Babylon 5: Earth Alliance Poseidon Super Carrier

While the Omega prototypes were still in field testing, Earth Force Commanders sought to add to their fleet a class of ship capable of commanding an entire battlegroup from outside core Earth Alliance space. The Omegas would provide the backbone of the new Post-War fleet, as well as providing a long range patrol vessel, but could not function as a large scale flagship. Seeking to remedy this shortcoming, the Senate approved construction of the Poseidon class super-carrier, which would not only contain all on-board facilities for Generals and Admirals to command large scale fleet deployments, but also be a home for four times the number of fighter squadrons carried by the Omega. To avoid drawing supplies for the Omegas, design engineers were able to incorporate components from uncompleted Nova class hulls, which could not be converted to the Omega design. For a warship of its size, the Poseidon mounts relatively few turrets, incorporating a pair of X-Ray Laser weapons on either side of its broad forward hull, as well as four phalanx defense turrets near the habitat and engine section. Fortunately, with its vast number of fighter squadrons and support ships guarding it, a Poseidon is rarely threatened by an assault, and only enters combat as a last resort. Only five of these vessels have been commissioned into Earth Force service.

This particular Poseidon Super Carrier has been retrofitted after the Drakh attack on Earth to be the central command and control of all alliance forces outside of Earth Dome.  It has the capability of ferrying more Thunderbolt fighters into battle than any other ship of its kind.  It is a hornets nest ready to attack.

The Model Photo – How to photograph models for display

While cruising around on the internet I ran across this great article on how to photograph models for displays on the Warhammer 40,000 website.  It gives some great tips and advice on the proper techniques to get the money shot of all your hard work.  This tip sheet is spot on and I recommend reading this article in full, The Model Photo - How to photograph models for display

Battlestar Galactica - The Colonial Fleet Deploys

It has been sometime in the making of this new fleet.  The twelve colonies of Kobol have seen so many set backs over the years in their war with the Cylons.  The shipyards have been under continuous attack, on the move, and slim resources.  However, the colonies have prevailed and been able to deploy a fleet that rival the attacking Cylons.  Advances in technology and ship design will give the Basestars a run for their money. Equipped with the latest in computer technology, including powerful firewalls and virtual intelligence computers they will be able to resist Cylon computer hacking efforts. This fleet will be the first of a new generation of ships designed to be able to fight the Cylons while still taking advantage of the latest, most advanced technology.

The Colonies new fleet includes one Mercury Battlestar, one Fenris Battlestar, three heavy cruisers, and 4 Dauntless Frigates. Contained within this fleet is the core; the Viper Squadrons accompanied by their Raptors.

Pictured above are B-3 Designs Viper and Raptors.  These are painted in standard Colonial colors with some wear and tear.

Above are three heavy cruisers from Ravenstar.

The Dauntless Cutter or Frigate (Above) a product of the Leonis Shipyards, these small, maneuverable, fast, well armored and well armed vessels where the mainstay of the Colonial Police Force and Navy. Armed with six standard and two heavy gun turrets, twenty anti-ship missiles in dorsal silos and adequate anti-fighter protection, it packs a considerable punch for it's size. employed throughout the 12 Colonies to patrol shipping lanes and control pirates and smugglers, they have long, successful history in this role because of their ability to remain in service for long periods without resupply due to their small crew and ample cargo storage space. Widely distributed throughout the Colonies, after the Cylon attack on the Colonies many of these vessels where able to regroup and carry out hit and run raids on the Cylon forces that remained.

The last Battlestar to enter service, the Fenris (pictured above) was commissioned only weeks before the Cylon attack. Equipped with the latest in computer technology, including powerful firewalls and virtual intelligence computers she was able to resist Cylon computer hacking efforts. She would have been the first of a new generation of ships designed to be able to fight the Cylons while still taking advantage of the latest, most advanced technology. Perhaps the fact that the Cylon attack came when it did, just after the first ship entered service, was no coincidence. There were at least four ships of that class that had been built prior to the Fall. "Officially" only one was finished at the time the Cylons attacked, with others in various stages of construction

The Mercury class battlestar was an advanced Colonial capital warship/carrier that served as the mainstay of the Colonial Fleet. They served as front ships of the line as well as as command ships. Having been first introduced roughly twenty years following the end of the Cylon War, and while still considered top-of-the-line vessels, the fleet was just beginning the process of phasing the oldest examples out of service, in favor of the newer Block II's and the Nova Class, at the time of the Fall of the Twelve Colonies.

Centauri Republic - Royal Homefleet Patrol

At the height of the great Centauri Republic the lion of the galaxy reached out to thousands of worlds, hundreds of systems, and many light years in every direction. To that end the emperors built grand fleets to enhance the conquests of the empire.

To ensure the safety of all Centauri the emperor decided that each system would be patrolled by a grand fleet.  My patrol fleets consists of 1 Octurion Battleship, 3 Primus Battlecruisers, and 4 Vorchan Warbirds/Frigates.

I have long had these ships sitting on the shelf and decided to finish them over the course of the last several weeks.  I will admit it took a lot of work, but I got them all done.  In total I built and painted 3 Octurion Battleships, 6 Primus Battlecruisers, 3 Dargan Strike Cruisers, 12 Vorchan Warships, 1 Bavarian Carrier, and 12 Sentri Flights of Fighters.

Battle Report - Directorate vs. Hawker Industries

Soon after the Hawker fleets were brought back into front line service they were thrown into the fray. The vicious battles between the Terran's and Directorate have forced smaller squadrons to go out on their own to secure vital areas and re-activate repair stations. In this entry we ran across this very scenario between the Directorate and Hawker Industries vessels.

Turns 1 and 2 were not very interesting, both sides closing on each other trying to maneuverer around the cluster of asteroids.

Turn 3 brought the Hawker Resolute Cruiser squadron within torpedo range.  This barrage scored a critical hit on the Directorates Reactor Core completely blowing it apart.

Turns 4 and 5 saw the ships trading fire with torpedo's, turrets, and gun racks.

 Turn 6 turned the tide of battle and the Directorates las cruiser was completely destroyed by concentrated fire from the Resolutes turrets.

Hawker Industries - Kurak Alliance Fleet

Hawker Industries is one of the best-known of the Terran Alliance’s great corporations. It was once one of the largest industrial and commercial concerns in human space, dwarfing even the great corporate powers that would become the Directorate.

Therefore who is better to provide reinforcements to my Terran Alliance task force. I really like these models and their overall design.  This patrol fleet consists of one Excelsior Class Battleship, three Resolute Class Cruisers, and four Endeavour Class Frigates.

I have painted them using a the standard Hawker Industries paint scheme and squadron markers.

The lighting for some of these pictures is not to great, I am going to see if I can find more indirect lighting for my next pictures.

Commerce in a War Torn Galaxy

In any time at peace or war commerce is always needed. Between nation states, planets, systems, and alliance trade is vital to the stability of any society. To add to my fleet of ships is this small band of commerce ships from the Babylon 5 universe.

Lightly armed freighters are always in fear of raiders and pirates lurking in the shadows. Especially when those freighters stray away from shipping lanes and alone. 

Raiders and Pirates

Raiders and Pirates are among the scoundrel of the galaxy. I finally finished up a small raider fleet that consists of 4 Raider Carrier, 2 Battle Wagons, and 28 flights of Delta Fighters.

These raiders are going to be mercenaries attached to the Syndicate forces in the rift. They are going to cause some trouble for both the Kurak Alliance and the Zenian League.

This raider carrier has found a only cargo freighter that is ripe for raiding.