Might I suggest some kind of connection mechanism between the two cargo pods instead of just butting them together? They'd have to be connected in a way that would allow the connection to bend, I would think. Maybe some kind of ball and socket joint. Problem is, if those things really get moving and their thrusters can't keep them at station, any connection will be pretty much pointless. The momentum would shear it right apart.
posted
Very nice! Just one question... do the impulse engines extend out enough to reach past the cargo pods when they're attached?
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posted
From what I can discern from FJ's schematics those pods seam to have their own inbuilt 'top-to-tail' docking system. I would speculate that there is a set of powerful electro-magnets involved along with some mooring-beam emitters, submerged beneath the hull to keep things properly in line. As for the sheering forces you're probably right, but I imagine that so long as the tug doesn't make any sudden turns it should be ok.
quote:Very nice! Just one question... do the impulse engines extend out enough to reach past the cargo pods when they're attached?
posted
One thing you might add is some form of docking or umbilical mechanism. While the ship may be unmanned, you'd still have to have a way for maintenance personnel and what not to get aboard for repairs, upgrades, etc.
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quote:What does that secondary arm do? Is it just for supporting the container?
Yeah, basically. I originally had it with just the one but it looked a little to unstable so I added the second one to perhaps act as a shock absorber and/or to function as a mooring clamp during docking.
quote:So this pod is completely unmaned? Thats why there are no windows, right?
Correct, although I'm sure there are some onboard facilities for maintenance crews and I'm sure there would be a small, cramped manual control room too.
quote:One thing you might add is some form of docking or umbilical mechanism. While the ship may be unmanned, you'd still have to have a way for maintenance personnel and what not to get aboard for repairs, upgrades, etc.
I'm sure that there would be the usual exterior maintenance access hatches and a maze of internal jefferies tubes, but an obvious umbilical is a little tricky with this design. For starters every angle is blocked by nacelles and docking arms. The only way in that I can think of is through the container's umbilicle connection in the docking 'cup'. That would mean either first gaining access to the container or the absence of said container.
Actually, one possibility just occurred to me; An engineering variant of the FJ container. Say about 1/3 the length of the standard version that has everything the Atlas needs for an engineering overhaul, Cargo holds full of spare parts, workshops, diagnostic computers, deuterium tanks, onboard shuttlebay, crew accommodation and of course a manual override bridge.
posted
Mabye you could make a small, warp capable craft to dock on the ship's dorsal side and act as a control center for maintence teams (something like the J-Class freighter from Enterprise). That way you'd have maintence teams warping from drone to drone on a schedule, servicing their repairs, but really not interfering with their schedules.
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-------------------- Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. -Aeschylus, Agamemnon
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posted
At the risk of inflating your ego, I have to say that's just bueatiful. Really great work, man.
Now, some requests: can you show us the maintence tender on the drone? Are the three squares on the side escape pods? Will you make a forward view so I can see the shuttlebay? Pleeeeze? I'd love to make a model of it and I need some scale refrences.
-------------------- Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. -Aeschylus, Agamemnon
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