Hello all!
I am putting together some ideas for a Venerable Battle Barge model I'd like to lead the Blood Angel element of my Imperial ships. I would like this to be a heresy era style ship but with design links (or perhaps suggestions of lineage) to the current Battle Barge model, therefore also making it distinct from other Imperial/Chaos capitol ships. 'Barges' are specifically refered to in the HH literature, so I'd like to reflect that distinction.
My thoughts are a Despoiler prow, as this seems to be the closest design-wise (or most plausibly design related) to the modern battle barge prow with a slightly up-armoured Retribution hull, with the addition of armoured 'side plates' to show iconography.
Weapons fit to match the Despoiler profile so it can be used as this in game, as I seem to remember the Despoiler is closest to a battle barge in its role? The more modern (for the time) weapons with the older hull/prow seems to fit the marine feel too.
Quick mock up below; I'd like to include a plan view too, but I don't have the base images sadly.
Any thoughts, criticisms or feedback at this early stage? Is the Despoiler prow a poor fir on a Retribution hull?
My intention is to build this first and then develop a hybrid chaos/imperial crusier to represent similarly designed pre/heresy-era marine strike cruisers, with Imperial engines/hull, Chaos prow etc. Having just looked, Deadly Kafeine's Fast Combat Cruiser is very close to what I had in mind!
I was think Covenant of Blood from ADB's Night Lords books if people are familiar?