Squal class hyperspace courier 'Aldiss'

The Hyperspace Courier

The class is named after a homing bird native to Newer Hampshire, traditionally used to carry messages*. Basically, each ship consists of a small two-seater cockpit, an equally small cargo bay, and two enourmous engines strapped onto the biggest hyperdrive unit which could fit into such a small hull. Although it is a military vessel, it carries very little armor and no weapons, being expected to outrun any attackers. IN the event of capture, however, it possesses a multiply reduntant self-destruct mechanism, tamper proof safes, and a variety of other nasty suprises - after all, the navy doesn't want just anyone reading it's communications does it.

The Model

One great thing about being a teacher is that you get the same holidays as the kids, but of course, you get paid. I usually spend the first week of the inter-term holidays at my parents place, and although I take my model making kit, I can't take everything. So I was looking for a porject to occupy me, and I decided to make it a bit of a challenge. I came up with an idea for a ship inspired by the wedge aesthetic of IMperial warships in Star Wars, and I limited it to only the materials specifically purchased to build it, to wit: One package of Evergreen styrene sheet, One length of 3mm plastic tube and one lenght of plastruct C-Channel, a total expenditure of $7.30. And thus was the Squal class Hyperspace Courier Aldiss born.

The Hyperspace Courier is the direct result of me getting a touch annoyed with all the bending of the rules of physics which occurs in Star Trek so that the plot can move along easier. You know the kind of thing, transporters sub-space radio, no time-delay in communications. Well, I figured that there's no way to send a signal through Hyperspace, so you have to send messages on a ship. It stands to reason that Navies would operate small, fast ships to carry messages around, which is where the United Solar Kingdoms' 'Squal' class Hyperspace couriers come in.

I started the model by building the two big triangular 'wings' from plasticard. Since I could only get 0.4mm card, I added the external plating before assembly to make things a litttle more rigid. When i first assembled the wings, I had them connected, adn I was intending to build the fuselage in between them. Big mistake. I can never seem to accuratley measure or calculate with plasticard. Things always end up a touch wider or narrower than expected. IN this case, wider. It was at this point that I suddenly realised I should have built the wings seperatly, then stuck them on either side of the fuselage, so I removed the various pieces holding them togther, and did just that.
With the fuselage in place, I added the engines, and finally the flight deck. With a light dusting of plasticard panels, everything was ready for paint.

The Aldiss itself belongs to the Local Defence Flotilla of the Duchy of Avalon, hence it's colourful paint job. While USKN fleet ships tend to be painted utilitarian grey, LDF vessels are usually painted in the livery of thier home fiefdom. Forester, Lord of Avalon uses the colours Red and Green, so that setteled that. The ship was first undercoated with chaos black spray, then I painted most of it with Red Gore, dryburshed with Blood Red. Most of the panels where painted Dark Angels Green, then dry brushed with Snot Green.

*actually, I wanted to name it 'Squall' after the type of storm, but I spelled the plaque wrong.