While I come every day to vote at TWC, I never come in till morning on Tue, Thur and Sat for new stuff. Sleep when you can m’friend. You won’t lose anybody – WHO COUNTS! – if you’re a bit late posting a new episode. Even a day – or more – late won’t matter. Hell! I have days where it’s all I can do to drag myself out of bed to make breakfast. Don’t get anything done WRT 3D modelling on those days.
FYI, I checked on the status of the care package. Still no change. I truly do believe it has become “lost”. Content aside, the thing itself is valuable. USPS is just another part of the bureaucracy/deep state. As I am wont to say, “Those who can, do. Those who cannot go to work for the government so they don’t HAVE to. Have you ever met a ‘civil servant’ who was either?”
Went back to 391 and followed the story for a while. Looked closely at the models there. SHIT!!! The level of detail on that big transporter was staggering! I am a LLLLOOOONNNNNGGGGGG FEKKING way from being able to craft that much detail into things. OTOH, I am starting to get the hang of textures now so maybe I can add detail that way for some things. I don’t know how much Catman paid for the model of that transporter but I am starting to see why models such as that are so expensive. Shit-load of hours of somebody’s life go into producing a commercial quality 3D model like that. I also noticed that the structures tended to be fairly simple with surface detail supplied by textures. Crucial observation that. Definitely means a shit-ton of work to get to the point of being able to make usable models for our beloved host. Have to look around for images with usable textures. I might still have to do the texturing in something other than Anim8or. Getting some funky results some of the time. That or I have to figure out work-arounds for Anim8or’s shortcomings. Rather do that than abandon Anim8or all together.
With CM’s permission I’ll continue to post my progress.
Be my guest. Just remember, Imperial style is sleek and smooth. No Imperial designer would ever come up with a mess like the Lamian fleet.
In fact, when they first saw photos of the captured fleet, they covered their eyes and screamed, “SHOT TRAPS! Oh, God, the shot traps!
then they started whimpering about hull integrity, damage control, heat radiation, excessive mass and such.
also just a side note.. Imperial style is also because of being planet bound (streamlining), and just getting into space.. whereas Lamian’s have been in space for years, . and know where to cut corners on excessive mass but not lose hull integrity or radiation shielding…
just my 2 cents of observation…
My thoughts as well. Sleek and streamlined makes sense when working in an atmosphere but if a vehicle never goes planet side there’s no need for streamlining. Tell me what you think of my freighter below. I’ve been reading and watching “The Expanse” and can understand the underlying logic behind pretty much every ship on the series. Big difference between a cruise liner (or even old days passenger liner) and a warship or a bulk hauler (oil or container or natural gas).
See my answer to Rob, above.
Freighters are an entirely different thing, as they are generally designed as a minimal ship with a framework for the attachment of cargo containers.
Space stations, as well, although they are generally spherical with attachments for reasons of efficiency.
Actually, no. Building a ship out of angular shapes like the Lamian ship
increases surface area, provides unnecessary shot traps for enemy fire,
decreases hull strength and forces lighter armor. Take a simple example,
a cube vs a sphere: If my memory is correct, a sphere has around 2/3 the
surface area of a cube of equal volume, so for the same weight a spherical
ship can carry armor 50% thicker than a cube ship of the same volume and mass,
while the sides of a cube would need to be stronger than the sides of a sphere
because of the internal pressure.
Then you add even more cubes and shapes and you end up with a ship that is
overly complex, inefficient, poorly armored, and overweight. As a plus,
Imperial ships can enter atmosphere in an emergency without breaking up
from gravitic and/or atmospheric stresses.
The sphere is the most efficient shape for a space ship, the Empire has
compromised with lozenge shapes because there is a diameter limit for
wormholes, and the largest ships are limited to the diameter allowed by
the most common wormholes.
Building a ship out of angular shapes like the Lamian ship
increases surface area, provides unnecessary shot traps for enemy fire,
decreases hull strength and forces lighter armor.
