Hi All,
Just to let you know that a significant part of the FT Japanese fleet is
now completed (that is, sculpting all done) and ready for pre-production
mould making; this should be done in the next day or two, and IF they all
work out OK then they'll be production-moulded and on sale by early next
week. As soon as this happens, I'll get Paul to put them on the store site and
you can all start ordering them!
To give you a taster, PROVISIONAL classes/codes/prices are.......
FT1321 Katana Class Heavy MMCF (Multi Mode Configurable Fighters) -
pack of (6) 1.00 UKP FT1303 Bakemono Class Strike Corvette (3) 2.00 UKP FT1304
Ashigaru Class Patrol Frigate (2) 2.00 UKP FT1305 Soyokaze Class Destroyer (2)
(Already in production) 2.50 UKP FT1307 Ronin Class Patrol Cruiser (Already in
production) 2.50 UKP FT1311 Musashi Class Super Battleship
("battledreadnought") 8.00 UKP FT1312 Shogun Class Command Dreadnought (big
SDN) 10.00 UKP FT1314 Akagi Class Supercarrier 10.00 UKP
All the above are sculpted, and will be available in the initial batch (any
moulding problems notwithstanding, of course); still under construction are
a Heavy Cruiser, Battlecruiser, Battleship and Light Carrier - these
will be following very quickly behind the first lot.
Like the first ships of the range (1305/1307), all have a very strong
Anime
influence.....
More news as things progress! Don't forget that if you want the Jap ships, but
also want to take
advantage of the January-only Mega-Fleet deal, you CAN pre-order a fleet
now and get it at the deal price.
> Ground Zero Games wrote:
Pictures!:)
> Ground Zero Games wrote:
As soon as the preproduction mould is done......
Latest news......
All the new Jap ship classes (BDN, SDN, CVL, plus a couple of little
ones -
CT and FF) that have so far been sculpted went in their pre-prod mould
today, and I'm happy to report all have come out fine!!
I'm actually REALLY pleased with the way they look - very
techno-Anime-style (mainly Gundam style, with a few Yamato influences) -
I hope you'll all like them. The big ones are quite hefty chunks of
metal....
:-)
First-off examples have been assembled and photographed, and the pics
sent to Paul Owen for uploading onto the GZG store site, along with codes,
prices and ordering info. Hopefully Paul will get them up on the store
sometime tomorrow, so you can all take a look and then start buying
some......!
There are now enough classes to make a meaningful MegaFleet pack, so those
people who have pre-ordered them can expect to have them shipped out
within the next few days (making of production moulds is scheduled for
tomorrow, so they are as good as in production!).
The last few classes I want to do for the Jap fleet (CH, BC, BB, CVL etc) we
be under way very soon, release dates to follow.
In message <v03130307b874f271169c@[213.1.16.51]>
> Ground Zero Games <jon@gzg.keme.co.uk> wrote:
> Latest news......
- I
> hope you'll all like them. The big ones are quite hefty chunks of
They look very nice, I want some! - and I've still got about 4 other
fleets to paint :-(
And I've been delayed somewhat, as I've just moved house.
Is it me, or does the Shogun class command dreadnought have what looks
like a _very big_ spinal mount weapon (or three)? :-)
Thanks for the work, I better crack on with that painting
> In message <v03130307b874f271169c@[213.1.16.51]>
> Jon (GZG).
It has three round bits on the front......depends on you what you want to
call them - they could be shuttle launch ports or retro rockets for all
I
know.... <GRIN>
In message <v03130303b8765de4f109@[213.1.27.22]>
> Ground Zero Games <jon@gzg.keme.co.uk> wrote:
[snip]
> >
[snip]
Well, my _other_ thought was that the big one in the middle was a
fighter bay :-)
> --- Ground Zero Games <jon@gzg.keme.co.uk> wrote:
Jon, I am also pleased, that's why I have taken the fleet deal!!! I see a PAU
fleet deal, any chance of seeing some pictures in the next few days (while I
am in a buying mode)?
Bye for now,
> --- Ground Zero Games <jon@gzg.keme.co.uk> wrote:
Er, sorry, the presence of the PAU as a fleet option is an error in the online
catalogue! We haven't done any PAU ships, and though we may well at some point
they're a fair way down the list of potential fleets to be worked on..... As a
taster, next up will be the remainder of the Japanese classes, then
the Free CalTex and probably the New Israelis - there MAY also be a
couple more Islamic classes to round off their fleet. After that, who
knows....
