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So, now GW has decided to axe the Specialist Games ranges, we should probably see what we can do about finding alternatives for Battlefleet Gothic. Now, I know there are some other space combat games out there in a similar scale, the issue is finding something that matches the aesthetic of BFG ships. Any ideas?

Here is the usual starting point:

http://www.star-ranger.com/Minis.htm

They have links to ships that are non-game-specific, and links to game specific ships. Although I've been through a lot of them, and there is little that has the Gothic aesthetic.

That being said, there are some ships to be found on shapeways if you dig around. That comes with the usual caveats about scale, and the material itself.

There is no shortage of BFG miniatures on auction and trade sites. You wont need to outsource for a while yet unless you choose to do so for other reasons.

BFG is relatively inexpensive to get into. If you buy in now you will be able to collect as many large fleets as you want and beat the deletion of the miniatures range.

There are a few places that make similar stuff, I think most people will look to the other big names like Brigade or Spartan.

If you find anything post it up on the proxy list on the SG forum: http://www.forum.specialist-arms.com/index.php?topic=5345.0

Just play Orks and build your own.

Da boys outnumber all the other races for a reason

 Orlanth wrote:
There is no shortage of BFG miniatures on auction and trade sites. You wont need to outsource for a while yet unless you choose to do so for other reasons.

BFG is relatively inexpensive to get into. If you buy in now you will be able to collect as many large fleets as you want and beat the deletion of the miniatures range.

Which trade and auction sites? I've been hunting for BFG on ebay for a while, and finding stuff in decent condition was hard enough before they went OOP.

Something I ripped from my post in another thread:

1. BFG Pre-Heresy Strike Cruiser

Probably the nicest, most detailed, most setting-appropriate out there. And probably mentioned before.

2. Clipper Fast Transport

Has the prow design we all know and love. Though no printed samples. Also, less detail than the first one. The designer also has a couple of other designs of smaller craft with the same aesthetic.

3. Gothic Battleship

This one captures the "Gothic", quite literally. Has a few other similar designs, as well as ground-based stuff too. Designer's page has a LOT of other designs. The prow, perhaps, can be acquired from some other sculptors. (There's one done by a sculptor on Resin Addict called Zeus Prows) Combined with that prow, it'd be quite good I think.



Automatically Appended Next Post:
If you know of any more, do share!

Resin addict has a nice selection including light cruisers, bits and not Cobras with the Zeus prow. That fast clipper probably has plenty of detail for the size, its nice to see those transports he has available too.

Yeah, they/he made an awesome Zeus Frigate that actually went to sale, but pulled it after a while due to feedback that it was too similar to the GW stuff. Perhaps it's time to pull em out now?

Can anybody access that Resin Addict site? I've been trying ever since I saw those prows (I want some), but the page won't load.

I haven't seen them in his store. Not sure if they are a general release or not. Makes me sad as I'd like a few as well.

Shoot him an email, last I heard he was still making them.

He probably can't advertise them, so any sales are a more one on one deal. A secret menu if you will.

Anyway, we won't need alternative miniatures for a little while now as there is plenty of stock still floating around for most ships.

And hopefully Forge World will still make some BFG stuff. I don't suppose there is a chance that GW is simply shifting some of their specialist games over to FW's department?

Forgeworld isnt making specialist games anymore either.

Why the hell didn't I know the specialist games were being gutted? How did I miss that?

I guess I'll never be able to finish the fleet I was working on unless I can find someone prepared to part with a Desolator for a price I can afford.

Yeah, as others have said before this, GW did not mention anything at all, whatsoever about cutting the SG range. :/

Good thing I found out when I did too, when one of my friends asked me why the FW GKSC were not available. I was totally busy with stuff and told myself I would purchase the items proper once I was more free later this month. So yes, it's really the lack of communication that gets me more than anything.

If you gotta pull the line, it's fine. Say something beforehand, and I'll make preparations for the eventuality.

Hey, I'm the guy that does the GrimDarkBits models. Thanks for the mention!

I figure this is as good a time and place as any to get some feedback on a model I've been working on for a pre-heresy battle barge (it's only about 2/3 complete, the entire stern is just roughed out):



It's about 4" long, so an inch and a quarter longer than the strike cruiser and much heftier. It was influenced in part by my own cruiser and partly from the existing battle barge design. Target price is around $30 for the higher detail version.

What do you guys think? I'd like to get some feedback while it's still a work in progress.

And now that the BFG community has had the rug pulled out from under it, what else would be good to have as alternative models?

Wow that looks really nice! Following your existing theme Hunters, Novas, and Gladii in this style would be really cool. Other than that everything is getting the can so any alternatives would be welcomed.

 CalgarsPimpHand wrote:
Hey, I'm the guy that does the GrimDarkBits models. Thanks for the mention!

I figure this is as good a time and place as any to get some feedback on a model I've been working on for a pre-heresy battle barge (it's only about 2/3 complete, the entire stern is just roughed out):



It's about 4" long, so an inch and a quarter longer than the strike cruiser and much heftier. It was influenced in part by my own cruiser and partly from the existing battle barge design. Target price is around $30 for the higher detail version.

What do you guys think? I'd like to get some feedback while it's still a work in progress.

And now that the BFG community has had the rug pulled out from under it, what else would be good to have as alternative models?

Man, I want like 12.

