Next Sloop Prototype
Added 2018-11-05 13:56:09 +0000 UTCI worked all the changes I wanted to do into the next layout and did a new build. The biggest visual change is that the stern cabin section is longer. The previous felt too squeezed and short.
Here is a comparison of both versions. The aesthetics of the sloop now look much better. The only new problem is that the raised platform looks too short! ... so I have to adjust that too. Luckily this is a very small thing and will take almost no time at all.
Another design question for me was how to handle the cabin. In the Pirate Fleet Builder series for most parts I want to focus on the outside/upper decks and not go much into interior/lower deck section. I will leave that for modders to add if they want that.
I think for gaming it would be quite distracting to have to take larger ships apart during a game and fumble moving hard to reach minis around in cramped spaces. Rather I imagine creating deck plans that can be layed out on the side and used for that interior gameplay if so required.
So my first approach was to make the cabin glued fixed and not openable. And this still will be an option. But during the build I found the hull without the cabin also looking nice and decided to leave this as an option.
The cabin adds a very distinct look and makes the ship look more like the sloops I have researched. But I also found designs where there is no cabin, so with this modularity we can have both build possibilities. And I always love build choices! :-)
I have started looking at deck structure details (bilge pumps and windlass) on the weekend and hope I will have some prototypes to show soon.
For now I am looking forward to white build the ship at full model scale and test how the cannons will fit! That's the last box to tick, to finalize the geometry before I start working on texturing.
Happy building,
Chris