(certainly not me!) ;-)
But while on the point, who among you would LIKE to see a PAU fleet? Or a
Romanov one? Or Indonesian? Or LLAR? Or Dutch, Scandinavian, New Indian
Republic, Free People's Democratic Republic of Central Rutland,
whatever.....? ;-)
> At 7:01 PM +0000 1/28/02, Ground Zero Games wrote:
I'd think (I may differ from St Jon but hey I can offer my ideas...) that some
of those nations would have modified craft that bear a strong resemblance to
existing ships friendly to them. The NAC and
Free Cal-Tex would likely have some very common hull forms that could
make those vessels easier to craft.
Perhaps the Dutch license Hulls from the NAC and from the FSE?
> But while on the point, who among you would LIKE to see a PAU fleet?
Or a
> Romanov one? Or Indonesian? Or LLAR? Or Dutch, Scandinavian, New
And the flood gates did open and there was much wailing and nashing of teeth
amongst the Ground Pounders!:)
I would like to see things in this order of preference: BDS (sorry, I just had
to say it) Japan (since you are at work on it) IF (finish the line) LLAR PAU
(right now I assume they use FSE & ESU 2nds). IC FCT (Right now I assume they
use NAC 2nds). ORC (finish the line) ITTT (sorry)
---
Brian Bell bbell1@insight.rr.com <mailto:bbell1@insight.rr.com> ICQ: 12848051
AIM: Rlyehable YIM: Rlyehable Cygnus X1.info
http://www.cygnusx1.info/
---
[quoted original message omitted]
I would definitely bite in to the idea of a Scandinavian fleet....go space
Vikings!
Shawn
[quoted original message omitted]
> there MAY also be a couple more Islamic classes to round off their
Dimashq class CVE, and a CL class, IIRC
> But while on the point, who among you would LIKE to see a PAU fleet? Or
I think of PAU Navy as a mix of ships purchased from NAC and ESU, with
gaudier paint jobs--if it was me, I wouldn't do a new ship line for
them.
> --- Ground Zero Games <jon@gzg.keme.co.uk> wrote:
...
> But while on the point, who among you would LIKE to
Both the PAU and LLAR are major minor players in the history. Both depend on
foreign sources for the initial fleets, but might venture into the local
design for ships as large as BBs or BDNs.
The Romanov fleet (IMHO) is primarily ESU design with NSL, FSE, and NAC ships
filling it out.
Both the Dutch and Scandanavian (Viking) have been major
seafairing nations in the past. They could return to
the glory days if the conditions were right.
The RNTN (Royal New Tasmanian Navy) is a very efficient
force that is equipped by the NAC/FCT, and has many
of its fast freighters equipped to act as auxiliary
frigates/corvettes.
In short the answer is yes.
Bye for now,
Hi,
> But while on the point, who among you would LIKE to see a PAU fleet?
Or a
> Romanov one? Or Indonesian? Or LLAR? Or Dutch, Scandinavian, New
Romanovs would be cool. I've got a pile of the ESU Heavy Infantry figures that
I'm going to use for Romanovs instead. Be nice to have ships for them
also...
Just out of curiosity, should we be treating this as an [OFFICIAL]
pronouncement of a pair of new GZGverse powers... the "New Indian Republic"
and the "Free People's Democratic Republic of Central
Rutland"...
<grin>
Should I be updating the "intro to the GZGverse" article on
www.stargrunt.ca???
("FPDRCR" just doens't flow as well as "NAC"... And, given that one,
are we going to see something like a "People's Front of Judea" followed by a
"Judean People's Front" sometime soon... complete with ships, infantry,
etc... <vbg>)
********************************************
From: ~ On Behalf Of Ground Zero Games
Sent: 28 January 2002 19:01
Subject: Re: [OFFICIAL] Progress report from the shipyard......
> We haven't done any PAU ships, and though we may well at some point
> But while on the point, who among you would LIKE to see a PAU fleet?
Congratulations Jon, you've managed to flush me from my lurking.
Yes, the Japanese are very tempting, and I've forwarded some of the shop JPGs
to some parties who might be interested but wouldn't routinely go looking.
New Israelis? Where does that leave the Brigade figures (other than being more
unoffical than before?) Or would you be licensing the same models back off of
them?
I only ask because I prefer the styling of this range over the
"soft 'n squelchy" look of the Sa'Vasku-oops-I-meant-to-say-Phalons
and the slightly Trekkie saucer hulls of the ORC. The Japanese are more in
keeping with the original ranges so could fit in nicely.
To answer an earlier posting, I don't think we would want the canonical PHB*
to stand in the way of a new range of figures.
* the historical equivalent of PSB
What ranges would I like to see? Yes, finish the Japanese and add some more
FCT, and also a few individual merchantmen if you could do with some single
ship projects. Did someone recently mention an OU CVL? The OU desperately need
some heavies.