What you wrote there got me to thinking. Been reading and watching “The Expanse” when I wasn’t sitting at this damned computer trying to learn to 3D model. I’d be surprised if somebody didn’t notice a certain influence visible in that freighter. Anyhow I am rethinking the angular shapes for habitable sections of the ship. Problem is spherical and circular areas have their own issues as regards places for human beings to live and work. We LIKE straight, true, plumb walls with square corners and rectangular doorways. I spent a shit load of time in the Launch Control Center areas of Titan II sites back in ’74 – 78 time frame. The LCC was essentially a domed cylinder 3 stories tall. The top floor (level 1) sleeping/eating/lavatory area was on the top floor, under the domed part. What with straight bunks, partitions around the shower and john and square cabinets/counters there was a whole lot of wasted space. Even on level 2 (LCC proper) and level 3 there was a whole lot of wasted space. The shape of the structure was dictated by the entire complex having to be able to survive a nuclear strike within 5 miles and still be able to launch afterwards.
Anyhow, I think I’ll rethink the whole octagon-based inhabited areas (“The Expanse” CGI wizards seem to be inordinately fond of hexagons) and go for spheres and domed cylinders instead. Catman, what do you think about sphere-based inner hulls but faceted shapes for outer hulls on warships? Seems like the faceted shapes would act like the glacis of a tank to possibly deflect debris. Ain’t much of anything going to stop a depleted uranium or tungsten coil gun or rail gun round doing an appreciable %-age of C. Seems to me you could make a grav-based projectile cannon. You also should be able to utilize those nifty zero-point power modules to power a honking big laser. If you had (extremely limited) negative grav you could compress most anything to a plasma and shoot it out of a cannon also. All of that would ameliorate your unease with having introduced the “world beater” grav technology into the story line. Never forget either that gravity is subject to light speed limitations. NOTHING in the universe propagates faster than C. Your imagined gravity based technology is far from a world beater. Having gunpowder didn’t keep the Chinese from being over run by the Mongols.
Since space warfare is 3D, I think a curved hull would be better for deflecting shots. Odd-shaped spaces could be for machinery or storage. Spherical hulls are best for material savings, but when you go to multiple connected spheres a lozenge shape would be more efficient unless going for a deep dive into the atmosphere of a Jupiter-sized planet. The big advantage of being able to amplify and focus gravity comes with increased maneuverability, savings in reaction mass, missiles with no exhaust or signal emissions, and the ability to pick enemies apart with no energy traces.
Imagine the possibilities where two fighters in combat have reaction drives, but one can also pull against nearby objects such a ships or even the other fighter. Not only would it have a maneuverability advantage, it could do so without using it’s own reaction mass. And no enemy could escape combat unless the grav fighter let it.
going to the sphere vs cube ,, both right.. but because we live in a “cube” life.. we can’t make our cubes fit in the sphere.. so the next best fit .. hexagonal ..
and a stupid idea,, (for the Terrans.) Gravitational induction shields,,. they would be costly (power wise,,) but ANYTHING thrown at it (including light) would bend around it.. and if done right orbit it.. or sling shot it , back..
..also the possibility of making invisible ..
ship naming,, Terrans would have the silly names like Asimov, Glenn.. and since this is the Dragon/Wolf Empire , i personally think they would go with variations of that (IE: Dragonfly.) but the others would not,, ..
See my answer to Bill, next.
Freighters are an entirely different thing, as they bare generally designed as a minimal ship with a framework for the attachment of cargo containers.
Space stations, as well, although they are generally spherical with attachments for reasons of efficiency.
Okay people. as a learning exercise to figure out how to add surface detail in pursuit of the illusion of reality, I am “building” a bulk freighter. Powered by grav-based advanced Epstein drive it hauls cargo between Terra, Catia and points in the Lamian sphere of influence/empire (Does Lamia have an empire, CM?).
Anyway, I need suggestions for names. Names of shipping companies (corporation owning the ship), shippers (names appearing on bulk cargo modules and/or large cargo hold modules) etc. I also need ship name suggestions.
Caveat: The final choice of company names and the name of the ship itself is mine and everybody promises in advance not to get their nose out of joint if their suggestion isn’t used. Okay?
The very front section is ops where the spacecraft is”flown”. Next big section is crew quarters. Then comes 3 rings of cargo hold modules. Next are containers for reaction mass then engineering with the engines in back.
