The GZG Digest V2 #897

> Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2002 20:31:56 +0100

That was what I was thinking of. Combined with the way the novel Space Viking
describes the big ships.

> Are spheres really that difficult ? How about two

There are two problems unless casting technologies have changed since I was in
the business.

1 Thickness of the moulds. The blanks for the spin moulds I was using meant
that one dimension of the casting was limited to about an inch.

A three piece model, ring bulge and two domes that fit into it should be
possible but heading towards excessive levels of fiddly to assemble at more
than about two inches in diameter.

2 When you vulcanise the old the casting looses a certain a percentage of
relief in the same dimension. Human figures one does things like angle them
differently to minimise the observable effect. Look at the early Soriasta
figures from GW for an example of this effect when they didn't know how their
new metal worked. This can be dealt with by over emphasising the relief in
that dimension. Its a bit more noticeable on something that should be a
sphere, though creative deformation of the master would cope with that.

The Question is thus would we be satisfied with a fleet work who's largest
ship model is the size and rough shape of a mandarin orange or would we keep
pestering Jon for larger ships. A conversion kits for a plastic children's
tennis ball and toilet ballcocks might satisfy such requests.