I want to model a Dark Angels Strike Cruiser for my Epic Armageddon army, but deivate from the standard GW model.  The overall theme of my army is a M36 strike force, so they use a lot of the older pattern armours and vehicles.  Using the current model unconverted and off-the-shelf would stick out like a sire thumb.

Since I'm not too au fait with the current BFG model range anyone point to any of the old Space Fleet models, or alternatibe manufacturers' models that'd represent a Strike Cruiser well?  Before the BFG Strike Cruiser model came along, was there any artwork showing the older Marine vessels?

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hmm, I can almost say no to all questions.

But the Strike Cruiser is build after the heresy and I imagine it already being available to the Space Marines in m36.

If you really like another model why not this one:

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/gkscruiser.htm

my Novamarines vessel:
http://www.epic40k.co.uk/lib/comp/gothi ... omp20.html

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The background states that the Chaos ships are older Imperial designs, and that during the early history of the Marine fleets they essentially used whichever designs were available, modifying them and improving them as they saw fit. This is certainly supported by the pre-heresy artwork, which pictures Marine fleet assets looking much like standard Imperial fleet designs with their armoured prows(see here, here and here for examples) or more rarely resembling Chaos designs (see here and here) and certainly nothing like the current Marine vessels. Of course, M36 is not M31, but certainly some of the older vessels are likely to have still been in use.

One idea could be to simply use a slightly de-chaosified Chaos Cruiser model, painted as a Dark Angels vessel. Another idea might be to convert a hybrid design such as the Vengeance class grand cruiser (which is part of a selection of designs available to both Chaos and Imperial fleets, representing much older Imperial designs) or simply use the Vengeance model itself (although it isn'n the best looking ship to be fair.)

But certainly combining Chaos prows (or sterns - this example this ship seems to have a Chaos style rear with Imperial style hull and prow) or other details with Imperial hulls, or vice-versa, could produce a more archaic looking ship design that would look good.

blackhorizon - that's perfect.  And half the price of the Games Workshop one.  It's sleek and clean so it'll fit alongside the older generation of less-detailed Epic models.  And half the price to boot.  Cheers!

Red Sorcerer - thanks for the history lesson.  Which Imperial hull do you think the current Strike Cruiser mose closely resembles?  If it's one of the ships that was also present in Space Fleet it'd be cool to retrofit one of those.

I was thinking that the prow from the Master of the Ravenwing's jetbike (I've got one spare) would look great on the end of a Chaos hull to make a Dark Angels Battlebarge.

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I've bodged something together from imperial and chaos kits to represent a heresy era heavy strike cruiser

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I have a couple of half-finished Marine Strike Cruisers lying around somewhere. I used the Shogun Dreadnought from Ground Zeros Full Thrust set:

http://www.gtns.co.uk/store1....52.7319

I think that it looks the part, and the size is good (if I remember correctly!).

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Thanks guys.  That's a nice conversion Warmaster Nice, I like the muted tones.  Suggestive of the Deathguard's unornamented approach to their vessels.  But is it not more a Battle Barge size?  And during the Heresy weren't Marines transported as just another part of the Imperial Fleet rather than their own vessels?



They look quite cool, is the stand the same size as the old GW hex flying base?

Here's a fluff questions.  I was digging through my old White Dwarfs last night, and came across the Galaxy Troop Ship.



These were used to transport Imperial Guard regiments, but no mentions of Marines.  Think they'd be suitable, or were they not enough of a battleship in their own right to act like a Strike Cruiser?

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Stand same, BFG base is round though.

The Galaxy troop ship is from the bfg predecessor Spacefleet.

During the heresy Marines flew in IN (IA back then) ships (the Chaos vessels nowadays for most part).

For m36 I'd still use normal strike cruisers or the forgeworld ones.

Keep in mind as a DA player you should have a lot of Hunter escorts fluffwise.

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IN - Imperial Navy?
IA -

Has the Space Fleet background not compatible with the newer stuff?  Or can you get away just by saying the ships were built from the same template by different shipyards?

I'm doing an Epic army, not a BFG fleet so I'll never have any escorts.  Why do Dark Angels use lots of Hunters?  I've not got Armada or any of the newer BFG stuff  - is there any background on the Dark Angels fleet I can bone up on?

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IA = Imperial Army

At the GW site you can d/l Armada.

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws....4300022

pdf called: Imperial fleets

In the entry of the Hunter it is said that Dark Angels are their most prominent users.

But since you are not looking for a BFG fleet that is a non-issue.

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Sorry. I looked at the wrong name. I meant the Musashi:



This model is the right size. The one that I originally said is larger. The base foot is slightly smaller than a GW base, but as noted it is hexagonal instead of round. The GZG ships do fit on GW bases..... in some cases better than the GW ships do!

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Red Sorcerer - thanks for the history lesson.  Which Imperial hull do you think the current Strike Cruiser mose closely resembles?  If it's one of the ships that was also present in Space Fleet it'd be cool to retrofit one of those.

Thanks

The ship is the same size as a plastic cruiser. I haven't actually seen a strike cruiser or battle barge in the flesh so I can't comment on the relative size. I figure it is probably a bit larger than a strike cruiser hence why I called it a heavy SC.

True that Marines were supposed to be transported by regular IN ships during the heresy but I figured there'd surely be some interim ships linkng the Marine and IN designs

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Oh, regarding the FW strike cruiser: it is small. More a scout / rapid response vessel then a real strike cruiser.

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i would just take a standard imperial (or chaos) plastic cruiser and shorten it by one weapon platform to make your strike cruiser
and lengthen it (easier with imperial) to make it your barge.