Massive MIDI Model Update: The Imperial Navy!

[Legostein]

Hello everybody!

After starting my new Midi model project back in May 2011, it's finally time for an update with ships from the Classic Trilogy. Today I'd like to present 9 new models of the Imperial Navy with you. For those who have missed the initial post for this project, here are again the rules:

The Imperial Star Destroyer is 1600 meters long, and the official MIDI ISD by LEGO® is 31 studs in length, this gives a scale where 1 studs equals 50 meters (it would be exact if set 8099 was 32 studs, but it is still a very accurate approximation).

Following you'll see a size comparison of the new vessel compared with the original Midid Star Destroyer (LEGO® set 8099, back row right). The shpis are all from the Expanded Universe. Their construction is already complete for several months, so sorry for taking the pics so late.

Problematic with this project is that the smaller you get, the more accuray is lost. It's really hard to make the smaller ships still reconizable and to scale with the gargantuan Star Destroyer.

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We'll begin with the largest and will end with the smallest vessel, thus beginning with the Victory Star Destroyer. This is a predecessor of the Imperial Star Destroyer which saw its first action during the end of the Clone Wars. It's 900 meters in length (converts to 18 studs).

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With 600 meters in length (equals 12 studs) the Interdictor Cruiser has the shape of a small Star Destroyer but features four spheres embedded in the dagger shape. These are gravity wellm projectors preventing hyperspace jumps of leaving ships. These ships are not made for capital ship combat and do only have light weaponry.

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Also 600 meters in length (equals 12 studs) but intended for capital ship combat is the Dreadnaught Heavy Cruiser. These ships are amongst the oldest in the Imperial Navy and date back long before the Clone Wars, but are still suitable for the purposes of the Empire.

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A lesser known Star Destroyer type is the Gladiator Star Destroyer. These are only 500 meters in length (converts to 10 studs) but feature a lot of heavy weaponry for a ship of its size. You might have spotted this vessel in the old animated Droids TV series.

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Not a combat vessel but an important support ship of the Imperial Navy, the 500 meters long Escort Carrier (equals 10 studs) is used to carry one entire wing of TIE fighters (72 ships) into the combat field. besides that it only feature light weaponry.

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Long kept as a secret by the Empire, the Strike Medium Cruiser is a very capable cruiser at only 450 meters (converts to 9 studs) in length.

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The Carrack Light Cruiser is an older design also dating back to the Clone Wars. It is 350 meters in length which equals 7 studs in our Midi ISD scale. Characteristioc for the ship are the powerful engines making it one of the fastest capital ships even still during the era of the Empire.

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Even shorter with only 300 meters in length (equals 6 studs) is the so-called Star Galleon. This is more aan armed cargo transport, but is also used as Escort frigate, as featuring turbolasers for capital ship combat. When the ship is lost, the cargo compartment is released and jumps into hyperspace.

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After the Empire lost the first Death Star due to tiny starfighters, it developed an anti-starfighter vessel, the Lancer Frigate. This small frigate is only 250 meters in length (equals 5 studs) and only features anti-starfighter quad laser cannons. Only few of the frigates were ever completed due to its high costs.

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With that we're done with this lengthy post. You can always click on the images to view the full image galleries and building instructions. Thank you for your interest and have a great week!

Yours Christopher

PS: Next is the Rebel Fleet!

[JackJonespaw]

Very nice! The Star Galleon is my favorite! I think the Escort Carrier needs a bit more work, though.

[Huntleyfx]

Impressive research and construction! I especially enjoy the fact the fleet is completely scaled to each other.

[Dapper-D2]

These are some really cool little ships! I should start building on this scale to save myself some money.

[Hollander]

Great creations. Especially the Gladiator SD is lovely.

[lego envy]

Very cool. Now with some space background they will be ready for battle.

[Vindicare]

Where's the Executor?

[Brickmamba]

Wow that is a lot of ships, nice midi fleet you have there

[Mr Man]

Have you tried a to scale Victory? Fantastic little fleet Legostein.

[Legostein]

Hello!

Thank you for the nice comments. There are a few more Imperial ships to come, but first we'll take care of the Rebels.

I think the Escort Carrier needs a bit more work, though.

I disagree. I think it resembles perfectly what it is. A box. A box with engines.

