Aeronef: An alternative source of Dirigibles

I must start off by declaring that this idea and the resulting post is a complete and utter piece of plagiarism, in that it is stolen wholesale from the recently formed Arbuthnot's Aeronautical League of Gentlemen Blog, that was launched in the wake of the truly stunning Aeronef game put on at Salute 2011.

I am sure most of you have seen the photos referenced on YIAWWS and over at TMP, with some truly mouth-watering Aeronef modelwork and construction, with hyper-detailing and superlative paint jobs by the team involved.

http://arbuthnotsleague.blogspot.com/

The Blog features some more great photos, and explains the process behind the detailing as well as describing the building of the US and Japanese fleets, including the scratch-built Carrier, the USS Langley. Personally, I can't wait to see more from these guys, but in the short term, something caught my eye that I have thought would bear repeating - namely the intriguing use of a certain brand of highlighter pens to form the dirigible component of the Carrier.

These were made from WH Smith brand Illumo markers available in the UK, and look amazing in situ, forming the core around which the stunning model was built, so it wasn't long before my hankering developed into a headlong rush down to the High Street.

I came across the packet of 5 markers for £1.99 in my local branch - at 0.40p a pop, not a bad price for some ready-made Aeronef hulls!

The markers measure in at a smidgeon shy of 60mm in length nose to tail, and are 23mm at the waist, with lovely tapered contours and a couple of conformal holes in the cap that are rather reminiscent of torpedo tube openings.

I'm obviously not too fussed as to their performance as pens, but they certainly got the old grey matter whirring when it came to their scratch building potential.

Here's an example beside one of those Revell Minikit Hindenburg models:

Then against one of Brigade's Assari Shevket Dig Destroyers from the Ottoman Air Fleet; probably its closest contender in terms of shape from amongst the commercially available models:

Next beside the larger Muin-i-Zaffer Cruiser:

So these are certainly no lightweights, and would obviously be the base for some pretty big craft, probably why the Arbuthnot boys used them for their Carrier.

With this in mind, I dug out a couple of Sci-Fi flat top pieces that I obtained amongst a job lot on a certain online auction site, and haven't yet found a use for, and ended up throwing them on top:

I think with some suitable VSF-themed additions, and of course a small complement of fighters, these would look pretty spiffing; see the other version below:

I'm not really in a position as yet to make much of these, as my Aeronef Fleets, in the most part obtained via the enormous Lead Mountain transfer that took place with David Crook of 'AWargamingOddysey' fame, are still on the back burner, but I'd thought I'd flag up the possibilities, and encourage any who might be interested in the further adventures of the Arbuthnot chaps to support their fledgling blog, I am sure there is some great stuff to come from them in the near future....