Fighters and other subships

Graham's Coalition Universe stuff
User avatar
Reliant121
3 Star Admiral
3 Star Admiral
Posts: 12263
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:00 pm

Post by Reliant121 »

I think its the bulbous nature of the Fighters which puts me off. And I am rather partial to wings :wink:
Mikey
Fleet Admiral
Fleet Admiral
Posts: 35635
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:04 am
Commendations: The Daystrom Award
Location: down the shore, New Jersey, USA
Contact:

Post by Mikey »

There's the rub. I HATE the idea of wings on a non-atmospheric craft. Pylons for weapons mounts I can live with, but true airfoils are ridiculous.

And the A-10 "Warthog" is an absolutely perfect example, Graham. Even an aesthetically "ugly" craft has a certain practical beauty when it's so well designed for its purpose. A lot of people like English bulldogs, too - or even worse, French bulldogs.
I can't stand nothing dull
I got the high gloss luster
I'll massacre your ass as fast
as Bull offed Custer
User avatar
Graham Kennedy
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 11561
Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2007 2:28 pm
Location: Banbury, UK
Contact:

Post by Graham Kennedy »

Reliant121 wrote:I think its the bulbous nature of the Fighters which puts me off. And I am rather partial to wings :wink:
Anytime I see wings on a fighter intended to operate only within space, I take it as a sign that the people making that movie or TV show are not serious about what they are doing... or not competent in it.

My all time favourite space fighter design is the Babylon 5 Starfury. Now there is a ship that looks like it can operate in the place it is supposed to. If ever we build fighters for space, it would not surprise me in the slightest if they actually look something like a Starfury.
Give a man a fire, and you keep him warm for a day. SET a man on fire, and you will keep him warm for the rest of his life...
User avatar
sunnyside
Captain
Captain
Posts: 2711
Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2007 5:35 pm

Post by sunnyside »

Although the starfury does have wings. They're just in a X pattern. So you might call the thing a......nevermind.

Anyway I think wings of some kind add a bit of graphical flair. Which I imagine is why they tend to be included. Though with a variety of sci fi spins.

I do, however, like it more when they take the time to come up with a reasonable excuse why there are wingy things involved.
mwhittington
Commander
Commander
Posts: 1313
Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2007 4:49 pm
Location: Gridley, CA.

Post by mwhittington »

The A-10 Warthog is called the Tank Killer for a reason: It's 30mm Avenger cannon. No, not 20mm, 30mm. They actually built the plane around it, so that the cannon is centerlined in the nose. If you've seen pictures of it with the landing gear down, you'll notice that the front wheel is actually askew of the centerline, because the cannon is in that spot. It's also better armored than any other fighter in existance.
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." -Benjamin Franklin-
Mikey
Fleet Admiral
Fleet Admiral
Posts: 35635
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:04 am
Commendations: The Daystrom Award
Location: down the shore, New Jersey, USA
Contact:

Post by Mikey »

Ummm... OK, all that happens to be true. Is this in relation to something? We've been describing that the pragmatic, if ungraceful, design of the A-10 is a positive thing.

BTW - with the advent of new mission-specific C-130 derivatives, the A-10 is no longer the only primary application of the 30mm cannon.[
I can't stand nothing dull
I got the high gloss luster
I'll massacre your ass as fast
as Bull offed Custer
User avatar
Reliant121
3 Star Admiral
3 Star Admiral
Posts: 12263
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:00 pm

Post by Reliant121 »

GrahamKennedy wrote:
Reliant121 wrote:I think its the bulbous nature of the Fighters which puts me off. And I am rather partial to wings :wink:
Anytime I see wings on a fighter intended to operate only within space, I take it as a sign that the people making that movie or TV show are not serious about what they are doing... or not competent in it.