As for what else to make,for Space Marines I would make a strike cruiser that has different bits for the options in the 2010 compendium. So either forward launch bays or bombardment cannons, and either a dorsal bombardment cannon or the lance option(not that anyone ever takes the lance)

Also an escort pack that can be built as either Hunter, Gladius, or Nova escorts.


For a general recommendation, make ships that can have options swapped out to make different types of ships. Similar to the plastic cruiser kit that GW had for Imperial and Chaos cruisers.

Hmm, I would think a Light Cruiser chassis would be awesome. Or would that be too similar to your System Cutters?

No, a light cruiser would be just up my alley, and my system cutters are more destroyer scale (even a little smaller). I'm currently experimenting with some different prows for "modern" loyalist ships. Once I find one that evokes the right feel I'll start making a whole series, probably starting with cruisers and light cruisers.

I am currently looking into using Terran ships from Firestorm: Armada (Spartan games) for my planning-stages Tau fleet. They have a wide, flat profile, with large armor plates, which I think will make a good "Tau" visual against the tall, long Imperial and Ork (kitbashed from Imperial cruisers, not the real metal ones) ships I have.

I plan on using the full-on war fleet registry that was written for the Forgeworld ships, but also allows for the metal GW ones. The benefit of using F:A ships is that a fleet box consisting of a Battleship, three cruisers and six frigates is $53.99 from The Warstore.

This would give me stand-ins for what would probably be used as a Custodian battleship, Protector Cruisers, and Castellen Escorts:


I will possibly add these to it, as well:

Possible "Warden" Gunships

Awesome! For one, that's the class currently missing after the Battle Barge size; and it'd be cool seeing a Light Cruiser done in a Pre-Heresy/Current Chaos (i.e. no Armoured Prow) style.

Sorta like what the Chaos Cruisers look like but as a Light Cruiser. Also, that's exactly what's not in the current (well former...) line of BFG ships too.

 CalgarsPimpHand wrote:
Hey, I'm the guy that does the GrimDarkBits models. Thanks for the mention!

I figure this is as good a time and place as any to get some feedback on a model I've been working on for a pre-heresy battle barge (it's only about 2/3 complete, the entire stern is just roughed out):

It's about 4" long, so an inch and a quarter longer than the strike cruiser and much heftier. It was influenced in part by my own cruiser and partly from the existing battle barge design. Target price is around $30 for the higher detail version.

What do you guys think? I'd like to get some feedback while it's still a work in progress.

And now that the BFG community has had the rug pulled out from under it, what else would be good to have as alternative models?

The Metal Battlebarge is about 120mm so yours is around an inch smaller.

I think at the moment yours feels a bit rounded and not 'gothic' enough. The front section would do great for a 'like Vengeance' or 'like repulsive' if a little more angular.

As for alternatives, light cruisers as people above said, hammerhead style frigates and destroyers for 'like SM'.

Actually, scaling up your existing light cruiser and customising a bit could do a nice 'like repulsive' now that I think about it.

Maybe make the bridge section have an eagle head on it. That might make it feel more Gothic.

Orlanth wrote:There is no shortage of BFG miniatures on auction and trade sites. You wont need to outsource for a while yet unless you choose to do so for other reasons.

BFG is relatively inexpensive to get into. If you buy in now you will be able to collect as many large fleets as you want and beat the deletion of the miniatures range.

Depends on which race.
Imperial, Chaos, majority Eldar, Orks and some Tau, you're probably fine.
Space Marines and Dark Eldar are terribly hard to find.

Grey Templar wrote:

 CalgarsPimpHand wrote:
Hey, I'm the guy that does the GrimDarkBits models. Thanks for the mention!

I figure this is as good a time and place as any to get some feedback on a model I've been working on for a pre-heresy battle barge (it's only about 2/3 complete, the entire stern is just roughed out):



It's about 4" long, so an inch and a quarter longer than the strike cruiser and much heftier. It was influenced in part by my own cruiser and partly from the existing battle barge design. Target price is around $30 for the higher detail version.

What do you guys think? I'd like to get some feedback while it's still a work in progress.

And now that the BFG community has had the rug pulled out from under it, what else would be good to have as alternative models?

Man, I want like 12.

As for what else to make,for Space Marines I would make a strike cruiser that has different bits for the options in the 2010 compendium. So either forward launch bays or bombardment cannons, and either a dorsal bombardment cannon or the lance option(not that anyone ever takes the lance)

Also an escort pack that can be built as either Hunter, Gladius, or Nova escorts.


For a general recommendation, make ships that can have options swapped out to make different types of ships. Similar to the plastic cruiser kit that GW had for Imperial and Chaos cruisers.

2010 compendium? Is that Armada?
As far as I know, you can have up to 3 Battlecruisers.

As for the ship design, I would like to see the 'shields' on the rear fins that make the Battle Barges outline so iconic.

That was exaggeration of course

And the 2010 compendium is not Armada.

here's a link. https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0Bw_dULEfC3rbYzUyNjQzZTAtMDZiMS00ZjRlLWJjNzMtYTE5YmNjZjdjODQ1&sort=name&layout=list&num=50

@Calgarspimphand

I'd recommend more Ork ships of all sizes. But that's just me

@calgarspimphand
One of the things that I love about the strike cruiser model is the sharp prow. Maybe that is a way you could lengthen the battle barge. Also, good work. Thanks for making stuff BFG players want to use!

I have a fleet of BSG miniatures that I use as a Chaos fleet and The Cylons will probably be Tau or something similar.

Throw me a pm if you are interested in the miniatures as I have the emails for the people that sell them