Something big

[Abacus]

understood

Now with that rack arrangement you could do an inverse staggered set of rails so that you could drop multiple rows at the same time. The ships could be in limited slave control by the carrier until they exit the hanger zone and get fanned out to not collide before they go under their own power

There're bound to be internal tractor beam projectors that the hangar master uses to control such events. Although, depending on the set up of the hangar arrangement (or lack of sophistication thereof), you could launch directly into space upon being detached from the rails.

[fractalsponge1]

Added gantry system.

[Abacus]

I don't know why...but it somehow seems inefficient...and I can't tell if it's simply something about the aesthetics or if it's something actually conducive to making the setup better in terms pilot-to-craft ingress.

[Elheru Aran]

I had the same thought, but it comes down to pilots accessing their fighters more easily. I considered a catwalk between the rows of fighters-- but how do pilots get into their fighters, without blocking the fighters' path down the gantry? Never mind that the wings of most TIE models would prevent you simply climbing into the cockpit from the side, which means you have to go around the wing and then back in to the front/hatch. So the elevator dropping from top seems the most practical way of doing it. Presumably they would use those little golf-cart things they had in the ANH hangar to move pilots down the catwalks quickly, each pilot hopping off at an elevator as they pass.

Aesthetics is the answer, I think, to how you're feeling. Just the simple repetition of the model down the line. It might work better from an aesthetic standpoint if you saw it with all the different vehicles and how it works with each. (Not trying to give Fractal more work here!) It's basically, I don't know, industrially efficient? rather than designed to be pretty.

[Abacus]

Presumably they would use those little golf-cart things they had in the ANH hangar to move pilots down the catwalks quickly, each pilot hopping off at an elevator as they pass.

Nah, they'd just need to have the pilot ready room next to the hangar catwalk access. It'd be where they report to when they're required and be within a few seconds walk/jog to their respective fighters. Training and practice would make the deployment faster. I imagine it being similar to how paratroopers jump out of a plane, in order; the fighter pilots would run out, with the furthest TIE fighter's pilot being first out the door.

[Eternal_Freedom]

Or, given that TIE's are identical and apparently expendable, you don't have a specified fighter, you just run down the catwalk to the farthest available fighter.

[Elheru Aran]

Or, given that TIE's are identical and apparently expendable, you don't have a specified fighter, you just run down the catwalk to the farthest available fighter.

In theory, sure; in practice, I'm sure at least some pilots might have had preferred rides. But otherwise, yeah, I can see a ready room setup working out like that.

[Abacus]

Or, given that TIE's are identical and apparently expendable, you don't have a specified fighter, you just run down the catwalk to the farthest available fighter.

In a military? Let you pick whichever one happens to be closest? Not the one you were assigned?!

[Eternal_Freedom]

That's...a very good point. The Empire being the Empire, I expect it is probably organised and written down in some extremely detailed fashion, that the pilots and officers will ignore in urgent situations.

[MissJackiePage]

Tie fighters are dangerous spacecraft and the pilots are pros not expendable! (unless it will lead you to the rebel base lol) i think this rack system would be useful for storing ships in hangars. Maintanence and takeoff would probably be done in the open space of the main docking bay, not the crowded storage racks. Ladders can extend from airlocks in the ceiling down to the fighter plane retrieved and secured with a claw mechanism. (or maybe a tractor beam? ) It doesn't matter if the entire bay can't be pressurized like if they need to launch on short notice, because the pilots west spacesuit anyway. Also the hatch to get in a Tie fighter is in the back of the cockpit.

[Abacus]

That's...a very good point. The Empire being the Empire, I expect it is probably organised and written down in some extremely detailed fashion, that the pilots and officers will ignore in urgent situations.

Actually it's in urgent situations when training kicks in. It's why it's training and why it's repetitive. You don't deserve to call yourself a service member if, when the cards are down, you start ignoring protocol and SOP willy-nilly. Just isn't done. Hollywood's "maverick" remains in Hollywood.

[Weedle McHairybug]

That's...a very good point. The Empire being the Empire, I expect it is probably organised and written down in some extremely detailed fashion, that the pilots and officers will ignore in urgent situations.

