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Jim197 β WIP revised docking ring #2
Published: 2014-06-14 18:39:52 +0000 UTC; Views: 828; Favourites: 23; Downloads: 45
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Description
So here's what happened. BigTallDude saw my previous upload fav.me/d7ld4lg and asked where the connection points for filling and emptying the tanks were. I started thinking about it and decided I really wanted the connection point to be on the centre of the domed top of the tank, but common sense said it should be on the side for easy access.Β Then I had a bit of a d'oh moment and realised that the tanks needed to be rotated 90 degrees. Not only does it allow me to have the connection point where I want it, but it makes much more sense when you look at how the tanks relate to the rest of the structure.
I've had to rebuild the red steelwork almost from scratch, but that was OK because it gave me the chance to add a second section of steelwork at the aft end of the tanks so that they are secured at both ends. This is so much better, I can only wonder why I didn't see the need for it before.
The tanks are now held in place by big clamps which can be swung back to allow them to be removed. I've removed one of the tanks to illustrate this.
This still isn't finished, but I'm really happy with the way it's going.
Rendered using POV-Ray 3.7 on Saturday June 14th 2014.
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Comments: 4
Ummm.. I like these details... Perhaps I should retake my old J class station ?
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The docking ring of the J class station was the original inspiration for my docking ring. However I wanted mine to be much smaller, so I had to rework the design a lot to make sense of it. If you look at your model and imagine it being a quarter of its current size or even smaller, you can see how the primary hull of a starship would completely fill the gap between two docking arms; that's how my docking ring got started.
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Looking nice, very logical. As always, happy to be of use.
Overall, it's looking like an interestingly modular unit; have you considered having it both as an independent station as an option for a section of a larger unit? Imagine K-7, for example, except that instead of having the (presumably habitation) discs on the arms, could have had one or more fitted with one of these, with another fitted with a long range comm array, another with a large modular shuttle bay, etc.
Just an idea & I know that the finished version of this will feature bits on the top & bottom that might make that less viable (I was imagining this unit attached by its base, sticking out so docked vessels were out of the flight plane, which is more practical than trek), but might be something to consider.
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My intention in the short term is for this to be one of a series of vertically stacked modules, as with my previous stations. If I were ever to build a really big station then I can see having several of these modules out on the ends of long K7-style arms, but I'm not really a fan of big space stations.
I like the notion of a long range comms array module. though. I imagine a module with lots of dish aerials, and maybe aerials of other kinds, all pointing in different directions. That could look cool. Thanks for the suggestion
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