USAS Edison

[proditor]

Snag Number two...

My airbrushing wasn't working out so well.  I think I don't have the knack of thinning the paint yet.  So I ordered some pre-thinned Vallejo, and the crewmen I wanted for this sucker.  Due to a massive screw-up on my part, I forgot to check the mailing address, and they went to my old apartment, then back to Squadron.  D'oh!!! 

They're going to reship, but it now means that time is at an absolute premium, as I was hoping to already have the paints and be messing around with them.  Ah well.

This is the paint scheme I'm going for btw, the USS Maine is a good example: http://www.twc-transcribing.com/USSMaine/MaineLastSunsetA.jpg

I did get some primer on this sucker, and started the next round of PSR.  But enough words, have some new pictures.

I finally settled on a design I liked for the aerial torpedoes.



And this is a shot of the aft of the ship, all mocked up and nowhere to go. 



Next, the middle flappy bits/gears.



The Edison in all her mocked-up glory:



Same shot, different angle so you can see the ram and radar a little better.

[Weaver]

Outstanding - I LOVE this project! 

The new torpedoes look spot on!

[Radish]

Wow!!
Loving the Steam punk stuff!!

[Ed S]

WOW.  Fantastic creativity and excellent modeling skills.  You've put that old kit to good use.

Ed

[GTX]

Regards,

Greg

[nev]

Looking even cooler b)

[Weaver]

Conversation on the BOD (Battleship Onboard Delivery) ornithopter:

Pilot: The Edison's about three miles ahead of us now: I'd better climb a bit.

Passenger: Why?

<SFX> WHUMP! <drinks are spilled and everything loose flies about in the cabin>

Passenger: What the Hell was that?

<SFX> WHUMP!

Pilot: Her wake........

<SFX> WHUMP!

[proditor]

Conversation on the BOD (Battleship Onboard Delivery) ornithopter:

Pilot: The Edison's about three miles ahead of us now: I'd better climb a bit.

Passenger: Why?

<SFX> WHUMP! <drinks are spilled and everything loose flies about in the cabin>

Passenger: What the Hell was that?

<SFX> WHUMP!

Pilot: Her wake........

<SFX> WHUMP!

Nice!!  That reminds me, I better make sure I actually write down the story rattling around in my head.  

Thanks for all the appreciation guys, it means tons to me.  This has definitely been a blast of a build so far.  Off to PSR some more while I wait for the crew and her paint.  

[Joe C-P]

Ohhh, that's... 

[noxioux]

Holy cow!  I've been behind on the forum--look what happened while I was gone!

That's just. . .sublime!

[Mossie]

She's a beauty, right off the cover of a steam-punk novel!

[proditor]

Thanks again guys!

I had a good night, I finally figured out my airbrush.   

This paint consistency thing is a real bear.  Ah well, I got a nice coat of metallic signal turn red on the bottom, and this puppy is finally coming together.  No new pics, she's far enough along that I don't want to spoil the surprise.   

With a little luck, I should wrap this weekend. 

[proditor]

It's coming...

[proditor]

Sorry, sorry.  Move along a little bit and added an Acrylic rod as stand.  Then I got distracted and went and made a scout plane for the ship.  I was going to make an orntihopter, but I didn't have small enough wings, or the desire to go blind carving feathers that small. 

So instead, I made two Autogyros.  One out of a PBY Catalina, the other out of a B-17.  They're definitely interesting. 

Final pics by tomorrow at latest if things keep going along at the present speed.

[proditor]

And we're done.

There's a lot more I could do, but I'm getting wrapped up in the minutae, and my magnifying lamp broke.  

So, without further adieu...

Three little words.



The clock continued counting down on the darkened bridge.  Only the subtle red-washed hurricane lanterns illuminated the crew as they scurried about in final preparation.

"Check all boards and indicators." the Captain said in a grave murmur.

"All boards indicate closed up condition, thrusters are disengaged, steam plants are online."

The captain nodded tersely. "Pass the word, transition in 30 seconds.  Secure to Breakthrough Quarters."

An alarm began to ring as the mate replied "Aye sir" and turned to the intercom "Attention all hands, attention all hands.  This is not a drill.  Transition in 30 seconds.  All crew make for Transition stations.  The ship is set to Breakthrough Quarters."

The alarm continued in the background as the crew began flicking switches, turning wheels, and pulling levers in an orchestrated ballet of chaos.  

"All stations reporting as ready for transition Captain!"

"Then initiate on my mark.  5...4...3...2...1...Transition!"

Around the vast ship the world disappeared.  Colors swirled and then seemingly stretched to the breaking point.  Just as it looked as if reality outside of the windows would snap, it did.  With a tearing sound that reminded many of an underwater chainsaw slicing a watermelon, the world vanished.

