Re: [OFFICIAL] Progress report from the shipyard......

>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Adam Benedict Canning" <dahak@dahak.free-online.co.uk>
>>
>> Large spheres are a pain to cast, ones with weapon towers and an
>> equatorial engine ring bulge, backed up by traditionalist flying
>> saucer designs might appeal.
>
>The Perry Rhodan pulp universe relies mostly on ships of that design. I
>would like to see something along those lines.
>
>Are spheres really that difficult ? How about two hemispheres or
smaller
>sections ?

Spheres are a REAL pain in metal, especially once they get over about an
inch in diameter, because that's about how thick the moulds we use are -
hence any part has to be less than that in at least one dimension. Even
if
hollow, each hemisphere is restricted in this way. The only way to
really
do bigger spheres is in resin, which I really don't want to do for
starships due to slow, labour-intensive production compared to metal
casts.
For something like big space stations, where volume of sales is going to
be
fairly low, resin is more viable.

Jon (GZG)
>
>Greetings
>Karl Heinz