Dissecting the image - from picture to model

[Swiftbrook]

Sounds good, but how do you explain the size of those windows in the bow if the ship is 1,000 tons? Aren't they awfully big? And for a warship too?

"Originally built for sector sized and larger corporation to provide protection for their fleets ... a 'B' version was introduced in 1085 for smaller independent starmerc operations." and "Forward is the spacious bridge, designed to coordinate a space or planetary military operation." (taken from my folio)

Basically when it is flying convoy escort, the bridge is used to coordinate the escorts and track all the ships. When flying strictly military missions, it is again used to coordinate the operation either in space or dirt-side.

Military ships in the 1000t range are about as large a ship as the PCs are going to directly be involved with in a campaign. There just aren't that many "Arrival Vengeance" opportunities out there. As such, I designed it to be a jewel. Realistically, the largest ship the players might operate as mercenaries or starmercs. The ship can be configured to carry fighters, lifeboats and high passengers for starmerc duties. Or landing boats, Grav APCs and troops for mercenary duties. It fits in the sweet spot between an 800t Broadsword and a 1,250t Kinunir.

-Swiftbrook

 

[navanod]

Apologies...

Wel, for starters, let me apologize if you feel I've 'stepped on your toes', so to speak. That was not my intent at all. Your response to the other thread was the first indication that I had seen of anyone working on this particular ship. I proceeded with this thread for several reasons..

1. It's a cool looking ship.

2. No one had converted it to a 3d model that I was aware of, and no one is doing renders of it.

3. I wanted to develop a methodology for such a conversion, because there are several illustrations of ships that I want to try down the road. Sharing these ideas with the community might inspire someone to create something new for the rest of us, and that's a win-win for everyone.

4. I wanted to solicit opinions about the ship and method because the community gives a variety of viewpoints, which help me greatly in refining the concept and design.

5. While you stated in your post that you had done a full workup 10 years ago, it wasn't readily available to anyone besides you. Ergo, it doesn't do me (or anyone else) any good. If I wanted to use it in MTU, I'd have to work it up from scratch anyway.

6. While I like the design you posted, I disagree with a few things, most notably the overall size, for a variety of reasons. Thus, I wanted to work up a design that fit MTU and personal sensibilities. My intent was not to supercede or supplant your work, just adapt the concept to MTU.

Besides, there are multiple versions of various ships out there already. I know, right off the top of my head, there's at least 4 people working on (or done) Broadswords, a couple Azhanti High Lightnings, tons of scouts and traders, X-boats, etc. Don't get me wrong, I adore the 'classic' ships, and will eagerly check out any work done on them. But at the same time, there's a universe of other ships, planets, etc waiting to see the light of day. I'm just doing what I can to pry the lid open and pass them around. I'm sorry it worked out you fingers got under my prybar.

 

[Orr]

Basically when it is flying convoy escort, the bridge is used to coordinate the escorts and track all the ships.

So it has big windows so they can look out and see the escorts and other ships they're coordinating?

Is this set in the future or the past?

 

[Swiftbrook]

Wel, for starters, let me apologize if you feel I've 'stepped on your toes', so to speak. That was not my intent at all
.......
I'm sorry it worked out you fingers got under my prybar.

FOUL!

Everything you're talking about, aka deconstructing the picture, I did over ten year ago! :nonono:

I'm not sore, just having a little fun. I really did want to publish it back then. I have all my stuff because I enjoyed doing what you're doing now, creating a cool starship with a rich history from an excellent picture.

So it has big windows so they can look out and see the escorts and other ships they're coordinating?

Windows are windows. They can have shutters. Also, have you ever looked at the Azhanti High Lightning? One of the versions has a 'flying bridge' under that glass bubble.

Also, as to the original sketch blueprint breakdown, it's close to what I came up with. Very close. I don't recall what my final volume was, but I'm sure it came out close to 1000 dt.

Anybody know if we can get permission to use the picture in a free folio?

-Swiftbrook

 

[Orr]

Also, have you ever looked at the Azhanti High Lightning? One of the versions has a 'flying bridge' under that glass bubble.

That flying bridge isn't used to "coordinate" escorts by eye during combat and in a couple of versions of the ship it's nothing more than fancy barroom.

Sorry, but after seeing navanod's work on explaining that godawful Judges Guild ship, I'm more than inclined to see what he can do with that old illustration.

 

[Shonner]

The original drawing is bad. So artistic license is in order. I have TurboCAD. Send me the file and I'll post it here.

 

[Shonner]

So it has big windows so they can look out and see the escorts and other ships they're coordinating?

Is this set in the future or the past?

These grandiose bridge scenes were (and still are in 1126) filmed in Cinemascope. Or at least Panavision. Several of the stunts are rather involved, also.

 

[navanod]

Okay, cool, glad there's no hurt feelings.

Shonner - Bad how specifically?

