A smaller, cheaper alternative to the Ptolemy class. It can only carry one container, but it's automated and doesn't need a crew. The best of both worlds! And for only 2 million credits, it can be YOURS!
Posted by TheWoozle (Member # 929) on :
Pretty space ship, but I was expecting something a little more like NOMAD. You know, more greebles, antennas, and sensors, instead of all inside a hull.
Posted by Masao (Member # 232) on :
I think the nacelles are too high. Since most of the bulk is centered around the container, there's no reason to have the nacelles so high up.
Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :
On a sidenote, is there any sort of sensible registry system for FJ pods? Apart from the NCC-1**** numbers.
Posted by Identity Crisis (Member # 67) on :
Also, what's the scoop on those assault and station ones?
Posted by Identity Crisis (Member # 67) on :
"The Assault Transport Container is used for the transportation and support of Federation Peace Keeping Forces (Starfleet Marines). The container is equipped with facilities and supplies to support the troops. The container is also equipped with a twenty four bay hanger deck used for fighters and assault craft."
Jackill's Starfleet Reference Manual, Volume 1. Copyright Eric Kristiansen 1993
"The Station Container is a hub for the attachment of various containers. The container is equipped with extensive support equipment and auxiliary power. The container is also equipped with a six bay hanger deck used for auxiliary hanger space."
Jackill's Starfleet Reference Manual, Volume 2. Copyright Eric Kristiansen 1993
Posted by Topher (Member # 71) on :
Aha... Many thanks.
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
quote:Originally posted by Harry: It's that time again when inspiration suddenly hits..
A smaller, cheaper alternative to the Ptolemy class. It can only carry one container, but it's automated and doesn't need a crew. The best of both worlds! And for only 2 million credits, it can be YOURS!
Interesting. I had a similar idea a while back but never got around to drawing it. I envisioned it looking more like a cap that wrapped around the forward 5th of the container, with the nacelles attached on a horizontal plane.
I had another one that never made it to pixels that was basically to be a central hull around which 4 containers could be attached in an "X" configuration, again with horizontally aligned nacelles.
P.S. I agree with Masao, those nacelles are a little too high.
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
GAH! I hate it when someone inspires me to get up off of my arse!
*Writes Harry's name on the revenge list*
So to my great annoyance and at the risk of being called a plagiarist, a pigmy chimp and a thread hijacker (most of which is quite true) here is my Atlas-Class.
Posted by The359 (Member # 37) on :
I had a similar idea as well a few years ago, of having something wrap around the front of the cargo pod. The pod merely 'plugs' into the back of the engineering hull, and the long horizontal tail merely acts as structural support, to help keep the pods steady and straight in case they want to try and sway. Of course, mine isn't automated.
quote: So to my great annoyance and at the risk of being called a plagiarist, a pigmy chimp and a thread hijacker (most of which is quite true) here is my Atlas-Class.
Plagiarist! Pigmy chimp! Thread Hijacker! Nice design!
Posted by Masao (Member # 232) on :
I too designed one of these thingies about 10 years ago. I'll see it I can dig up the sketches and scan it for posting.
Posted by The Mighty Monkey of Mim (Member # 646) on :
Poor Harry! It seems you're chasing everyone else's heels... Posted by The359 (Member # 37) on :
The thing that always bothered me about most tugs is the fact that the connection point between the starship and the containers seemed so small that in my mind, it looks like it'd be rather easy to break. Hence the long spine-like structure on my Baltic Sea. Helps give support to the pods so that they aren't likely to move around and possibly shake loose from the connection points.
Posted by Masao (Member # 232) on :
Ok, an automated drone moving cargo containers at warp-speed.
Sounds like easy prey for pirates!
Or would this operate as part of a convoy?
Posted by The359 (Member # 37) on :
I like your idea, Masao, of grouping the pods together in the triangle fashion instead of having a large string of them, it seems much more efficent and practical, especially for defensive purposes. I designed a modern 'supertug' that is akin to a modern oceanic oil carrier, with the pods held sideways along the spine in the front of the ship so that they are more clustered together and easier to protect.
Posted by Captain39 (Member # 1001) on :
would you really need to haul that many pods?
Posted by The359 (Member # 37) on :
Depends on what they're being used for. Building some kind of big colony, you'd need a lot of support. The Supertug could also carry small ships, towing them back for repair or whatnot.
Posted by Masao (Member # 232) on :
According to FJ's SFTM, you could tow 2 containers linked end to end. But I figured putting a warp field around the containers would be a lot easier if the containers were bundled like sticks.
Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :
Great. I think the Imhotep class has been thrown onto the pile of unfinished stuff. With the nacelles down, it looks silly. And if I redesign it, it would probably end up much like Reverend's ship. Oh well.. it was a nice try Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
quote: Ok, an automated drone moving cargo containers at warp-speed.
Sounds like easy prey for pirates!
Or would this operate as part of a convoy?
I'd say yes and yes.
Since pirates seam to be a problem that only crops up in certain areas of space (like near the Orion system for instance) and probably the outer borders of the Federation, there should be plenty of space where it is safe to travel without the danger of attack.
In these "Green Shipping Zones" robot tugs could be used on direct freight runs on the primary trade routes between major systems (Earth, Vulcan, Andor etc.). In "Yellow Shipping Zones", the ones where there is a known pirate presence, robot tugs would probably move in convoys with at least one manned escort. Probably something like a Ptolemy. The "Red Shipping Zones" would basically be disputed territory or a war zone so the robot tugs would generally move as a part of a carrier group and so be well protected. If you want to be prepared for every possibility then you could say that there are "Blue Zones" for area with space anomalies, "Black Zones" which have large or dangerously arranged gravity wells (like a binary singularity) and "White zones" for uncharted areas of space.
quote: According to FJ's SFTM, you could tow 2 containers linked end to end. But I figured putting a warp field around the containers would be a lot easier if the containers were bundled like sticks.
Agreed, although it could be argued that the two pod limit could because that is the limit of the warp field and that in the Ptolemy's case a "stick bundle" configuration just isn't possible.
The reasoning for this could be that the Ptolemy is primarily designed for towing Starliner pods, which for the safety of the passengers are not permitted to travel in bundles.
Which would actually make the Ptolemy-Class a Courier/Warp Sled.
quote: Great. I think the Imhotep class has been thrown onto the pile of unfinished stuff. With the nacelles down, it looks silly. And if I redesign it, it would probably end up much like Reverend's ship. Oh well.. it was a nice try
You don't have to move the nacelles down that far, just low enough so the bottom edge of the nacelles is in line with the top edge of the forward hull.
See, that dosen't look silly at all.
As for looking too much like my design, don't worry about it, I'm sure there could be dozens of different designs for a robotic or manned tug. Just look at how many different types of big-rig trucks there are. Who knows, Masao could even dedicate a whole page to the robotic tugs of the 23rd century at SFM. Posted by Captain39 (Member # 1001) on :
sounds like a little wishfull hinting Posted by Masao (Member # 232) on :
I have been working on and off (mostly off) on a transport ship article. I have prepared schematics of the Robot ship and Huron and a few of my own. Truth be told I find cargo ships a bit dull and haven't been able to motivate myself to finish the article.
I like your ship, Harry. It's better than mine. It fits in nicely with the TAS ships. You could even have a manned version. However, I'd make the front dish a bit smaller, since this ship wouldn't be going as fast as a Connie. Also, I think the nacelle looks a bit funny: it's tapered, but the top surface is horizontal rather than the midline through the nacelle.
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
quote:Originally posted by Reverend: ...and "White zones" for uncharted areas of space.
Foo'!! AIRbody knows that the White Zone is for loading or unloading ONLY!!
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
Shirley, you can't be serious! And who're you calling a Foo? You're a Foo! You're a big smelly Foo face!!
BTW, who's AIRbody? A relative of Inflatable IngridTM or Polythene PalTM perhaps? Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :
Another thought.. did the TAS robot ships have names? Or just NCC-G**** (I suspect the G stands for Grain) registries?
Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :
And yesterday I made a variant that can transport antimatter containers. And in keeping with FJ/TAS tradition, this minor change is enough to give it a new class name
I think I'm going to add some more detail to the nacelles later.
Posted by Wraith (Member # 779) on :
Nice- like the specialised antimatter container.
Posted by Captain39 (Member # 1001) on :
Very cool! Something I don't think is heard or thought about much in TrekTech. Love the concept.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
I like the labeled Antimatter pod. Translated into Klingon it reads: "Shoot here for BIG explosion!"
[ April 13, 2003, 01:04 AM: Message edited by: Jason Abbadon ]
Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :
Well well well.. It's been a long time since this got updated.
Also included in that thread are the latest 2D schematics (not sure if that link is allowed).
I also have two more variants on queue: A verion that can transport two containers side-by-side instead of in train formation, and one with a normal tractor beam instead of a tow pad, for flying around with asteroids, derelict ships and Kirk's ego.
Posted by Masao (Member # 232) on :
I've always liked this design, Harry.
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
Here here.
Posted by Topher (Member # 71) on :
I have to be a member to see the pictures? Pfft.
Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :
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