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Post by macrossmartin on Oct 20, 2016 0:44:52 GMT -7
Hello all, long-time lurker Martin here, with an announcement that may be of interest... COMING SOON FROM STUDIO BERGSTROM!It is with real delight that I can now reveal that my line of Star Trek inspired miniatures will soon be available from Studio Bergstrom in the USA. This line will primarily consist of re-imagined versions of classic FASA ship designs, such as the D-18, D-10 and Loknar classes you see here.  Some of you may have seen my threads over on theminiaturespage in which I journal my experiments with digital sculpting. Well, 'Drew at Studio Bergstrom liked what he saw, and we've worked out a deal to unleash these beauties on the galaxy. Our plan is to release these in BOTH 1/3125 (Starline 2500) and 1/3788 (Starline 2400 / FASA) scales. There will also be unique designs of my own devising, such as the hulking Ark Royal class SCS (below), and nimble Arrow class Reaction Ship.  The range will be supported by the first volume (!) of my Star Trek wargaming rules Klingons on the Starboard Bow! which will be available as both a PDF download and a deluxe Hard-bound full-colour rulebook in mid 2017.  If you would like to be involved in the creation of Klingons on the Starboard Bow! (KotSB!), I am eager to hear from artists, fanfic writers, miniature painters and (most importantly) playtesters. BUT—! There is a condition: There's NO money involved in this. Not one red cent. In order to keep Paramount / CBS happy about my playing in their sandpit, I cannot make a penny from KotSB!, and neither can you. So, this call goes out to everyone who shares my two loves of gaming in the Star Trek universe, and miniature starships. If you're interested in being a part of KotSB!'s journey, replies in posts below please, or email me at: martin.kotsb AT gmail DOT com studiobergstrom.com/ |
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Post by 'Drew on Oct 20, 2016 2:59:20 GMT -7
I'm just as excited to work on these fantastic models in order to bring them into eager gaming hands!
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Post by _rabid on Oct 20, 2016 13:23:33 GMT -7
Very cool! I've always wanted to see better versions of these ships. IE the impulse/shuttle design on the riskadh. Do you have a preliminary catalogue and are you open to considering new designs based on consumer demand?
They look amazing, I know I would be in the market for some.
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Post by macrossmartin on Oct 20, 2016 16:57:01 GMT -7
_rabid - No catalogue as yet, but I think we'll have a substantial list of planned releases in the very near future, so watch this space.
I'm happy to hear from gamers about what they'd like to see next - after all, there's no point doing miniatures of ships no-one likes! Personally, from the FASA designs I'd like to do the Klingon L9 frigate next. What would you like to see?
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Post by JAFisher44 on Oct 20, 2016 17:12:23 GMT -7
Is a copy of KotSB available for us to look at right now?
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Post by macrossmartin on Oct 21, 2016 5:13:34 GMT -7
JaFisher - Unfortunately not. The rules still need a fair amount of hammering before they are in a presentable shape.
I can tell you that KotSB! borrows heavily from Matt Sprange's mechanics for his A Call to Arms series of rules, but with a LOT of changes. This version of KotSb! (there's been two others in the past,) was originally a set of 'house rules' to modify Star Fleet ACTA to a more 'canon' model. But, it grew, like a giant space amoeba, to encompass a far broader goal of gaming the entire Star Trek timeline. (Help!)
There is an emphasis on fleet-level engagement, with mechanics to encourage squadron-level tactics, rather than those of ship-verses-ship duels. The sharp eyed will spot influences from Full Thrust, Firestorm Armada, and, of course, the FASA game (which is where I started, back in 1987!)
What you won't see are any of the concepts or applications of weapons from Starfleet Battles. There will be rules for using miniatures from SFB, because I don't want to exclude collectors of the Starline 2400 / 2500 ranges. However, Klingons in KotSB! don't have phasers, the Federation have no plasma weapons, and photon torpedoes behave like torpedoes!
But the rules will be only one part of each of the volumes I hope to release. Each will include full-colour renderings of ships, campaign maps, profiles of personalities, a hobby section, and complete fleet lists.
The background and 'histories' for Starfleet, the Klingon forces, and the campaigns will strive to remain true to canon 'Trek, although the FASA history will undoubtedly show up too. I can't leave out the Four Years War, can I??
