More small shuttle variants

[Brian Smaller]

Got any more ideas? Let me know

http://woolshedwargamer.com/2015/05/29/more-small-shuttle-variants/

Cheers
Brian

 

[HRLMT]

The 10 D. Ton Small Shuttle

Any chance of providing a version of the deckplans without the watermark ?
It would make them more usable for gaming. This shuttle seems to be a close relative of the launch from the RPG Space Opera, is this true.

Here is a plans idea for you. Build a Banner Class that is also a close relative of the Space Opera version. I see no problems in using that old and out-of-print RPG to
get inspiration for deckplan ideas. Best of luck !

 

[flykiller]

there's no reason why the pilot must be front and center. put him aft port in the overhead and leave the main deck free for passengers with a big bay window ....

 

[Brian Smaller]

there's no reason why the pilot must be front and center. put him aft port in the overhead and leave the main deck free for passengers with a big bay window ....

Tradition. Same reason that Traveller warships all seem to have a bridge like a World War Two surface warship, instead of it being tucked away in the centre with lots of armour, fuel and stuff around it to absorb hits.

 

[Brian Smaller]

Any chance of providing a version of the deckplans without the watermark ?
It would make them more usable for gaming. This shuttle seems to be a close relative of the launch from the RPG Space Opera, is this true.

Here is a plans idea for you. Build a Banner Class that is also a close relative of the Space Opera version. I see no problems in using that old and out-of-print RPG to
get inspiration for deckplan ideas. Best of luck !

Sometimes the actual tone of forum posts can lose something in the translation so I am not sure if your post is snippy or not - probably a cultural thing. But you are right, of course they are As to the two you mentioned I forgot to include the inspiration in the hat tip. I will go outside and flagellate myself immediately. Likewise I didn't think to 'credit' GDW when I did my take on Type S scouts and Modular Cutters. Double flagellation time.

If you want a non-watermarked version, PM me your email address and I will think about it.

Cheers
Brian

 

[martletsquire]

Let's put the passengers in front of the pilot, so they can see the ground first when the plane augers in...

Actually, the little spaceplane looks like a fun craft for a pilot to fly, like a super duper Cessna or mini-Lear jet. Keep up the great work.

 

[aramis]

Tradition. Same reason that Traveller warships all seem to have a bridge like a World War Two surface warship, instead of it being tucked away in the centre with lots of armour, fuel and stuff around it to absorb hits.

People screamed bloody murder when I put a scoutship bridge underside forward. Despite that being the best place for the pilot to see what he's putting down upon.

People have a lot of preconceptions built in from...

• The old Buck Rogers Serials...
• The Flash Gordon serials...
• Star Trek...
• Star Wars...
• Battlestar Galactica...
• 70's Buck Rogers TV show

All of which have bridges on the upper surface, towards the front.

(In all fairness, the BR and FG serials are all, AFAICT/IIRC single deck designs.)

 

[Reban]

Oh for the days of airline travel when the pilot sat behind the passengers and outside


The original Thunderbirds series had some great aircraft with unusual pilot positions like the Fireflash.

I have a friend who always gets a seat in the last row on airlines, because "you never heard of a plane backing into a mountain did you?".

As more an more VR and augmented reality comes into the control position of all vehicles we're going to see a shift away from the traditional placements. On the other hand its always a good idea to have some sort of window on the outside world (even if it takes the form of a periscope).

 

[boomslang]

As more an more VR and augmented reality comes into the control position of all vehicles we're going to see a shift away from the traditional placements. On the other hand its always a good idea to have some sort of window on the outside world (even if it takes the form of a periscope).

In the aerospace industry, there has been discussion off and on for decades about moving the cockpit to somewhere more useful like the bottom front of the tail rudder; it would allow the pilots to observe the body and wings of the aircraft on the ground and in flight and better notice things like ice buildup and flap settings.

All something like the Fireflash needs is an independently-powered closed-circuit camera in the well of the nose wheel (and maybe a laser rangefinder while we are at it) to help with the last couple of meters before touchdown.

