800 ton Merc - Core Rule book

[phavoc]

I recall reading somewhere that the cutters could only be launched while the ship was in space.

I checked in my GURPS Traveller core book and... It says that it takes approx 37 minutes (so exact!) for the cutter to leave its well, drop its current module off, then go back into the well and pick up the new module and then exit the well again. I guess the other module gets left in space since time ran out... or maybe the 37 minutes covers a complete exchange. It wasn't really clear on that.

FWIW, I was looking at the CT module and it notes the following for module handling:

From "Adventure 7: Broadsword" Copyright 1982 by GDW:

Enter cutter well- five minutes.
Leave cutter well- five minutes.
Detach module in free space- two minutes.
Attach module in free space- five minutes.
Detach module in cutter well- two minutes.
Attach module in cutter well- two minutes.
Move cutter from orbit to world surface- twenty minutes.
Move cutter from world surface to orbit- twenty minutes.

And both cutters may be active simultaneous it notes.

GURPS had a different aspect for adding in the module to a cutter. I'd have to dig out my Modular cutter source book to get the times it had listed and compare them to the original GDW books.

 

[phavoc]

The MGT deckplans for the Broadsword do have space for two additional cutter modules to be stored internally.

Nope, it doesn't. Not my copy anyway. It doesn't even list module storage in the key. It just isn't there. Not in the tonnage designed, not in the deckplans, not in the deckplan key. It is only there in fact in the directly copied original CT elevation view and description. Ergo, ditch the copied CT material, it does not apply, the MGT version does not support extra modules.

If you look at the MGT deckplans, you'll see the cutter wells are larger starting with Deck D and ending with deck I. Comparing the elevation plans to the length of the cutter and you can see that the module section is nearly the size of the cutter itself. Deck I & J have access hatches into the cutter wells.

I'm using the pdf version at the moment to reference this. You are correct in that the tonnage for the modules is not specifically called out in the design specs. However there is 77 tons set aside for cargo, and one could allow for 60 tons of that to represent the modules.

So I would say that the module storage space is included in the deck plans. At least that is my interpretation of them.

 

[far-trader]

I will point out that on page 128 deck plans "D" through "I" have the extra module space drawn in plan, plus the cross section of the ship clearly shows the extra module space.

Ah, I think I see the confusion. The cutters, CT (per the elevation view) and MGT (per the deckplans) are different. The CT version is a 6m diameter cylinder and 27m long, the MGT version is flattened to 7.5m wide x 4.5m high and 30m long. Not that there aren't other issues with the deckplans as well

The graphic below should clear it up. Cutter shown for comparison is not quite the same scale. The blue oval is the area of a cutter, the yellow oval is the area of a spare module. Note the lack of room on even the largest deck for a single module, let alone two, it crosses over the center line and is not within the bulkheads drawn:

As for making use of the designated cargo hold tonnage, that won't work either, not for this version. The deckplans clearly show that elsewhere and not module suitable. IF you or someone in the deckplan derby wished to, yes, one could redraw the layout to make the cargo tonnage work. However it is clear these deckplans suffer the same rushed and not checked effort that much of MGT seems to gravitate to, for reasons other than the spare modules, they aren't part of the deckplans. There are no spare modules or room for them in the MGT version. I repeat, ignore the CT elevation view, it is incorrect and misleading. Ignore the copied CT text referring to spare modules, they don't exist in the MGT version. It really is that simple. Then you can worry about the other problems with the deckplans

 

[phavoc]

Oh, I don't expect them to be exact. And yeah, the actual size of the modules doesn't fit the drawings specifically. And if you look at how they have squeezed in cabins here and there, it gets worse.

This is definitely one of those times where the hand-wavium 20% overage issue comes in handy.

The wells themselves should be perfectly circular instead of elongated ovals. Last time I checked at least the cutter was more rounder than what they have.

 

[far-trader]

Oh, I don't expect them to be exact.

That's my problem, I do

...or at least reasonably close

 

[Jak Nazryth]

Far-Trader... great graphics!
This brings up an important issue that many may think as no big deal.
Previous versions of the 50 ton cutter are two levels, perfectly round cylinder.
The Mongoose version is a wider, 1 deck version. In my sketches and cross-sections, I'm trying to come up with an appropriate shape for the new mod-cutter based on the new deck plan.
Is it more of a rounded "long shoebox" now, or more of an ovoid like your graphics seem to indicated? I will note ovoid in your example is much too narrow (ok.. it's not "yours" but copied from the deck plan)... so the wider the ovoid cross-section, the taller it will need to be. Pretty soon the cutter will be close to 2 decks high, with only 1 deck in the center cross sectional plane of the ovoid. Hope that made sense... The new cross section might now need to proportionally look similar to a double-wide city bus? Long rectangle with rounded corners?
I know this is probably picky, BUT it makes a difference when trying to place them inside a larger vessel. I always do cross sections in all my designs, just so I can satisfy myself to make sure everything works.

 

[far-trader]

This brings up an important issue that many may think as no big deal.

lol, my obsession so...

The Mongoose version is a wider, 1 deck version. In my sketches and cross-sections, I'm trying to come up with an appropriate shape for the new mod-cutter based on the new deck plan.
Is it more of a rounded "long shoebox" now, or more of an ovoid like your graphics seem to indicated?

I'd say rounded shoebox. As you note the true ovoid depicted is a problem. Also note the 30ton module section is exactly that on the deckplan... IF the height is the full 3m across the whole 7.5m span. So, it's a square box. Works great for calculating and putting stuff in, not so pleasing visually.

I like the idea of it being a single deck (plus a little bit for the spine) so the 4.5m overall height sounds good. There's a graphic of the cutter from MegaTraveller(?) that evokes the feel of an Eagle (Space 1999) that has long been my favorite take on it. It is a single deck version as well. I'm thinking I'm going to work on something along those lines for MGT and this little deckplan exercise.

I always do cross sections in all my designs, just so I can satisfy myself to make sure everything works.

Me too

Then I started dabbling with SketchUp a couple or few years ago... it's both more fun and more frustrating, but I've spent nowhere near enough time to be good with it.

 

[phavoc]

GURPS put out an entire supplement on the 50 ton cutter, along with many, many modules. In each one it showed the module being 2 decks.

 

[Jak Nazryth]

I like the idea of it being a single deck (plus a little bit for the spine) so the 4.5m overall height sounds good. There's a graphic of the cutter from MegaTraveller(?) that evokes the feel of an Eagle (Space 1999) that has long been my favorite take on it. It is a single deck version as well. I'm thinking I'm going to work on something along those lines for MGT and this little deckplan exercise.

I had the giant toy in the 1970's! The one that was almost 3' long. After a couple of years of heavy play and abuse, my best friend and I tried to make our own home made sci-fi film with it. I packed it full of a mix of gun power from about 500 fire crackers, gas, and diesel fuel! BOOM!!!
My first degree burns weren't, that bad... but my a$$ where my dad's belt laid into me... now that hurt! :lol:

 

[Jak Nazryth]

GURPS put out an entire supplement on the 50 ton cutter, along with many, many modules. In each one it showed the module being 2 decks.

That was a great supplement. Used to have it, but sold it years ago...