Whatcha think, Catman? Could you see that popping through a wormhole and burning for Catia someday?
As long as you leave out “Azimov” and “Heinlin”. Naming things after those two has become more of a cliche than an honor.
I would rather name things after the Sci-Fi jokers, like the Harrison Class spy ship, or the Laumer class diplomatic ship…
The Ellison class destroyer?
I met Algis Budrys at the North American SF Con in Austin in 1986. Spent 15 minutes telling Larry Niven how I was working on touch screen technology like he and Pournelle had in “Integral Trees”. Also got to meet Dean Ing and Ben Bova. For the ship itself I’m kind of leaning towards “Somnamubulist” or “Dream Chaser” with the owner being “Lupus Enterprises, Ltd.”
Since you’re building it, I’ll let you name it.
The diplomatic/freight ship that Teresa arrived in is named “Catia’s Pride”.
The next story is of that ship and crew entering alien space.
Oh, and her name is “Dream Chaser” – the folks in Nepal who invested in her were chasing a dream of a better life as freight haulers among the stars. The corporation they formed is “Vulpha Ltd.” with home offices in Nepal and a major satellite office in Jericho.
Enough dreaming. Back to work on the field hospital.
Catman, if a comment is “awaiting moderation” does that mean nobody cansee it? Cause I have one so marked just now. It didn’t even show up to ME until I logged in.
Mielar first appeared here:
http://thegentlewolf.net/comic/tgw-391/
Sorry for the delay, I took a nap at 1500 and had the first good sleep in weeks.
Woke up at 1955 and finished panel 8 so I could post this.
.. good sleep is good.!
was just worried..
We don’t care if you are late, just stay healthy. Sleep is good. Mom and dad kissing, daughter gagging. Normal family.
While I come every day to vote at TWC, I never come in till morning on Tue, Thur and Sat for new stuff. Sleep when you can m’friend. You won’t lose anybody – WHO COUNTS! – if you’re a bit late posting a new episode. Even a day – or more – late won’t matter. Hell! I have days where it’s all I can do to drag myself out of bed to make breakfast. Don’t get anything done WRT 3D modelling on those days.
FYI, I checked on the status of the care package. Still no change. I truly do believe it has become “lost”. Content aside, the thing itself is valuable. USPS is just another part of the bureaucracy/deep state. As I am wont to say, “Those who can, do. Those who cannot go to work for the government so they don’t HAVE to. Have you ever met a ‘civil servant’ who was either?”
Your regular posting time is at 01:00 the next day for me, so I wouldn’t have noticed if you hadn’t said anything!
As much as I love this story, I’d MUCH rather have you healthy than trying to tell one with your brain working suboptimally from lack of sleep!
Which is why I normally write the dialogue soon after I wake up.
Huh… Maybe THAT’S what I’m doing wrong… Intend to write my dialogue as I go…
Went back to 391 and followed the story for a while. Looked closely at the models there. SHIT!!! The level of detail on that big transporter was staggering! I am a LLLLOOOONNNNNGGGGGG FEKKING way from being able to craft that much detail into things. OTOH, I am starting to get the hang of textures now so maybe I can add detail that way for some things. I don’t know how much Catman paid for the model of that transporter but I am starting to see why models such as that are so expensive. Shit-load of hours of somebody’s life go into producing a commercial quality 3D model like that. I also noticed that the structures tended to be fairly simple with surface detail supplied by textures. Crucial observation that. Definitely means a shit-ton of work to get to the point of being able to make usable models for our beloved host. Have to look around for images with usable textures. I might still have to do the texturing in something other than Anim8or. Getting some funky results some of the time. That or I have to figure out work-arounds for Anim8or’s shortcomings. Rather do that than abandon Anim8or all together.
With CM’s permission I’ll continue to post my progress.
Be my guest. Just remember, Imperial style is sleek and smooth. No Imperial designer would ever come up with a mess like the Lamian fleet.
