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So I'm doing a Steampunk themed Ork army, and I've got a ton of AoBR Deffkoptas that I'm konvertin' to Deff Zeppelinz. I can put together the frame of the envelope easily enough, and attach it to the chassis, but I'm kinda stuck on how to actually cover the darn thing. I was thinking a tissue/PVA mache, or heat-shrink tubing, or maybe even cutting bits of thin plasticard into angular shapes to fit between the ribs.

What do you guyz think?

I'm personally leaning towards the PVA mache technique, but I have no experience in it- never even did Paper mache in grade school.

I like the idea that an ork wouldn't use silly fragile fabric but would use big heavy metal plates to build an airship envelope. I vote plasticard metal construction. remember Mythbuster have already proved that a Lead baloon can fly!

Good idea. I was leaning away from that, mostly because I don't have that much plasticard experience, but I think I'll try it, at least once.

Even if I use the fabrik, I'll still be armouring them up- big jaws and stuff on the front, and the like.

Take a trick from flying model plane builders.

http://www.coverite.com/index.html

Something like coverite will certainly give a nce fabric look, but i worry that it may not be durable enough for game play. Making zeppelin-shaped anti-grav units from plasticard and techy bits might be more practical.

Just remember that for orks it doesn't need to be logical or follow the laws of basic physics, all that matters is that they believe it will work; and it will work.

I think doped Coverite is on the boundary where the distinction between a practical model and a toy is very blurred.

In my experience, balsa model planes covered with doped tissue are robust enough to be useable and flyable provided they are handled with appropriate care.

In the case of a Deff Zepp covered in fabric or tissue, I would expect people to move it by the base rather than pick it up by the gasbag, and it would be fine.

To some extent this is an aesthetic choice, and to some extent it is a matter of who you play with. Being a veteran gamer, I would prefer my models to look nice, and can accept a bit of compromise on the robustness in order to achieve that. However, I don't tend to play with youngsters who by the nature of their age are still in "playing with toys" frame of mind.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Clang's idea of an anti-grav platform is a nice one in itself, however it avoids the problem of the gasbag rather than solving it

The OP seems to want a genuine Zeppelin looking model.

Actually, Killkrazy, your last post got me thinking. Could I use actual fabric scraps and sew an envelope on? The paint afterwards would stiffen it up, and seal a lot of the cracks between the threads...

You can buy fabric medium at craft stores that improves flexibility and adhesion of standard acrylic craft paint, if you choose to go the fabric route. Artist's acrylics tend to have a thick enough body to work on their own, but I've never tried using hobby paints on fabrics.

Honestly, though, I think a cloth cover is more effort than it's worth. With a bit of paint, paper mache will look pretty good, I'd wager. You can use glue-soaked gauze as your final layer, if you want to add a cloth texture that can be picked out by drybrushing, but be aware that the loose weave will likely look out of scale for cloth - could make a decent approximation of rope webbing to hold the air bladder in place, though (think old school hot air balloons), if you find a really loose weave.

I seem to recall seeing a big Ork airship some time ago that used paper mache over a modified soda bottle to form the air bladder. Looked pretty good, if memory serves. I'd vote for the paper mache route. It's up to you how crazy you want to go with the underlying structure.

Full sized 2 litre bottles are too big, though. I'm just doing little 3-4 inch long envelopes above my Zeps. And I'm making the underlying skeleton with wire and milk-jug lids, so really, I just need something to go on top of it.

I might actually try out that Coverite stuff- they have a fabric type material, that's scale.

If you want a proper looking balloon and have a space frame for the zeplin/balloon why not try stretching a pair of tights over it, pull it tight and stitch/superglue the end to seal it in place then add a hardener to the surface like superglue or PVA.

I vote angled plasticard bitz preferably ones that look like teef

Hmm... Tights, like nylon hos? Might have to see if I can find any for cheap. Maybe go to a shoe store, get some of those 'sock' things they have?

Yup normal run of the mill pull up tights, a low denyer (not to thick) sort might be best, if you buy the full tights then you have plenty to spare, a few cable ties and you can repeat the process as many times as you like, although a small size is probably best you don't want to much material as baggy tights never look good on anything.

Baggy tights aren't even tights anymore. They're Baggys.

Anvildude wrote:Actually, Killkrazy, your last post got me thinking. Could I use actual fabric scraps and sew an envelope on? The paint afterwards would stiffen it up, and seal a lot of the cracks between the threads...

Probably. It could be a bit tricky to sew it neatly -- OTOH that would look more Orky.

The advantage of the Coverite is that it heat seals onto the frame very easily.

If you use real fabric I would paint it with nitrate dope to stiffen it. That is what is used for real fabric biplane wings.

Maybe I could mix up some Aluminum Oxide and Iron filings, use that? Just like Da Hindenburg!

I would be careful with thIs, but my father one time made some really awesome blankets by covering them in glue (completely) and putting them in front of a fan. It will mold to whatever shape you want, and it comes out real nice, although a bit fragile. He used white glue I believe, so maybe try that out before you actually put it on your zeppelin.