New Sci-fi design - Shrox inspired

[EchoVictor]

All,

after seeing all of the cool designs in the "I Miss the Deep Space Fantasy models" thread at TRF, it got my mind churning.

http://www.rocketryforum.com/showth...&threadid=13966

There, I saw some of the really cool designs from Shrox (Sarah Connor, Icarus, Solarkron). I became impatient, so I went and built the Icarus as best I could from the picture.

http://www.rocketryforum.com/showth...20&pagenumber=1

After building and discovering how relatively easy the "ping-pong ball" trick is, I decided to start playing with the theme.

So here you have it, my first scratchbuilt model in almost 20 years. However, I'm still trying to decide on the nose cone...

Later,
EV

Picture 1 - Short Ogive nose cone

Picture 2 - Long Ogive nose cone

Picture 3 - PNC-50CA from the Alien Invader (available at Moldin' Oldies). I like this one the best, but I've got that cone reserved for my AI clone.

Picture 4 - Rear detail

Picture 5 - Overhead plan view

As you can see, there's a little bit of Alien Invader in there, as well as the canard design and ping-pong ball being straight from Shrox's Alien8. The wing shape was insipred by the design of the Centauri ships in Babylon5. I'm also trying to come up with a name. Here are some of my ideas....

Centauri
Chiron (the centaur that taught Hercules)
Annihil8
Obliter8

Any suggestions?

Later,
EV

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

:cool: You probably don't want to hear this, but I think the AI cone looks best. It's so seldom seen that it would be the biggest attenion getter of the bunch. They're only $5. Buy a bunch! :D
I love the looks of the rocket. I've tried to sketch something like this out twenty times over the last few years, but I apparently have a talent for making things look big and clunky. (Probably because I'm big and clunky.) I've decided that I'm content to let the talented folks do all the hard work while I wait for the first production run. ;)
So, when's she fly? And with what?
As for the name, the first thing that came to mind when I saw the pics was "Scarab". I don't know why. :cool:

[Tweener]

I'm also trying to come up with a name. Here are some of my ideas....

Centauri
Chiron (the centaur that taught Hercules)
Annihil8
Obliter8

Any suggestions?
Hmm.. Looking at the fins I'm thinking "Scythe Fighter". :D

[EchoVictor]

Well, I just came inside from my first swing test in 20 years!

Success!!! (with no modifications :D)

I'm starting off with the short ogive for now, as the long ogive is for my Shrox Icarus, and the PNC-50CA is marked for my AI clone. That doesn't mean I can't change it later....

I'm quite thrilled that she flies nice 'n' straight. The short ogive from my parts bin already had a bit of clay inside, so I just ran with it. The multiple tubes make an interesting whistling noise as she circled around my head. Cool!

FYI, the rear fin is the exact same piece as the outer wing fins.

For those interested, I'm going to stop at the WOOSH sport launch tomorrow (http://www.wooshrocketry.org/) and send her up on her maiden flight, probably on a B6-4 due to her mass.

Flight report and photos to follow...

Later,
EV

[CPMcGraw]

:cool: You probably don't want to hear this, but I think the AI cone looks best. It's so seldom seen that it would be the biggest attenion getter of the bunch. They're only $5. Buy a bunch! :D

EV,

I agree with Bill here. The AI cone has the right "look" to it.

Oh, BTW... :rolleyes:

You do intend to send that plan to BARCLONE when you get it completed, right? :D

Craig "Nobody Builds Just One" McGraw

[EchoVictor]

Oh, BTW... :rolleyes:

You do intend to send that plan to BARCLONE when you get it completed, right? :D

Patience, young Padawan...

Here's a shot of it drying out on the deck right now...

Later,
EV

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

It's PURPLE! EWWW! :eek:

[CPMcGraw]

It's PURPLE! EWWW! :eek:

Yeah, but I can see something of his direction... :cool:

Trimmed in black, silver, and medium or dark blue, that purple base will look awesome under a gloss coat. Doing all of the various panels as decals, he can cover quite a bit of that base color. And the edges will be sharper than if he tries to mask-and-paint.

'Course, if he just sprayed it with a flat acrylic, he could name it "Purple Haze..." :rolleyes:

Was it "...Skuze me while I kiss dis guy..."...or was it "...kiss da sky"? :eek:

Fading memories... :o

Craig...

[CPMcGraw]

Patience, young Padawan...

Sorry, at 43 I'm neither patient nor young... :D

Craig...

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Was it "...Skuze me while I kiss dis guy..."...or was it "...kiss da sky"? :eek:

Fading memories... :o

Craig...

You're scaring me.

[CPMcGraw]

You're scaring me.

I just suffer from John Boy's Disease -- Chronic Lyricosis...

Craig...

[EchoVictor]

Well,

back from the range, and we have a winner!

