Deck Plan: Subsidised Merchant Type R 'Fat Trader'

Myrm said:
Where does the launch dock?

On top. The TNE version shows it docking on top and the plans have an iris valve in the ceiling. I'd assume theres a corresponding valve door in the launch's floor.

I've made a hatch to the aft top of the traders hull.
 
Just to throw middenface for a loop after generously offering to SketchUp my take... ;)

...I hadn't cracked SU in a while but did last night just to check layout of my take on the plans in 3D. Some quick and dirty blocking showed a couple small issues which I'll probably fix soon. Basically the fuel scoops and purifier aren't quite working as placed (very minor), the rear wing elevators got adjusted a bit, and the canards while making some sense and looking ok on the plans just didn't look right on the SU model (they may find their way back yet though). For a laugh here's the SU as far as I took it (all but the nose/bridge/guns) which will be a pain, and the launch). I went old school, more like the miniature from ages ago...

SketchyShaping.png


...still needs a lot of work that I may never get around to. It was really just to check the fit of the plans. I expect middenface has a different take on it that may be much better, especially as he's more likely to finish it :)
 
andrew boulton said:
Nice, but I don't like that short top deck.

Thank you, the problem is the plans show a shorter top deck, I actually prefer it to look level, in fact most illustrations show a more level deck - and that how I'll do far traders version, it just mine trys to hard ot fit the deck in as it is. Even allowing for the curve of the front of the hull.
 
far-trader said:
Just to throw middenface for a loop after generously offering to SketchUp my take... ;)

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<snippage>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
...still needs a lot of work that I may never get around to. It was really just to check the fit of the plans. I expect middenface has a different take on it that may be much better, especially as he's more likely to finish it :)

I love the wing layout, that pretty close to how I was going to do yours! In fact its far more like the CT, Gurps, TNE versions (I got them all)

I'm pretty much going to build it from scratch. Theres things I want to change with mine too, IE flatten the top and bottom of the hull and try it with less of the shorter deck look!

Great work! fartrader, SU will do curvy stuff, just got to figure it out. Theres a good plugin that will draw domes, intersect and show hidden geometry are usefull too.
 
Most Excellent! :8

Really hard to make any suggestions... maybe color the launch's grid and use a different shade/color for the location numbers?

Sectioning/indenting the bridge window and cracking the bay doors a bit might add that extra touch to the 3D exterior.

The front bubble might could use a little breaking up (just a few extra contour lines).

But looks really topnotch!

So... any chance you plan on doing a 3D interior? :D
 
All very nice middenface :D

Still not sure about those canards though. Especially seeing them in relation to the guns. Visions of the Pilot's father in the Gunner seat looking sheepishly at the canard he just shot off, then saying to the Pilot "I'm sorry son... they got us." ;)
 
far-trader said:
All very nice middenface :D

Still not sure about those canards though. Especially seeing them in relation to the guns. Visions of the Pilot's father in the Gunner seat looking sheepishly at the canard he just shot off, then saying to the Pilot "I'm sorry son... they got us." ;)

Heh, to be honest I thru that bit together quick, turrets need to be more forward and I think tweaking... not so keen on them. I think this design looks better than mine now! :)
 
Very, very Cool!

If the turrets were angled to follow more the contour they could overshoot the canards (well, if they were quite a bit stubby-er - maybe 1/4 extension and 2/3 length).
 
BP said:
Very, very Cool!

If the turrets were angled to follow more the contour they could overshoot the canards (well, if they were quite a bit stubby-er - maybe 1/4 extension and 2/3 length).

Tah! very much. Oddily enough the first version did have the turrets angled, but it reminded so much of the Daleks head.. still might go mack there and try it.
 
This isn't specific to this illustration (which is great btw!) but what is the scale here? How long is this craft? For that matter, is there a standard grid size for starships in traveller?

By the illustration positioning the two decks 6 meters apart, I estimated this ship is about 51meters long with a wingspan of about 39meters. Is this right?
 
Chuckhazard said:
For that matter, is there a standard grid size for starships in traveller?
Traveller deck plans on square grids are usually done so that each square is 1.5m on a side. The actual scale (i.e., 1" measured on the plans = ?) varies, though I think the most common scales have been suitable for 15mm or 25mm/28mm miniatures.
 
Chuckhazard said:
By the illustration positioning the two decks 6 meters apart, I estimated this ship is about 51meters long with a wingspan of about 39meters. Is this right?

FreeTrav got the first part, most Traveller rules (MGT included) use a 1.5m per square scale. TNE used a 2m square. And GURPS uses hexes as well, though I can't recall the scale.

Your estimate is pretty close, to what I had worked out anyway. Mine is about 37.5m wingspan and 48.5m long. Makes me wonder now if I lost a square each direction somewhere :)
 
far-trader said:
And GURPS uses hexes as well, though I can't recall the scale.

ISTR one hex = 1 yard, but I was never clear on whether that yard was corner-to-corner or face-to-face. Face-to-face would make more sense, but either way, you'd have a little trouble getting the correct size in one direction.
 
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