In fact, when they first saw photos of the captured fleet, they covered their eyes and screamed, “SHOT TRAPS! Oh, God, the shot traps!
then they started whimpering about hull integrity, damage control, heat radiation, excessive mass and such.
also just a side note.. Imperial style is also because of being planet bound (streamlining), and just getting into space.. whereas Lamian’s have been in space for years, . and know where to cut corners on excessive mass but not lose hull integrity or radiation shielding…
just my 2 cents of observation…
My thoughts as well. Sleek and streamlined makes sense when working in an atmosphere but if a vehicle never goes planet side there’s no need for streamlining. Tell me what you think of my freighter below. I’ve been reading and watching “The Expanse” and can understand the underlying logic behind pretty much every ship on the series. Big difference between a cruise liner (or even old days passenger liner) and a warship or a bulk hauler (oil or container or natural gas).
See my answer to Rob, above.
Freighters are an entirely different thing, as they are generally designed as a minimal ship with a framework for the attachment of cargo containers.
Space stations, as well, although they are generally spherical with attachments for reasons of efficiency.
Actually, no. Building a ship out of angular shapes like the Lamian ship
increases surface area, provides unnecessary shot traps for enemy fire,
decreases hull strength and forces lighter armor. Take a simple example,
a cube vs a sphere: If my memory is correct, a sphere has around 2/3 the
surface area of a cube of equal volume, so for the same weight a spherical
ship can carry armor 50% thicker than a cube ship of the same volume and mass,
while the sides of a cube would need to be stronger than the sides of a sphere
because of the internal pressure.
Then you add even more cubes and shapes and you end up with a ship that is
overly complex, inefficient, poorly armored, and overweight. As a plus,
Imperial ships can enter atmosphere in an emergency without breaking up
from gravitic and/or atmospheric stresses.
The sphere is the most efficient shape for a space ship, the Empire has
compromised with lozenge shapes because there is a diameter limit for
wormholes, and the largest ships are limited to the diameter allowed by
the most common wormholes.
What you wrote there got me to thinking. Been reading and watching “The Expanse” when I wasn’t sitting at this damned computer trying to learn to 3D model. I’d be surprised if somebody didn’t notice a certain influence visible in that freighter. Anyhow I am rethinking the angular shapes for habitable sections of the ship. Problem is spherical and circular areas have their own issues as regards places for human beings to live and work. We LIKE straight, true, plumb walls with square corners and rectangular doorways. I spent a shit load of time in the Launch Control Center areas of Titan II sites back in ’74 – 78 time frame. The LCC was essentially a domed cylinder 3 stories tall. The top floor (level 1) sleeping/eating/lavatory area was on the top floor, under the domed part. What with straight bunks, partitions around the shower and john and square cabinets/counters there was a whole lot of wasted space. Even on level 2 (LCC proper) and level 3 there was a whole lot of wasted space. The shape of the structure was dictated by the entire complex having to be able to survive a nuclear strike within 5 miles and still be able to launch afterwards.
Anyhow, I think I’ll rethink the whole octagon-based inhabited areas (“The Expanse” CGI wizards seem to be inordinately fond of hexagons) and go for spheres and domed cylinders instead. Catman, what do you think about sphere-based inner hulls but faceted shapes for outer hulls on warships? Seems like the faceted shapes would act like the glacis of a tank to possibly deflect debris. Ain’t much of anything going to stop a depleted uranium or tungsten coil gun or rail gun round doing an appreciable %-age of C. Seems to me you could make a grav-based projectile cannon. You also should be able to utilize those nifty zero-point power modules to power a honking big laser. If you had (extremely limited) negative grav you could compress most anything to a plasma and shoot it out of a cannon also. All of that would ameliorate your unease with having introduced the “world beater” grav technology into the story line. Never forget either that gravity is subject to light speed limitations. NOTHING in the universe propagates faster than C. Your imagined gravity based technology is far from a world beater. Having gunpowder didn’t keep the Chinese from being over run by the Mongols.
Since space warfare is 3D, I think a curved hull would be better for deflecting shots. Odd-shaped spaces could be for machinery or storage. Spherical hulls are best for material savings, but when you go to multiple connected spheres a lozenge shape would be more efficient unless going for a deep dive into the atmosphere of a Jupiter-sized planet. The big advantage of being able to amplify and focus gravity comes with increased maneuverability, savings in reaction mass, missiles with no exhaust or signal emissions, and the ability to pick enemies apart with no energy traces.