My all time favourite space fighter design is the Babylon 5 Starfury. Now there is a ship that looks like it can operate in the place it is supposed to. If ever we build fighters for space, it would not surprise me in the slightest if they actually look something like a Starfury.
I find the Starfury a beautiful design. And it seems that wings are viewed as unnecessary for interstellar travel. Thats not always why wings are there. Take the Romulans. Their symbol is the Hawk, with wings, clutching Romulus and Remus. The Wings are symbolic, a way of representing the Nature of the empire. I admit on the Peregrines, there appeared to be little purpose of the wings apart from mounting the Warp engines.
Sionnach Glic
4 Star Admiral
4 Star Admiral
Posts: 26014
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 10:58 pm
Location: Poblacht na hÉireann, Baile Átha Cliath

Post by Sionnach Glic »

Using up even more resources to build ships that are hundreds of metres long than is absolutely necessary is the height of stupidity. Particularly if it's for symbolism, or some such.

Another competant design is the Viper from BSG and nBSG.
"You've all been selected for this mission because you each have a special skill. Professor Hawking, John Leslie, Phil Neville, the Wu-Tang Clan, Usher, the Sugar Puffs Monster and Daniel Day-Lewis! Welcome to Operation MindFuck!"
User avatar
Reliant121
3 Star Admiral
3 Star Admiral
Posts: 12263
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:00 pm

Post by Reliant121 »

Congrats on promotion!

We seem to have different values. You lot seem to purely value utilitarian pursuits. Thats fine. I simply value other things.
Sionnach Glic
4 Star Admiral
4 Star Admiral
Posts: 26014
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 10:58 pm
Location: Poblacht na hÉireann, Baile Átha Cliath

Post by Sionnach Glic »

Thanks. I think hitting Rear Admiral is just another little indication that I need to get a life. :)
"You've all been selected for this mission because you each have a special skill. Professor Hawking, John Leslie, Phil Neville, the Wu-Tang Clan, Usher, the Sugar Puffs Monster and Daniel Day-Lewis! Welcome to Operation MindFuck!"
User avatar
Reliant121
3 Star Admiral
3 Star Admiral
Posts: 12263
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:00 pm

Post by Reliant121 »

Thats not fair! I was going to make a get al ife joke! :evil:
Mikey
Fleet Admiral
Fleet Admiral
Posts: 35635
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:04 am
Commendations: The Daystrom Award
Location: down the shore, New Jersey, USA
Contact:

Post by Mikey »

You don't get to 4000 posts without making your own self-deprecating jokes first.

And yese, I've always had a soft spot for the Vipers.

As far as aesthetic extravagance, Reliant - it's great for civilian ships, but the guiding factor in designing a governmental/military craft MUST be practicality and utility.
I can't stand nothing dull
I got the high gloss luster
I'll massacre your ass as fast
as Bull offed Custer
User avatar
Reliant121
3 Star Admiral
3 Star Admiral
Posts: 12263
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:00 pm

Post by Reliant121 »

Fair enough.
User avatar
Graham Kennedy
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 11561
Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2007 2:28 pm
Location: Banbury, UK
Contact:

Post by Graham Kennedy »

sunnyside wrote:Although the starfury does have wings. They're just in a X pattern. So you might call the thing a......nevermind..
Those aren't wings, they're pylons to hold the engines. They don't even look much like wings.

It actually makes sense to have the engines on the end of pylons, even. Having them further from the centre of mass increases the moment for a given force, so makes you turn faster.

The Viper I would hate if it was just a space fighter, but it's designed for atmosphere too so I accept the aerodynamics and wings on it. Love the RCS thrusters though, they actually show them firing!
Give a man a fire, and you keep him warm for a day. SET a man on fire, and you will keep him warm for the rest of his life...
User avatar
sunnyside
Captain
Captain
Posts: 2711
Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2007 5:35 pm

Post by sunnyside »

Obviously they aren't wings in the aerodynamic sense. Only in the visual. And yes they came up with a valid reason to have them, which I like to see in a design.
Post Reply