The Model of Bloodrunner
I have been a life long fan of science fiction and I also enjoy building period ship models, so how could I resist the combination of my two favorite subjects in one scenario. I had already built a model of a ship from Space:1889, H.M.S. Wasp, a British aerial gunboat built for the defense of their colony at Syrtis Major. I wanted to build a Martian cloudship as a companion model, but which one? The game materials offer a variety of ships, merchantman and warships, large and small. I chose a small dispatch vessel called the Bloodrunner. It was small, about 50 feet long, which would make a conveniently sized model in 1/96 scale, the scale in which I had built the Wasp.
Click on any thumbnail image to see a larger version.
There were no plans for the Bloodrunner, only a stylized deck plan used for game play and a few dimensions such as length and tonnage. The game references did contain a number of illustrations of Martian cloudships though, which provided the general appearance, rig and style of construction of this exotic type of vessel. Using this information, I created a plan for the Bloodrunner. She has the characteristic dumbbell shape of the cloudship, large bow and stern sections connected by a long narrow midship section.
Her main mast is rigged with square sails for power while the fore and aft sails are for steering.
Stylized rams project forward from the bow and downward from the stern.
She carries two small muzzle-loading cannon since she is a warship, but her real defense is her speed.
As an airship, she carries sail above and below the hull.
CLICK HERE for more pictures of the Bloodrunner.
Bloodrunner 3/4 bow
To read about how the Bloodrunner model was constructed, click on the link below.

Constructing the Martian Cloudship Bloodrunner

Bloodrunner off the beam

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Space:1889 is Frank Chadwick's registered trademark for his game of Victorian Era space-faring. He has granted permission for the use of the background of Space:1889 for the stories presented here. All text, illustrations, photographs and design are © 2000-2002 Dan Thompson, except where otherwise noted.