The ships that make the heartbeat

feed the masses

carry the wealth

STANDARD TRANSPORT

                                           These are just a few of the standard transports  used to move the necessities of empire from system to system often in huge convoys for protection against pirates and raiders. They come in all shapes and sizes and in various types for the loads they are designed to carry. 

                                                                   NB these are all completely scratchbuilt  from styrene

medium bulk carrier

                                           The medium carriers are the smallest of the military class transports built specifically for the navy 

NB these are modified SD3000 models

details can be found at    

Large bulk carrier

                                           The Large carriers are military designs expected to enter and survive front line situations to resupply the fleets. They have improved shielding and turrets and despite their slow speeds can be used in the FBA. 

NBthese are modified SD3000 models

details can be found at    

Nutrient bulk haul supply ship

                                           These somewhat unusual vessels are designed exclusively for the supply of nutrients to the gigantic orbital based hydroponic plants used in low atmosphere high risk infertile planetary systems.

NB these are modified SD3000 models

details can be found at    

THE GOLIATH REVISITED

                              in co-operation with Dan Hussey

The Goliaths are transport ships of incredible size, their vast holds are able to carry more cargo than an entire Merchant fleet. When they were built is a mystery, as is the method of their construction, the monstrous size of the Goliaths render modern ship building techniques useless. At over three times the length of a Retribution Class Battleship, the Goliath Transports are easily the largest spacecraft in the Imperium and quite probably the largest ships in existence. It is thought the Goliaths were originally built as colony ships, with their vast holds able to transport enough equipment and workers to fully colonise a planet in a single voyage. Almost all of the Goliaths were destroyed in the Horus Heresay, the two that remain are owned by the powerful Ardent Merchant House. If more exist is at present unknown, with the unpredictable nature of the warp you can never be too sure. There have been sightings of a massive craft near the Eye of Terror, but if this is a lost Goliath or some foul mimic construction of Chaos is not known. Ardent's Goliaths are normally on hire to the the Imperial Guard, the ability to transport an entire army complete with Titan Legions is a considerable benefit. Goliaths are not unarmed, however for it's size their weapon systems are not very powerful and it's launch bays only hold fighters. For this reason Goliaths always have a considerable escort of Imperial Navy cruisers.

FLEET REPLENISHMENT VESSEL

The "Honey Pot" class Fleet replenishment vessel

                                         Because the war in Golgotha was fought by fleets that were basically irreplaceable for the duration of the war, the commanders tended to conserve them by avoiding major or close actions. The net result of this was that immense quantities of long range missiles were expended during battles and vessels often ran out of ordnance. Many attempts were made to convert ships to replenishment vessels but perhaps the most successful was a Noah Ben Shalek design that combined warship speed with survivability and the ability to resupply at long range. . The "honey pots " were very popular in the fleet!

                                                                   This ship came from the idea that got kicked around for a day or so on the BFG list some time back . I have designed it to be used to reload torpedoes to ships that have "run out" i.e. rolled a double. The ship is built using two transport hulls mounted on their sides . Two sword engine sections formed up catamaran style. A plastic card spine and the addition of a sword prow. not difficult just fiddly!! I also produced some cargo pot counters to go with it..

FLEET REFUELER

"Caged Hell Class"

                             The rim is a backward region with few major space fairing installations. The great magma sccop stations to be found around the gas giants in the core are sadly lacking in Golgotha. Although most vessels are capable of plasma generation, the distances and time scale of the Golgotha campaign means that refuelling facilities were at a premium.  Plasma generation tankers became extremely popular during this campaign and few fleets took to the warp ways without a plasma generator in tow. The sector originally bought these vessels from the core forgeworld but they were expensive and shipping costs to the rim were prohibitive. The decision was made to use components from standard transports available locally and build the generators themselves.  The result was the "Caged Hell" class refueller / plasma generator. These great 4 km long vessels rolled through the heaven filled with a maelstrom of plasma. The destruction of one of these vessels was cataclysmic. They were always therefore well defended.

The model.

          I like the forgeworld models but they are pricey. My other efforts meant I have a few transport prows and engines and the bits box is overflowing. The model consists of the transport prow. Behind this is the forward tank which is a length of 1/2" OD plastic tube. I capped each end with 3 mm plastic card. This is trimmed to fit and the flat faces curved. the bridge is 3mm card with a sword bridge mounted on top. The connecting piece is the central portion of a sword hull. The rear tank is constructed as above and the engines are the engine section of a standard transport. It was not an easy model to make, all the sections had to be drilled and pinned together.. I rate it as one of my better efforts..   All I need now is reason to use it.. heheheheheh

SCAVENGER PLASMA HARVESTER

                          Azurin Plasma is a core component of the fuel consumed in imperial vessels. It is harvested from the surface explosion of super gas giants. The work is dangerous and repetetive but extremely lucrative. It is carried out by heavily strengthened tankers that drift on the outer envelope and collect the plasma from the surface eruptions

Full details can be found at