Approaching the problem from the opposite end ("what can we model a spaceship
to look like?") I noticed that the computer game Homeworld received some
discussion in the list when it was released late in 1999. (Keep up the good
work, Jerry. Those archives are invaluable for catching up.) Some of the
Kushan designs aren't that different from the lighter Neu Swabians, so why not
borrow some ideas back off of Relic? Anyone else fancy a Kushan carrier?
> --- adrian.johnson@sympatico.ca wrote:
> pronouncement of a pair of new GZGverse powers...
Hey, New Indian Republic makes a lot of sense. I mean, there's gotta be a lot
of Indians who aren't thrilled about being ruled from the other side of the
Himalayas.
> Hey, New Indian Republic makes a lot of sense. I
There's a lot of Indians who aren't happy about being ruled from their own
side of the Himalayas either. Sikhs, Dogra, Tamils, and others
would be delighted if all the high-caste Hindus all went on a walk and
On Mon, 28 Jan 2002 19:01:24 +0000 Ground Zero Games
<jon@gzg.keme.co.uk> writes: <sorry but I think I'll have to pass this time,
school reservations for next year time...
> But while on the point, who among you would LIKE to see a PAU fleet?
Oh yeah, wish list (in order):
LLAR IC RH
Gracias,
On Mon, 28 Jan 2002 19:17:59 +0000 (GMT) JEREMY CLARIDGE
> <jeremy.claridge@kcl.ac.uk> writes:
As a dedicated DS2 track treader <grin> I still would like more fleets, just
after "my" First Order list...
Gracias,
> --- Laserlight <laserlight@quixnet.net> wrote:
> There's a lot of Indians who aren't happy about
I've always thought India made more sense as a geographical designation or an
administrative unit of
a world-wide empire than as an actual country.
Rationally such a heterogenous conglomerate of mutually hostile ethnic and
religious groups shouldn't be any more stable than, say, the USSR or FRY. But
I guess that old colonial legacy has held together for the most part. Guesses
about the future are, however, just that. I mean, there's only 2 or 3
seperatist movements that are serious enough to be shooting at government
troops. That's not too bad. But changed
situation could lead to serious problems--what happens
if the Punjab actually manages to achieve some sort of autonomy? Would it
inspire other groups?
> From: ~ On Behalf Of Ground Zero Games
Ah, the Stalwart Native Beaters* have done their job well.....
(*Er, that's as in "beaters of game, not beaters of natives....)
> Yes, the Japanese are very tempting, and I've forwarded some of the
Thanks! :-)
> New Israelis? Where does that leave the Brigade figures (other than
I've always planned (and wanted) to do our own NI fleet, long before Brigade
brought out their stuff (which is, of course, SemFed, not
NI....).
It leaves the Brigade ships exactly where they were before - something
that people will buy and use for whatever force they choose!
> I only ask because I prefer the styling of this range over the
We've got two bio-fleets, there are unlikely to be any more in the near
future - I'm going back to concentrating on the human tech.
> To answer an earlier posting, I don't think we would want the
The OU are done by Nic at Eureka, and any additions to the range (or not) are
really up to him to do....
> Approaching the problem from the opposite end ("what can we
Anyone got a Jpeg....?
> --- adrian.johnson@sympatico.ca wrote:
THIS one was, actually, more than half-serious - I've been thinking
about some "Sikhs in Space" figures for some time....
> On Tue, Jan 29, 2002 at 09:56:53AM +0000, Ground Zero Games wrote:
http://www.well-of-souls.com/homeworld/hws/kushan/carrier.htm
See "Spacecraft 2000-2100 AD" and its kin, as mentioned here recently,
for a lot of the Homeworld guys' inspiration...
> THIS one was, actually, more than half-serious - I've been thinking
If you want Sikhs In Space, create Khalistan, which is the state the Sikh
separatists have been pushing for.
New Indian Republic might be better as New Hinduraj, but that wouldn't
necessarily have Sikhs.
[quoted original message omitted]
> Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002 19:01:24 +0000
Nice examples of the Neo Gun Plank school of ship architecture.
> But while on the point, who among you would LIKE to see a
The interstellar pirates of the Brethren of the Rim. Ninja Rocketships as
modeled by a Captain Harlock's Arcadia and various refitted WW2 battleships.
Or a hardcore American anti-NAC Resistance/Terrorist fleet in the
style of early Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon.
> From: "Shawn" <krowbis@dsl-only.net>
Large spheres are a pain to cast, ones with weapon towers and an equatorial
engine ring bulge, backed up by traditionalist flying saucer designs might
appeal.
Radically streamlined Tear drops would be cool. Even if they would tempt me to
overuse coruscating and starkly.
