Heavy Cruiser - Thunderchild (WiP)

Post by **Warhead** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:30 pm

Having learned from some mistakes when creating the Boner (which was a rush job limited offer for Pirate Day only) I decommissioned her. I then set to work on a serious manner with an goal towards awesomeness. I decided to start with a boneriffic sketch of my vision, I have never done this before.

The idea took hold of my imagination and so once home from work I set to with a passion, after which I quickly dressed and left the wife to make the dinner while I got to work on the Lego.

For all you numpty rejects out there this project is not complete. So far the dimensions are 84 studs long by 26 studs wide. There are two more decks to go (maybe) so no point speculating the height just yet.

Side view, not much different than the original.

Front view. The Main Turret Cannon makes it look googly eyed. They do straighten.

Front view, assault door open. I kept this concept. It just gives another tactical option. It's a little wider and allows far more room for a boarding party. This is also the main airlock. gives the dockee something to worry about. Hmm... maybe even a vehicle or two can be driven out of there. Interesting...

Engine shots for Theblackdog. More as needed if required.

Below decks Engineering, etc, etc, blah, blah. It's just bigger, has more stations. A nice ladder to the next deck and the seats allow for minifigs with airtanks, as modelled by the lovely Deadly Spaceman.

Machine shop for repairs while underway... and part time security station. Watch out for the laser defences guarding that door. Only shuts off from the other side.

Topside.

A piece of the bridge, actually this is what made me think of everything else. It was really weird. There will be a second deck (with hopefully some more guns) and THEN the Bridge on top.

I'm not sure I got the bridge consol right. I've seen this style on other peoples ships and I tried to copy it. Any suggestions or help welcome (about the consol).

Not bad for five hours of straight work. I'm quite please with it as it is strong (you can pick it up with one cross strut on the Engeenering section and it doesn't break and stuff doesn't fall off every time you pick it up either). I also feel I've done not so bad this time with removable lids, unlike the Boner. Sometimes I just get Jazzed on a project and have no option but to do it. like I said, weird.

Well, let me know what you think guys. Is this any good so far? Also not sure of the name, but it'll do for now I guess.

Post by **tunasailor** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 5:02 pm

Liking it so far and it is good you used the assault door again, the main turret is sweet because it is flat and fells into the ship. Btw nice details

Post by **Theblackdog** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 5:35 pm

Awesome engines and side-SNOT. The laser door is a nice touch.

Post by **Professor Ken** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:02 pm

Cool ship, Warhead-- I love the War of the Worlds reference. Did you get the idea for the docking door from me, by any chance?

Post by **Cpt. Zipps** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:14 pm

More Guns.

Post by **Warhead** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:15 pm

Thanks guys,

@Prof: To be honest many of the ideas shown here are in part my own dated style of building mixed with the many that I have been gleaning from everyone else's posts that I have hybridised. There is a bit of everybody's in there somewhere, yours too. If I could have gotten side cannon into the lower decks then it would have been shear plagiarism.

The laser door should only be on when the door is open, not closed. I messed the photo up.

Thanks again, it means a lot.

Post by **Tuefish** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:41 pm

Awesome ship warhead, can't wait to see her with some more decks.
Also, excellent bridge windshield-snot, I've never been able to figure out how to do that effectively, major props.

Post by **Strana** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:18 pm

i see the topside gun implacements are of good size, excelent. also if your ship is going to be ass end heavy you mnight want to try putting an integrated pillar so that it can stand allitle off the main resting surface. if you do this you can fit more weapons.

Post by **RoC77** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:55 am

Great job Warhead, that's going to be a huge bridge, I've been notorious at making mine too small. Can't wait to see it when you're done.

Post by **Warhead** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 5:53 pm

Thanks lads, you've made me look at things again and I have decided it is too short. If the bridge is going to be high then the front requires to be longer or it will look stunted IMO.

So, I'm adding another section and hopefully another tiered main turret just behind the first. I'll move the workshop into the new section and dedicate the old section to security and as a main airlock. (The assault ram section is an airlock but it's an expendable crumple zone). The back will extend further too adding to the ships proportions.

I have also ordered a horde of stuff from Pick A Brik to fill out some of the odd bits I've fallen short of. I've even had to eat into the Fleebnork R + D base project (I don't think anyone was that interested in the base anyway).

I've already made some structural changes to the front, making it more sturdy and hopefully dealing with the ugly corner sections with the aid of some snot. I'm still figuring out how I want to do the secondary turrets on the second level but that's what some of the Lego order is for.

Post by **jmatthew** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 12:03 pm

This looks truly beautiful and deadly so far, Sir. I applaud you. I absolutely love the attention to detail, especially the interiors. I always focus far too much on my exteriors and don't really worry enough about making the insides workable. I can't wait to see the finished ship.
Also, many of my projects start off as sketches I make while bored at work. Often, the finished design has departed very far from the original idea, but I think it definitely helps to have a springboard to launch yourself from so you have a decent idea of where you want to be in the end.

Post by **Pvt Expendable** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 12:56 am

nice job, you know that thunderchild was a batle ship from hg well war of the worlds

Post by **Warhead** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 1:59 am

Hey thanks Pvt Expendable. Yeah, sure do. That image always stuck in my mind. The last battle of man against Martian Machine. Awesome.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Thunder_Child

This proves the ram concept wasn't by accident either.

@jmatthew, thanks mate, I think I'll be rough sketching big stuff like this in future. I tend to ramble out of control otherwise. The Thunderchild is coming along and there have been some changes. At the moment I'm waiting on supplies to allow for all the weapons. You can never have enough and I can always make it longer to accommodate a few more and still keep it rules legal.

Post by **Warhead** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 5:25 am

More photos for you all. Still not complete but the image of my idea of the ship is beginning to emerge. Some problems have been solved while others have arisen and I've slowed down waiting on spares arriving by post (please, let it be today!)

Anyway, hope you can spare a friendly comment or word of advice.

I don't have enough Trans blue or reds (I guess I'll need to order more) but I put what I do have in for comparison. The Trans Blue are Mrk III's for ship to ship and the Trans Reds are (?) AFHAWK's (Anti-Fighter Homing All the Way Killers) seeker missiles.

Not sure wither to go with black or white consols here, what's your own thoughts?

The front is still to be extended (so there will be a third main turret otherwise it's not a Heavy Cruiser IMO) and there will be a second level that the Bridge will eventually sit on top of. I even had an idea of how to fit in a captains quarters at the back of the bridge. I'm also working on smaller side and corner turrets for the second level and I'm toying with the idea of lifting it off the floor on a pillar like Strana suggested so I can fit another turret or two on the bottom side. Nothing too technical though.

Well, what do you think?

Post by **Theblackdog** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 6:19 am

Whoa, it's getting even better. I especially like the two flaps you put near the main engines. The asymmetrical missile sizes aren't working out so well, in my opinion.