New Fighter Types

35 posts ยท Jul 17 1998 to Aug 5 1998

From: Michael Blair <amfortas@h...>

Date: Fri, 17 Jul 1998 02:26:29 PDT

Subject: New Fighter Types

New Fighter Types Endo Fighter A defensive fighter that can only operate
within a planetery atmosphere. It has no anti ship capability but attacks as
an interceptor. (it does not have to comprmise itself with heavy spaceplane

additions.) I think this might be stolen from someone but it is a nice idea.

I have always rather suspected that normal FT figters are NOT atmosphere

capable (and this was before starting to watch Babylon 5). So for a fighter to
operated in an atmosphere it should pay more for streamlining

etc. This is an additional complication that I do not intend to use myself but
someone might like it.
Conversely should space-only fighters be a little cheaper?
The Thunderbolt. Everyone seems to think that this is the bees knees but

is it much better than a Starfury? It is larger, more expensive and atmosphere
capable but it is the stramlining that makes it larger and dearer,
compromising it in the dogfighting role. So in space combat it should function
at best just like a Starfury. I know this is going to annoy people but what do
you think? Incidentally I love the thing, and think it is the nicest looking
fighter in B5. I wonder how difficult it would be to add a longer nose to the
UNSC Star

Tiger fighter?

MRB

From: Jeremey Claridge <jeremy.claridge@k...>

Date: Fri, 17 Jul 1998 11:09:21 +0100 ()

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

> New Fighter Types

> interceptor. (it does not have to comprmise itself with heavy
The rules I use is to simply make the long range fighter atmosphere capable.
Launching from a planet to space uses 3 endurance points. Therefore the
launched fighters have the same endurance as space fighters when they get
there. These fighters can also attack a planets surface but they must have 3
endurance points to return to space.

From: Ground Zero Games <jon@g...>

Date: Fri, 17 Jul 1998 18:43:58 +0100

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

> New Fighter Types

We've just done it!!  GF-017, Star Sabre fighters (two-man Star Tiger
variant)...... out now. Check the latest online cat update on Paul's site for
details.

From: Noah Doyle <nvdoyle@m...>

Date: Fri, 17 Jul 1998 22:08:52 -0500

Subject: RE: New Fighter Types

You all rock, did you know that? This sort of thing is so appreciated,
it's hard to describe - I think I'll just order some...

Noah
who will now proceed to blow some Marsdomes with his new T-Bolts - er,
Star Sabres.

[quoted original message omitted]

From: Tony Wilkinson <twilko@o...>

Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 00:28:48 +0100

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

> At 18:43 17/07/98 +0100, you wrote:

Great! Now all I gotta do is way for Nic to get some in stock:( With the B5
moive "In the Begining" due out in the UK soon (27th is it?) is there a chance
of something to escort our Minbari Warcruisers with? (please,
please, pretty please...................)

From: Noah Doyle <nvdoyle@m...>

Date: Sun, 19 Jul 1998 21:50:32 -0500

Subject: RE: New Fighter Types

Maybe some Sa'Vasku or P'Taah "Nail"-class fighters...
Speaking of B% movies, the new one, 'Thirdspace' just ended - wow, big
space battle at the end, real nasty enemy. Some neat details, like a crippled
White Star drifting through the beam path of a Minbari
Sharlin-class warcruiser.  Ouch.  Some wird, but good loking enemy
ships; fighters were kind os like Vorlon combined with mechanical tech, and
the

capitals were this huge collection of rods attached to a giant
power-generating sphere, or something - a mini would need a colored
marble in the middle, but 2 peices could be placed around it real easy.
Hmmm...

Noah

[quoted original message omitted]

From: Mark A. Siefert <cthulhu@c...>

Date: Sun, 19 Jul 1998 22:00:39 -0500 (CDT)

Subject: RE: New Fighter Types

> On Sun, 19 Jul 1998, Noah Doyle wrote:

Hey! Be careful! I don't think anyone outside of the US has seen Thirdspace
yet. If you are going to mention information from the show, kindly give some
warning and leave some spoiler space as a courtesy to those who still have to
wait.

Later,

From: Groucho <paulf@d...>

Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 13:30:50 +1000

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

> Hey! Be careful! I don't think anyone outside of the US has

Well yes you sure are right we haven't seen "Thirdspace" or "In the Begining"
down under so please don't spoil the fun...... I wonder how much longer we
have to wait for channel nine to get off it's ass and broadcast it????

