I'm starting to brew a certain plotline in my head, involving a type-NS Mining Platform operated by one of MTU's corporations in a nearly unexploed region of space. However, I would like to know if any of you have attempted, or are willing to attempt to draw the deckplans of such a Platform; If I could have them, I'll pobably create it in System Shock 2 (a computer game) and post screenshots online, as well as try to write my own adventure aboard this station.
Looking for type-NS Mining Platform deckplans
- Thread starter Golan2072
- Start date
fredofmars
SOC-12
If you are referring to the mining platform in Beltstrike, I have reverse-engineered the design on my Web site, but don't have deckplans.
http://www.geocities.com/fredofmars/designs/mineplat.htm
http://www.geocities.com/fredofmars/designs/mineplat.htm
So, the salient points are:
5000 tons (4350 tons)
Rough breakdown:
Drives and fuel: about 1800 tons
Grapples/nesting docks for 1235 tons of ships
Staterooms: 700 tons
Mass driver and processing bay: 425 tons
Bridge + computer: 105 tons
Defenses: 50 tons
Cargo hold: 30 tons
In fact, the ship itself only displaces a bit over 3100 tons -- the vehicles add another 30% to its displacement.
What's it look like?
Well, it's unstreamlined. I imagine it's a rather dispersed structure when in operation.
Design 1: Cylindrical, sort of
In the center, the drives (100 tons of engine room) on one end, the fuel tanks (I see 5 x 340-ton spheres) in the middle, and the bridge (another 100 tons) at the other end. Maybe. Two assemblies attach to this center piece -- at opposite ends -- via gantry supports or something:
On one 'side' of this, maybe there's some kind of docking 'arc' (?) with grapples or something for all those ship's boats. Or a gantry. Or something. The cargo hold will be here, too. So 30 tons for the cargo bay, and a lot of docking grapples and airlock mates or something.
On the other 'side', you've got the 700-ton hab module, the mass driver and processing bay (425 tons).
The laser defenses are scattered about, maybe.
Design 2: Slablike
Put the drives aft, the fuel tanks set up five-in-a-row after them (about 17m radius per sphere = 170m wide). Then have two sections proceeding forward: one side for the docking area (1200t), all spindly-like,
and the other in two squat pieces: the inner side has the hab and bridge (800t), and the outer side has the mass driver and processing bay (425t).
I like this design. The fuel tank spheres create a footprint of 170m long by 34m wide. If the hab area only rested on a 20m x 20m space, it would still only be 20m tall... including the bridge (which could be the bottom 3m)... and the processing bay would rest next to it, only half that height. And the cargo bay is just a bump. So we're talking about a small cluster of functional modules, next to a docking area, all sitting on a massive set of fuel tanks.
5000 tons (4350 tons)
Rough breakdown:
Drives and fuel: about 1800 tons
Grapples/nesting docks for 1235 tons of ships
Staterooms: 700 tons
Mass driver and processing bay: 425 tons
Bridge + computer: 105 tons
Defenses: 50 tons
Cargo hold: 30 tons
In fact, the ship itself only displaces a bit over 3100 tons -- the vehicles add another 30% to its displacement.
What's it look like?
Well, it's unstreamlined. I imagine it's a rather dispersed structure when in operation.
Design 1: Cylindrical, sort of
In the center, the drives (100 tons of engine room) on one end, the fuel tanks (I see 5 x 340-ton spheres) in the middle, and the bridge (another 100 tons) at the other end. Maybe. Two assemblies attach to this center piece -- at opposite ends -- via gantry supports or something:
On one 'side' of this, maybe there's some kind of docking 'arc' (?) with grapples or something for all those ship's boats. Or a gantry. Or something. The cargo hold will be here, too. So 30 tons for the cargo bay, and a lot of docking grapples and airlock mates or something.
On the other 'side', you've got the 700-ton hab module, the mass driver and processing bay (425 tons).
The laser defenses are scattered about, maybe.
Design 2: Slablike
Put the drives aft, the fuel tanks set up five-in-a-row after them (about 17m radius per sphere = 170m wide). Then have two sections proceeding forward: one side for the docking area (1200t), all spindly-like,
and the other in two squat pieces: the inner side has the hab and bridge (800t), and the outer side has the mass driver and processing bay (425t).
