Knight26

Those are sweet, I love well done glass sculptures like that, have any more in the pipe?

They are Plasma-LASER, PLASER, turrets, later models have a beam capability added, so not too much space is needed below decks. It also has a pair of heavy Plasma Beam cannons, and 20 point defense turrets, minimum of two per hanger bay and engine. I think I may have gone a little overboard on the number of turrets though, need to cut a few, just have to figure out where.

Let's go blow something to hell, yes the Wolfsbane is now armed, not fully but armed. I just have to add the point defense turrets around the hangers and a couple on the engines. After that the other salient features like the sensor arrays, escape pods hatches, and docking points. I will also start on texturing the ship. Haterist: I'm keeping the launch tube on this one, the later replacement will have the side launch tubes instead of the single foward launcher, remember this is to be a rushed design. Also, those big blue pads are the docking areas for larger craft like transports, corvettes, etc...

Actually the flight bays are arranged with the runway down the middle of each bay and the fighters parked on either side. There is plenty of room in front of and behind the parking areas to store the spares and the deck immediately beneath, or above depending on the where it is, is also used for ammo and spares storage. As for other space problems, figure that each deck of the centraul hull has a little over 800,000 square feet of deck space. That and the central hull has over twenty decks if you include the dropship hanger and the raised area at the aft end, twelve of which not quite run the full length of the ship. I will have to do a cross section later. At the end of the first page is a picture of a bomber launching out of the bomber flight deck. All the rest of the craft are probably about a quarter that size, and the interceptor is probably on the order of super hornet scale. The number of fighters and attack craft is feasible, I have fit checked it several times. The reason for such a small craft is easy, these people have been in space for over 1000 yrs, so the development of such small craft is feasible. I will post a picture of the hanger/flight bays with the craft in them later, or near them to give a sense of scale. Something to consider as well, the Saratoga there is the same size as most carriers and they carry a crew of around 5000. So, you're talking a very advanced craft that is probably 20 times its size and only requires another 1000 people to run it. It typically operates with a full battlegroup, with about a dozen ships cruiser sized and up, plus another dozen corvettes. These ships would rarely if ever travel alone, but has enough armament and supplies to care for itself for quite some time. The ship also has plenty of replenishable supplies, including a full farm deck with hydroponically grown foods, and more in the space between the inner and outer hulls. Of course if the hull is breached these areas are immediate exposed to space, but the food is flash frozen. Meat onboard is taken care of by way of rapidly cloned and grown genetically engineered animals that are kept in suspended animation, or not quite absolute 0 storage until needed. TP, what's TP, don't you know how to use the sea-shells, lol. Despite the farm resources the ship does have to resupply regularly to get other consumable items. The ship also has facilities to produce its own fuel, bussard ram scoops, bring in stellar hydrogen to be processed for fueling the ship and fighters. Hope that answers some questions, I'm off to bed, tomorrow we will have weapons.

Ok, more progress tonight, I should have all the armor "islands" now, but may add more to the viper area up front, the wide blue area. Tomorrow I will start on adding the weapons and other salient features like additional sensors, docking points etc... Also those blue areas on the fighter hangers are tentitively being used as corvette and transport docks. They also have cargo lifts. The cargo bays are accessed directly from the flight bays so I may add cargo bay doors later anyway, but we will see, since there really is no need. I appreciate all the suggestions and look forward to your future comments. I'm also going to add a couple observation bubbles and start texturing it tomorrow, also I decided not to cut the roof out of the front of the bomber launch area. Lynx, in regards to the number of strike craft it carries. A Tacit Class carrier carries a compliment of: 20 bombers (1 squadron/wing [bSC, Bomber, Space Carrier]) 26 attack craft (2 squadrons [ASC, Attack, Space Carrier]) 65 interceptor/heavy fighters (5 squadrons [iSC, Intercept, Space Carrier]) 312 medium/superiority fighters (24 squadrons [FSC, Fighter, Space Carrier]) 39 light/recon fighters (3 squadrons [FSC and RSC, Recon, Space Carrier]) 13 dropships (varying type) (1 Squadron [DSC, Dropship, Space Carrier]) 30 shuttles (even mix exo and trans-atm) (1 squadron [sSC, Shuttle, Space Carrier]) So that is a grand total of 505 craft, plus smaller auxillaries, work pods, escape ships, etc... Depending on where they launch from, launch is either, under own power, or using grappler beams to throw them out of the ship. And, becuase I know it will come up it has a crew compliment of just under 6000 including marines and civilian staff. Officers can even have family members onboard as long as both parents serve aboard ship in either a military or civlian function. And, the Tacit Class is not even the largest carrier in space, the GF Barker class are larger and carry more craft, and confed has one or two classes larger then the Tacits. However, after even 100 yrs in service the Tacits are still one of the most advanced class of ship in space, and are coveted not only because of their capability but the material they are made of. Ok, I've written enough for now, on to the pictures.

