Archive through February 24, 2014
Star Fleet Universe Discussion Board: Prime Directive RPG: DECK PLANS PROJECTS:
Fed Police ship:
Archive through February 24, 2014
I won't be at Origins. Too busy unfortunately this year.
Oh, well, then, Nick, I'll just have to e-mail them to you.
Garth L. Getgen
I've been struggling with the drone rack. I cannot figure out how to load it with Type-VI drones. I think I'm just going to load it with Type-I drones on the deck plans, and then show alternate loads as a separate diagram. Yes?
Garth L. Getgen
Garth,
Sounds like a reasonable option.
You have to draw the line somewhere, because if you convince yourself you "need" to show optional load outs for type I drones, as well as type VI drones, why stop there?
As I recall, the Type G drone rack can use a variety of munitions, type IV drones, ADD rounds, etc.
Using the "KISS" principle, (Keep it simple...) just use a diagram for type I drones and possibly type VI, and leave it at that.
just my $0.02 worth.
Jeff Wile
Actually, I ended up going with a Type-IV heavy and two Type-I standard. To the side, I have nine diagrams showing everything from two Type-IV to eight Type-VI. I'm not going to show all the one with ADD darts in place of the Type-VI. That can be a note in the text.
Another cosmetic detail that I changed is the symbol for the door. The one I used originally has a line in the middle. Looking at the CL-47 article (softcopy PDF -- I need to order my hard copy), this line can get blured and makes it hard to see where the door is. Therefore I went thru and changed all the doors (except those in a thicker bulkhead) to a completely hollow symbol. I didn't count them, but man that's a LOT of doors.
Garth L. Getgen
Okay, now that you all have had a chance to see the teaser in CL-47, I have a question. I have finished putting labels on everything, and the only place I used room numbers instead of a description is the admin offices and the crew quarters. Would you rather I get rid of the numbers and just put "CQ" and "OS" for crew quarters and officer stateroom instead?
Garth L. Getgen
If there's a key somewhere, yeah, that would be cool.
So, I noticed that after Origins, SVC starting working on the F&E counters and the SIT. I figured that is not a good time to poke the bear, so I just went thru the plans a couple more times looking for anything that needed tweaked.
I replaced all the room numbers with the word "Quarters" or "State Room" or "Chief's Lodging". In many cases, I had to reduce the font size from 1.0 scale-meter to 0.75 or even 0.50 scale meters. Everything is still legible at 1:400 scale (27cm / 10.6 inch long).
I haven't touched the file in a week, so in the next day or two, I can sit down with fresh eyes and re-check everything. I will then convert the files to TIFF and e-mail them to SVC. I'll do two sizes, one that he used for CL-47 and one twice as big.
From what I've read on Wiki, his Freehand version 8.0 program should be able to import DXF files. My program can export to DXF, but it's not in a standard format. I discovered quite by accident that DXF can be read with an ASCII-text reader, and the issue with my program is the Y-coordinates are all negative numbers. If I simply do a global search-&-replace to delete all the minus signs, I "think" that will convert the DXF to the standard format. At that point, SVC should, in theory, be able to import an editable version of my work into Freehand. I shall have to send him a small test file, and if it works, I'll send him everything in DXF format as well as the TIFF files.
To the couple people that reviewed my work-in-progress along the way: Thank You! The feedback really was a big help.
Garth L. Getgen
I sent the finalized deck plans to SVC a couple weeks ago, and have been working on the background fluff text. I tried the converted DXF idea, but it screws up all the text when I port it into any of my programs that can read/display DXF files. So, I had to send TIFF files to Steve instead.
When I was finalizing the deck plans, I filled in as much of the big empty spaces as I could. Where the drone rack goes in the Plus refit, I put a bunch of spare parts in that void.
In the gymnasium, I drew in a basketball court. However, I had failed to look up what size a basketball court actually is. And I had forgotten that the ceiling height in the gym is only four meters (thirteen feet).
It appears I need to "invent" a new game, or I need to change the playing field. The court measures 15 x 7.5 meters (50 x 25 feet), with the aforementioned 4 meter (13 foot) ceiling.
Does anyone know of a sport that uses a court about that size?
If not, I'm thinking this new game would be played four-on-four using a ball about five inches in diameter. Players may possess the ball for no more than ten seconds before passing to another player or shooting for goal. They may run with it and do not have to dribble it like a basketball. The player may only hold the ball with one hand and may not hold it against his body to protect it (like one does with a football). The goal is set 2.375 meters (7'9") off the floor, and will accept the ball from any angle except from the bottom.
