Ok. Quick addition to my huge ship list. Since the Rebellion, or indeed pirates if one is playing them as i know some do, needs something to raid.
http://lorelei-shipyards.tumblr.com/post/89990816851/imperial-transport-ship-with-or-without-external
It is unfinished and still needs detailing but my question for you all is that of armament.
At almost 9.5 inches it is slightly bigger than the Rebel transport and im wondering what sort of weapon systems it should have.
I was thinking of an Imperial Landing Craft.
I was thinking of an Imperial Landing Craft.
That's... not really a huge ship though, is it? The Sentinel is barely bigger than the Falcon.
Ok. Quick addition to my huge ship list. Since the Rebellion, or indeed pirates if one is playing them as i know some do, needs something to raid.
It is unfinished and still needs detailing but my question for you all is that of armament.
At almost 9.5 inches it is slightly bigger than the Rebel transport and im wondering what sort of weapon systems it should have.
Looks good Gosric! Reminds me somewhat of one of the cargo ships from X-Wing Alliance, which was basically a series of cargo containers with a cockpit at the front and an engine block at the back..
I'd imagine armament should be at a minimum - maybe a single hardpoint for a quad laser turret or twin turbolaser?
On an unrelated topic - do you think it would be feasible available to print your designs in gold-plated bronze or silver? 
Thanks.It would depend on what shapeways.. Some of the larger models will only print in certain materials and tolerances of the metallic materials might be too low. I will gladly take a look and see though. I was thinking no more than 2 hardpoints but wasnt sure. One might well be enough since i would assume the ship would have escort
Those cargo containers look very Babylon 5-esque. Do I have your inspiration for them correct?
It was just an idle thought, really - a 3D-printed model in a precious material might make a good prize for a club tournament or similar!
Yes you do. The B5 containers look good i think ,and take a minimum of material to build so work nicely. Though im planning on doing tibanna gas tanks and a bolt on box hangar for TIEs down the road as well just to give sone variety.
As for the precious metal option it had best be a big tournament as any model in one of the precious metals would be highly expensive. As an example my Voidrunner medium transport base shapeways price is 30 something in metallic plastic but in stainless steel it is 147 bucks and in gold 150 and that is not cheap *L*
Though the option might work for a fighter or something along those size lines
Edited by GosricA small model on a big plinth might work LOL
Of course, I've no idea how well the precious metals line would compare to the plastics for displaying detail. Whipping out an 18k TIE Defender at an official event might be amusing, however.
i have a pic of one of my old Buck Rogers models in silver ill find it and then you can get an idea. Some ships would be too delicate for the polishing process but i think others would look very nice
Lots of different influences springing to mind with this design, the cockpit from the 80s version of V, Cylon cargo ship, Planet Movers from BSG, Babylon 5 cargo pods, which is cool, have you got a pic with the cargo containers attached all along the sides?
For armament maybe a small dual laser turret, most of the protection should be the escort.
I was a bit concerned with the V look but once it has panel lines and detail sections it wont look quite as much like the shuttle, The BSG and B5 influences were definitely intentional as i am a big fan of the designs from those shows. There is a pic on the lower half of the page of the ship with all 6 cargo modules attached .
I don't think the front looking a bit like the shuttle is a bad thing, really. Ships of the same production company having similarities across design is a running theme in Star Wars after all.
Edited by keroko
I was thinking of an Imperial Landing Craft.
That's... not really a huge ship though, is it? The Sentinel is barely bigger than the Falcon.
How big is the AT-AT barge? Just another thought...
I don't think the front looking a bit like the shuttle is a bad thing, really. Ships of the same production company having similarities across design is a running theme in Star Wars after all.
You might be right about that but i still think it needs a bit of a redesign. This was only the first draft. i want to keep that vaguely Tydirium styled port but make it look a bit less like a V ship
Doh did see the pic with the containers. They seem too small to me, i think you should go more for a big containers, small spine of ship look.
like Planet Movers in BSG or the classic big freighter from X-wing video games.
I have to admit that my first thought was that the cargo containers were way too small and didn't make the most of the space available on the flanks of the vessel, but that might just be my perceptions from the X-Wing games coming into play, and specifically the BFF-1 Bulk Freighter which had a similar cargo configuration.
Looks a little too Space 1999 for me to believe it's an Imp ship. Why not make a deep-bellied V ship, like the Acclaimator-class,
or failing that, the old Pelta class?