Have you tried a to scale Victory?

No, I did not as I don't care much about those computer game created vessels. And then you will see that there are statistics for the length of the ship. So how could I scale it then. As it's a corvette class the length should be somewhere between 100 and 200 meters which would only be 4 studs in Midi scale. The typical characteristics of a ship are hardly realizable at this size.

Cheers,

~ Christopher

[Mr Man]

No, I did not as I don't care much about those computer game created vessels. And then you will see that there are statistics for the length of the ship. So how could I scale it then. As it's a corvette class the length should be somewhere between 100 and 200 meters which would only be 4 studs in Midi scale. The typical characteristics of a ship are hardly realizable at this size.

Well it's in a comic as well . 150m I think, which thinking about it is really too small I remembered it been closer to the Gladiator or Broadside Corvettes in length .

[Fallenangel]

I recall all of the capital ships in Battlefront being shrunken (for obvious reasons), so if one were to use the Imperial II model from the space maps as a ruler, it's possible that the Victoria could turn out to be larger.

[M<0><0<DSWIM]

Beautiful work, as always! I agree with some of the others that my favorite has got to be the Gladiator.

[mortesv]

Impressive... Most Impressive...

If you make the rebel fleet in the same scale you'll be pressed to do a blockade Runner at 3 studs (150m) and a Medical Frigate at 6 studs (300m) But, I'm very much looking forward to it

[Rogue Angel]

Very nice! The Star Galleon is my favorite! I think the Escort Carrier needs a bit more work, though.

I think the escort carrier is perfect. I knew exactly what it was as soon as I saw it. Of course I played Star Wars Rebellion, and I've used the reference sheet that comes with the game for my Star Wars RPG.

This is beautiful work! I have long been an opponent of Midi's and Minis, but I think there is a lot of potential for things like this that are on such a massively larger scale.

Great job!

Edited January 17, 2012 by rogueang

[Mr Man]

I recall all of the capital ships in Battlefront being shrunken (for obvious reasons), so if one were to use the Imperial II model from the space maps as a ruler, it's possible that the Victoria could turn out to be larger.

I think it's a 3^rd they are down-scaled by or something so the Victoria could be around the size of the Gladiator.

[Legostein]

Hello,

and thanks again for the compliments. I am really happy many of you also like the small Gladiator Star Destroyer. It's a very tricky built actually, as I wanted the wing angles made with hinges instead of several layers with plates.

Cheers,

~ Christopher

[Fallenangel]

If you make the rebel fleet in the same scale you'll be pressed to do a blockade Runner at 3 studs (150m) and a Medical Frigate at 6 studs (300m) But, I'm very much looking forward to it

Who, me?

Legostein's will be much better, of course.

[Oxus]

First off, these are truly wonderful.

I must be doing something wrong, but when I click the Victory Star Destroyer link it is the only one without build instructions. Could you direct me to where I can find it?

[Legostein]

Legostein's will be much better, of course.

Don't say things like that. Yours is a nice version. I am not in for competition. We're all exchanging ideas.

I must be doing something wrong, but when I click the Victory Star Destroyer link it is the only one without build instructions. Could you direct me to where I can find it?

No, you're not doing anything wrong. There are not instructions for the Victory and Gladiator Star Destroyer (yet).

[Oxus]

Ah! ok I eagerly await them!

[mutley777]

A nice set of midi ships. Really takes me back to the days of my first PC playing the games X-wing and then TIE Fighter!

[Masked Builder]

Great work as always LEGOstein! It's great to see you exploring this scale more. My favorite has to be the Victory Star Destroyer.

[mortesv]

Just played Rebellion (Supremacy) - the old turnbased PC Star Wars strategy game and all these classic EU ships are there :D A great game by the way - from around '98 :)

Who, me?

Legostein's will be much better, of course.

Nice try Fallen :) Not too many options at that scale :)

[Fallenangel]

Don't say things like that. Yours is a nice version. I am not in for competition. We're all exchanging ideas.

Your cordiality is as amicable as ever.

Just played Rebellion (Supremacy) - the old turnbased PC Star Wars strategy game and all these classic EU ships are there :D A great game by the way - from around '98 :)

I remember that game - very clunky, but entertaining nonetheless.

Nice try Fallen :) Not too many options at that scale :)

Indeed.