For you sports fans, does this sound reasonable? And what would such a game be called??
Garth L. Getgen
Hand ball and racquet ball courts ought to fit that space.
I had thought of racquetball, but the ceilings are a little low (13' vs. 20'). And there is nothing I can do to change that, short of redesigning the entire aft section of the ship. That is NOT going to happen.
Garth L. Getgen
Garth, 13 feet should be enough unless there's something else that needs more headroom (second floor of watchers, overhead scoreboard, etc)...
Garth,
It all sounds good... just playing devils advocate here (a little!)
Having a space devoted to sports activities has been part of the background on star fleet ships for a very long time.
Just wondering if there might be more of a multiple purpose approach in how Star fleet outfits such spaces in the fleet?
For example, many public schools have lockers built into the walls to store athletic equipment. such things as weight/cardio sets, rowing machines, treadmills, stationary bikes? lots of things that a full workout might require, but would not necessarily require that the equipment be left out in a dedicated space all of the time.
then there are things mounted in the ceiling (basket ball backboards and hoops) that can be retracted to make room for other activities. How about ropes, that are used for rope climbing activities? How about a volley ball net? or a tennis net that can be mounted to bisect the room for those sports requiring a net?
There might not be room for bleachers and an audience, but what about a small platform near the ceiling for a score keeper/camera platform? That way the sports games (that might be of interest to the whole ships company) could be broadcast with the announcers comments directly from the floor (so to speak!)
Then you might also want to designate some storage space for floor mats for wrestling bouts. Balance beams, paralle bars and other equipment for gymnasts.
And how could any such athletic space not have a cart for balls for use in dodge ball!?!?
Just a few thoughts. 
Jeff,
I have it covered. Did you really think I would not? Here's the description of the gym:
Gymnasium: At first glance, the gym might seem like an extravagant waste of space, but upon closer inspection one will note its strategic location in the ship. It is situated next to the aft transporter room and in close proximity to stairs leading up to the shuttle bay. This allows the gym to be used as a staging area for boarding parties, and also as a medical triage area and prisoner processing area. There are two lifts going down to Deck Three; these are used to transfer prisoners to the brig and patients down to Sickbay.
Storage Rooms: Located to either side of the gym, equipment such as treadmills and weight-lifting machines are stored here. Also, there are cots and blankets in the event when the gym is turned into an emergency shelter area for disaster refugees.
To answer your questions, there is no room for bleachers or broadcast announcers. There's really not enough room for an out-of-bounds safety zone (only a meter or so), but I figure they use "soft force fields" to keep the player from running full speed into the wall.
Hmmm. Force fields. Any reason not to use force fields to create hand-ball / racquetball courts on the fly?
Oh, and there's a climbing wall, too.
Garth L. Getgen
In the Klingon propaganda version that space is devoted purely to shuffle board. A game so loved by those soft and peaceful Federationists.
Thanks to Ryan Opel for providing me with a list a of scenarios involving the Fed POL, I have extracted the following data:
| Scenario | When | Action | Enemy | Cutters involved | Historical outcome |
| SH20 | Y172 | BATS, Morkedian III | Romulans | Masterson | Heavily damaged, almost scuttled, emergency repairs at BATS, returned to service |
| SH63 | Y177 | Fleet action, Rigel IV | Romulans | Justice & Bailiff | Not Listed |
| SH76 | Y160 | Escort hospital ship | Klingon | Constabulary | DESTROYED |
| SH104 | Y178 | Defending mining ops, Annox V | Klingon | Mountie & Militia | Major damage to one cutter, all ships some damage |
| SH108 | Y180 | Attacked squadron of damaged ships | Klingon | Deputy | Sustained damage to Photon and withdrew |
| SH132 | Y167 | Convoy escort | Orion | Williams & Willis | Williams crippled, Willis disabled |
| SH133 | Y168 | Rescue mission, unnamed sytem | Federation | Holmes & Watson | Both cutters sustained damage, returned to service; Gremlin-infested Fed GSC saucer-separation |
| SH169 | Y162 | Defending mining ops, Morkedia III | Jindarians | Masterson & Babak | No ships destroyed, either side. |
| SH191 | Y160 | Defending freighter Roger Maris | Orion | Sipowicz | Survived intact |
| SH198 | Y184 | Convoy escort | Orion | McKeehan & LeBeau | No outcome listed |
| SH226 | Y171 | Auxiliary Fleet action | Klingon | Unnamed | All but two ships destroyed |
| SH228 | Y171 | Blockade of Orion | Orion | Tavon | POL: Tavon, PV: Marshal, PFF: Wagenbach -- None lost |
| | | | | |
| T6S1 | Y180 | Defending BATS | Orion | Unnamed | No outcome listed |
| T6S2 | Y180 | Intercept summglers | Orion | Unnamed x3 | No outcome listed |
| | | | | |
| SL117 | Y171 | Defending BATS | Klingon | Peacemaker & Peaceofficer | Fiction story: Peacemaker "a gutted wreck" and destroyed, Peaceofficer "lost all power, dead in space", presumed destroyed. |
| SL190 | Y179 | Salvage / Rescue mission | Klingon | Unnamed | Not listed |
| |
| |
| Updated through SH270 and SL314 |
Garth L. Getgen
I just noticed a minor error on the Deck 3 plans as printed in CL-47. Due to a change on Deck 2, the aft-most vertical turbolift shaft should not have an UP arrow, only a DOWN arrow.
