Beowulf class type A Free-Trader (TL9)

(OK, let's try this again. Fumble fingers or cranky keyboard vaped the last attempt after a paragraph... )

Right, I think I'm about done fiddling with the deckplans and views. Still have the profile to do and I might take another stab at modeling it 3D in SketchUp. I might not too, not being able to do complex curved shapes due to my lack of knowledge or the limitations of the program made it slow and ugly going so I quit for a bit, a while ago.

Anyway, on to this. To make sure we're all on the same page, a quick review of the design done in HG sympathetic to the Book 2 original:

Hull: 200ton Wedge - Streamlined

Engineering: Jump 1, Maneuver 1, Power 1 (2EP); with fuel purifier and 22tons of fuel tankage for J1 and 4 weeks. Note this combination adds up to the same volume as the Book 2 design of J1, M1, P1 and 30tons of fuel. That way the ship is the same in all other areas and the deckplans can serve passable double duty for either HG or B2. The only difference is the fuel purifier which no Free-Trader should be without imo. The Engineering space is about half actual components and half access and other features including a workstation and tool and parts lockers. The main engineering locker includes a heavy vacc suit and doubles as a small airlock.

Bridge: My bridge allocation on deckplans breaks down as: Five workstations (1ton each: 4 on the bridge 1 in the Captain's ready room on this plan). Each workstation can be tasked to any function, including remote turret operation, engineering control, or computer reprogramming. Airlock(s) of 3tons (the main at 1ton, the computer access at 0.5ton, and the cargo access at 1.5ton). Locker(s) of 2tons (the main at 1ton, and the cargo at 1ton). Lockers contain 1 standard vacc suit per required crew member (4 in this case) and miscellaneous gear. The remaining 10tons is miscellaneous stuff not shown like landing gear, lifters, station keeping thrusters, sensors, communications, electronics, antennae and such.

Computer: Standard model/1. My depiction of computers is one half the volume is the actual cpu and the other half is access, ventilation and a workstation. Standard software package consists of Maneuver, Navigate, Jump 1, Anti-Hijack, and Library. Most Free-Traders are reliant on Generate cartridges supplied by the mortgage holder to insure they don't go skipping. The computer is file locked to only accept approved Generate cartridges until the ship is paid off.

Hardpoints: The socket is 1ton and putting it to other uses is not convenient but that doesn't stop a creative crew from doing so. A great place for a private sitting room, maybe for a card game. Or perhaps a nice place to set up a still, or a small hydroponics farm for fresh veggies, or just extra gear or whatever. Until they can afford a weapon for it of course. When a weapon is installed it includes a gunner's workstation to allow local command. An installed turret is obvious as the blister sticks up out of the socket. A close look can even determine the types of weapons installed from the exterior.

Quarters:

Staterooms are easily reconfigured, as shown in the examples, by the crew. Extra elements not used have to be stored somewhere (typically in the crew baggage hold) but fold down to reduce the volume needed. A standard stateroom includes a full fresher, a small hot and cold beverage and food dispenser (of limited choices), two beds that retract into the ceiling when not in use, two chairs and a table that fold under the bed when sleeping, a closet at the head of the bed and a locking desk at the foot. Each stateroom also includes a large screen computer with access to the ship-net and library program. Other programs and features are up to the Captain to allow or lock out. The screen is mounted on a telescoping articulated arm to allow positioning it for best viewing from most of the stateroom.

The Commons includes a full wall computer display for entertainment and mood effects. The main feature is a large table and eight chairs for the passengers and select crew to dine or socialize in comfort. When not needed the table can be retracted into the ceiling to provide open space for other purposes. Adjacent to the commons is the galley and supplies locker. The supplies locker is temperature controlled and includes a large external hatch for loading of bulk supplies.

The Lowberths include lockers for passenger gear and supplies for the lowberths. A fresher is included for passenger use before and after freezing, and during the trip it is often used by the crew.

In this case the deckplans are over tonnage in the quarters section, by exactly 20% if I added right, so it's good enough for me. The rest of the plans are not over at all by my count.

Cargo: Capacity of 82 tons total. That is split up as 4tons crew baggage (upper deck), 30tons bulk (main deck, includes lift area), 6tons passenger baggage (lower deck), and 42tons bulk (lower deck, includes lift area and two cargo airlocks). Cargo handling is assisted by retracting ramps or overhead crane in each cargo airlock, and a 5ton grav sled operated by remote control. The grav sled is very slow and requires recharging after a few hours of use. The passenger lift from the middle deck to the upper deck also descends to the lower deck in the passenger baggage area but it requires a crew code to do so.

