New Year's Model: Hilda Garde III

The first model of the new year is another commission: the steam-driven Hilda Garde III from Final Fantasy 9. No photo-documenting of the construction on this one, as the servitors and Squat mechanics in the construction hangar eschew photography as a matter of principle. Also, I was halfway done before I thought of doing so. 

Like the newer Highwind produced  previously, this version of an ancient model is an improvement over the original in so many ways. 

Aw, I still love you, old Hilda Garde model. Even if you're not as accurate as the new one. Man, I was such a slacker in the old days. 


I used the same parts where possible, and different parts to improve both the look and structural integrity. Like the Highwind rebuild, this one also left me wanting to tear down and rebuild the original (not to mention keep the rebuild; oh well, I'll always have the picture). Unlike the Highwind rebuild, I was able to go out and find most of what I needed from local hobby/game stores, which allowed me to bolt her together rather rapidly. Sharp eyes will note the more design-accurate puller prop in the front, some Warmachine parts for the sexy paddle-wheel nacelles, and a more accurate fish-tail rudder. (I don't know what I had against rudders back then, since my Highwind is way off, too.) Also, this one incorporates a record number of pins, since she has to survive the rigors of the modern postal system. 


Ahhh airships. I do love building them, even though they have absolutely no game use whatsover. Now, if the Square-Enix production designers would cooperate and design some more conducive to scratchbuilding, I'd be happy. Did you see those things in FF13? They're as needlessly complex as the ones from FF12. Come on, guys, I can't make that without a bigger workshop and a blowtorch....


On a closing note, I want to thank Brent of Strictly Average for his interview on BoLS, which has driven a ton of traffic to this site over the past few days. It's a good read (consisting of me spouting off about modelling, plus lots of pretty pictures! ) so head on over and check it out. To those people perusing the blog for the first time, welcome!