I like this design. The fuel tank spheres create a footprint of 170m long by 34m wide. If the hab area only rested on a 20m x 20m space, it would still only be 20m tall... including the bridge (which could be the bottom 3m)... and the processing bay would rest next to it, only half that height. And the cargo bay is just a bump. So we're talking about a small cluster of functional modules, next to a docking area, all sitting on a massive set of fuel tanks.
fredofmars
SOC-12
I updated my page to include a High Guard version. Still no deckplans, but I like the images conjured by robject.
http://www.geocities.com/fredofmars/designs/mineplat.htm
http://www.geocities.com/fredofmars/designs/mineplat.htm
Ask yourself also this question, it may colour the design: If these are to be moved by jump shuttles or bulk carriers, they should be designed so that they are as close to square as possible, since that will allow them to fit most easily in a standardized cargo space. Also, spindly protrusions should be retractable as they will have to be secured for travel. They should give an image of solidity.
50 Turrets? Yikes. That's put the run on quite a few Type T Patrol cruisers! Or corsairs... a fair sized Corsair force would be required to take one of these without 'inside men' taking the firepower offline.
50 Turrets? Yikes. That's put the run on quite a few Type T Patrol cruisers! Or corsairs... a fair sized Corsair force would be required to take one of these without 'inside men' taking the firepower offline.
The one I'd be using will be moved by a jump tug, so there are no cargo space considerations, though a large docking mechanism is desirable.
And keep in mind that the turrets are aremed with mining lasers, not military one - though 50 of them will still be a problem. So an attacker will preferrably use long-range missiles against this platform.
And keep in mind that the turrets are aremed with mining lasers, not military one - though 50 of them will still be a problem. So an attacker will preferrably use long-range missiles against this platform.
Those are both good points...
I think a squarer design is also "area" efficient -- the night after my post, I realized it would be "better" to put the modules on a square platform which "rested" on the drives and four 425t fuel spheres -- that gives it 75 meters on a side, plenty of room for the hab, bridge, mass driver, refinery, plus space to grapple and tie down all those boats. All that fitting inside a volume around 60m x 75m x 75m?
But mining lasers, eh? I may have to totally rethink my design, then... does that mean that this ship is meant to grab onto the asteroids it's mining?
I think a squarer design is also "area" efficient -- the night after my post, I realized it would be "better" to put the modules on a square platform which "rested" on the drives and four 425t fuel spheres -- that gives it 75 meters on a side, plenty of room for the hab, bridge, mass driver, refinery, plus space to grapple and tie down all those boats. All that fitting inside a volume around 60m x 75m x 75m?
But mining lasers, eh? I may have to totally rethink my design, then... does that mean that this ship is meant to grab onto the asteroids it's mining?
Why you would *turret* mount such things is interesting....
You'd think you'd mount them on arms like the canadarm to let them conveniently slice up ore samples (you'd have a laser as one option for the arm, with other options being gripping/holding claws, drills, bores, saws, cutter jets, etc).
I mean, conventional ball turrets just don't make sense for trying to do work around a sample floating nearby.
You'd think you'd mount them on arms like the canadarm to let them conveniently slice up ore samples (you'd have a laser as one option for the arm, with other options being gripping/holding claws, drills, bores, saws, cutter jets, etc).
I mean, conventional ball turrets just don't make sense for trying to do work around a sample floating nearby.
far-trader
SOC-14 10K
You could presume that a Mining Laser is an arm mounted cutting laser when in a turret. Very good for mining and when retracted still somewhat usable as a weapon turret. You could even use the other (empty) slots in the turret if they were empty for storage of the alternate heads. Even being able to do it all from the seat if you had just two heads. Park the one head in the empty slot and pick up the second head with the arm.
But I actually think the idea of mining lasers may be more of a rapid low energy pulse affair. Used close in to boil/ablat/fracture the crusty bits to get at the good stuff inside. Then comes the sweaty work of suiting up in the servo amped hazardous environ suit* and picking up the portable fusion tunnelling beam* and going in the hole to do the actual prospecting.
* The poor man's BD and FGMP
But I actually think the idea of mining lasers may be more of a rapid low energy pulse affair. Used close in to boil/ablat/fracture the crusty bits to get at the good stuff inside. Then comes the sweaty work of suiting up in the servo amped hazardous environ suit* and picking up the portable fusion tunnelling beam* and going in the hole to do the actual prospecting.
