Re: Fighters and Hangers

--- david smith <bifsmith207@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >From: Jared Hilal <jlhilal@yahoo.com>
> >Subject: Re: Fighters and Hangers
> >Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 02:26:44 -0800 (PST)
> >
> >Most popular SF, like SW, BSG, and B5, have fighters comparable to
> >modern fighters in size
>
> My idea for the size difference comes down to reaction mass. I
> compair the amount of fuel a space shuttle carries to what a boing
> 747 carries.

So you are assuming the use of reaction mass.  Is the glow on the
engines of an X-wing a sign of a reaction drive or a side effect of the
grav-drive?  If the reaction mass is comparable to a 747, then why is
the Minbari fighter (grav drive) the same size as the EF Starfury
(reaction drive)?  When the Galactica takes on "fuel", is it for a
reaction drive or for the reactor (either fusion or M-AM) driving a
generator for electricity for the grav drive?
 
> > < snip "FB ships are small compared to...">
> 
> You have to make comprimises. After all, a shrike class LAC from
> HH would mass in at 200 mass, and be able to pull 400 thrust under
> stealth (which you wouldn`t be able to detect it over a certain 
> range. Want to try and catch one?).
> 

I would use 1 MASS = 1000t, 2000t, or 5000t for HH.  This gives 80,000t
DDs a MASS of 80, 40, or 16, respectively, and Shrikes 20, 10, or 4,
while ships of the wall wold be in the 8000, 4000, or 1600 range.

This allows assault shuttles and pinnaces (described as the size of a
"pre-space jumbo jet") to use the FT fighter rules.

For thrust, the slowest HH military ships are about 300+ g's, and the
fastest 650+, so remove the 8 thrust limit and give 1 thrust = 50, 60,
or 75 g.  So you still have room for variety without having to play at
a scale of 1 MU = 1mm on a 3m x 3m table.

> > <snip wet navy ships>
> 
> I tried building wet navy style ships in FT, and found using 
> K-guns in turrets and PH layered armour makes for some interesting 
> ships.

I tried something similar, but used FB ablative armor for the "torpedo
protection" of bulges, multiple hulls, and water-filled compartments,
and adapted a version of MT integral armor for the belt (originally
developed for a B5 conversion).  Also, the K-guns needed to have range
bands scaled to their class rather than all being equal.

I also used a system for separate main drive and maneuver drive systems
(also for the B5 conversion) so that ships could be given varying
speeds but the same maneuverability, and also for the possibility of
maneuver damage without propulsion damage (ala KMS Bismark).

J