"Today Is A Good Day To Die…"

"...For the enemy crew!"

These two Terran Light Cruisers were created using some "Bambu Lab" Matt White PLA (Polylactic Acid) on an A1 Mini 3D Printer, and are available as an STL (Standard Triangle Language) file by "Fat Dragon Games" as part of their "Battlefront Valkyrie" Starter Set. The two starships are exactly the same file. But one was printed using a 0.4mm nozzle, and the other a 0.2mm Hotend, in order to show the difference in striation lines on the finished model.

The space vessel is specifically "optimized for printing on FDM printers and print without supports", and was actually one of the main motivators for me to purchase an A1 Mini. In fact, I have previously tried to print these miniatures on my "Elegoo" Mars 5 resin printer using Water Washable Resin, and whilst the Terran craft came out alright, several broke apart as I fought with a wallpaper scraper to remove them from my build plate [n.b. It was probably a big mistake to print them flat onto the plate without supports].

"Immerse yourself in the universe of massive space combat without breaking the bank!"

Clearly inspired by Gene Roddenberry's science fiction media franchise, both Light Cruisers were primed using a couple of coats of "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey, shaded in copious amounts of "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey. This process really helped draw the eye to the layer lines in the filament created by the larger (much less precise) 0.4mm nozzle, and whilst I don't think it looks too out of place on the starship's saucer section. The marks definitely cause a lot of detail to be lost when it comes to the rectangular panels on the sides of the vessel's hull.

As a result I decided to simply use the less agreeable-looking Terran spaceship as a test piece for my (not) Ferederation fleet's colour scheme, and 'picked out' its warp nacelles, some top section and its bridge with a little "Citadel" Abaddon Black. The aft warp coils were then treated to a combination of "Scale 75" White Alchemy and "Citadel" Talassar Blue, whilst the forward ones were given a lick of "Scale 75" White Alchemy and "Citadel" Flesh Tearers Red. I didn't however like the look of the red though, so eventually repainted these areas using the aforementioned "Scale 75" White Alchemy and "Citadel" Talassar Blue instead.

"Austria suffered significant defeats at battles like Marengo, Ulm, and Austerlitz, leading to territorial concessions."

I next applied a smidgeon of "Two Thin Coats" White Star to the bridge nodule, and later dabbed it with a spot of "Vallejo" Pale Grey. Finally, I gave the two rectangular top sections a coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and a splosh of "Carroburg Crimson". This palette certainly made the vessel stand out somewhat. But having looked at "Fat Dragon Games" 'official' colour schemes for the range, it was clear that anything red was being used for the (opposing) Kurgun spacecraft, so I dropped it (and the white bridge) for the more refined Terran Light Cruiser.

With such straightforward paint-jobs completed, I have also managed to finish a fourth 28mm scale metal Napoleonic Austrian by “Wargames Foundry". Found inside blister AN038 Jaegers 1805-15 Running, the marksman was sculpted by Michael and Alan Perry, and was predominantly pigmented using "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey, "Citadel" Abaddon Black, "Two Thin Coats" Wyvern Green and "Citadel" Nuln Oil...