Hey all!

I've been meaning to share my Maiden build for a while. The full album can be found here: http://img707.imageshack.us/g/img1652ea.jpg/

Below are some highlights. The fourth picture kinda lets you see that I put lights into the maiden so you can see that the windows are transparent. It was basically LED lights connected to a battery pack with 2 AA batteries glued to the ceiling. I'll put a picture up of it as soon as I can.

























Let me know what y'all think!

I'll just ask: Why Penny Arcade stuff?

Wow. Lovely build. It looks varnished!

Hey CapnG,

I did Penny Arcade stuff because the reason I got into model building was I heard about their podcast where they play D&D and listened to it. I had never played D&D before but it sounded like so much fun I decided to try it. I got into terrain building because of it and so when I made the ship I made it Penny Arcade themed and brought it to the first PAX East and got it signed by Wil Wheaton, Scott Kurtz, Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins.

I have to mention that Wil Wheaton was especially kind, I didn't have enough time to wait on his line to get it signed but when he saw the ship he came over and said that it was amazing. I got a little tongue tied but my friend said that I would love it if Wil could sign it and he immediately did so (and the line was nice enough to allow me to skip ahead like that).

Very cool maiden build. Nice solid work with the LEDs. A flickering LED in the hold would have been REALLY cool now that I think about it. Like shadows moving about in candlelight. Might have to try that.

Congrats on getting those signatures! you deserve them after that build!

Great build! Have you posted this before? I swear I have seen it...total deja vu. Really well done though. Also, the Penny Arcade signatures makes this amazing.

I did post one or two pics on a maiden ghost build, giving advice on how to reinforce the top railings.

I did get questions on lights, I used these lights:
http://www.save-on-crafts.com/floralites2.html

Because some of the others I found were too bright/too unreal looking. It's a bit dark for my tastes though. I just bought two of these:

http://www.ledtealights.net/Mini-LED-Light-Strand--20-Bulbs--Warm-White_p_120.html

I'm hoping for brighter lights, I'll let you know how it turns out.

Zipdaddy: it would be awesome to get flickering LED lights but it's hard enough to find regular battery operated LED lights, I haven't found a flickering one that's bright enough and AA or AAA battery powered.

Great build, great pics

Can just see the looks of fear on the cargo vessel's crew as this maiden bears down on them: "Oh no! Not the Penny Arcade Pirates!"

Monsters with fire related abilities doesn't sound like a good mix with a ship...at least while I'm aboard!

Maybe you could try something like this:
Hack A Day flickering LED circuit

I found self-contained led candles at my local hardware store. Nice flicker effect. Still, very small (hid mine IN the foamcore). Half off in the christmas section this week!

I will have to look out for those. By local, do you mean a chain...something like Home Depot/Lowe's/Ace or something else?

"Jerry's Do it Best hardware" I think "Do it Best" is the national chain. The candle is about the size of a 50 cent piece 3/4" tall, however the case can be removed leaving the small battery in a 1/4" disk and bulb w/lead. The bulb is a soft yellow that flickers like a flame. I hid mine in the ceiling, under stairs, and built thin (1/4") exterior wall build-outs between hull supports. Sill looking for a way to get one in the crows nest!

Oh, by the way, NICE BUILD! Just love the Penny Arcade sails! Drool! Those podcasts were a huge kick starter for our groups interest as well. Love it! The photos are also very cool. Nice work!

I can also trace my D&D back to those podcasts. I'm jealous of you meeting Wil though.

I do like the sails. Esp. the lookouts and Twisp/Catsby

very nice build! The Maiden was my very first WWG build as well.