I think its been established that by making removable landing gear and some small swap parts, like the groin piece and front landing gear bay then making a good YF-19 is possible. So I would go for that, that or a much large scale needed to have the oragami mechanism in the legs and crotch needed.

picture? of me? that can't be done. i don't have any pictures of me. the last one i took was on 11/26/99 which was the exact date my state ID was issued. i don't take pictures because it only turns into evidence. but thanks for the offer. LOL, ok how about a ship then, I'll name one after you in the books, what class of ship do you prefer and on which side, Good guys, bad guys, worse guys, or neutral?

ACtually I like the cube or sphere design as well for ships, very efficient and practical. The reason this is designed the way it is is mostly due to the traditions of the races involved in buidlign them. I try to give every race its own ship style. This one is built by a company named ASF, which has a good grounding in nautical and aviation designs and so by tradition those aspects carry over. THe Lodrans tend to have ships that look a bit more like sea life in overall outline, just far blockier. Their ships also all started out as submersibles, but aafter they went into sspace they ditched most if not all the aerodynamic features keeping only the basic outlines. The Drashig ships all look like backwards beatles, and many other races go with the morre blocky designs. The only ships I actually put aerodynamic considerations into are the actual trans or endo atmospheric craft, fighters, bomber, dropships, light corvettes and such. Also you can call them wings as that is what I typically call them, though like I said before they are that way only by name, not by function. Also, this is for my books, I design the ships so that I stay consistant in their descriptions and because I just like to, so a little for $h!ts and giggles yeah. Oh and haterist since you got the earlier question right, if you send me your picture I can render you in scene with any of the craft you like.

Linx just about hit it on the head for why this ship has "wings" and while they are referred to as wings, it is also explicitly stated that they are not lift producing devices and that the ship is not intended for atmospheric operations. Except maybe in extreme emergency like crash landings into the ocean.

Made a little progress last night, plan to do more this afternoon and evening. I am considering maybe chopping out the foward most portion of the launch deck to give it a more open look. Once I get the major surface islands down I will start on the turrtes, sensors, observation domes, etc... Also to add a sense of scale I threw in an old Saratoga model I pulled off the net some time ago. I'm thinking of adding a corvette docking pad somewhere, just need to find an area large enough. As for bulking up the central rear vertically I am a little reluctant to do that at this time, but we will see what happens.

Interesting, though you do have to admire that fact that after that face plant he still manages to get back up and keep trying. FUnny nonetheless but I like that kind of determination.

Thanks for the comments guys. Like I said earlier the design was rushed that is why it has the fly through hanger bays. As for engine nacelles, I prefer them to centerline engine, easier to arrange exhausts and such as well. Yes, if you lost an engine you would have severe controlability issues, but then the navigation thrusters, to be added, could be used in emergencies. Anyway I've done some work tonight, still have more to go, but I figured I would post the progress thus far. As for ending the hulls all along the same plain, hmm, let me see what I can do about that. I also redid the engines, those spiky things in front are a type of energy generation system and the bridge dealies over the hangers are the flight control bays. There are still a lot of details to be added though. As for aerodynamics, I know that isn't required in space, I'm an aerospace engineer afterall. If you look you can tell that the strictly exo-atmospheric craft really are not aerodynamic, but even in a race that has been in space for a long time, some old habits die hard. Let me know what you think so far. OH yeah, and Haterist you were right, SR-71, was watching a movie with the Blackbird when I first drew it.

Yeah she is a capital ship, right now I am still getting down the general shape, once that is done, I will start adding sensors, added armor, weapons, hanger details, etc... I'm just surprised that no one has tried to guess what the original layout was inspired by, I could post a top view but that would be way too obvious. ANd Haterist, thanks for lifting the mood.

