AZ_GAMER October 19, 2010 - 5:47pm | Dramune Class Frigate Updates I just added a torpedo rail for mounting the two torpedoes. Though im not enitely sure what delivery system a ship with only two torpedoes would use. I am thinking that an external hard point mount with a jet fighter style explosive bolt system may separate the torpedoes from the ship and then once away from the ship their engines would engage. A torpedo tube launcher seems a little excessive for a ship that only carries two torps. I also added an observation canopy, a fly bridge could be located below this feature or it could just be an observation area for star gazing, visual navigation, exploration / observatory etc. This also could serve the function of a bridge for docking manuvers. Also could serve as private get-away for hero characters to converse, scheme, or just chill out away from the bustle of the main bridge. Considering escape pods and possibly fitting some visible masking screen emitters but I dont want to over detail the model. |
Georgie October 20, 2010 - 5:39pm | As torpedoes are not Forward Firing only, I envision more of a turret/rack mounted system, like modern day navy ships. For example, see the turret mounted atop the freighter on page 50 of the Knight Hawks (modified) PDF. The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of
the strong. * Attributed to Mahatma Gandhi |
AZ_GAMER October 20, 2010 - 7:26pm | The only problem I am experiencing with that is in size proportions for yet another turret. While keeping to the original shape shown on the mini and the silhouette there really arent any turret emplacements like you describe. The rocket batteries are kind of obvious even if not shown in the chit silhouette or the various pics throughout the rules. The torpedoes are described as much larger than AR as a fighter cannot carry them so They would have to be fairly large so a turret doesnt really fit onto the model. I will take a look at what I can do with that. The point of the project is to create a digital model as close to the original SFKH design as possible with the construction modeling materials I have to work with. |
AZ_GAMER October 20, 2010 - 8:19pm | Considering that Torpedoes are guided weapons it wouldnt matter where the launchers were mounted as the torps could manuver in flight to their target. |
iggy October 20, 2010 - 9:18pm | What if the torpedoes fired out perpendicular to the ship like submarines launching ICBMs. Or, the torpedoes could be released from the attached housing you show, pivot toward their target and then fire their main engine. I also agree that the torpedoes are large because fighters can't cary them. I like that you are sticking to the mini. Hopefully these ideas can help. -iggy |
AZ_GAMER October 21, 2010 - 4:07pm | ooooh i do like the submarine reference and that could really work. I would like to say that i am not against the idea of a torpedo launcher in a turret. However in the digital model there just isnt room for a properly proportioned torpedo turrett on the surface of the hull frame. SFKH Frigates are not very large being about the size of a Saturn Rocket so there isnt a lot of surface area for turrets. |
iggy October 21, 2010 - 4:14pm | Kinda like B5. The frigate approaches and opens it's gun ports. Then the humans get scared and start shooting. -iggy |
AZ_GAMER October 21, 2010 - 11:03pm | Terl Obar sent me some suggestions for making the sizes a little more proportionate for the canon ship designs. They included reducing the # of physical battery emplacements for RB down to one. The reason being that the battery has four reload shots for the same battery. The new Obar Class has smaller turrets that are recessed into the hull when not in use. The two torpedoes have been moved to two horizontally oriented launchers on each side of the laser cannon. (I may move these a little farther back on the model as their is some open hull space in the engineering hull area that may accomodate the tubes better. Take a look. |
TerlObar October 22, 2010 - 8:00am |
Here's what I sent to AZ last night. I actually tried to post it here first but the site blew up on me and I couldn't connect (kept timeing out and the post didn't happen). 6) Finally, the arms on the rocket
battery and ICM launcher need to be much longer. As drawn there is
no way they can swivel up to shoot away from the ship. There is no
clearance. Ad Astra Per Ardua! My blog - Expanding Frontier Webmaster - The Star Frontiers Network & this site Founding Editor - The Frontier Explorer Magazine Managing Editor - The Star Frontiersman Magazine |
Georgie October 22, 2010 - 2:10pm | I agree with Terl - except for the ICMs. I see them as more of a Patriot missile battery packed in a vertical launch system (I guess horizontal in SF given the deck orientation). Each ICM is a single missile with either a large warhead or is packed with hundreds of submunitions. The vertical launch system gives them the capability to ripple fire quickly. Viewing ICMs this way does make it harder to envision torpedoes using this system, since these are limited to firing once per turn. Maybe torpedoes use some sort of rotary launcher like the B-52? The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of
the strong. * Attributed to Mahatma Gandhi |
TerlObar October 22, 2010 - 3:21pm | Georgie's idea for the ICM's actually makes more sense. I'm converted. And I will admit that the canon description indicates a single missile. I think it would have to be a missile with submunions, if a single missile is going to be effective against a rocket battery shot that has multiple in-bound rockets in a single shot. Since we're in space, you cannot rely on the shock wave generated in an atmosphere by a big explosion to do proximity damage. In space there is nothing to carry the shock. You need direct hits on the inbound weapons to take them out, either with shrapnel from the explosion or lots of little submunitions that spread out to engage the individual targets. Ad Astra Per Ardua! My blog - Expanding Frontier Webmaster - The Star Frontiers Network & this site Founding Editor - The Frontier Explorer Magazine Managing Editor - The Star Frontiersman Magazine |
AZ_GAMER October 23, 2010 - 12:31pm | Here is where I stand on the project so far. Dixon Class is going back to the drawing board for some re-work, I like the idea of having the Dixon Frigate with its unique "shovel nose" command module but it will need a little more work before its ready for service. The Dramune Class pretty much is ready to go. I have taken Terl's advice to heart and will implement his changes into the Obar Class Frigate and maybe the next model. I like the aggressive look the four indepdent rocket batteries give the Dramune class so I think I will keep that configuration as is. As far as the torpedoes are concerned I may move them to the main hull or possibly leave them as is. I have reduced the size of the rocket batteries to be closer to that described by Terl. I definitely agree that a single rocket battery with four salvo loads works but it looks a little unbalanced. While I really like the design changes that went into the obar class, there is just something missing on model. It looks a little lopsided when the weapons are deployed and a little lack luster when they are stowed. Don't get me wrong, I will figure out a remedy for this its just perplexing me for the moment. |
Georgie October 30, 2010 - 7:27am | I've given a little more thought to what a torpedo launcher might look like. Perhaps it is more akin to the single arm missile launchers of the earlier guided missile ships (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mk_13_missile_launcher). This would load from an internal magazine and would provide for the rate of fire of one per turn. The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of
the strong. * Attributed to Mahatma Gandhi |
Will the Stampede November 27, 2010 - 2:32pm | On the other hand, why bother with a launcher. In either space, orbit or atmo, you can get away with storing the torps in a bomb-bay like arrangement; once dropped and clear of the ship, the torps can be programmed to engage their own engines and maneuver towards their intended targets. Of course, using a bay arrangement opens up the inside of your ship to enemy attack. Alternately, you can treat the torp rails as external hardpoints, much like the hardpoints on aircraft. " 'Beware the Beast, Man, for he is the Devil's pawn. Alone among God's primates, he kills for sport, for lust, for greed. Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land. Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him; drive him back into his jungle lair, for he is the harbinger of death." |