Leif Ericson Scoutship

[Patron Zero]

Just wondering if anyone remembers the 1960s AMT model kit, The Leif Ericson (aka Interplanetary UFO Mystery Ship), in particular the small scout ship from the hanger bay ? For those whom do, I've always wanted to incorporate that nifty looking craft into my Traveller universe. My dilemma has been should said craft simply be a ship's boat or launch or might it warrant becoming a dedicated starship.

With a bit of tweaking I can see the Scoutship serving as a, well, variant Scout design of 100-200 ton range. That size would allow for a rear hull/interior vehicle bay to house an ATV for planet side adventuring and a flashy ramp-hatch egress for said conveyance. Not to mention possibly an aft facing turret control gunner's bubble having a view of the ship's rear when grounded, that feature also providing covering fire for the ATV's hasty return home.

I've posted a couple of links below for those unfamiliar with the Scoutship (and the Leif Ericson itself) as well to illustrate the vessel's potential for induction to adventuring in the Traveller universe, enjoy !

http://www.projectrho.com/SSC/scoutship.html
http://www.fantastic-plastic.com/LEIF ERICSON PAGE.htm

 

[BlackBat242]

I've got one complete (the glow-in-the-dark "UFO mother ship") in my closet, and the "scout" is sitting on my bookcase... next to the modified Klingon D-7 & TOS Starfleet Constitution class cruiser models.

Of course, both have been heavily modified, and are more in the "Light Cruiser"/"Colonial Cruiser" class, now. The LE "scout" is used as an out-of-scale example of the 5-man attack craft the Klingon ship carries in its modified boat bay.

 

[Gadrin]

I always liked this one...

http://www.dragonspace.com/trav/solscout.htm



>

 

[Icosahedron]

Can't say the Leif or its scout impress me - probably too dated.

The Leif looks very XL5 and the scout reminds me of a duck. I much prefer the pre-production scout sketches with forward swept wings and angular cockpit - much sexier, and easier to scale up. In fact, I might even borrow that...

I think the cockpit bulges limit the scale. I can see those being a few feet across, but probably not tens of feet.

Is that Solomani scout the one in Andrew's 'Getaway' movie? I'm not very 'au fait' with OTU craft.

 

[The Oz]

I suppose everyone here knows that the "Leif Ericson" model was used as the inspiration for the battlecruiser INS MacArthur of the "Mote in God's Eye" novel by Niven and Pournelle.

 

[The Hinterworlds Rambler]

Thank you for restarting/finding this thread.

This kit. My house could have burned down, and i would have had that scout ship as the only thing left. (Well, and the Space 1999 Hawk, and the D7, and the Aurora 2001 Spaceplane with the engineroom... or the...) The bay feature, and the engine configuration aft, and the pod things... big influence.

Always liked the conning tower setup, and that it kind of looked like a Star Trek 60s ship, but that nose cone thing!

I know that the basis for the main body is a shampoo bottle from the 60s. I've seen the bottle before. My grandmother had a bottle of this nasty pink stuff that lined right up with it.

I admit freely to being somewhat obsessed with this ship, and my older brother is too. Can't really explain it...

 

[BlackBat242]

So design it for Traveller and post your deckplans, already!!

:rofl:

 

[Patron Zero]

AMT Kit Memories

What I most enjoyed about the AMT LE kit was the transparent red plastic 'turbines' and the tiny battery operated lights supplied to illuminate such. There were a few chrome bits as well but the re-issued UFO Mystery Ship version lacked such as well as leaving the 'drive' bays empty.
Let's not forget that cardboard record that was included and how the edges would curl up and swat the record player arm !

 

[boomslang]

I admit freely to being somewhat obsessed with this ship, and my older brother is too. Can't really explain it...

I've always felt that part of the appeal is that design has a certain 'Gerry Anderson feel' to it, despite the aforementioned shampoo-bottle origin.

I can just imagine zooming in on the conning tower windows and seeing a bunch of jumpsuited marionettes and/or British models chewing the scenery in front of the blinking consoles in there... slap a logo that says SHADO or Thunderbird 9 or whatever on it, and you're good to go...

Groovy.

 

[savage]

Always a favorite

My original model is long lost. Never saw the UFO re-release. Still have the 45 that came with it...somewhere. But now you can download the music.