* The poor man's BD and FGMP
I'd have thought 'beam' for cutting, rather than pulse. You could use a laser for cutting (paring) or for drilling. If you had a diffractor, you could spread the beam and use it for melting (evaporation) of some crystalized liquids. You could probably use it for some form of optical reflectometry or scanning with the right sensors.
I could see belters making use of Alien's like construction frames (for cargo and rock moving). The externally usable ones would have manouvering systems and tools for prospecting and optical and other scanners as well as some grabbing manipulators to 'hold the suit docked to the sample' while the actual suit wearer used his hands to operate other tools. I rather think a fusion gun is out though... and the armour would be only sufficient to stop minor fragment punctures (maybe like low-end combat armour).
I could see belters making use of Alien's like construction frames (for cargo and rock moving). The externally usable ones would have manouvering systems and tools for prospecting and optical and other scanners as well as some grabbing manipulators to 'hold the suit docked to the sample' while the actual suit wearer used his hands to operate other tools. I rather think a fusion gun is out though... and the armour would be only sufficient to stop minor fragment punctures (maybe like low-end combat armour).
fredofmars
SOC-12
If you are trying to cut something, a pulsed laser is more effective, since it gives a moment for the plasma from the previous pulse to disperse. A beam laser creates a cloud of plasma that it then needs to get through to continue cutting.
"Land" on it if it's large enough, or get pretty close (a few KM distance at most) if it's smaller. Remember that most astroids would have neglegible gravity, so you could get into a "parking orbit" near them (i.e. match velocities and "lag" a few hundred meters behind them in a solar orbit) without too much problems. The ones that do have "gravity" would have to be landed on, unless heavy contra-grav is used.
far-trader
SOC-14 10K
Hi Employee 2-4601 and others,
Don't give up on the web, I know I found a fan-site a while back that went into a lot of detail on the Nostromo, using movie stills, original model shots and drawings, etc., to work out the layout and scale of the thing. I'm sure I bookmarked it or snagged it for future reference. I was considering translating it to Traveller at the time, but I didn't have any, time that is.
Anyway I had a quick look and can't fine the bookmark or any files, and google didn't get it either. I'll look a little harder later.
Don't give up on the web, I know I found a fan-site a while back that went into a lot of detail on the Nostromo, using movie stills, original model shots and drawings, etc., to work out the layout and scale of the thing. I'm sure I bookmarked it or snagged it for future reference. I was considering translating it to Traveller at the time, but I didn't have any, time that is.
Anyway I had a quick look and can't fine the bookmark or any files, and google didn't get it either. I'll look a little harder later.
Yes, there was a "Nostromo Files" webpage a while ago, and it's dead; the Nostromo tug itself has deckplans posted on a Polish site, but I can't find the refienery for love or money... Or gateway station, for that matter - Not even many shots of it.
My LBB2 Mining Platform design:
T-Y-C Furnace-class Mining Platform (Type-NS; TL9)
Book 2 design. Using a 4,000-ton non-standard (unstreamlined) hull, Mining Platform is capable of 1-G of acceleration. The fuel tankage of 1,000 tons supports up to 100 weeks of power plant operation and allows docking ships to be refueled. Adjacent to the bridge is a Model/3 computer. There are 71 staterooms. 40 single turrets are installed, mounting a single beam laser each. One Fuel Shuttle, 10 Belter Bins, 5 Escape Pods and one Heron-class Heavy Shuttle are carried onboard. In addition, up to ten Seekers (not included in price) may dock at the Mining Platform. The Mining Platform carries a 400-ton Ore Processing Bay and a 25-ton Mass Driver. There are 638 tons of Cargo Space. The crew nesecary to operate a Mining Platform is 119: One CO, one XO, 3 Administrators, one Pilot, one Navigator one Medic, three Engineers, two Fuel Shuttle crew, two Heavy Shuttle Crew, 20 Belter Bin crew, 40 Gunners, 40 Processing Bay workers and 4 Mass Driver workers; double occupancy is required for all crewmembers except for the CO, XO, Adminds, Pilot, Navigator, Medic and Engineers. The Mining Platform costs MCr1,034.7 (including architect's fees) single or MCr819.6 when mass-poroduced, and takes 35 months to build.
