From Curt: Kablooey!! Exploding 'Star Wars' Rebel Starships (30 Points)

Ever since seeing 'Rogue One' over the holiday break I've been having a wonderful renaissance delving into all things 'Star Wars'. I feel like I'm eleven all over again (if only my hair follicles would follow suit)!

This resurgent interest made me dig-up my copy of 'Star Wars: Armada' by Fantasy Flight Games. For those who are not familiar with the game, 'Armada' is a fleet-level miniatures game, where players get to control the huge starships and fighter squadrons that are so iconic in the films. Rebel Blockade Runners, Star Destroyers, Mon Calamari 'Pickle Ships', swarms of TIE fighters, you got it, they're all a part of the game. It's super fun.

Our group is just about to start a campaign using the new 'Corellian Conflict' expansion that came out a few weeks ago. The guys are busy creating their fleets and so I thought I'd add some colour to the tabletop with some bits and bobs. What we have here is a pair of critically damaged ships for set dressing. With these models, victorious admirals will have the satisfaction of seeing their crippled adversaries drift across the table instead of the original models simply being removed from play.

The Rebel frigate is hit amidships and begins to break apart.

These two ships are from the Rebel Alliance. One is the famous Rebel Blockade Runner, or CR90 Corvette, that was seen carrying Princess Leia in 'A New Hope', and the other is a Nebulon-B Escort Frigate which was first glimpsed in 'The Empire Strikes Back'.

Both of these models were downloaded from Thingiverse (thanks Danesgift!), tweaked/re-scaled, printed off on my 3D printer and mercilessly bashed-up for effect. The stands are prints as well.

Below are a couple raw prints, with all the supports still needing to be removed and sanded down. Yes, they are SUPER orange when they first come off the printer.

The explosions are 3D fractal models, designed by Aeron203. 

I re-scaled and sliced the fractal models to make varying sizes and textures of explosions. I added some blown-out debris from thin plasticard, and for the Nebulon-B I gave it a turbo laser hit (with a bit of painted steel rod) for a bit of drama.

The raw 3D models above provides you a hint of the upcoming Imperial ships which will be getting the same treatment - but that will be for another post.

Points? Hmm, I would say they are the equivalent of 15-20mm vehicles?  So, 12-24 for the pair? I leave it to you Dave!





So, the Snow Lord managed to catch my shift with scant minutes to spare. And the Comm is currently crewed by a HUGE Star Wars Fan-atic!

Yup, I"m pretty much gobsmacked!

Those ships are even more wicked than the wrecks and scenery bits that I've seen when Battlefleet Gothic was all the rage. not to mention that your brushwork is waaay better than the factory paints that come with the game. The explosions could've just been left as is, but I noticed you even have chunks of hull flying off in the explosion. That is just as cool as I'm sure the game will be with these derelicts drifting.

 Just for that, we have no remorse for adding a few discretionary points for the sheer spectacle....Sith Lords are all about the spectacle after all. ;)