Actually it's in urgent situations when training kicks in. It's why it's training and why it's repetitive. You don't deserve to call yourself a service member if, when the cards are down, you start ignoring protocol and SOP willy-nilly. Just isn't done. Hollywood's "maverick" remains in Hollywood.

Come to think of it... Hollywood was also responsible for that annoying tendency to have SOP fail and just get people needlessly killed by the enemy and lose battles to either promote the whole maverick/cowboy cop element or otherwise treat certain enemies as being smarter than the enemy in a way of subtly singing praises to the enemy, am I wrong? I also noticed that Star Wars seems to have SOP and protocol in the Empire only being good for getting Imperial troops killed or otherwise suffer needless casualties on their end (like, say, with Admiral Ozzel who seemed to be referred to as a by-the-book officer). I think one footnote in the Imperial Handbook implied that the Rebels had more expertise in specializations than the Empire's various specialized squads were, despite the fact that the latter most likely had far more formal training. I think that trend may have started in Vietnam. Typical...

But yeah, they're definitely not the types to break protocol, while the Rebels probably are.

[Lord Revan]

That's...a very good point. The Empire being the Empire, I expect it is probably organised and written down in some extremely detailed fashion, that the pilots and officers will ignore in urgent situations.

Actually it's in urgent situations when training kicks in. It's why it's training and why it's repetitive. You don't deserve to call yourself a service member if, when the cards are down, you start ignoring protocol and SOP willy-nilly. Just isn't done. Hollywood's "maverick" remains in Hollywood.

Come to think of it... Hollywood was also responsible for that annoying tendency to have SOP fail and just get people needlessly killed by the enemy and lose battles to either promote the whole maverick/cowboy cop element or otherwise treat certain enemies as being smarter than the enemy in a way of subtly singing praises to the enemy, am I wrong? I also noticed that Star Wars seems to have SOP and protocol in the Empire only being good for getting Imperial troops killed or otherwise suffer needless casualties on their end (like, say, with Admiral Ozzel who seemed to be referred to as a by-the-book officer). I think one footnote in the Imperial Handbook implied that the Rebels had more expertise in specializations than the Empire's various specialized squads were, despite the fact that the latter most likely had far more formal training. I think that trend may have started in Vietnam. Typical...

But yeah, they're definitely not the types to break protocol, while the Rebels probably are.

I think part of the issue is that non-military people seem to think that rules and codes of conduct in the military have 0 flexibility, so they think that an officer in the field weeks from any sort of resupply would still insist that his men have their uniforms and hair (including facial hair) in the same condition as in the barracks even if the unit of said officer is dangerously low on supplies and under near constant enemy activity.

When in reality those are among the first things to go in the field (you're suppose to do the essential maintaining of personal hygene but it doesn't matter if your hair is a bit too long or you have stubble or even a full on beard, since the enemy bullets won't care either). Sure there's some rules you generally obey to the letter (or at least to as close to the letter as it's humanly possible) but others will be bent or disgarded should obeying them become impractical or non-beneficial to the unit's ability to fight.

That said in regards to Ozzel I could see him being risen from the ranks thru a staff position and only gotten his command thru connections and thus never actually been in the "field" and thus being unfamiliar with the concept that on the field you need to make compromises and you can't follow every single rule to the letter, it could also explain (partly) why Vader was so annoyed with him, Vader being a veteran battlefield general would know what rules need to be disgarded (or partly disgarded) to be effective in a realistic scenario.

[The_Saint]

While Ozzel is regarded as "by-the-book" I figured he must have some lee-way as it's stated on screen he 'felt' the best decision was to 'surprise' the Rebel base. As a fleet commander I would expect he has a lot of lee way in carrying out his orders and one might consider that the Rebellion at that point in time was still trying to set up a solid base of operations following Yavin so it could easily be presumed that any Rebels would flee on sight of Death Squadron and hence a surprise eveloping of the base was the best choice with the expectations of the time.


I can understand the feeling over the industrial nature of the catwalks, I think in some of the drawn materials (comics?) I remember it shown as single ladder straight down to the cockpit. The only consideration I have is what happens when the pilot jumps into their TIE, hits the power up and then the engines fail. What's the procedure for having a dead TIE in the rack? drop as expected and tractor it somewhere else or rotate it over the top and run back along the top of the rack??