Standard Escape Pod (TL9)
Using a 10-ton streamlined hull, the Escape Pod is capable of generating 15 tons of thrust, allowing for up to 1-Gs acceleration. It carries 1 ton of fuel (giving 6 weeks and 4 days of endurance for the power plant), an auxiliary Solar Panels power plant providing enough power to keep the emergency low berths working after the fuel runs out, and has life support for 25 conscious people for 24 hours. The Escape Pod may not mount any weapons, but has a Model/1 computer. The Escape Pod carries six emergency low berths and has 0.49 tons excess space available. It costs MCr8 single or MCr6.4 mass-produced. This is the most common “lifeboat” design, required by Solar Triumvirate law to be carried (in amounts sufficient for the entire crew and all of the passengers) on any commercial starship of above 600 tons; some military vessels mount these Escape Pods as well. While this design is somewhat antiquated, it is effective enough to be used throughout known space.
Standard Belter Bin (TL9; Type-GB)
Using a 20-ton unstreamlined hull, the Belter Bin is capable of generating 200 tons of thrust, allowing for up to 6-Gs acceleration. It carries 4 tons of fuel (giving 2 weeks endurance for the power plant) and has a small bridge allowing a crew of two and providing (in conjunction with 0.5 tons of additional support systems) life support for 10 people for three weeks. The Belter Bin has a double turret mounting a missile rack and a beam laser. Adjacent to the bridge is a Model/1 computer. The Belter Bin has 5 tons excess space available. It costs MCr18.9 single or MCr15.1 mass-produced. The Belter Bin is an old but reliable small craft design intended for use in high-performance space construction and mining work. It is a versatile craft capable of tugging and mining, as well as defending itself against claim-jumpers and belt-pirates. Belter Bins are found in mass amounts wherever there is asteroid mining or heavy space-based industrial work.
Standard Fuel Shuttle (TL9; Type-TY)
Using a 90-ton streamlined hull, the Fuel Shuttle is capable of generating 300 tons of thrust, allowing for up to 3-Gs acceleration. It carries 71 tons of fuel (giving 23 weeks and 4 days endurance for the power plant) and has a large bridge allowing a crew of two and life support for 20 people for one week. The Fuel Shuttle may not mount any weapons, but has a Model/1 computer. The Fuel Shuttle has no available excess space. It costs MCr34.1 single or MCr27.3 mass-produced. The Fuel Shuttle skims and transports fuel for large, unstreamlined ships and stations that are incapable of conducting frontier refueling by themselves.
T-Y-C Heron-class Heavy Shuttle (TL9)
Using a 90-ton streamlined hull, the Heron is capable of generating 300 tons of thrust, allowing for up to 3-Gs acceleration. It carries 3 tons of fuel (giving 8 days endurance for the power plant) and has a large bridge allowing a crew of two and life support for 20 people for one week. The Heron has one hardpoint designated and 0.5 tons reserved for fire control, but no weapons installed. It may mount up to three laser or any other weapons. Adjacent to the bridge is a Model/1 computer. The Heron has 67.5 tons excess space available. It costs MCr33.3 single or MCr26.7 mass-produced. The Heron is a heavy-duty transport craft, far surpassing the older Dove in terms of payload and acceleration, but also far more expensive to purchase and maintain. It is mostly used for cargo- and passenger-carrying duties in the busier highports, as well as for heavy in-system hauling.
All small craft were designed using Steve Osmanski's (The Oz) small craft design system.
T-Y-C Furnace-class Mining Platform (Type-NS; TL9)
Book 2 design. Using a 4,000-ton non-standard (unstreamlined) hull, Mining Platform is capable of 1-G of acceleration. The fuel tankage of 1,000 tons supports up to 100 weeks of power plant operation and allows docking ships to be refueled. Adjacent to the bridge is a Model/3 computer. There are 71 staterooms. 40 single turrets are installed, mounting a single beam laser each. One Fuel Shuttle, 10 Belter Bins, 5 Escape Pods and one Heron-class Heavy Shuttle are carried onboard. In addition, up to ten Seekers (not included in price) may dock at the Mining Platform. The Mining Platform carries a 400-ton Ore Processing Bay and a 25-ton Mass Driver. There are 638 tons of Cargo Space. The crew nesecary to operate a Mining Platform is 119: One CO, one XO, 3 Administrators, one Pilot, one Navigator one Medic, three Engineers, two Fuel Shuttle crew, two Heavy Shuttle Crew, 20 Belter Bin crew, 40 Gunners, 40 Processing Bay workers and 4 Mass Driver workers; double occupancy is required for all crewmembers except for the CO, XO, Adminds, Pilot, Navigator, Medic and Engineers. The Mining Platform costs MCr1,034.7 (including architect's fees) single or MCr819.6 when mass-poroduced, and takes 35 months to build.
