The second Prussian VSF airboat

I'm in that 'creative groove' again .. this time with the second of the planned air boats for the Hordes of the Things (HotT) Prussian VSF army, an air boat in helicopter/VTO mode.

This is the completed air boat.

Here's how it began.

Again, the air boat began with one of these plastic eggs

This air boat has a 'gondola' slung beneath. It's a surplus turret for a Russian KV1 from the spares box.

The basic gondola ...

Trial assembly for the basic air boat

The completed airboat .. view from above

The 'armament' visible here, canisters attached to the sides of the gondola, and bombs sitting on top of the gondola ready to be tipped over the side - a crude bombing mechanism

The air boats of the Prussian air service/air navy so far. I have one more planned, something quite different again, but also based around the plastic egg

As I mentioned previously, this army will have three air boats. One of the many things I like about HotT is that there are no super troops.. each troop type has its +'s and -'s, and airboats are no exception. I chose these because first of all they 'felt' like something suitable for a Prussian VSF force. Secondly, while I have several armies with an airboat, I don't have any with several airboats.

For this model, my concept was clear. I'm not too happy with my 'execution of the concept though. It looks okay from a distance, but close scrutiny shows up a number of construction flaws. The gondola idea was interesting. In hindsight, my design decision to turn the turret upside down hasn't made the best use of the detail that came ready moulded onto the turret. I wanted it to look like a mix between a gondola and a basket. It may have looked better left the 'right way up'.

My lack of precision in drilling the locating hole for the clear plastic upright on which the whole air boat sits meant that the gondola doesn't quite sit square against the main body of the airship. This meant compromises with the structural 'struts'. The overall effect is fine, but ..... 

Anyway.. recruitment is in full swing, so on to the next airboat for the ever victorious Prussian army <ahem>