Mars Class Imperial Battlecruiser WIP (Warhammer 40'000: 56k Unfreindly Eventually ;)

[Kadaeux]

As you can see each Macro-cannon is supported by three space-configured automatic Earthshaker cannons. (Imagine it as belt-fed and loaded from below.)

They'll have more support than that but they are there in true scale. (This makes the current Macro-cannon muzzle width roughly eight metres wide.)

Personally i'm glad of this as it does mean more 40k scale weapons are likely present on the vessels. Though Superheavy weapons likely more common. (Plasma Blastguns, Baneblade Super-battlecannons, Volcano Cannons etc.)

One this particular Mars class i'm going to make it a more projectile dependant version. (Probably from a lower tech world)

I might make "bitz" to change out for energy based weapons such as the collossal Plasma Cannons used on some cruisers etc.




And a scale comparison with the Low-poly Mars Class that is being used for the mod. (Also made by me.)



On an entirely different note sizing the Hangar bays will be fun Especially for the "Jumbo-jet" sized craft like Fury Interceptors and Starhawk Bombers.

[Kadaeux]

EDIT: @Quiarcus: I checked all my Battlefleet Gothic Material. Sadly no, there is no really detailed imagery depicting the main weaponry up close. (Not the Weapon Batteries anyway)

But the mechanisms are mostly internal, and note that they fight at lightsecond ranges or greater and "accurate" aiming will only require a few degrees change in the weapons orientation.

[Armondikov]

I don't think there's any high detail references for these. The artwork is quite stylised so it just gives the effect of lots of greebles without the artist having to draw in too much intricate detail. Most of the CG models go to about the same level as the minatures and maybe a little higher, so if you want "ultra-detail" you may have to kick your imagination into overdrive. Just keep reminding yourself how big these things are, hope you can do it, it's some nice work so far.

[Quiarcus]

Hmm strange, maybe I was thinking of one of the older books....Spacefleet maybe....who knows or maybe I've just lost it and am thinking of something else entirely! Anyway, good work so far, like the added Earthshakers, but I still feel the macro cannons need a little more....something - they look a little plain compared to the surrounds, or again maybe it's just my imagination - I tend to think of the 40K artwork a lot and how overdone some of it is, especially the work of John Blanche(sp?). Can't wait to see more though

[Kadaeux]

@Armondikov: That is the problem, there is no real high detail images you can get references off of without it being way TOO ridiculous. (The Battleship in the Blue Book for example. There is no way on earth i'd be able to cover every square inch of hull space with weapons. Even the Orks would be pressed to manage that.)

@Quiarcus: If you know somewhere on the net I can get the old Space Fleet books PM the link to me! As for the Macro's well we'll see

NOW FOR THE UPDATE:

And what a doozy this one is. You though the Earthshakers were cool well i've outdone myself on the MANTICORE MISSILE SYSTEM!

I covered everything I could think of including a method of reloading it that didn't involve it being retracted into the hull to be re-armed by manual labour.

In fact I am downright PROUD of these Manticores.








Now you might be able to see that the Manticores aren't in every Weapon Battery well. It's simple, i'm doing some Hydra Flaks for the other two! (The Hydras will actually be a pretty common feature as well as Vulcan Mega-bolters. Both will serve as the "anti-ordnance" role.)

[Kadaeux]

EDIT: Forgot my bloody Update!

The first batch of Hydras are installed.




I may "sever" the pointy tops of the towers and put weapon emplacements on them. (Last image in the first post, those towers.)

Also i'm going to be using Aeronautica Imperialis as reference images for when I work on the Mar's flight bays. (Expect a lot of AA)

[Quiarcus]

Great work on the weapon systems! Sadly it looks like my copy of the Space Fleet manual got chucked out during the move so I'm afraid I can't help there. So far I've not been able to track down a copy online (though I did find all the fluff from the book, just no pictures). Anyway, as ever it's looking good and it's nice to see some more 40K stuff here - I feel that it is a much neglected field of 3D modelling.

EDIT: Just a quick thing; I assume that the chutes behind the manticores is for reloading? If that's the case shouldn't they have some sort of blast shielding from the missiles exhaust?

[Lord Ravensburg]

yep, very cool. I hate to see what the poly count will be when your done with her.

[Kadaeux]

@Quiarcus: Damn pity. I heard it was a great system. And yes, the chutes are the rearming chutes. As for blast shielding, this is space, there is no atmosphere to convey "flame and smoke" into the chutes. Also the chutes are sealed further down and no new missiles are even in the chutes until all the prior ones are fired. ALSO... if you look closely enough you can see that the Manticore pulls out from the chutes slightly (to give it freedom of movement.) When reloading the Manticores pull back to a neutral position for reloading.

@Lord Ravensburg: I hate to see it now It's been a long time since I worked over ten thousand polys let along the 68 thousand its at now. (Or is it 78 now ?)

But heres the update.




Half of the Nova Cannon assembly. TO Proper scale too. (That means the inside of the barrel is fifty metres across.) One of the novels pointed out that a nova cannons breech was fifty metres across.

[Quiarcus]

Nova cannon looks cool so far - like the corridor running the spine of the weapon. As for the loading system fair enough

Space Fleet was a fun game, though I have to say I prefer BFG, both in terms of playability and in terms of art direction (the original space fleet ships were cool, but didn't really fit in with the feel of the universe). I may have passed the book onto my brother, I'll see if he's got it or not - lots of stuff got piled in boxes and dumped or passed on to others, so I'm not sure of the books fate.