Here's the links to the latest deckplans. Sorry for messing up any artwork you've already done, no need to redo, just call it a variation. Sorry for the incomplete keying and descriptions, if you have any questions or require clarification just ask. The right side is being clipped but you're not missing much. Good enough for now I think.


Dorsal Exterior and Profile:


Upper Deck:


Middle Deck:


Lower Deck:


Ventral Exterior and Cutaway:


Note in the cutaway only the forward and aft landing gear are shown down. They line up with the hatches on the center line. There are two more, larger, landing gear which store in the lower scoop/purifier areas port and starboard.

Heres the quick and dirty rundown of the Heel, built at TL13:

Hull: 100ton - Unstreamlined - Partially Streamlined when attached allows skimming fuel. Landing with it attached is not possible. There are no landing gear or lifters included in the design. So the SOP will be leave it in orbit if you need to land. Preferably hidden somewhere in the system, orbiting a distant moon perhaps, or set on a plotted drift course for later intercept. And hope no one steals it (or tries to, see Hardpoint note below)

Computer: Model/2bis - Allows for Jump 3. Programs included are all hardwired and tamper resistant. They are:

Link/Master Control (1 space) for allowing use from the bridge of the Achilles, limited by the mission parameters.
Antimissile Fire (2 spaces) for independent automated defensive fire of the included triple beam laser turret.
Jump 3 (3 spaces) for control of the ship for jumps of 3 parsecs.

Hardpoint: Mounting three TL13 beam lasers for defensive fire against inbound missiles, and other threats as designated by the Link/Master Control program

Powerplant: 12tons supplementing the upgraded TL13 powerplant aboard Achilles for a total of P3 and 9EP. Fuel tankage of 7tons supplies the needs of both with the 2tons included aboard Achilles.

Jumpdrive: 8tons supplementing the upgraded TL13 jumpdrive aboard Achilles for a total of J3. Fuel tankage of 70tons (might also be used as a drop tank)* along with the Achilles 20tons supplies the required 90tons for 3 parsecs for the full 300tons.

The patron will also be providing a generate program to run on the Achilles computer. And possibly weapons and programs for defense.

I have only a vague idea of the look and deckplans of the Heel. I see it attaching at the rear, connecting to the engineering hatch and fuel scoops, but beyond that...

...maybe the real artist can draw it so it doesn't look ugly

* hmm, I wonder... drop tanks for fuel are ok, what about drop drives? Could Achilles plot a jump 4 say using 80tons of fuel and the combined drives dropping the Heel to be 200tons going into jump? Might be a neat McGuffin.

Excellent work Dan
I'll have a good look later, but this is perfect.
(& I know what you mean about the complex curves, I have quite a decent modeling program & have the experience as I do a bit of 3d modeling as part of my job & have still been having a nightmare getting it right on the Beo, I dont think SketchUp is up to it either).

Turns out the whole image is there, just clipped for the board. Right clicking it shows and saves the whole thing, cool. But then you all probably knew that already as you have those things in your heads, what're they called? Brains?

Oh, and my latest take on the landing gear means your pic is right again (hurray) except for lacking the center aft gear. That's easy to add right

And so much for me being done tweaking. I wasn't happy with the cargo locker being not so much a locker as wide open. Fixed it, I think, still living with it for a bit to see if I like the change.

Let me know if anything about the plans strikes you as odd, missing, contrived, cutesy, or whatever and I'll proceed with the waving of hands or changing of plans.

Just added the updated Dorsal Exterior, now with an external profile. Even stuck the name on the side. Note the alternate (more Greek I think) spelling. Always good to go with a less widely known spelling in my opinion. I should try colouring it up like your version. Got other small nitpicky changes on the other pics to upload first. Later tonight.

I really like the pic with the compartments and the scale Humans. Most excellent. However, what central aft landing gear, IIRC they have one in the nose and a port and starboard LGs. Maybe I miss read it...anyway nice pics, gives a good idea of how the Starship is laid out and that will begin to evolve traffic patterns and spaces that certain characters can seem to be found, well, except of the Engineer, he seems to be in the access ways alot.

Thanks for the kudos Craig

Magnus von Thornwood wrote:...what central aft landing gear, IIRC they have one in the nose and a port and starboard LGs.

Yeah, originally it was a tripod arrangement (for a long time) but at some point it looked like the weight distribution meant the nose gear would have no point and the whole ship would tip back on it's tail. That and simply needing more contact area/footprint seemed to indicate a need for a rear point to balance it all. But that's just from an educated eyeball guess at the center of gravity and overall mass. For style I'd be ok ignoring the issue and just going with the tripod.

It might also be stable due to the g-lifter panels installed under the engine compartment to support the weight of the drives. Maybe? *prepares more handwavium off to the side, just in case*

Did I let you know that I have a Degree in Handwavium?