Impala Class Close Escort (LBB2 2nd Ed)

[AnotherDilbert]

Though in retrospect, it's more a Fiery analog than a Gazelle analog, since the former is the fully-streamlined version of the on-paper build.

The Fiery has no droppable tanks:

CT S7, p34-35:
Variants: The only major variant of the close escort is the gunned escort, a streamlined version with no other noticeable changes. This ship looks similar to the scout/courier, with only portions of the basic hull outline bulging above the plane surfaces. The gig nestles neatly beneath the ship. Finally, the L-Hyd tanks are not droppable, and the ship is restricted to ordinary performance.
...
Ships of the major variant type, the gunned escort, are of the Fiery class, named for energetic adjectives. Names include Fiery, Explosive, Active, and Bright.

 

[AnotherDilbert]

Sorry, wrong thread...

 

[Grav_Moped]

So, what does this ship look like?

That first sketch (and the core hull needs to be stretched a bit) shows that it's hard to get a good-looking ship when half of it is drop tanks...

 

[Spinward Flow]

it's hard to get a good-looking ship when half of it is drop tanks...

First you start with a motorcycle and make it really really cool.
Then you add a sidecar.
Then you add another sidecar ...
And another ...

 

[Grav_Moped]

First you start with a motorcycle and make it really really cool.

Then you add a sidecar.

Then you add another sidecar ...

And another ...

 

[BRJN]

First you start with a motorcycle and make it really really cool.
Then you add a sidecar.
Then you add another sidecar ...
And another ...

... and you get a Geo Metro (but with a center-line driver's seat).

 

[Condottiere]

A close escort is meant to scare off commerce raiders.

 

[Grav_Moped]

VERY crude sketch (and the main hull might do well to be skinnier).
Main hull is about 10m diameter and 40m tall (about 155Td), 45Td of the drives are in the "fins" between the main hull and drop tanks.
50Td drop tanks are roughly modeled on 30m x 6m 50Td Cutter.

Ok, that looked silly.

I really want to go for a B-58 Hustler look, with the delta wing and massive centerline drop tank/bomb pod.

Might draw it up at some point.