Wednesday, January 5, 2011

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!





6 comments:

Porky said...

Very pretty - but no surprise there!

It's a cool mix of ideas and reminds me of the Hummingbird Fluttership at Cyberlab:

http://studiocyberlab.blogspot.com/2010/12/hummingbird-fluttership-part-3.html

And I like this blog even more now that you mentioned the Squats!

Mark said...

Thanks! I just started clicking around that blog you linked; that guy has some nice conversions!

The Artificer said...

Very nice :)

Brent said...

Thank you for a great article!

I've been a fan since I discovered your work. You're a unique voice and I appreciate that.

Take care - Brent

Loquacious said...

Again, I love that bronze/copper color on the front end. Beautiful.

Mark said...

@ Loq: Glad you like it! I built it up by mixing Tin Bitz, Dwarf Bronze, and Shining Gold on a palette in varying amounts, before finally adding in some Mythril Silver for the highlight. If I had some Brazen Brass it would've been a bit more coppery, but oh well.

@ Brent: thanks again.

@ Asphyxia: Cheers, and thanks for spreading the 40k Fuchikoma design across the pond ;)