Modular Spacecraft [LDD MOC]

[vynsane]

It seemed the next logical extension of the Modular Starfighter system to branch out into larger spacefaring craft. This first design leans heavily on the look of Star Trek shuttles, with engine nacelles akimbo, sloping front windscreen and angled rear access. Just as was the case with the Modular Starfighter, I foresee a lot of variations/expansions of this new platform.

"Niuma" Class Modular Light Cargo Shuttle (GHL Livery) by vynsane, on Flickr

"Niuma" Class Modular Light Cargo Shuttle (Exploded) by vynsane, on Flickr

With the unprecedented performance of the "Firedemon" engine modules developed for the "Oni" and "Ryu" starfighter, Tanuki Corp. began to target segments of the spacecraft market previously unexplored by the company.

The inaugural offering from this new line of Modular Spacecraft, the "Niuma" (Japanese for "Packhorse") Class Light Cargo Shuttle proved a very reliable and popular intra-solar-system delivery vehicle for Galactic Handling and Logistics (GHL) as well as other parcel delivery companies.

With a crew compliment of two, a spacious cargo area and large rear loading door/ramp, the features are utilitarian but accommodating enough to endear it in the hearts of those who fly it.

The new module format lends itself to many configurations ranging from this light cargo shuttle, to passenger shuttles, luxury space yachts, and large public transport craft as well as military applications such as gunboats and dropships. The highly configurable/customizable nature has also attracted the attention of smugglers and bounty hunters as well, though most render the factory parts nearly unrecognizable, being surrounded by aftermarket and/or one-off custom modules built to personal spec.

LDD Files

• "Niuma" Class Modular Light Cargo Shuttle (GHL Livery)
  
• "Niuma" Class Modular Light Cargo Shuttle (color-coded modules)

[zinfinion]

I've been meaning to compliment you on your fighters, but never got around to reading through the whole thread, so I'll just give you serious kudos on both right here.

The cockpit on this is fabulous, and the rear doors and curved interior ramp are just amazing. Not to mention the detail on the top.

I'm excited to see what is next for this line of vessels.

[vynsane]

Thanks a lot! Yeah, I'm excited, too!

[Superkalle]

Excellent, excellent work.

I really like the cargo expandable system! I work in the transportation business IRL, and we could use something like this

[vynsane]

Thanks, Superkalle! Yes, I'd imagine something like this would make deliveries pretty quickly!

I made some modifications to the 'standard' for the modules, adding two more rows of module 'hardpoints' - one towards the top and one at the very bottom, in addition to the one already existing. I've updated the files here:

"Niuma" Class Modular Light Cargo Shuttle - UPDATED

• "Niuma" Class Modular Light Cargo Shuttle (GHL Livery)
  
• "Niuma" Class Modular Light Cargo Shuttle (color-coded modules)
  

"Watashimori" Class Passenger Shuttle by vynsane, on Flickr

"Watashimori" Class Modular Passenger Shuttle (Exploded View) by vynsane, on Flickr

Evolving out of the versatile modular platform introduced in the "Niuma" Class Light Cargo Shuttle, the "Watashimori" (Japanese for "Ferryman") features, in addition to the cockpit, step-up collar and rear access hatch from its predecessor, a cabin compartment accommodating 12 passengers with bulkhead pressure doors at either end and four "Firedemon" engines connected via a new wing module for clearance/visibility.

An order of five shuttles painted to match the livery of Finland Spacelines offers service from Helsinki Spaceport to ISS 5, 7 and 9 as well as the Lunar colony located at the Sea of Tranquility every 45 minutes during peak hours. Contact Finland Spacelines Customer Service for off-peak timetables or download them straight into your neural cortical implant by thinking "Finland Spacelines Off-peak Schedule" now.

LDD Files

• "Watashimori" Class Modular Passenger Shuttle (Finland Spacelines Livery)
  
• "Watashimori" Class Passenger Shuttle (Exploded View)
  

Edited March 1, 2012 by vynsane

[Abu Dun]

Just like with your fleet of starfighters, you've yet again done a great job at these more civilian crafts I especially like that you created your own, unique style that greatly adds to the overall feel of all your ships.

What's more, I can easily picture each and any of them being featured in a Sci-Fi set sometime after conquering space began

Keep up the good work

[Hubertbrickengineer]

the detail in that cockpit is spectacular... I don't have the patience for detail on larger models like this, which is why my current WIP fits between this and the starfighter in terms of scale.

I stumbled across your starfighter page as a guest, and, well, I'm inspired

I'll post something here when I've got it

[Hubertbrickengineer]

First prototype's made!

I based my modules from element 64179 "beam frame 5x7". This allows plenty of interconnectivity from the technic element, as well as the hollow centre allowing a continuous interior. A minifig can stand in the modules, and duck through the frames, a little like a submarine... in space. The disadvantage is working in an odd number of studs, but I find if something is a little less easy, it actually turns out looking better through more inventive moves. Anyway, module concept:

As this is a first run, the fuselage is a bit bare, but there's plenty of scope for further detailing. There are also a few locations where the construction is a bit... weak. wouldn't stand up to too much play in real life, but it works as a proof of concept. I haven't made any wing or engine modules yet, so this uses Vynsane's, but I suppose that's kinda the point of this thread/project/thing

No fancy photoshop on this one I'm afraid, but there might be some later...