First flight on B6-4 was absolutely beautiful! Straight flight, perfect 'chute deploy, and I even had my first mid-air catch in over 17 years.

Unfortunately, I got a little cocky and had to tempt fate. I stuffed her with a C6-3 and went back to the pad. This time, the results weren't so nice. I think the "C" had a little too much punch, and she corkscrewed all the way up.

As the gyrations threw off the aim, she wound up drifting way off of the range into a very thick clump of trees. After a bit of searching and wading through face high reeds, I found her intact inside a grove. There must have been maybe a 5' diameter hole through the tree branches, and she dropped right through it. Thank you, Lord!

Upon further inspection, I think I understand why she went nuts under higher power. If you look at the overhead view, the wing tubes aren't perfectly parallel to the main body tube. This may have set her spinning.

Below are a few photos with my camera. Some other guys at the event caught her off the pad, so I'll post those as soon as they send 'em.

Later,
EV

[EchoVictor]

Yeah, but I can see something of his direction... :cool:

Trimmed in black, silver, and medium or dark blue, that purple base will look awesome under a gloss coat. Doing all of the various panels as decals, he can cover quite a bit of that base color. And the edges will be sharper than if he tries to mask-and-paint.

Craig,

you're barking up the right tree. My thought was to contrast the wings and canards in a midnight blue, and then trim out the details ("laser cannon", cockpit, markings, etc.) in gold.

Everyone at the launch thought that "Scarab" was the most fitting name. Don't you have a T-tailed fighter plan on BARCLONE by that name?

Later,
EV

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

But PURPLE?

[EchoVictor]

But PURPLE?

Enhance your calm, citizen.

Here's the look I've got in my mind's eye....

http://hyperspace.isnnews.net/cent/centwacr_lg1.jpg

Notice the wing shape?

Later,
EV

[CenturiGuy]

Sorry, at 43 I'm neither patient nor young... :DPffft! *That's* a "beverage-spewer!" :p I'm right there with you! :D

I just realized I'm 43.5 today. :eek: :D ;)


--Jay

[Tweener]

Enhance your calm, citizen.

Here's the look I've got in my mind's eye....

http://hyperspace.isnnews.net/cent/centwacr_lg1.jpg

Notice the wing shape?
Oh, it's a capital ship. I watched Babylon 5 from start to finish and didn't make the connection until now. :o D'oh!

[CPMcGraw]

Craig,

you're barking up the right tree. My thought was to contrast the wings and canards in a midnight blue, and then trim out the details ("laser cannon", cockpit, markings, etc.) in gold.

Gold trim also works with purple -- Universally recognized as "Royal colors", so your ship could also be a transport for an Ambassador or an Emperor...


Everyone at the launch thought that "Scarab" was the most fitting name. Don't you have a T-tailed fighter plan on BARCLONE by that name?

I do indeed! :D

It's in the CONCEPT section of the site, as I didn't have more than RockSim 5 or 6 demo to play with, and it didn't have the kind of flexibility of the current version.

BTW... My Scarab was also a Shrox-Inspired design. I had just looked at his website when he had a whole bunch of designs available, and was blown away at the direction he had gone out on. I was doing really Plain-Jane Estes-based stuff up to that point, just getting some practice with laying out models, when I tried doing something more challenging. I'll have to build it one day to see if it can actually fly... :o

Craig

[EchoVictor]

But PURPLE?

Bill,

here's a rough first shot at the direction I'm headed. Cockpit, alpha-numeric markings (maybe some "alien"-type script), details, and something to accentuate the ping-pong ball to follow....

Later,
EV

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Bill,

here's a rough first shot at the direction I'm headed. Cockpit, alpha-numeric markings (maybe some "alien"-type script), details, and something to accentuate the ping-pong ball to follow....

Later,
EV

But PURPLE? :eek:

[CenturiGuy]

But PURPLE? :eek:

How about this for contrast (i.e., "easier to find against a background of green vegetation")?

A. John Deere green and yellow with black trim, or

B. PURPLE!!! :D :p ;)


Cheers,

--Jay

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

So, you're trying to say that an advanced alien race has the technology and skill to build a sleek looking ship like this, an the best they can do with the color wheel is PURPLE?
This I can see. Even this, but we're only a step away from Barney.
I Love You,
You Love Me....... :D

[CPMcGraw]

So, you're trying to say that an advanced alien race has the technology and skill to build a sleek looking ship like this, an the best they can do with the color wheel is PURPLE?
This I can see. Even this, but we're only a step away from Barney.
I Love You,
You Love Me....... :D

However...

If it was built by the inhabitants of The Planet of New Orleans, those colors would be PURPLE, YELLOW, and GREEN, and it would have a big GOLD Fleur du Lei on the fins...

The galley and the mess hall would have the pungent smell of GARLIC, PORK FAT, and CAYENNE all the time, and the crew would have a laid-back approach to everything...