I'll make sure this is corrected (and another very minor item on Deck 6) before ADB goes to print.
Garth L. Getgen
Garth,
Had another thought... Since the Original POL CV consisted of a "normal" POL that had a pair of hanger pods attached, could you show a pair of hanger pods deck plans with notations where they matched up to the POL?
I just pulled module J1 and looked at the PV, seems like a lightly modified POL with frigate (6 point) warp engines.
Jeff, funny you should ask, but yes I did start plans for the hanger modules. I haven't figured out the curve yet because I can't find anything that shows a reasonably valid diameter of the base they were intended to be on. I do have the F-18 icons created.
Garth L. Getgen
Garth, just use a curve that seems reasoneable (I'd probably wouldn't even show the inner curve and show it as a solid connection)...hmmm, is the HBM one deck or two high...
Stewart,
I pretty much have to use a curve to make it look right. New thought! Maybe there's an adaptor piece between the curve and the ship.
I figure it'll be three decks high: one double-height hanger deck and a deck for crew quarters and drone storage. I wouldn't have a problem with it being four decks, if that's what I need for space.
SVC suggested how to do the PV, but it's not going to be as easy as we first thought. The PV gets rid of the cargo boxes to make room for the fighters. But the shuttle bay is one Decks One and Two, but the cargo bay is on Decks Seven and Eight. Frankly, I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to make it work.
Another "fun" one to try to figure out will be the three-engine PFF. The top engine goes into the drone launcher, but that's actually not as big of a problem as it might seem. It's the other two engines that move from the 3-&-9 o'clock down to 4-&-8 o'clock positions. That's going to move them from Decks Four/Five to Decks Five/Six, taking over the crew support area (break room, laundry, ship's store). The only way I see it working is if the entire engineering section moves down a deck, and the support area moves up two decks.
Oh, you all should have seen SVC giggle like a schoolboy when he said, "He's even got a trash compator that's big enough to put a person in!" while reviewing the hard-copy of the plans.
Garth L. Getgen
HA! Whenever I read about trading Cargo or Labs for power, weapons, or fighters, I always think, "It can't be that easy." I picture a Minderbenderish cascade of trading A for B with C in order to get D to allow E to swap F and G...
Reviewing the thread, I note the gymnasium is just below the shuttlebay. Sending that to less elaborate facilities in the cargo hold might be considered.
If you can get a variance from the artwork (if any) created for the PFF, you could have the nacelle pylons still emerge from the hull at 3-&-9 and angled to hold the engines at the 4-&-8 needed for three-part symmetry. (I've always imagined the shape of the warp envelope depends on the nacelle position, not the shape of the pylon.) I figure a short segment extending horizontally, then bending down would put the idea over better than a single segment at a more acute angle, but it's up to you to decide if either of those options looks any good at all.
Garth, what is behind the shuttle bay instead of cargo? Maybe just move that stuff to where the cargo bay is to make room for the expanded shuttle bay?
Jack makes a good point.
why move the engines connections at all?
Couldn't you redesign the pylon's angle? Instead of it being 90 degrees, make it 45 degree down angle, that way the deck plans remain the same, just add a footnote.
Also, the idea for a connector between hull and hanger pods might be the way to go... remember the first experiment used a stock POL and normal hanger pods... I suspect that the hanger pods on the PVs were the stock hangers, it just doesn't seem reasonable to design a unique set of hangers for use on the PVs and no where else.
edited for spelling and clairity.