Wed, Feb 24, 2021 at 1:10 PM
Looks great. The scale is perfect -- though, of course, the boxes could be larger, smaller, or even linked in a chain. Seems plausible, right? in a scifi sorta way?
I really love it!
Thu, Feb 25, 2021 at 4:37 PM
David,
Found some time after dinner to work on the ship. Have started in on the detailing.
You can see some catwalks with handrails as well as the required airlock hatches. I've tried to place those hatches as near as possible to what you indicated on your floor plan.
Regarding the catwalk and railing. Yes we are out in a weightless environment so the fear of falling is moot. Also, I'm assuming your average spacer will be wearing his magnetic boots. Nevertheless, that handrail is there as a handy grab point or as a place to secure one's tether line.
More detail to come.
Cheers,
- Ignatz
Thu, Feb 25, 2021 at 5:33 PM
Ignatz,
I like it! I think the rationale for why a catwalk would be there. At first, I was imagining that an enclosed catwalk would be safer, which I imagine it would be, built would also make exiting the catwalk, to get to various points along the upper hull more difficult. Between mag-boots, tethers, and proper training, this would be a good compromise between safety and usability.
Do you think there'd be another catwalk underneath, on the lower hull? There'd be less need for one there, I'd guess, since the "business end" of the vessel is on top, but maintenance might require access to oddball areas. Actually, if there was another section that could have more scafolding, I'd say it would be in back, in and around the engine nozzles. They don't need to be in a line with the up-and-down axis of artificial gravity inside the ship, so they could be at any crazy angles. Just an idea.
Regarding the hatches, I remembered AFTER the fuel tanks were attached that there was a hatch near the starboard bow, and it would be blocked by the one on that side. The tanks are detachable, though, so it's all good. (And, of course, you're not bound by my crazy doodlings!)
This looks great, man!
-David