[fractalsponge1]

New Interdictor/Dominator:


Gladiator/Demolisher WIP:



More at: http://fractalsponge.net/?p=4652

[atg]

The Interdictor looks like a brute from that angle. Nicely done.

[Steel]

I agree the Interdictor looks very cool. Are the bulges significantly bigger than other depictions?

Something about the angle its at makes it seem to me that the forward port bulge is closer to the centreline than the starboard one. I think its something about the precise viewing angle that is making me feel it looks funny, even though all the cues are there with the prow etc clearly visible.

[Abacus]

Uhm...this dude got a Daily Deviation award for stealing?

https://www.deviantart.com/jbjhjm/art/F ... -201432300

[vaut]

Uhm...this dude got a Daily Deviation award for stealing?

https://www.deviantart.com/jbjhjm/art/F ... -201432300

In the offchance you're not joking, that's a work from 2011 and clearly not an assertor or whatever you think he stole.

[fractalsponge1]

This is sort of related. As an adjunct to the art stuff, I've started a discord server for ideas, comments, etc. If any of you want to come and talk art or design or general naval/scifi tech real time, the link is here:

https://discord.gg/dBUuRH5

[CFletch08]

I am super excited for the baby SD. Not just for the model, which I'm sure will have the usual Fractal quality, but also the accompanying ideas on the ship's purpose, utilization, and place in the wider fleet. That's half the fun of these designs and I'm very interested to hear what Fractal has envisioned for this ship.

ETA: Since I realize "baby SD" applies to a lot of recent designs, I'll clarify that I'm talking about the Gladiator. It's a neglected design that I always like for some reason, but the purpose of this ship has always been a bit fuzzy to me.

[The Original Nex]

It's a neglected design that I always like for some reason, but the purpose of this ship has always been a bit fuzzy to me.

It's always struck me as a versatile small frigate that can operate independently or as a screening ship in fleets. Maybe even a light carrier with that hanger space. Could serve as a system command ship for a backwater that doesn't merit a larger warship or for planetary defense forces.

[PhoenixKnig]

The Deep docks WIP is alive

[fractalsponge1]

Funky new TIE Fighter, the Whirlwind:

[Vaxxils]

Weapon yield question for you fractal.

You have posted some varying numbers for yields over the years I have followed you. See the original Vigil mounting 3x2 25GT Turbolasers and 5x2 1MT Turbolasers with post-Kontos Vigil armed with 3x2 200GT Turbolasers and 5x2 500MT Turbolasers. Do you have an evolving document somewhere with what you think the yields are? For the biggest ships you have been pretty consistent but the smaller turbolaser numbers evade me. I know you posted this scheme a while back but it seems to contradict numbers you sometimes post with the ship designs and as you pointed out in your shield analysis of the Tantive IV produces some underwhelming shield strength numbers.

As far as I can tell the yields are as follows.

• Imperator: (2x4 70TT) (8x8 40TT) (9x3 40TT) (83x2 500MT)
• Victory: (9x2 70TT) (10x4 200GT) (19x2 500MT)
• Kontos: (2x2 40TT?) (9x4 200GT) (13x2 500MT)
• Vigil: (3x2 200GT?) (5x2 500MT?)

Starfights would then appear to be in the KT range but I have really no idea if it is 50KT-250KT or 5KT-100KT.

• TIE Avenger: (4 100KT or 50KT lasers?)
• TIE Mangler (2 50MT Ultralight Turbolasers?) (3 50KT Lasers same as on the Scimitar and regular TIEs)
• X-Wing (4 100KT lasers?)

I picture these as similar to WW2 US Naval armament where you have standard light, medium, heavy turbolasers. You start off with airplanes with light armament but varied, then you have the MTB with 20mm cannons which matches the heaviest airplanes, the Escort with 40mm cannons, the Destroyer with 5 inch guns, etc. but each ship also has batteries of the lighter weapons within reason to protect against smaller ships and I like how your designs reflect this. Though star wars seems to be stuck in the predreadnought era with mixed secondary armaments such as on the Bellator with its 720TT, 240TT, and 40TT. I would imagine for example that at some point anything the 40TT can hit the 240TT can hit and so there is no reason to have the 40TT once a ship gets big enough. Although you also lack the visual fire director problems that made mixed armaments really undesirable.