Imagine the possibilities where two fighters in combat have reaction drives, but one can also pull against nearby objects such a ships or even the other fighter. Not only would it have a maneuverability advantage, it could do so without using it’s own reaction mass. And no enemy could escape combat unless the grav fighter let it.
going to the sphere vs cube ,, both right.. but because we live in a “cube” life.. we can’t make our cubes fit in the sphere.. so the next best fit .. hexagonal ..
and a stupid idea,, (for the Terrans.) Gravitational induction shields,,. they would be costly (power wise,,) but ANYTHING thrown at it (including light) would bend around it.. and if done right orbit it.. or sling shot it , back..
..also the possibility of making invisible ..
ship naming,, Terrans would have the silly names like Asimov, Glenn.. and since this is the Dragon/Wolf Empire , i personally think they would go with variations of that (IE: Dragonfly.) but the others would not,, ..
See my answer to Bill, next.
Freighters are an entirely different thing, as they bare generally designed as a minimal ship with a framework for the attachment of cargo containers.
Space stations, as well, although they are generally spherical with attachments for reasons of efficiency.
Okay people. as a learning exercise to figure out how to add surface detail in pursuit of the illusion of reality, I am “building” a bulk freighter. Powered by grav-based advanced Epstein drive it hauls cargo between Terra, Catia and points in the Lamian sphere of influence/empire (Does Lamia have an empire, CM?).
Anyway, I need suggestions for names. Names of shipping companies (corporation owning the ship), shippers (names appearing on bulk cargo modules and/or large cargo hold modules) etc. I also need ship name suggestions.
Caveat: The final choice of company names and the name of the ship itself is mine and everybody promises in advance not to get their nose out of joint if their suggestion isn’t used. Okay?
Here is a very rough render of a WIP. (I plan to go back repeatedly adding surface detail as I dream it up)
https://www.deviantart.com/bmullins3/art/Freighter-863683477
The very front section is ops where the spacecraft is”flown”. Next big section is crew quarters. Then comes 3 rings of cargo hold modules. Next are containers for reaction mass then engineering with the engines in back.
Whatcha think, Catman? Could you see that popping through a wormhole and burning for Catia someday?
I’ve always thought Caravan was a good name for a class of Bulk Frieghter
As for company names, perhaps a few Tributes to great science fiction?
As long as you leave out “Azimov” and “Heinlin”. Naming things after those two has become more of a cliche than an honor.
I would rather name things after the Sci-Fi jokers, like the Harrison Class spy ship, or the Laumer class diplomatic ship…
The Ellison class destroyer?
I met Algis Budrys at the North American SF Con in Austin in 1986. Spent 15 minutes telling Larry Niven how I was working on touch screen technology like he and Pournelle had in “Integral Trees”. Also got to meet Dean Ing and Ben Bova. For the ship itself I’m kind of leaning towards “Somnamubulist” or “Dream Chaser” with the owner being “Lupus Enterprises, Ltd.”
Since you’re building it, I’ll let you name it.
The diplomatic/freight ship that Teresa arrived in is named “Catia’s Pride”.
The next story is of that ship and crew entering alien space.
hehe or the “Enterprise.”,,, o.0
What the Catman wrote above got me to thinking so I sorta redid the freighter with spherical or domed cylinder shapes for the pressurized areas. Here is the new (extremly rough) model:
https://www.deviantart.com/bmullins3/art/Freighter-2-863767624
And here is a side-by-side comparison:
https://www.deviantart.com/bmullins3/art/Comparison-2-863767853
Oh, and her name is “Dream Chaser” – the folks in Nepal who invested in her were chasing a dream of a better life as freight haulers among the stars. The corporation they formed is “Vulpha Ltd.” with home offices in Nepal and a major satellite office in Jericho.
Enough dreaming. Back to work on the field hospital.
Catman, if a comment is “awaiting moderation” does that mean nobody cansee it? Cause I have one so marked just now. It didn’t even show up to ME until I logged in.
Taken care of.