I never worked on the shuttle but added the LE to my campaign... it would make a great work for an ambitious deckplan architect. Yeah the scout is an entertaining look from an early era. I left it at 95dt.

I particularly liked the Valor Corvette style conning tower.


http://www.angelfire.com/empire2/sa...opular-Media-Designs/Lief_Ericson_GC_T20.html

 

[leo knight]

In an essay in "A Step Farther Out", Pournelle writes he imagined the scoops being used to skim fuel from gas giants. Wilderness refuelling... yee-hah!

There are several interesting alternate models on this page:
http://www.projectrho.com/SSC/model.html

 

[Patron Zero]

LE Scout

'Yeah the scout is an entertaining look from an early era. I left it at 95dt.' savage

I need to dig through a Xerox box where my much lamented and sadly departed Traveller campaign notes are, I did half-heartily start to do up deck plans of the LE Scoutship . Myself I'm seeing it larger than 95dt but once the math gets worked out it may end up as a non-starship, definitely more of an armed gig-shuttle hybrid should that make sense.

Now the other question pops up as what sort of ATV to stash in it's vehicle bay, perhaps a yet developed design somewhere between the original BSG's Snow Ram and a modern day Stryker. Wheels verses tracks the eternal question !

 

[The Hinterworlds Rambler]

That campaign looks badass! I saw the link on the site above with the rest of the incredible stuff devoted to this ship.

 

[savage]

Scout size

Patron Zero, There seems to be some others suggesting its a smaller craft. However, I didn't want my historical strategic space command to have small vessels with interstellar abilities. I would like to see your blueprint direction if you ever find and scan them.

After reviewing the new pictures I see that the docking bay can handle 2 shuttles... I need to make that adjustment to my design one day. However, it makes me more confident that I'm in the right ballpark.

 

[The Hinterworlds Rambler]

I found this:

http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=1299

On one of the add on sites for Orbiter. I think this weekend may involve some Missions!

 

[The Hinterworlds Rambler]

I had time last night to run a mission last night using the Ericson on Orbiter. Lunar Orbit To Alpha Centauri. Got to try the Starfleet Command mod next. If I can stop running Orbiter missions.

 

[savage]

Ok that is very cool. Requires a bit of study.

Last night I started reworked of my design into several options.

Others studying ship scale appear to have a few different viewpoints (1200 &4900dt). I prefer the 1200-1400dt variety which leaves the scout shuttle as a small craft less than 50dt.

 

[far-trader]

...Others studying ship scale appear to have a few different viewpoints (1200 &4900dt). I prefer the 1200-1400dt variety which leaves the scout shuttle as a small craft less than 50dt.

That's about what I was guessing for the scout at a quick look, though I've been off before I figured the Lief to be bigger though, more in the 5Kton range.

 

[far-trader]

...Now the other question pops up as what sort of ATV to stash in it's vehicle bay, perhaps a yet developed design somewhere between the original BSG's Snow Ram and a modern day Stryker. Wheels verses tracks the eternal question !

Well, for something of a period work there's always the South Pole Snow Cruiser from the 30's. For inspiration if nothing else. One of my far back burner projects is working it up for Traveller.

Snow Cruiser link

 

[savage]

And then there is the alternate USSR designs Kharkovchanka 1 and 2.
Afterall this is an Empire of Man thread.
http://www.morozov.com.ua/eng/body/traktors/at-tbas.php

Back to the LE. I reviewed two analyst's opinions at one of my favorite websites. http://ww.projectrho.com/
Based on the figures they provided in bold.

Merrill - did blueprint posters based on the model and cover.
http://projectrho.com/SSC/submarine.html
Winchell - used software to calculate internal size.
http://projectrho.com/SSC/interior.html

Analyst Merrill
m^3 26831.0
mt 7666.0
dt (4/1) 1916.5
dt (5.5/1) 1393.8
Ave dt 1655.2

Analyst Winchell
m^3 68785.0
mt 19652.9
dt (14m^3/1) 4913.2
dt(13.5m^3/1) 5095.0
Ave dt 5004.1
hanger 6600m^3 471.4dt

Ok at 1400dt I was a bit short but no model to go off of. So what do all of you think? Clearly Far Trader thinks its bigger but any reasonable arguments? Or is my math off. Seems like a 471dt hanger deck is enormous even for 2 large scouts.