Frankly, spacecraft do not require windows at all for flight operations if reliable-enough camera and periscope systems are in place. Windows are for the sightseeing tourists.

 

[Brian Smaller]

Frankly, spacecraft do not require windows at all for flight operations if reliable-enough camera and periscope systems are in place. Windows are for the sightseeing tourists.

I agree totally. But films just wouldn't be so dramatic if say, Han Solo looked at a viewscreen and said "That's no moon", as opposed to a pan shot out of the cockpit and across space to the Deathstar.

I saw some cool plans (possibly on here to be honest) for the Chrysanthemum DE that had the bridge smack in the middle of the sphere at the front. One of the better designs I had seen.

 

[Condottiere]

Have a holoscopic bridge, which I would presume would be the advanced version of the glass cockpit.

 

[martletsquire]

The ability to see out with the Mk1 Eyeball is not to be discounted. You can have all the holo this and glass that and even a very expensive machine that goes beep, but once in a while it is nice to just look out a slab of something and see if it is raining.

Just remember, your holo whatever doesn't work when your power is off.

Especially in a little sport craft like the one Brian gave us. It looks like it should be a pilot's plane, fun to fly and able to go anywhere.

 

[aramis]

The ability to see out with the Mk1 Eyeball is not to be discounted. You can have all the holo this and glass that and even a very expensive machine that goes beep, but once in a while it is nice to just look out a slab of something and see if it is raining.

Just remember, your holo whatever doesn't work when your power is off.

Especially in a little sport craft like the one Brian gave us. It looks like it should be a pilot's plane, fun to fly and able to go anywhere.

On a ship, if the power is off, you're dead in the water.

On a space ship, if the power is off, you're either dead or soon to be dead.

 

[martletsquire]

Well, Smaller's spaceplane is an interface vehicle, which in my mind brings up the good old days of NASA (Pre-Shuttle). The ability to pilot a craft that is malfunctioning, overriding computer control, etc... all the things that make the right stuff.

Who wouldn't want a Gusmobile (Gemini capsule)?

And remember, design matters. You can build a stodgy, ugly brick as a car, but the sexier looking car will sell better. Same for planes, to an extent.

 

[aramis]

Well, Smaller's spaceplane is an interface vehicle, which in my mind brings up the good old days of NASA (Pre-Shuttle). The ability to pilot a craft that is malfunctioning, overriding computer control, etc... all the things that make the right stuff.

Who wouldn't want a Gusmobile (Gemini capsule)?

And remember, design matters. You can build a stodgy, ugly brick as a car, but the sexier looking car will sell better. Same for planes, to an extent.

If the computer is out, and you're attempting to land, you are either desperate or the alternative is assured death anyway. There's no spacefaring equivalent to the old crop-duster which can be flown by the seat of the pants.

No controls except maybe some doors will be non-electronic; few of those won't be computerized. No computer, no flight control. Hell, on most modern light jet transports, it's all fly by wire.

 

[agorski]

I've always thought that the bridge should be protected as much as possible but there should be a tiny secondary bridge for visual docking purposes up front.

 

[flykiller]

Same reason that Traveller warships all seem to have a bridge like a World War Two surface warship, instead of it being tucked away in the centre with lots of armour, fuel and stuff around it to absorb hits.

heh. entirely reasonable - in traveller space combat the enemy is impossible to see anyway, but imtu if a ship is to be operated in atmo the pilot must be able to see the ground and any docking ports and any airborne activity directly without electronic aids.

 

[flykiller]

"where's the window?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-qEmmpGYvA

 

[Brian Smaller]

If the computer is out, and you're attempting to land, you are either desperate or the alternative is assured death anyway. There's no spacefaring equivalent to the old crop-duster which can be flown by the seat of the pants.

No controls except maybe some doors will be non-electronic; few of those won't be computerized. No computer, no flight control. Hell, on most modern light jet transports, it's all fly by wire.

Back in the 80s one of my friends rolled up an ex-Navy pilot using HG who had Pilot-9 and virtually no other skills. He could crop-dust and barn-storm with a battlecruiser