Onward then. Using my original size notes from the first post, I've worked up a couple different versions for debate. I'm basically looking at 3 sizes - a single main deck, double main deck, and triple main deck. Plus each has a short (2.25 meter) deck below the boat. Included are the actual volumes as measured by max, although they could change substantially with a relatively small adjustment to the 28 pixel/meter scale I used.

Is 2 meters for the portside hatch sound about right? How about 3 meters for the turrets? Hmmm....have to check and see what the turrets in my quickie are scaled to; they might be smaller than 3 meters, so they would look small. More on that later.

 

[navanod]

Yep, that was part of the problem. Turrets were only 2 and change meters. Scaled them up to three, and this is the result. Not a huge difference, but definitely noticable.

 

[Andrew Boulton]

Middle version.

 

[E.D.Quibell]

In the original drawing the top deck "dips" back down to accomodate the gig on top. It's not a flat deck speak.

So for me it would be the middle one, with the top (blue) deck dropping back down a bit after it's initial rise from the green bit. You might lose the 40 additional tons that way.

Best regards,

Ewan

 

[Starviking]

how do you explain the size of those windows in the bow if the ship is 1,000 tons? Aren't they awfully big? And for a warship too?

Well the question is - are they actually big? We can't actually see the height of the windows themselves from the angle of the picture.

 

[navanod]

I'd have to agree - are we seeing the actual window itself in the window, or are those basically cutouts from the hull, with the window flat against the back of the cutout?

 

[Starviking]

I'd have to agree - are we seeing the actual window itself in the window, or are those basically cutouts from the hull, with the window flat against the back of the cutout?

And another thing to keep in mind: the Dragon SDB has been illustrated with windows back against the cutout, with the ledge leading up to the cutout actually being a shield that can be raised to provide complete armour protection.

 

[navanod]

That's a good idea. Certainly better than windows on the bridge. For warships, I generally prefer putting the bridge towards the core areas, with as much fuel/living space as possible between it and the rest of the universe, although that does leave a certain amount of vulnerability to electronics failure. Of course, if you've suffered that level of failure, chances are the ship can't maneuver anyway, so it works out.

 

[Orr]

Cutouts, cut backs, or shuttered, those are still huge windows for a 1000 ton warship. Even if they're used to coordinate escorts by eye. o:

They'd make for a nice 10 Forward aboard a 1000 ton liner, but seeing that size aboard a warship that size is just too much.

 

[navanod]

I agree, they're pretty big. 12m across by my measurement, which is half the width of the hull before the engine pods. I think I'm going to redesign them anyway because I'm having an absolute bear of a time getting them modeled correctly.

 

[HG_B]

That's a good idea. Certainly better than windows on the bridge. For warships, I generally prefer putting the bridge towards the core areas, with as much fuel/living space as possible between it and the rest of the universe, although that does leave a certain amount of vulnerability to electronics failure. Of course, if you've suffered that level of failure, chances are the ship can't maneuver anyway, so it works out.

Yeah, windows on a space ship (that travels between planets using constant acceleration) makes as much sense as screen doors on a submarine.

 

[navanod]

Well, after much hemming and hawing on my part, I finally settled on a design for this ship, and decided to make it basically the equivalent of an interstellar armored car, used by Megacorps to transport high profile passengers, data, and small cargoes (4 tons or less) and escort shipping in high risk areas.

Ship: Vigilant
Class: Stalwart
Type: Merchant Escort
Architect: Navanod
Tech Level: 15

USP
ME-66369D2-A00000-40203-0 MCr 546.420 600 Tons
Bat Bear 2 2 2 Crew: 33
Bat 2 2 2 TL: 15

Cargo: 4.000 Fuel: 234.000 EP: 54.000 Agility: 6 Marines: 16
Craft: 1 x 10T Fighter
Fuel Treatment: Fuel Scoops

Architects Fee: MCr 5.164 Cost in Quantity: MCr 443.136



Ship: Vindictive
Class: Vindictive
Type: Light Fighter
Architect: Navanod
Tech Level: 15

USP
FL-0106F11-C30000-20002-0 MCr 19.050 10 Tons
Bat Bear 1 1 1 Crew: 2
Bat 1 1 1 TL: 15

Cargo: 0.000 Fuel: 1.500 EP: 1.500 Agility: 5
Fuel Treatment: Fuel Scoops

Architects Fee: MCr 0.191 Cost in Quantity: MCr 15.240


Both the main ship and fighter are fast, agile, armored like a Brinks truck, and well armed. I've also picked up working on the model again after a couple of sidetracks the last week or so, so a progress shot is in order. Deckplans, the fighter, and more modelling and texturing are in the pipeline.

 

[far-trader]

Nice. Great backstory/choice of design, lots of ideas for adventurers in it. Looking forward to more as you work on it and the deckplans.