G'Quan question

[phoenixhawk]

Just a quick, probably silly, question about the G'Quan...

What is located in the mounts on the top and bottom of the ship? Is the bridge on top? Sensor packages? What's on the bottom? Are there any weapons located there? I know there's a ship plans or something out there and someone will know.

Thanks!

Chris

 

[Blu_Majik]

it's a spoiler, like on a racing car :wink:

lumbering? :lol:

 

[lastbesthope]

No atmosphere so no spoiler, though it could be to balance the centre of mass to bring it more in line with the axis of thrust of the main engines.

LBH
(Qualified rocket scientist)

 

[Ripple]

According to the ship plans...

There are bridges in both the top and bottom central pods. Assume one is aux control.

Ripple

 

[angelus2000]

Silly Narns, bridges go in the CENTER of the ship.

 

[M1ndr1d3rs]

It's kinda strange setting a bridge in a platform design when you have no windows in it anyway..
Well, maybe the Narns just thought it would look cool.

 

[H]

hmm, I may have to get out my B5 Novel now, I am sure it stated that the bridge was in the central deck, a G'Quan only having 3 decks.

of course what the bits really are, is the designer and JMS thikning "this will look cool!!"

 

[lastbesthope]

I could dig out the RPG's ship plans.

LBH

 

[EDFDarkAngel1]

I'm pretty sure it was just a factor of it looking cool and schematic designers trying to make sense of it to make it seem legit.

The parts store calls them "wings", so I'm sticking to that. All I know is they are really annoying to put on because I have to clip out one of the studs in order to get them anywhere remotely close to the ship's nacelles.

Dark Angel

 

[Darken]

I just slightly bend them doesnt turn out looking to bad mow of an arc then a flat plane thou

 

[H]

I could dig out the RPG's ship plans.

LBH

I get the distinct impression that my Novel and your ship plans would not agree!

 

[Taran]

though it could be to balance the centre of mass to bring it more in line with the axis of thrust of the main engines.

LBH
(Qualified rocket scientist)

I didn't think that mattered in the vaccuum of space. AS I understood it, it was all about the vector of thrust as compared to the velocity of the vessel...

 

[Burger]

Centre of mass does still matter in space. There is no air resistance or friction, but there is still inertia to contend with.

 

[lastbesthope]

though it could be to balance the centre of mass to bring it more in line with the axis of thrust of the main engines.

LBH
(Qualified rocket scientist)

I didn't think that mattered in the vaccuum of space. AS I understood it, it was all about the vector of thrust as compared to the velocity of the vessel...

It is indeed about the vector of thrust, but you need to know where your centre of mass is to know where that thrust will take you.

Assuming a 'stationary' start, Thrust in line with the centre of mass will 'push' the ship in a straight line. Thrust off the centre line will induce a rotational component to the acheived velocity, that's why Starfurys have their engines at the 'corners', fire all 4 you go in a straight line as the thrust is balanced about the centre of mass, fire just the left two and you spin about your vertical axis to say hello to the Delta V that thought it was behind you.

LBH
(Really a qualified rocket scientist, worked for the European Space Agency and everything :lol: )

 

[EDFDarkAngel1]

LBH FTW.

I'm not actually expecting an answer on this, but what about Minbari and Vorlons, those whose ships don't appear to have a discernable thrust mechanism? I assume the same principles apply, but where would this thrust be located?

Does it have to be equidistant from the main line, or can additional power be allocated to a thrust device farther from the main line? (ie: If a Sharlin has thrusters on each of its wingtips, would the central foil require more power?)

Dark Angel

 

[Taran]

(Really a qualified rocket scientist, worked for the European Space Agency and everything :lol: )

Ummm, does that Really make you a qualified rocket scientist? I mean, the ESA?

 

[Lord David the Denied]

Gravitic engines laugh at rocket sciene. It's all about quantum string theory, or so they tell me, anyway. Not that I understand such things, I'm a chef not a scientist... :?

 

[lastbesthope]

Does it have to be equidistant from the main line, or can additional power be allocated to a thrust device farther from the main line? (ie: If a Sharlin has thrusters on each of its wingtips, would the central foil require more power?)

Dark Angel

It's all about the Moment of the force being applied, imagin it like a seesaw, a 20 unit weight at 1 metre from the pivot will balance a 10 unit weight at 2 metres from the pivot.

So the further from the centre of mass, the greater the rotational component will be for the same thrust if left unbalanced.

Remember to travel in a straight line, you need to balance the thrust horizontally and vertically. If you balance it longitudinally then you'll stay in the same spot.

LBH

 

[M1ndr1d3rs]

I'm not actually expecting an answer on this, but what about Minbari and Vorlons, those whose ships don't appear to have a discernable thrust mechanism? I assume the same principles apply, but where would this thrust be located?

Dark Angel

Actually, I think Vorlon ships do have what look like thrusters. Check out "Interludes and Examinations", the Vorlon Cruiser has 4 glowing ports in its rear end. As for the Transports, could it be the ring of lights in the tail?

As far as I know, it's Shadow ships that don't have thrusters.

 

[lastbesthope]

(Really a qualified rocket scientist, worked for the European Space Agency and everything :lol: )

Ummm, does that Really make you a qualified rocket scientist? I mean, the ESA?

Well I have a degree in Avionics, specialising in Spaceflight Mechanics and did my undergrad project at the ESA Navigation and Guidance department working on orbital stuff. Does that count?

LBH