By Michael Jacobs

The Earth Federation Capital Ship Gettysburg is based on the destroyer ships from the Babylon 5 series.

The main structural portion of the ship is made up of four acrylic plastic boxes measuring 2 ¼" x 5" (5.7cm x 12.7cm). Two of these boxes were used for the rear engine area, one for the fuel storage area and the last for the forward section, just in front of the rotating section. The other surfaces of these boxes wre rough sanded and then covered with sheet styrene.

The main forward portion of the ship is made from sheet styrene, as is the angular portion under the acrylic box. The structure under the dual barrelled gun is a model base. The forward main guns are from a "Powered Armor & Verimier Unit" kit, the top dual barrelled gun is made from the hand weapon of the "Southern Cross Navy Division" figure, and the side turret guns are from the "Crusher Joe Galion" kit. The detailing is from various tank, plane and model railroad kits, cut down sheet, and strip styrene. The fighter coming out the launch bay is from one of the Star Blazer kits.

The rotating secyion is made from sheet styrene centered on an acrylic tube used to hold coins. The detailing on this section is from sheet and strip styrene with some cannibalized parts from sci-fi kits.

The fuel storage area is made up of the acrylic box listed above and four acrylic plastic two-piece domes. These domes had detailing added with styrene strips. The tube section, which connects the fuel section to the main engine area, is from more coin-holder tubes. A smaller diameter tube was used on the foward section and slips inside the rotating section, allowing the ship to be split in half for transportation. The detailing here is from various tank kits and more sheet and strip styrene.

The main engine area is two of the acrylic boxes placed between sheet styrene, with a 1" (2.5cm) gap between them. The structure on the smaller side is made from 1" x 3" (2.5cm x 7.6cm) acrylic boxes. The two main engines at the rear were made by cutting dowwn acrylic plastic drinking cups, applying a circular piece of sheet styrene to the trimmed end, wrapping half-round strip styrene around the ends and cutting various sizes of tubing to provide the inside detail.

Image: Stern

Image: Bow, with fighter emerging

Image: Port side detailing

Image: Overhead view