It's called visual language. The original designers understood it. Which is why we don't have Rebel Lambdas and Imperial HWKs.

It keeps Rebels as Rebels. Empire as Empire.

I'm stoked about Scum and Vilainy but irked by cross-factioned ships. Fluff does not trump visual language.

It bugs me so much that I've went ahead and got me some proxies for scummy Y-Wings and Villainous Zs.

Now I've to got slap some paint on these puppies.

The English words "visual" and "language" have Latin roots.

I'm stoked about Scum and Vilainy but irked by cross-factioned ships. Fluff does not trump visual language.

Well, speak for yourself, pal.

If you want to call it 'fluff', that suggests that you get your SW rocks off in a certain way. Now I'm happy that there are these third-party miniatures out there, and I like the notion that S&Vs should have a wide assortment of ships available.

However, the Zs and the Ys were what the lore tells us were the military surplus when the Empire dumped Incom and Koensayr for Sienar. It would make sense for these ships to flood the market and for questionable types (such as criminals and rebel terrorists) to pick them up at rock-bottom prices. Are you upset with Al-Qaeda for going with AK-47s rather than assault rifles of their own making? Should terrorists pay more attention to visual language, rather than the realities of weapon procurement?

Bit too much agro I think in responses. Me I kinda like the cross faction stuff, hope we get a Rebel/Scum YT-2000, but I understand what the OP is saying, visual identity helps a lot for newbs not fully researched on the Galaxy far far away. Nice way to find a use for those Shapeways ships.

Bit too much agro I think in responses.

Yeah, I didn't mean to come across that way. We all get our SW rocks off in different ways. My way is definitely through the lore of the SWU.

I also think there's a lot of assumption about ignorant newbs, and how they must be catered to above all else.

I don't have a problem with it. I mean, I think it would feel even odder to have an S&V faction where you CAN'T use the Firespray.

Each to their own, I guess - but in my opinion there's certain ships in the Star Wars universe where it makes absolute sense for them to be cross-faction. The ancient and ubiquitous Z-95's and Y-Wings are definitely two of them.

That said, those replacements look superb!

we don't have Rebel Lambdas

I'm happy you found alternatives OP, but personally I like cross-faction ships where lore allows. In fact, I'd like to see a Rebel card for the Lambda similar to the Scum versions of the Firespray.

What are the ships you're using as proxies and where did you get them?

What are the ships you're using as proxies and where did you get them?

I definitely recognize the Z-95 replacement from the TIE Fighter flight sim. It was a pretty common pirate fighter, though I don't remember the designation... something Starchaser? No clue what the first one is though.

Honestly, that's why we're getting repaints of the Y's and Z's. The Hawk and Firespray don't fit the looks of their original factiona to begin with, so that's an easy change.

I want 5 of those Z-95 proxies and 2 of the Y-Wings. Hold on, this isn't where I order them?

I feel like it's some sort of bad form to say specifically where they are on the FFG forums, even if I do intend to simply plop them onto bases that my Z-95s and Y-Wings that I do own would otherwise sit on. But then again I don't know.

Looks like a Starchaser for the Z-95 to me, which is fair. I don't know what the heavy fighter is, but I've seen it before.

EDIT: A bit of googling and I found the source of the models and that the assault fighter is a TransGalMeg Rihkxyrk Assault Fighter. Known to be extremely tough, it was armed with heavy cannons and a missile launcher. Similar to the Y-Wing, but certainly different in many ways - notably in loadout. It also looks like a likely future Scum release due to its notable use by Black Sun.

Update: And I've already talked to the guy and will be buying some. Alas, poor wallet.

What are the ships you're using as proxies and where did you get them?

I definitely recognize the Z-95 replacement from the TIE Fighter flight sim. It was a pretty common pirate fighter, though I don't remember the designation... something Starchaser? No clue what the first one is though.

R-41 Starchaser

It isn't too different from the Z-95, actually, aside from the forward mounted ion cannons.

Fluff does not trump visual language.

Those ships do look really nice though!