3788 Scale Lyran Refitted Panther-V Light Carrier

The Lyrans are human-sized cats that bore a distinct similarity to Terran lynxes in both appearance and temperament. Bitter enemies of the Kzintis (tigermen eight feet tall), the Lyrans were staunch allies of the Klingons and enemies of the Hydrans as well. Like Kzintis, Lyrans were carnivores known to eat their captives on rare occasions. The Federation assigned each Lyran ship-type a "reporting name" to keep them separate. Lyrans were organized as a feudal society. Twenty-one counties each had a squadron of ships lead by a heavy cruiser; four dukes had dreadnoughts to lead the four fleets, while the king-emperor commanded from the capital.

This is the carrier variant of the Lyran Panther Light Cruiser. It retained the full firepower of a Panther Light Cruiser while adding eight fighters (as many as were possible), and was clearly influenced by the earlier local defense carrier design.  Few ships of this type were in service as the fighter group was too small and there were too many demands for light cruiser hulls that could be converted into battlecruisers. This design did strongly influence the later Siberian Hellcat. Because of this ship (which had been intended to become the standard Lyran carrier) the Lyrans moved on to the Siberian Tiger carrier with 12 fighters. Even so, the Panther-V did continue to serve (increasingly in secondary sectors) because there were never enough carriers. The Aztek panels on the outer surfaces represent efforts to reduce the electronic signature of the refitted Panther-V and match it to the original Panther-V so the enemy could not tell the difference. Known names include Blue Nebula, Blue Meteor, and Blue Starburst.

This ship is available in a variety of materials. Ships are unpainted, use standard flight stands available from many sources, and, while designed for gaming, make fine display pieces.