As you can no doubt tell, this will be an epic undertaking, but I plan to take it carefully, and not rush things. This is entirely a profit-less exercise in unashamed vanity publishing, but I hope what I create will be something that other Trek starship enthusiasts will delight in also.
- Martin
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Post by thescreamingswede on Oct 22, 2016 9:46:13 GMT -7
I am impressed with a lot of the designs on the minis page and am looking forward to seeing the FASA minis as well. As for input/playtesting, I would be happy to bring any experience I can to the project that you may need.
Rheal.
a.k.a. theSwede
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Post by rabid on Oct 22, 2016 16:41:53 GMT -7
Thanks Macross! There a lot of different designs I'd love to see. For me it's a toss up between the K-22 and the Fat Bastard. www.ststcsolda.space/klingons/L-13/L-13.htmlIf it's the federation I want to see a brenton, romulans...hard to say but a V-29 would rule. That said I'm not making recommendations at all or nitpicking. I love the D-10 you made, can't wait to see the final product. |
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Post by macrossmartin on Oct 23, 2016 5:49:53 GMT -7
Rabid - 'Fat Bastard'? Do you mean...  ... like this...?  Stay tuned! |
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Post by jeffwright on Oct 23, 2016 13:31:15 GMT -7
The turret!
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Post by rarcher on Oct 23, 2016 16:51:47 GMT -7
Fat Bastard? LOL you mean fat man right? Otherwise I picture a klingon obsese warrior ripping up a big leg haunch going "..Get in my belly!" or "I want my baby back ribs!"
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Post by JAFisher44 on Oct 24, 2016 6:18:30 GMT -7
JaFisher - Unfortunately not. The rules still need a fair amount of hammering before they are in a presentable shape. Well, you should consider doing that. In order for us to do any playtesting or offer any constructive criticism of any sort we will need to see the rules! My first suggestion is that you should change the name to "We Come In Peace, Shoot To Kill!" (WCiP:StK) |
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Post by macrossmartin on Oct 24, 2016 17:11:54 GMT -7
JAFisher - I might use that as the name of the first supplement.  As for the hammering - trust me, I'm belting away! Keep in mind that I am not planning to release the rules until mid-2017. (And that's not a definite deadline.) I don't want to throw the rules equivalent of a lump of freshly-hacked lumber at playtesters; that's no way to turn it into a Louis XIV chair. So, a bit more cutting, shaping and hammering is needed, at least to the point where one can sit on it without getting splinters.  Stay tuned! |
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Post by kaisernathan1701 on Oct 24, 2016 18:43:15 GMT -7
Would definitely add these minis to my collection if ever made |
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Post by rabid on Oct 26, 2016 8:49:09 GMT -7
Fat Bastard? LOL you mean fat man right? Otherwise I picture a klingon obsese warrior ripping up a big leg haunch going "..Get in my belly!" or "I want my baby back ribs!"
Kind of making an in-joke there lol. The L-13 may want to eat babies but it's just not strong enough to take them down. 
macrossmartin
I'm impressed, that's the most unique interpretation of that ship I've seen so far. How do you take such a big slab of hull and actually make it look less brick like and more "Ship" like? Must have taken some thought.
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Post by macrossmartin on Oct 26, 2016 19:26:48 GMT -7
Without wanting to compare myself to Michelangelo, rabid, one starts with a block, and simply carves away everything that doesn't look like an L-13... Less in jest though, its not so difficult if you follow the design cues that Matt Jeffries used on the D7; the use of simple, sweeping curves to reduce the mass of a form is a hallmark of his creations, and its that simplicity and elegance that I turn to when looking for a design solution when drawing 'Trek spacecraft. I may have some more shots of the L-13 to share early next week; I've added some more detail, and she's starting to come together quite nicely! When I look at the L-13, I like to imagine an unfilmed episode of the Original Series in which Kirk and Enterprise are confronted by this hulking monster of a ship, with a very smug Koloth smirking from the centre chair; "Greetings, my dear Captain Kirk! As you can no doubt observe - mine's bigger than yours!" - Martin |
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Post by rabid on Oct 28, 2016 22:13:42 GMT -7
yes and boner-inspiring is it may be, it's a total marshmallow.
