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Hi all, been busy recently knocking out TOS designs for an RPG that a guy was setting up, based on the USS Detroyat. After I'd built the Detroyat itself from plans found on the web, he wanted an assault shuttle and I came up with a few ideas for him to choose from. I then also developed the discarded ideas a little and this is what came out of all that.
The idea was for a more militarily useful shuttle than the standard TOS one, so I went for a flying APC idea. That meant a large rear ramp and compact side seating to give easy access and lots of space, so that meant losing the impulse engines from the rear. They were moved to the sides and the ramp added, giving almost a movie era layout to the ship. Tough skids were added for rushed landings, and the nacelles moved up out of the way. More powerful phasers and some added aerodynamic surfaces completed the look.
This was based on an original sketch by Matt Jeffries, an unused design for the TOS shuttlecraft that was too curvy to build cheaply at full size. I made it a bit slimmer and gave it some more obvious weapons emplacements and that was it.
I had a third design which wasn't much different from the original TOS shuttle, a flying box with windows and nacelles. I was experimenting with nacelle placement when I wondered why it needed them? I realised I'd never seen a TOS verion of the travel pod seen in spacedock in the Slow Motion Picture. There was also a need for a ship to fit smaller hangars on peoples designs, a ship that was only for short range missions and needed no warp capability. Hence this design, a little flying box for ship-ship or ship-planet travel within a system, or as an engineers inspection pod.
Anyway, just thought you guys might want to check them out. Crits always welcomed.
-------------------- www.kennyscrap.com - where I download crap I make.
Registered: Jun 2003
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When I finished it, word got back to Mike Morrissette who originally designed it. The version you see above is actually the second one I built, the first being true to his plans but not TOS enough for the client. He asked if I would ever finish off the first one for him, and now we've ended up collaborating on his 'ultimate' vision of his Detroyat design.
He's redoing his plans and sends me finished sections, which I turn into 3D. It'll be much more detailed than the one above when complete, and will have some interesting colouring too. He's also finally incorporating shuttlebays into the design, one of the reasons I had to make my own version to suit the clients game.
It's proving a bit of a tough build for me. The modeling itself is not a problem but he's very strict on how he wants finished sections to look and work, and the colouring and texture are tough to get right via email. Exotic materials and all that! Right now I've built the nacelles and part of the saucer, but we're trying to get the material right for the cowl at the rear.
-------------------- www.kennyscrap.com - where I download crap I make.
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted
An airlock attachment on the Tranelpod would be very cool- maybe just on one side. for a retro feel. Not real keen on the fighter- TOS was supposed to the the bright shiney future after all. Maybe add a turret and some Mirror universe markings and it'll sing.
While i generally loather the "bar o' soap" shuttle designs of TOS, that Assualt Shuttle looks pretty keen- I'd change the name to something less hostile sounding though- like Recon Shuttle or Rapid Deployment Shuttle.
That Destroyat looks great- a class named after Destro from GI Joe has some strikes against it already, so your version is doubley nice.
Registered: Aug 2002
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