I have no problem believing the Empire would press either into service as bulk transports, and both are big vessels (with Imperial-style flying bridges) that made planetary landings on a regular basis.
If you wanted to sort of mimic the empty-skin style of the Rebel one, you could make something resembling cargo containers crammed between wedge-shaped armor skins. (which the Acclaimator sort of looks like anyway).
I was thinking of an Imperial Landing Craft.
That's... not really a huge ship though, is it? The Sentinel is barely bigger than the Falcon.
How big is the AT-AT barge? Just another thought...
It depends which one you're talking about, the Theta or the Titan. While the Theta is certainly big, it's not a huge. The Titan, I suppose, would be a small huge.
The problem, IMO, with taking the Titan for the Imperial equivalent of the rebel transport is that it really would be a bit too rare. I do see Thetas being a ground assault workhorse, but the Titan is simply too big to fit into the hangar bays of an Imperial-class Star Destroyer. That means you have to have a truly tremendous ship like the Executor to pull it off (such as they had at Hoth).
Now, I get that with the Defender and the Phantom we've already crossed the threshold of depicting exceedingly rare vessels (which is why I'm not planning to get either, even though I play Imperial, but that's another peeve that this thread is not about), so maybe they'll decide to do it, I don't know.
But, I don't think either barge will get much excitement. Now, I do think it would be interesting to model one (the Theta) in order to be part of a mission or two.
Because the ship is a transport and therefore more of a background/plot item i didnt want to make it too expensive.
The Wedge shape is unfortunately not the best option for affordability and at about 95 metres long would not offer as much capacity as the cylinder. Something Acclamator sized would be a different matter but it would be too big for the mat.
I have decided to redo the bridge section and move it to the upper rear replacing the front with a docking/loading section.
As for the cargo pods i suppose they are a bit small but once again i'm trying to strike a balance between size and cost. right now 6 of them are about 13 bucks and i dont want it to get much higher than that.
I'm planning on making the clamp system available as a separate item in case the many scratch buliders might like to make there own pods
Edited by GosricOk. Quick addition to my huge ship list. Since the Rebellion, or indeed pirates if one is playing them as i know some do, needs something to raid... At almost 9.5 inches it is slightly bigger than the Rebel transport and im wondering what sort of weapon systems it should have.
It's a transport not a warship. The Rebel one is unarmed.
I understand that but a completely unarmed Imperial vessel seems odd to me. I feel it should something light and defensive at the very least. In case a squadron of X Wings pops out and wipes the floor with its TIE escort which is likely. An anti fighter weapon might hold them back long enough to jump out. Though there is the point that the Imperials have a habit of overconfidence and might just assume the TIEs can do the job
I had taken a liking to the Empire's "Assault Transport" when i go around conquering plants in the Star Wars:Rebellion game. The rebel transport enhance other starships, I'm thinking like any other Imperial doctrine, the Empire's transport can be used to 'invade' other planets or ships. It'll make for a different game play whereas the Empire's transport have some firepower, yet also can disrupt the workings (synergy) of the other ships due to the troops/crew that it carries by 'invading' other ships. Eg. crew card "Spacetrooper squad", allowing a chance to knock out one upgrade or crew or whatever, or whatever its function is.
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Assault_transport
edit: Oh and, this assault transport somewhat attunes to the 'dagger'/'triangular' design of the empire's ships.
Now I'm really curious on what FFG is up to for Imperial big ships.
Edited by BattlePriesthttp://lorelei-shipyards.tumblr.com/post/90211343066/imperial-transport-second-version
rough draft of a second version. sort of a compromise between the module and the wedge. I think i like it more and it definitely looks more Imperial to me
I would like to see a Mobquet.
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Mobquet_medium_transport
Could have a 'Suprosa' title if you're in the mood for some armed Q Ship action... Luke and Dash raided it during Shadows of the Empire and it's also a sweet scenario in X WIng Alliance...
Check out the link if you've never seen a Mobquet, It's a standard Imperial transport in the XWA game. Granted, it probably doesn't appeal to 'movie only' kind of guys and it doesn't look like a mini SD.
It's got the chops for the job though, and unrelated, Joss Whedon threw one in the background of Firefly for one episode.
*EDIT* Still loving your work though Gosric. That second one looks great! Very Imperial.
Edited by wampabait