Kaylon Fleet

The Kaylons originate from another galaxy and are the Guardians in one of the sectors. The are here in the Milky Way galaxy to compete for another Guardianship here. They are supposedly more advanced than the other factions, however, they are constrained by numbers as reinforcements have to come from the home galaxy and can take a while.

Kaylon Baseship

For this fleet, I decided to use blue metallic paints with gold accents. The ship was painted dark metallic blue and then drybrushed with light metallic blue. Guns and port engines were painted in gold. details on the hull (i.e. the bubbles) were painted light blue to add a little contrast. No engine glow was needed in this ship.

Kaylon Fighters

I like the dark metallic coloration of this fleet. It gives a rather imposing feeling to the fleet.

Vargan Fleet

The Vargans were the race that almost wiped out humanity in the Space Dreadnought 3000 setting. If it weren't for the Talliscan brokering a peace between the two races, humanity would be extinct. Even though they may seem like "bad guys" in their Universe, it is not totally black and white.

Vargan Baseship

Ships are nicely detailed and had little flash. I wanted to experiment with metallic paints with this faction. I started with a dark metallic green basecoat. this was followed with a light metallic green drybrush. Details were painted with steel followed by a chrome drybrush. Gunports and fighter launch tubes were painted black. Engines were painted with boltgun metal and white was used for engine glow. I particularly like the fighters as they are asymmetric:

They were painted in the same manner as the capital ships. Another nice fleet.

Talliscan Fleet

Here are the Talliscan from Kallistra's Space Dreadnought 3000 range. They were the supposed inheritors of Guardianship of Sector 7 until it was decreed that they had to fight for it, like everyone else.

Talliscan Baseship

Aesthetically, they look a little like klingons with the boom and large back. Painting them was relatively straightforward with a bronze basecoat followed by a copper drybrush. Guns were painted with steel, followed by a chrome drybrush. Gun orfices were painted black and the engines were painted with Boltgun Metal and the engine glow was painted white.

Talliscan Destroyer

The ships had some nice detail and were fun to paint.

Earth Empire Fleet

I always found the ships from the Space Dreadnought 3000 line rather interesting. I managed to order a fleet of all of the main factions in that range. The setting is the galaxy is divided into 16 sectors, each sector is administered by a Guardian power. Travel is via jump points (called Star Centres). Guardianship for the 7th sector (where Earth is located) is up for grabs.

Earth Empire Fighter Baseship

The background for the Earth Empire is rather interesting. They had just fought a devastating war with the Vargans and if it wasn't for the Guardians of sector 7, Humans would be extinct. Earth became extremely xenophobic as a result. Because of their relatively small population, their ships are highly automated. Above is the Fighter Baseship (carrier) for the Earth Empire. The ships were painted with Steel followed by a black wash. Steel was then reapplied in the overly dark areas. A light drybrush of aluminum and some of the details in the superstructure were emphasized with chrome. the main guns were painted with Boltgun metal with chrome highlights. Fighter bays were  painted black and engine exhaust was painted white.

Earth Empire Superdreadnought

In this game, ships are essentially eggshells with sledgehammers. Cruisers, Battle Cruisers, Dreadnoughts, and Super Dreadnoughts are the main fleet combatants. Patrol ships and Destroyers make the smaller, more expendable components of the fleet.

Earth Empire Patrol Ships

The fighters come 14/pk. They are mounted 6 ships on a ring with a 7th in the center. I took the ships off the ring and mounted them on earring posts.

Earth Empire Fighters

I had fun painting these ships. The have a clear design aesthetic and an interesting background. Additional pictures can be found on the gallery page.

ESU Fleet

Here is the entire ESU fleet in one shot. I believe the red and yellow color scheme is rather striking for this fleet. Definitely more eye catching than the other human factions in the FT universe.

ESU Konstantin Attack Carrier

One of the largest ships in ESU service and one of the largest CVA until the FSE Jeanne D'Arc. A big, heavy model that was fun to put together and paint.

ESU Komarov Superdreadnought

An older hull, but packs a punch. It reflects the older design heritage of the ESU