What does a Federation Mauler look like?

Vanguard · Post by **Vanguard** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:33 pm

Well, title says it all. What does the mauler look like? Thoughts? Opinions? How big is it.. is it glowing, etc?

Scoutdad · Post by **Scoutdad** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 7:00 am

A few years ago, someone posted a photo of their Federation CAM. I was a kit-bash of the standard Federation heavy cruiser with a few modifications.
It had several battery modules attached to the outer hull as in the Klingon D6M mauler cruiser. These packs were made from two-part epoxy-putty. The cables connecting the battery packs to the mauler cannon looked like guitar strings, cut to length an super glued to the miniature. The mauler cannon itself was a piece of 1/4 brass tubing mounted into a hole bored into the upper surface of the saucer, just below the dome and extending to the front of the saucer.

Not exactly how I would have done it, but a great job none the less.

Vanguard · Post by **Vanguard** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 2:05 pm

Hmm.. so, basically, a 'BFG' construction. Well, not too hard to figure out, I guess, though I'll have to play with the placement some.

Vanguard · Post by **Vanguard** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 3:50 pm

Kevorkian Class Mauler
From SFB

Ravenhull · Post by **Ravenhull** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:25 pm

I would almost say reroute the mauler to have it project through the saucer. Maybe have some obvious power linkages along the outside of the neck. The saucer mount would be closer to the SSD.

Vanguard · Post by **Vanguard** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:32 pm

I thought about it, but I couldn't figure out a way that didn't look wreck-bashy. Also, the backstory had the Kevorkian as a 'new build' from the remains of CAs. That meant that the basic space-frame had to be a CA to begin with.

I decided to up-scale the familiar torpedo bay considerably and allow the extension to the next to include the power couplings to the system. Since the whole kit-and-kaboodle is now on the pylon, it can work with the SSD either way.

And, while I may be a minority on this , I don't really see a Federation ship having major components - particular power generation and coupling - that exposed. That's just beggin' for trouble.

Scoutdad · Post by **Scoutdad** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:38 pm

Ravenhull beat me to it, but the SSD clearly indicates the "business end" of the mauler cannon is on the saucer. I'd probably put it underneath the saucer if I was going to put it there.

Also, the mauler isn't quite "BFG" enough. It's supposed to be a huge port.

jmt · Post by **jmt** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:31 am

Where can one find the Kevorkian SSD?

mjwest · Post by **mjwest** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:56 am

The Federation CA and NCL maulers are found in Module R9.

Personally, I would rather see the mauler go down the middle of the bottom of the saucer, wrapping around the top of the "neck". (Really, think of the "future" Enterprise-D from All Good Things.) Then, there would be massive conduits that run down the "neck" and into the secondary hull. More conduits would run up the nacelle struts. There wouldn't need to be conduits on the saucer or secondary hull, as they are big enough to contain the "plumbing". But the neck and struts are just too skinny.

But that's just me.

Ravenhull · Post by **Ravenhull** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:25 am

'Course, I've always thought the Fed mauler needed to based on the OCL, myself.

John Schneder II · Post by **John Schneder II** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:08 am

Tony,
That was my Fed mauler. I can't seem to find my pic of it on my hard drive. I'll see if I can scrounge it up and post it.

Scoutdad · Post by **Scoutdad** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:56 pm

I thought is was yours also, but I checked you're site and couldn't find it - so I then thought I had been mistaken.

Zapster · Post by **Zapster** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:03 pm

Found it!

It was on my old site, not the newer one....

:: makes note to get off my butt and go over to John's and do an even newer one some evening ::

Scoutdad · Post by **Scoutdad** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:09 pm

Yep. That's the one I remember seeing - but I still think the mauler cannon should be slung underneath the saucer... not on top of it.

Vanguard · Post by **Vanguard** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 5:39 pm

Okay, updates...

Mauler cannon now is the length of the saucer, on the underside of it.
Capacitor storage batteries added to saucer top, with markings.
Power coupling system added to saucer bottom.
Emergency flush vents added to secondary hull.

Refresh for new image.