Ciao Paul Frigo

From: kx.henderson@q... (Kelvin)

Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 13:53:08 +1000 (EST)

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

> Well yes you sure are right we haven't seen "Thirdspace" or "In the

Probably about the same time as they show season 5. A long, long time. But
trust me when I tell you its worth the wait. Love those battle scenes.

From: Alan and Carmel Brain <aebrain@w...>

Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 14:17:39 +1000

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

> Paul Frigo wrote:

> Well yes you sure are right we haven't seen "Thirdspace" or "In the

Let's see, in the last few weeks it's been:

B5 Tennis Tennis B5 Golf
..

From: Ground Zero Games <jon@g...>

Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 08:18:02 +0100

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

> At 18:43 17/07/98 +0100, you wrote:

Nic has actually already done a "Minbari" fighter lookalike, he sent us some a
couple of weeks ago and they are now in production in the UK too.
Very nice they are - pester him for some!

From: Niall Gilsenan <ngilsena@i...>

Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 17:15:04 +0100

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

> At 15:31 20/07/98 -0400, you wrote:

Saw it a few months ago in Belfast myself. Most enjoyable although the way the
war was sort of compressed into a 5 minute segment apart from the end was a
little disappointing (but only a little). The battle of the line was great
though we have seen a lot of it already.

> [...]is there a chance of something to escort our

Exactly..The battle of the line on tabletop draws closer...

> Now, who's going to do lookalike fighters for the Raiders

Not to mention a "not" Cylon base star or a "not" Battlestar.

From: Ground Zero Games <jon@g...>

Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 19:20:33 +0100

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

[snip]
> Now, who's going to do lookalike fighters for the Raiders

You can get the Battlestar from Comet Miniatures in their Minimetals range (FT
size, about 100mm long). Some years ago a guy in Colchester
hand-cast
some Base Stars in a similar scale for a demo game, but I never got one from
him and haven't seen him for years....

From: Ground Zero Games <jon@g...>

Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 19:20:33 +0100

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

[snip]
> [...]is there a chance of something to escort our

From: Phillip Atcliffe <Phillip.Atcliffe@u...>

Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 15:31:34 -0400 (EDT)

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

> On Mon, 20 Jul 1998 08:18:02 +0100 Jon T wrote:

Quoting Tony:
> Great! Now all I gotta do is way for Nic to get some

Yep. Saw the first third or so of it (just up to the EAS Prometheus opening
fire) at "Nexus" (a local SF con) on
Saturday -- and then I had to go and give a talk!
Aaarrrrgggghhhhh..! Roll on this time next week...

> [...]is there a chance of something to escort our

> Nic has actually already done a "Minbari" fighter

Jon, Jon, Jon... don't tantalise us like this! We want
_details_, man -- catalogue reference(s), availability
dates, on-line photos over which to drool...

Now, who's going to do lookalike fighters for the Raiders
-- and, for that matter, some not-Vipers?

Phil, planning to run FT demonstration games at next year's
Nexus -- and EFSB if I can get hold of some ships!

From: Niall Gilsenan <ngilsena@i...>

Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 21:13:51 +0100

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

> OK, OK, already..... We've coded them GF 018. 6 per pack, UK price 95p.

Like me? Not that little then..

(You now have permission to shoot me for that one)

From: Thomas Barclay <Thomas.Barclay@s...>

Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 16:34:16 -0500

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

Niall spake thusly upon matters weighty:

> Like me? Not that little then..

Shak-Shok. Click. BLAM......Thud.

Consider yourself the recipient of a 12 gauge lesson in bad humor.

:) Tom.

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From: Samuel Penn <sam@b...>

Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 19:55:59 +0100

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

In message <l03010d02b1d930fe037d@[195.188.107.164]>
> Ground Zero Games <jon@gzero.dungeon.com> wrote:

> [snip]

So, are you going to be at (UK) Gencon then? My Sharlins are looking a bit
lonely... (I'd rather wait a ~month, then mess around with mail order).

From: Ground Zero Games <jon@g...>

Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 08:17:58 +0100

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

> In message <l03010d02b1d930fe037d@[195.188.107.164]>
Available NOW
> in UK, and I assume in Oz as well. No photos yet, but trust me - they

Yup, we'll be there!

From: Oerjan Ohlson <oerjan.ohlson@t...>

Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1998 16:25:01 +0200

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

Old post, late reply, probably old stuff re-hashed once more:

> New Fighter Types

> interceptor. (it does not have to comprmise itself with heavy

Unless you define large parts of the gaming area as "within planetary
atmosphere" or you're playing a planetary invasion scenario, these fighters
will be of *very* limited use. Especially if you go with the 1
mu ~ 7500 km scale suggested on the list not too long ago :-/

> I have always rather suspected that normal FT figters are NOT

This depends entirely on your background. Star Wars, SAAB, Battlestar
Galactica, B5 etc all have atmosphere capable fighters - 'course, some
of those in Star Wars and B5 are more or less warp capable as well, but note
that the *only* non-atmosphere capable fighter in B5 is the Starfury!
Minbari, Narn, Centauri and Raider fighters all seem to be capable of
atmospheric flight.