Outside of the armored windows of the great leviathan, swirling aether traced across the deserted decks.  The murmur of the crew continued as they finished the checklist of procedures for the transition to aether-space.  Now beyond the grip of normal space, the massive battleship shuddered slightly as the separate propulsion system came on line.

"Wings are functioning, and we are at station keeping sir."

Captain Zebediah Gray rose from his chair and walked to the front of the bridge.  Stretching past the armored glass, he could see the bow of his ship, the Edison, as it drifted in the phlogiston of aether space.

"Make turns for half ahead."

"Aye sir, flapping for half ahead."

The ship begin to undulate through the new medium, cutting through it easily as it did the air or water back on Earth.  As distant star light glinted off one of the forward Electro-cannons, Gray wondered how different the world might have been without three words.


     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The crisp Colorado air snatched at his lungs as he looked at the younger man.  Defiant, petulant, damned ungrateful.  They all applied, and yet, he knew that much of that resulted from the seeds he'd laid those many years ago.  

The young man frowned. "Are you here to tell me you patented something else I invented Thomas?"

Thomas growled slightly and his hands pulled at the lapels of his coat.

"No damn it all, I came to say something I should have probably said a while ago."  He frowned deeply, and his head drooped.  The next words came out in an inaudible murmur.

"What was that?"

Thomas sighed and the anger just went out of him.  "I'm sorry Nicholai."

The ensuing silence remained unbroken for a very long time.


     -----------------------------------------------------------------------------


"So if we can harness the broadcast transmitters to the direct current generators, and with the new machinery we designed, it just might be enough to channel the energy through no other medium than the air!"  Tesla beamed at his partner across the table.

"So how do we charge for it Nicholai?"  Edison leaned back in his chair waiting for an answer.

Tesla sneered slightly "Oh it wouldn't be for the public, though they do need it.  I know you wouldn't let me get off that easily.  No, this would be for a select group of very rich clients of our company, and it would allow them to investigate entirely new methods of manufacture and energy independence."

Edison leaned forward considering. "And that much energy...could it be directed perhaps?"

Tesla frowned. "It's not a weapon Thomas."

Edison waved expansively "Of course not Nicholai."


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


New York Times  

Mad experiments tear hole in reality!!!

By Rufus Kincaid
Published: September 21, 1910

In the dim early morning, residents of Long Island were stunned to hear what can only be described as a bizarre tearing noise, like a logging saw slicing into a summer melon under the seas.  Even more stunning was the flood of ephemeral material that all but oozed out of the spatial rift that hovered some thousands of feet over the Wardenclyffe Tower facility of Edison-Tesla electrics.

The rift lasted for some few hours before vanishing promptly when the vast broadcast energy machine created by Tesla himself was disconnected from its power grid.

The army has moved in to secure the location for the safety of all New Yorkers.  President Taft issued the following statement: "The people of the United States have this day seen an event of profound import that will be investigated with all due haste.  And if the results of our investigation warrant, not even the reputation of Mister Edison himself will keep him safe."



New York Times  

Taft and Wilson lose decisively to "Teddy" Roosevelt!


By Rufus Kincaid
Published: November 28, 1912

Grinning ear to ear as the announcements were made, President Roosevelt accepted the approbation of the crowds.  Delivering a short speech, he spoke about the greatness of the American dream, and how this election had proven that man, and moreover American man, was destined to explore the great new universe opened to us by the brilliant Thomas Edison and Nicholai Tesla.



New York Times  

USAS Edison launched at Brooklyn Navy Yards!

By Vingo Slattery
Published: April 14, 1952


Today saw the launching of the newest battleship to join the United States' Aether Navy.  The 73,000 ton USAS Edison slipped her moorings and hovered briefly on directed energy alone for several minutes until settling gracefully into the waters off of Red Hook.  Set to begin her maiden voyage later this month, the Edison is to be one of two flagships against the Aether pirates in the depths of the strange ethereal mass know as the Phlogiston.  Her sister ship, the Tesla, is due to enter service near the end of this year.  



Jane's All the World's Aether Ships.


EDISON (April, 1952) & Others pro

Displacement about 73,000 tons in water; 26,000 tons Phlogiston.  Compliment 2500

Length (waterline) 903 feet   Beam 115 feet  Maximum draught 39 feet

Speed:

30 knots (Water)

450 knots (Air – Rocket)

150 knots (Air – Wings)

200 knots (Phlogiston)


Guns:       Armour:

3 – 1.21 Gigawatt Tesla Cannons (A A A)  14" Belt – inclined

16 – 6 inch      12" Bulkheads

40 - 40 mm      20" Cannon Housings

30 - 20mm      10" Deck


Torpedoes:

5 – Collapsar imploders


Aircraft:

2 – Platypus Autogyphibians