New Indian Republic, would this be Vedic Flying Pyramids? or some very
aerodynamic sharp shapes al la Renegade Legion and Gunbuster?
[quoted original message omitted]
[quoted original message omitted]
In message <000101c1a8fa$45085970$0100a8c0@Kepler>
> KH.Ranitzsch@t-online.de (K.H.Ranitzsch) wrote:
[snip]
> The LLAR or the PAU could provide room for GZG to market for
Of cause, St^3 Jon could re-introduce the old NAC 'Avalon' BDN, as,
IIRC, it was established in MT that the PAU uses them :-)
> Plus, of course, 'home-designed' smaller vessels, perhaps with some
Hmm.. could work, - take the basic hull of existing major power designs
- add some new, different detailing pieces - hey presto, minor power
ship design :-)
> ----- Original Message -----
Spheres are a REAL pain in metal, especially once they get over about an
inch in diameter, because that's about how thick the moulds we use are -
hence any part has to be less than that in at least one dimension. Even if
hollow, each hemisphere is restricted in this way. The only way to really do
bigger spheres is in resin, which I really don't want to do for
starships due to slow, labour-intensive production compared to metal
casts. For something like big space stations, where volume of sales is going
to be fairly low, resin is more viable.
In message <Pine.GSO.4.21.0201281911350.22994-100000@angelo>
> JEREMY CLARIDGE <jeremy.claridge@kcl.ac.uk> wrote:
> > But while on the point, who among you would LIKE to see a PAU fleet?
Or a
> > Romanov one? Or Indonesian? Or LLAR? Or Dutch, Scandinavian, New
Well, my personal preferences are more towards what the ships _look_
like, rather than who they are 'supposed' to belong to :-)
Some sleeker, more streamlined designs would make an interesting contrast to
the existing designs.
Another idea, developed from one I suggested to St^3 Jon a while ago (at
Colours, I think), would be to have an 'aftermarket conversion bits set'
for each fleet - this would contain a set of extra detailing bits, such
as sensor dishes (or raydomes), weapon turrets, PDS arrays, AFDC systems
(probably just a small raydome) towers, possibly spare engines etc. depending
on which fleet it was for. Could even add (where feasable) larget bridge
sections to create 'command' varients. Of the existing fleets, the KV, UNSC,
IJN, and possibly IF fleets would most easily suit this concept (Jon has
mentioned that the weapons turrets on the UN and IJN ships interchange).
You could even have a giant version of one of those Japanese back-banner
things for the IJN ships :-) :-) :-)
> --- Ground Zero Games <jon@gzg.keme.co.uk> wrote:
> THIS one was, actually, more than half-serious -
Sikhs? And we're already got Ghurkas? What's next, Bengal Lancers and the
PFFers? This whole thing
really _is_ subtle propaganda for a resurgent British
Empire.[1]
[quoted original message omitted]
From: "Charles Taylor" <nerik@monkslode.fsnet.co.uk>
> Of cause, St^3 Jon could re-introduce the old NAC 'Avalon' BDN, as,
> Hmm.. could work, - take the basic hull of existing major power
> On Wed, Jan 30, 2002 at 12:21:31AM +0000, Charles Taylor wrote:
> Well, my personal preferences are more towards what the ships _look_
I still want the ship on p.21 of FT2...
> On Wednesday, January 30, 2002, at 05:45 AM, Roger Burton West wrote:
> Well, my personal preferences are more towards what the ships _look_
That's a nice one. I like the non SV aliens pictured in MT. Although I
have some of them - opps I'm not suppose to talk about them.
> --- "K.H.Ranitzsch" <KH.Ranitzsch@t-online.de> wrote:
...
> Assuming two 1" hemispheres and an equatorial ring (
Karl, Not meaning to be 'excessively' critical, BUT... You need to look at the
TOTAL volume to understand the
combat class of the ship. A 6 cm ship would be a
AT LEAST a superdreadnought (with a light carrier as a bonus).
One can always say that size does not matter, or that the 10,000 point ship is
really a scout but...
Bye for now,
> On Wed, Jan 30, 2002 at 12:21:31AM +0000, Charles Taylor wrote:
Hmmm, I'd forgotten that one - it came from the imagination (I assume)
of Barry Quin, who did the drawing. I'm sure Barry wouldn't mind if I sculpted
something similar......
BTW, my Japanese mega fleet arrived today (more shipping praise for GZG
- I
ordered them Thursday or Friday (I forget) and the arrived Wednesday in the
mail. They are as cool as their pictures seemed.
Large, threatening, and now I just need to finalize my paint scheme...
[quoted original message omitted]