Paying for atmospheric capabilities adds very little to the game. IMO you
should always pay for the base facilities (fighter bays or equivalents) and
their "hulls" regardless of if these facilities are on the ground, aboard an
orbital platform or on a space ship.

> The Thunderbolt. Everyone seems to think that this is the bees knees

> should function at best just like a Starfury.

It also carries a *much* heavier weapon (streams of plasma balls rather
than one couple at a time, plus bomb/missile hardpoints) than the
Starfury, making it more likely to take tthings it shoots at out.

> I wonder how difficult it would be to add a longer nose to the UNSC

Not that hard to do with a pin vice, some fine wire and putty. And a LOT
of patience :-/

Regards,

From: BEST, David <dbest@s...>

Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1998 15:57:23 -0400

Subject: RE: New Fighter Types

According to JMS's The Official Guide to Babylon 5 CD the thunderbolts are
much faster and more manoeuvreable than Starfuries as well. However I don't
fully trust everything they say since they have the Omegas and Hyperions armed
with Plasma Pulse Cannon instead of lasers and give the Primus 4 Heavy Lasers
and 2 Twin Particle Cannons (which is what I believe B5 Wars gives them). Both
of those sources also say the Primus's only weakness is the lack of fighter
bays. It also says the Hyperion has 6 fighters ( I reduce them to 1 fighter
group but give them jump engines). Also according to the book Mr.Garibaldi's
Security Manual (or something like that) B5's 4 fighter wings (squadrons)
contain up to 15 fighters although I believe the original B5 entertainment CD
said 12. One other little B5 ship tidbit is that I watched again the episode
where ISN is on the station during the
Narn-Centauri  war and a Primus and G'Quan go at it.  The G'Guan
actually fired it's lasers to the starboard side. Based on the location of the
laser barrels though I would treat this as a mistake and just have them fire
forward.

David Best

> is it much better than a Starfury? It is larger, more expensive and

It also carries a *much* heavier weapon (streams of plasma balls rather
than one couple at a time, plus bomb/missile hardpoints) than the
Starfury, making it more likely to take tthings it shoots at out.

> I wonder how difficult it would be to add a longer nose to the UNSC

Not that hard to do with a pin vice, some fine wire and putty. And a LOT
of patience :-/

Regards,

From: Thomas.Granvold@E... (Tom Granvold)

Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1998 18:44:54 -0700

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

> OK, OK, already..... We've coded them GF 018. 6 per pack, UK price

Also Jon, what do you call these fighters? Just so I know what to name them in
my list when I add them. Also, looks like I need to get together a order
sometime soon to include some of these. Is it just me or does there seem to be
an increase in the number of spaceship miniatures available?

Enjoy,

From: Ground Zero Games <jon@g...>

Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 08:40:20 +0100

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

> OK, OK, already..... We've coded them GF 018. 6 per pack, UK price
Available NOW
> in UK, and I assume in Oz as well. No photos yet, but trust me - they

We haven't actually come up with a name for them yet, so just call them
"Minbari" for the moment for the purposes of ordering them! Yes, we are adding
to the ship lines as fast as we can right now, with odd new additions here and
there to the existing fleets, the first of the OU ships from Nic, our own new
Phalons and even more stuff coming soon!

From: Thomas Barclay <Thomas.Barclay@s...>

Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 14:11:45 -0500

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

Ground spake thusly upon matters weighty:

> We haven't actually come up with a name for them yet, so just call

With tongue firmly in cheek, since these are "Not Nials" why not call them
Nails? And since Minbari is probably a taboo word, how about "Nobari"? (Okay,
I'll stop now).

And when you get bored of the Not B5 line, then you could think about some Not
Cylon Raiders and Not Vipers. Or some not
Space-Abort-and-Begone fighters.

On another front, are all support/transport craft in the future
VTOLS? I notice you have no rotary winged kits. I'm thinking the
chopper would be cheap, cost-effective, and still very good for what
it always did. And plus they always sound/look good in an LZ.

Tom.