You know that WOULD make a good TOS episode, like the total opposite of DS9's "Valiant". Kirk wouldn't need a corbomite maneuver, he'd only need a strong breeze and a spit wad. lol.
That said, MAcross, I still love the ship design but if I use it in game it sure as hell won't be the MK I!
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Post by macrossmartin on Oct 29, 2016 0:21:44 GMT -7
Rabid - I hear you! I certainly want one in my collection, but writing stats that make it a reasonable investment, both dollar and points-wise, is going to be a challenge. It is interesting though... the L-13 is notorious for being a wrong direction for Klingon heavy ship design, and yet, so many of us seem to love the big, fat lug. I have been contemplating an 'L-14' Battleship - essentially, an L-13 that send off a coupon for Charles Atlas's bodybuilding guide, and cut down on the burgers and fries. I'll let people see my ideas, but first, I'll get this big beastie finished. Back to the shipyard! - Martin |
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Post by rabid on Oct 29, 2016 5:18:38 GMT -7
lol. After all the mean excelsiors kick sand in his face and walk off with his GF.
Also I just notices---you changed the orientation of the nacelles a bit on the D-18? |
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Post by macrossmartin on Oct 29, 2016 6:43:45 GMT -7
Rabid - I certainly did. They are much further forward than on the FASA original. I'm trying to re-imagine the designs according to 'Roddenberry's rules' - a set of guidelines he insisted on during the making of TMP, and carried over into the early days of TNG. You've probably heard of them, but for the education of all, the rules were, essentially, that warp nacelles must be able to 'see' each other, with no intervening structure between them. Also, nacelles come in pairs, never singly or in threes, and bridges go on top of ships. (The last rule was to ensure the audience always have a sense of the size of a ship; no 'Treknological' reason.) The rationale for the nacelle placement was that the warp field is generated by the interaction of the nacelles. The D18 breaks the first rule (nacelles can't 'see' through the main hull) on the FASA original, so I moved them right forward. The rooms at the leading edge of the main hull might still get a bit toasty from the warp field though... I enjoy working within a self-imposed design envelope, rather than just saying 'anything goes'; it is far more challenging, and it causes a range of designs to appear as though they have a unifying technology about them. It looks more like some 23rd century shipwright had to put in late nights working on the warp dynamics and structural field densities to make his ships fly. On the subject of the D18, here's a sneak peek at the D18 with an 'advanced' command pod, which will also be available when you buy the Studio Bergstrom miniature:  - you can also see the nacelle placement more clearly. Cheers! - Martin |
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Post by kaisernathan1701 on Oct 29, 2016 17:38:58 GMT -7
Sweet |
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Post by rarcher on Oct 29, 2016 20:18:25 GMT -7
For the d-18 what if instead of jutting them forward you just flipped them up a bit so they would be above the hull? That way its closer to the original design idea?
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Post by JAFisher44 on Oct 29, 2016 22:06:53 GMT -7
warp nacelles must be able to 'see' each other, with no intervening structure between them. Acutally the Roddenberry rules only require warp nacelles to have 50% LOS with each other. Those rules also require that the warp nacelles to be fully visible from the front. Your Fat Man seems to violate that one... I tend not to worry about those rules so much. I'll abide by them if I can, but I won't let them get in the way of a good looking design. |
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Post by macrossmartin on Oct 30, 2016 3:35:28 GMT -7
rarcher - I tried that, but the result looked like it was startled! Kind of like the wings on Asterix's helmet when he's surprised.
I am of the opinion that nacelles on Klingon designs should always slope down, (looking along fore/aft axis) wherever possible. That's just a question of design cues though; its one of those things that helps a ship pass the 'squint test' - if you squint at a Klingon ship 'til its barely visible, does it still look Klingon?
To help distinguish between Federation and Klingon ships, I prefer Klingon nacelles down, Fed nacelles up. Not a hard-and-fast rule, but one that adds to the visual identity of the two 'brands'.
JAFisher - I quite forgot about the 'visible from the front' rule... hmm... I may do some thinking on that...
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Post by JAFisher44 on Oct 30, 2016 11:46:36 GMT -7
The nacelle visible from the front rule is because of the bussard collectors. I imagine that in instances where the nacelle is not visible from the front it would be possible for a collector to be mounted somewhere other than the nacelle.
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