The cockpit and the 'crossroads' behind it were horribly fiddly, but I think they've turned out pretty well.

LXF here: named bulldog class for no good reason, in Systems Mining Corps livery

Colour coded modules (also mostly grouped in LDD): colour coded

The shape of the modules lends them quite well to a space station... might see where that goes

Oh, and I want to make the airlocks (blue) open somehow...

Hope you like what I've done so far, new and improved modules on the way

Edited April 17, 2012 by Hubertbrickengineer

[vynsane]

Sweet! That's really cool looking. It actually looks like an over-sized version of the "Seiryu" fighter from the other topic (the blue and lime green one). Working with odd-numbered bricks is a challenge, to be sure, but the pay-off is it doesn't look like every other even-numbered MOC

It's definitely cool to see people pick up and go off in different directions. The 'space station' thing crossed my mind, as well, though there's already the 'Moonbase Standard'.

[Hubertbrickengineer]

Something a little larger...

Full Image (Edit- reduced image size. I thought there was a limit, but couldn't find what it was)

Some people, if they deserve the title, need to be locked up. And sometimes, they need to be moved. Acting as both prisoner transport and a mobile prison, the Red-Nebula Security P-24 "satan's ribcage" lockdown vessel contains 24 fully independent transport pods, which provide individual confinement volume adequate to the Systems Welfare Treaty Vol 6.x.12. Prisoners have zero access to the dual hull crew compartment, and in extreme circumstances individual pods can be vented to ensure subject cooperation. With no armament of its own, and limited shielding, RNS employ T1 Bakemono escorts (although, subject to the emergency venting protocol, assisted jailbreaks have so far been unsuccessful). For contracts in terminus systems, where the Systems Welfare Treaty is not regulated, the prisoner capacity is greatly increased and the P-24 is often deployed as a fully operational orbital prison. This practice is, of course, categorically denied by RNS central command.

Edited April 18, 2012 by Hubertbrickengineer
Oversized image removed (maximum size allowed is 800x600).

[vynsane]

That's awesome. Love the colors - reminiscent of Space Police I but with a bit of an edge...

[freakwave]

@vynsane, your ships are a great inspiration. I had myself plans to do a modular shuttle system and your renders will push me again into this direction.

The system I wanted to do is intended to do transfers between planets and their satellites. i.e. Earth/Moon as an example. So they should have configurations like Earth-to-Orbit, Orbit-to-Orbit and Orbit-to-Moon, freight passenger etc.

Let's see what comes!

fW

[vynsane]

^ Cool, can't wait to see what happens! I've meant to create an external airlock spec, just never got around to it.

[vynsane]

A variant on the "Niuma" Class Light Cargo Shuttle that I created to test out Nachapon's "speed render" trick.

"Niuma" Class Courier Variant (GHL Livery) "speed render" by vynsane, on Flickr

While the "Niuma" Class Light Cargo Shuttle performed exceptionally well in modern, standardized spaceports, the same could not be said for outlying galactic fringe worlds that have not had the opportunity to update their aging infrastructure.

The "Niuma" Class Courier Variant was borne of the need to land in non-standard ports where clearance around the under-slung engines of the original Light Cargo Shuttle could be very restrictive. By mounting the engines above the main hull, the footprint of the craft was greatly reduced allowing for more free movement in tight spots.

LDD File

- "Niuma" Class Courier Variant (GHL Livery)

Edited February 1, 2013 by vynsane

[DraikNova]

Nice to see you haven´t completely given up on these yet.

[vynsane]

HA, I haven't given up on anything, just haven't had the time to do much MOCing/LDDing. I have a few WIPs that I've been working on for a while, but I think I got a little burnt out on them. One was supposed to be a modular starfighter Vic Viper for NoVVember, but I missed that deadline. The other is another, larger, modular spacecraft.

[vynsane]

This isn't the WIP I was referring to above... that's still on the back-burner.

"Tortuga Moon" modified Shirasagi Class smuggling ship by vynsane, on Flickr

"She might not look like much, but she's got it where it counts."

This modified variant of the Tanuki Corp Shirasagi Class Medium Cargo Shuttle is captained by the notorious smuggler Kaizoku Kortez.

Named for the infamous moon used by pirates and smugglers before it was rendered uninhabitable during the piracy crack-downs in this sector of the galaxy, the "Tortuga Moon" has seen better days. While piracy and smuggling has been drastically reduced, it is still the preferred method of wealth acquisition in the small pockets of the galaxy that is too far-flung from the central seat of government influence.

Rumor has it Kortez and the mercenary Aliss Oyuki first became romantically entangled while the duo were running guns and fighting, respectively, for the Rendolo Prime Resistance Army. They were, as we all know, on the wrong side of that conflict.

More shots in the Sci-Fi Forum

File:

- "Tortuga Moon" - modified Shirasagi Class Medium smuggling ship

Edited March 9, 2013 by vynsane

[vynsane]

I decided to work up some detailed pics to display some of the advanced techniques I used. I'm particularly happy with the engine construction, how the panels at 45° were accomplished:

"Shirasagi" Class "Tortuga Moon" - engine construction detail by vynsane, on Flickr

"Shirasagi" Class "Tortuga Moon" - engine rotation mechanism detail by vynsane, on Flickr