/************************************************
Thomas Barclay Software Specialist Police Communications Systems Software
Kinetics Ltd. 66 Iber Road, Stittsville Ontario, Canada, K2S 1E7
Reception: (613) 831-0888
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From: Doug Evans <devans@n...>

Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 14:34:12 -0500

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

*** And when you get bored of the Not B5 line, then you could think about some
Not Cylon Raiders and Not Vipers. Or some not
Space-Abort-and-Begone fighters.***

You missed the psuedo-hammerheads, er, hammers on Paul's site?!?! ;->=

Now, if there were some 'chigs'... Hmm, Nails, perhaps?

The_Beast

From: Thomas Barclay <Thomas.Barclay@s...>

Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 15:48:26 -0500

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

> You missed the psuedo-hammerheads, er, hammers on Paul's site?!?! ;->=

Yep. I'll go look!

> Now, if there were some 'chigs'... Hmm, Nails, perhaps?

Close enough I'd guess.

Tom.
/************************************************
Thomas Barclay Software Specialist Police Communications Systems Software
Kinetics Ltd. 66 Iber Road, Stittsville Ontario, Canada, K2S 1E7
Reception: (613) 831-0888
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My Extension: 4009
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From: Ground Zero Games <jon@g...>

Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 22:47:54 +0100

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

[snip]>
> On another front, are all support/transport craft in the future

Most of the "sleeker" VTOL craft in the 6mm Future Wars range (reissued in the
UK under DF codes) are actually designed to be used as conventional
Helicopter  models if you wish - we don't supply cast rotors, but they
look good with a clear plastic disc to simulate a spinning rotor. If you mean
25mm stuff, then no, we don't do any rotary-wing vehicles at present
(long,
thin rotor blades are a problem in metal OR resin) - but there is a
possibility when we get round to some new stuff!

From: Tony Christney <tchristney@t...>

Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 16:22:00 -0700

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

> At 02:11 PM 7/28/98 -0500, you wrote:
Or Maxbari...

From: Noah Doyle <nvdoyle@m...>

Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 18:37:41 -0500

Subject: RE: New Fighter Types

There are several cheap snap-fit helicopter models that could supply
rotors, with a little kitbashing....

Noah

[quoted original message omitted]

From: Kyle Klingler <kklinglr@f...>

Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 03:03:46 -0400 (EDT)

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

> On Tue, 28 Jul 1998, Tony Christney wrote:

> Or Maxbari...

Or as it was pronounced on a B5 blooper tape, the Mini-Bar

From: Ground Zero Games <jon@g...>

Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 08:34:37 +0100

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

> At 02:11 PM 7/28/98 -0500, you wrote:

We had given passing thought to "Mundani", a race so boring that no-one
can be bothered to shoot at them.... <BIG GRIN>

From: Thomas Barclay <Thomas.Barclay@s...>

Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 11:18:12 -0500

Subject: RE: New Fighter Types

> Most of the "sleeker" VTOL craft in the 6mm Future Wars range

Jon,

If you guys were to just cast a good looking troopship and gunship hull, I'm
sure my local hobby store has sheet styrene or a model kit would have
something that I could use for rotors. wouldn't want them taking up TOO much
space anyway (Wow, Sgt Bill, 100m rotors!). So, if you're thinking of casting
some, don't worry about the shortage of rotors.

Tom.
/************************************************
Thomas Barclay Software Specialist Police Communications Systems Software
Kinetics Ltd. 66 Iber Road, Stittsville Ontario, Canada, K2S 1E7
Reception: (613) 831-0888
PBX: (613) 831-2018
My Extension: 4009
Fax: (613) 831-8255
Software Kinetics' Web Page:
     http://www.sofkin.ca
SKL Daemons Softball Web Page:
     http://fox.nstn.ca/~kaladorn/softhp.htm
**************************************************/

From: therubydragon@m...

Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 23:54:45 +0000

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

> On Tue, 28 Jul 1998, Tony Christney wrote:

From: Nick and Laurel Caldwell <clcaldwell@k...>

Date: Tue, 04 Aug 1998 19:01:10 -0500

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

Jon,

What is the difference between the (notCentauri) GF013 Kentauris fighters and
the GF 016 Heavy Kentauris fighters?

Is it a size difference? Which one will best match the others in the (notB5)
range?

Nick

> At 06:43 PM 7/17/98 +0100, you wrote:

From: Ground Zero Games <jon@g...>

Date: Wed, 5 Aug 1998 07:00:04 +0100

Subject: Re: New Fighter Types

> Jon,

They are the same size, roughly, but the 016 has a bulkier central
cockpit/drive section and wingtip weapons. Either will do, but I prefer
the 016.

Jon (GZG)
> Nick