search for the IRD fighter and look at the images that show up and while I know some of the picture are for other ships the only ones that look like that are of that model.

I'm also thinking that base stat card for the IRD fighter is pretty darn strong. Academy Pilot plus built in Engine Upgrade plus a Shield Upgrade (and convert a point of hull into shields) and it is a VERY strong 16 points unless it has a HORRIBLE dial which Barrel Roll and Boost do not support. In some ways I'm looking at a cheaper A-Wing.

I like the Preybird model although it seems a touch big to me. I'm not sure I like the stats presented with them. Take a Rookie, swap Hull and Shield, cut a point of PS, and the swap the upgrades for two missiles for a point less seems awfully good considering Shield Upgrade is valued a point more than the Hull Upgrade will be. If you give it a REAR arc for secondary weapon it becomes a good bit scarier as it could then shoot twice as many places as the X-Wing.

Interesting. I almost bought an IRD-A just to have another unique looking imperial ship (already have a fan blade), might have to get 1-2 now. Interesting stats: bomber dial might not be bad for it with a 3 kturn and a 1 turn red? Seems like it should have some other upgrade than just modification, otherwise it's just a tie with an engine upgrade on the cheap. Maybe put it starting at a 2 PS base?

Preybird seems like such a weird xwing... just missiles and no R2 with a sheild/hull swap? Odd. A reverse secondary weapon arc is also odd but I kinda like it. Feels a bit off at the same cost as an xwing. Not sure if I'll pick one up or not.

While the IRD is like a Tie Fighter with an engine upgrade, it is more like an awing(same stats) but gives up target lock and the missile option for barrel roll and a 1pt reduction. The barrel roll makes it feel more Imperial to me. Also that is the reason for PS 1 starting out. Also the IRD is supposed to be crazy agile(according to Han Solo) so that is why I've been using the Interceptor dial. I have been thinking about just using the dial for the regular Tie. And when the dial for the Headhunter comes out, I might change the IRDs dial again as the only documented fight involving IRDs was against headhunters.

As far as the preybird goes, I intentionally left it as the same cost as an Xwing, because I knew it would most likely take 2 missiles tomake use of that rear fire arc. In the games I've used ot in, it didn't seem undercosted or unbalanced. Only more play testing will tell.

the point costs are jsut a joke on the ird and the preybird ps1 has to be higher !!

but i like the work uve done so far jsut sayin the pprice costs are to ridicilously cheap

the point costs are jsut a joke on the ird and the preybird ps1 has to be higher !!

but i like the work uve done so far jsut sayin the pprice costs are to ridicilously cheap

Why do you say the points on the IRD are a joke? They are comparable to an Awing, which has the same stat line. Only difference is the IRD gets -1pt and barrel roll for losing TL and a missile and using a worse dial(espcially since I'm leaning toward using a Tie or Tie Advance dial from now on) As far as the preybitd goes I'll probably add 1pt to it, but like I've said it hasn't seemed "ridiculously" underpriced during playtesting. We'll see.

Great job on the painting by the way. Thank you

Great job on the painting by the way. Thank you

Great job on the models by the way. Thank you

Great stuff and thanks for sharing: if you want some more tips on your painting I might have one. My mentor of old always had the motto that if you think your highlights are too much you can push them a little further still meaning that in small models you can get great effect when really creating depth by highlighting them with an even lighter tone then you actually think looks good. This in my opinion is true since it brings out the details better, specially when dry-brushing.

Cheers Sander

Thanks for the info. I will try that when I paint my next batch.