Standard Escape Pod (TL9)
Using a 10-ton streamlined hull, the Escape Pod is capable of generating 15 tons of thrust, allowing for up to 1-Gs acceleration. It carries 1 ton of fuel (giving 6 weeks and 4 days of endurance for the power plant), an auxiliary Solar Panels power plant providing enough power to keep the emergency low berths working after the fuel runs out, and has life support for 25 conscious people for 24 hours. The Escape Pod may not mount any weapons, but has a Model/1 computer. The Escape Pod carries six emergency low berths and has 0.49 tons excess space available. It costs MCr8 single or MCr6.4 mass-produced. This is the most common “lifeboat” design, required by Solar Triumvirate law to be carried (in amounts sufficient for the entire crew and all of the passengers) on any commercial starship of above 600 tons; some military vessels mount these Escape Pods as well. While this design is somewhat antiquated, it is effective enough to be used throughout known space.
Standard Belter Bin (TL9; Type-GB)
Using a 20-ton unstreamlined hull, the Belter Bin is capable of generating 200 tons of thrust, allowing for up to 6-Gs acceleration. It carries 4 tons of fuel (giving 2 weeks endurance for the power plant) and has a small bridge allowing a crew of two and providing (in conjunction with 0.5 tons of additional support systems) life support for 10 people for three weeks. The Belter Bin has a double turret mounting a missile rack and a beam laser. Adjacent to the bridge is a Model/1 computer. The Belter Bin has 5 tons excess space available. It costs MCr18.9 single or MCr15.1 mass-produced. The Belter Bin is an old but reliable small craft design intended for use in high-performance space construction and mining work. It is a versatile craft capable of tugging and mining, as well as defending itself against claim-jumpers and belt-pirates. Belter Bins are found in mass amounts wherever there is asteroid mining or heavy space-based industrial work.
Standard Fuel Shuttle (TL9; Type-TY)
Using a 90-ton streamlined hull, the Fuel Shuttle is capable of generating 300 tons of thrust, allowing for up to 3-Gs acceleration. It carries 71 tons of fuel (giving 23 weeks and 4 days endurance for the power plant) and has a large bridge allowing a crew of two and life support for 20 people for one week. The Fuel Shuttle may not mount any weapons, but has a Model/1 computer. The Fuel Shuttle has no available excess space. It costs MCr34.1 single or MCr27.3 mass-produced. The Fuel Shuttle skims and transports fuel for large, unstreamlined ships and stations that are incapable of conducting frontier refueling by themselves.
T-Y-C Heron-class Heavy Shuttle (TL9)
Using a 90-ton streamlined hull, the Heron is capable of generating 300 tons of thrust, allowing for up to 3-Gs acceleration. It carries 3 tons of fuel (giving 8 days endurance for the power plant) and has a large bridge allowing a crew of two and life support for 20 people for one week. The Heron has one hardpoint designated and 0.5 tons reserved for fire control, but no weapons installed. It may mount up to three laser or any other weapons. Adjacent to the bridge is a Model/1 computer. The Heron has 67.5 tons excess space available. It costs MCr33.3 single or MCr26.7 mass-produced. The Heron is a heavy-duty transport craft, far surpassing the older Dove in terms of payload and acceleration, but also far more expensive to purchase and maintain. It is mostly used for cargo- and passenger-carrying duties in the busier highports, as well as for heavy in-system hauling.
All small craft were designed using Steve Osmanski's (The Oz) small craft design system.
Fritz_Brown
Super Moderator
I'm curious, 2-4601, why is your Belter Bin armed? And, is it intended to go out and meet the seekers, or is it intended to be the prime method of mining for the platform?
Maladominus
SOC-14 1K
By chance... does this thing have ample docking bays for small craft or at least 1 or 2 Seeker/Scout belter ships?