I don't mind constructice criticism, or even something that is actually funny, but that is none of the above. anytime. If you don't have some constructive to add then bug off Agent One. Whether I agree with them or not everyone else who has posted here has at least given some constructive criticsm, not dropped to the level of 12 yr old just to increase their post count and make themselves seem like a big man. I don't know why you are bend out of shape. The comments I make on this board I make for my own entertainment exclusively, and I must say, I rule. If you don't like em... well I won't lose any sleep over it. Tell you what if you would feel better I'll email you some pictures of my biceps. I don't know what your issue is man, but I am not going to even respond to your childish comments anymore, good luck growing up. If anyone has any constructive comments regarding the design I look forward to hearing them.

That Garland looks cool, and though I haven't seen Megazone-23 I might be interested in that particular mecha. I think I missed the post with the scale, what was it again?

I don't mind constructice criticism, or even something that is actually funny, but that is none of the above. anytime. If you don't have some constructive to add then bug off Agent One. Whether I agree with them or not everyone else who has posted here has at least given some constructive criticsm, not dropped to the level of 12 yr old just to increase their post count and make themselves seem like a big man.

I don't mind constructice criticism, or even something that is actually funny, but that is none of the above.

I made some changes to the new version. I think it turned from bulky, super battle carrier into the sleak thing you saw because its original inspiration started to harken back. A special surprise to whomever can first guess what the original layout was inspired by. ANyhow, I went back and made some mods, making it more blocky, I added the mandibles for some strange reason, they may or may not stay but I think I may proceed with the design and turn the old Tacit's into something else, spent too much time on them simply to throw them out. ANyway I think the changes I made make it look much larger. Also to give a sense of scale and because DH made reference to a high speed bomber I stuck the recently redone Feral-F bomber in the launch tube to give a sense of scale. The bomber is a little over 100' long so you can see the ship is right about 3400' long. COmments are appreciated and will be taken into consideration. I have some ideas of what to add to the hull including something like the "handle" from the back end of the Daedeleus, it came to me in a dream, what can I say.

IT could still be a cover name though, just a name to through people off from what he is really doing. Blue Harvest anyone?

Ok, decision time. I cranked this out real quick this morning at work, it still needs a lot of work, details added, weapons, new engines, etc... but is along the lines of what I am currently thinking. Those holes on the underside are the launch tubes for the dropship hanger, and on later ship models a large cannon will be slung under the forward hull in front of that hanger. I have the old engines on it for now and they will be replaced if this goes further. The mass has increased about 10% so far and I anticipate it going up more if I go along with this redesign. Now the question is, should I? And if I do what suggestions do you have? Let me know what you think, appreciate any and all comments.

LOL, I get that one a lot Graham, those are actually supposed to be old hits, those will be redone on the new model once completed. This is an idea that came to me last night, right now I just have a vague descriptive idea. I'm thinking something Daedeleus looking, in the bows, with a low slung hump below for the dropship hanger bay. The central hull would be widened and flattened overall with a sloping front in the same general shape of the daedaleus. The "wing" hangers on the side would be of a similar shape, but possibly with two hulsl of same basic shape stacked and inverted atop each other. The engine nacelles would then extend out from there. If I have time today at work I will slam something out really quick and post an image. Sorry for hte vague description but it did come to me in a dream.

Interesting ideas, but an island structure/tower/bridge, not going to happen, maybe some additional hardware up there, but no bridge. The reason being is that Confed ships bury their command facilities deep into the ship to protect them and nto give the enemy an obvious point of attack. I'm going to work on a complete ground up rebuild tomorrow, try out working on a concept at work, see what it looks like, after that I will make the final call as to how to proceed.

Ok I did a little work on a more detailed version. I still need to add things like airlocks, escape ship hatches, docking points, etc... The question now is, should I proceed further with this model, or go for the full tear down?

LOL

Actually the Aquarian Age may also refer to the Age of Aquarius, which is the age we are suppossedly entering. The different "ages" of the zodiac, IIRC, last about 2000 years, we are just coming out of the age of Pisces. The Age of Aquarius is the age where man is suppossed to start leading himself into the future instead of relying on outside forces to guide us. It kind of makes sense and may still lead towards a Macross series because all macross series so far have occured in the Aquarian Age. From the title I would say it might be a show that deals with man/mankind coming to age and leading themselves and may have some spiritual overtones, should be interesting no matter what though.