Vixen

[snefroe]

I was at star Command

[Lost Viking]

Wow, great job! Awsome detail. I really love how the cockpit opens up, and also really like how it can carry cargo. The one thing I don't like is that the back is too small in proportion to the cockpit but otherwise it's a great ship! *y*

[Starwars4J]

First let me say that I LOVE the level of detail you went into! Especially with how EVERYTHING is labeled at the end X-D

I like the way the wings split for "cargo mode" too.

There are really only two things I could suggest modifying a little. First I know EVERYTHING is labeled, but it's TOO greebly. I mean, not everything has to be exposed ;-)

Secondly, it looks way too fragile. I'd try to make the wings and especially hull of the ship a lot thicker. More support is always better.

I like the idea for the landing gear too *wub*

[xenologer]

....

Is this meant to be a parody of the current fad of escessively greebly spaceships?

No-offence meant if not...

[snefroe]

....

Is this meant to be a parody of the current fad of escessively greebly spaceships?

No-offence meant if not...

:-P nope, why would you wanna have a heavy hull in space? take the moonjeep. the construction was so weak, it wouldn't even be able to carry the weight if it were here on earth. weight and space is just waaaay too valuable in outer space to waste it on flashy hull sections... the 'voyager' and 'pioneer' are great examples as well, there's no protection for their instruments either, all these vital elements are just sitting in a metal box or hanging on a fairly fragile bar... that's just the way it is in real space ...

Secondly, it looks way too fragile. I'd try to make the wings and especially hull of the ship a lot thicker. More support is always better.

the entire wing is as thick as a lego head, in our world, that's about 30cm or so? i'd think in the 24th century or whatever, they've got these composite materials for this... :-P honestly, i just hate to make my planes too heavy, too thick,... as a kid, i always made an extreme effort in getting as much space inside my ships as possible, for whatever purpose, very often it meant: 'why take 2 plates if 1 is enough?' in this case, it's all about saving weight in order to lift more cargo, so everything that is not needed, has got to go :-P at that point, my urge to be realistic just takes over and i'll just assume that in real life, it will hold, even though it may look fragile in Lego... :-P

The one thing I don't like is that the back is too small in proportion to the cockpit but otherwise it's a great ship!

my feeling for estethics says the same, but:

1) i don't think in the same way as most space fans who are building ships do. i'm a realist in a very, very, very extreme way. i can't just build a space ship that looks good, because I want it to look good, it has to follow the lines of logic, of functionality. In this case, it wouldn't matter if the cockpit is larger than the engine, as long as the engine does what is needed. in fact, the evolution of today's aviation runs in exactly the same way: cockpits are getting larger compared to the size of the engine.

2) there was also a vey strict limit on dimensions. it's already a bit too long for what i had in mind... :-$

[ApophisV]

Whoaw, now that's finally a unique plane!

I love the canopy mechanism though I wonder if it stays closed or is the canopy able to slide open if the plane is moved?

I would strengthen the body a bit, its looking very fragile, especially considering this thing is build for athmospheric flight. And your pilot needs a real seat! :-P

Other than this really great job!

[optimus-convoy]

Great ship. *y*

Very slender and greebly... maybe too greebly.

Love the slide-open canopy. *y*

[Starwars4J]

Well, think about what needs to fit in that space ;-)

Wires, power lines, pipes, structural integrity for thousands of tons of cargo, armor in case of attack, etc.

If it was all armor, I'd agree that it was sorta okay, but there are a lot of things that need to fit inside

[snefroe]

Whoaw, now that's finally a unique plane!

I love the canopy mechanism though I wonder if it stays closed or is the canopy able to slide open if the plane is moved?

I would strengthen the body a bit, its looking very fragile, especially considering this thing is build for athmospheric flight. And your pilot needs a real seat! :-P

Other than this really great job!

thanks *sweet*

ok... i'll give him a seat as long as it doesn't mean he's going to hit his head against the canopy :-X

perhaps it looks fragile because of all the details, but i can easily pick it up in one hand and swoosh it around without any parts falling off; the cockpit has two/three layers of plates, the base for the engine has four/five, the wings have three, there's lots of pressure on the cylinders of the hydraulics system (because the parts aren't put together as the Lego would, most of them are 'illegal techniques' as they would describe it), so it's a bit stronger than in a normal technique, but you're right, i can only pick it up with my thumb underneath the hull and my second finger on the modified tile just after the trans-black engine part. all the rest won't hold... I'd say it's meant for display only, it's not meant for kids, like most models kits, really...

Well, think about what needs to fit in that space ;-)

Wires, power lines, pipes, structural integrity for thousands of tons of cargo, armor in case of attack, etc.

oh no no... wires, pipes,... nonono all 'fly by wire', mister! meaning: remote control by sensores, as the F-16 today; armor you say? how ' bout titanium? the cockpit of an A-10 is completely made out of titanium, yet the thing flies on engines hardly stronger than that of a vacuum cleaner, so to speak, cargo, you say? the flying crane easily carries a house but is hardly a construction of bars of steel and aluminium... i'm just taking these rules into science fiction :-$

[ApophisV]

LOL, I wasn't talking about the stability of the LEGO construction! I am probably the last builder that should say anything against fragile constructions, most of my own MOCs doesn't fall apart because of two reasons: Very careful picking up and LOTS of faith... ;-)

What I meant was that a plane that is meant to be very fast (I guess this since it runs by a nuclear power generator) AND very strong (lifting freight) would need a strong main hull to fullfill those tasks. Basically the main frame of the Vixen is not thicker than a brick. In real life that would mean the whole supporting structure isn't higher than 50 ~ 60cm. I'm not (yet) really an expert when it comes to scientific analysis of planes, but my feeling tells me that it's somehow too less. Or you have to invent some sort of a energetic stabilizing system (I think Star Trek ships got such devices) to explain why it doesn't fall apart at high pressure or such things. BTW, better let's not talk about the CW value of it... :-P ;-)

[snefroe]

LOL, I wasn't talking about the stability of the LEGO construction! I am probably the last builder that should say anything against fragile constructions, most of my own MOCs doesn't fall apart because of two reasons: Very careful picking up and LOTS of faith... ;-)

What I meant was that a plane that is meant to be very fast (I guess this since it runs by a nuclear power generator) AND very strong (lifting freight) would need a strong main hull to fullfill those tasks. Basically the main frame of the Vixen is not thicker than a brick. In real life that would mean the whole supporting structure isn't higher than 50 ~ 60cm. I'm not (yet) really an expert when it comes to scientific analysis of planes, but my feeling tells me that it's somehow too less. Or you have to invent some sort of a energetic stabilizing system (I think Star Trek ships got such devices) to explain why it doesn't fall apart at high pressure or such things. BTW, better let's not talk about the CW value of it... :-P ;-)

i shouldn't think it would run that fast... the engine is all about stability and durability. nuclear power does not mean, you're fast, it only provides power in a very reliable way...

i guess you'd also have to take the atmosphere into account. take the F-104; the thing weighs 15 tons but the wings aren't even as tick as a fist... yep, they bend :-P

oh well... :-P

[Captain Roger]

i love it it the best lego space ship i have seen in my life....CONGRATS MAN I'LL GIVE IT A 10! ;-):D

[Asuka]

Looking out for words those describe what i feel for this beautiful model i found this:

To a slender wind

Chtysolith thy step,

And on a jewelled pool

Faint arrowy moonstone on a tear-culled cadence.

Like fragmentary rain

Shaken silkily from star-scaled boughs.

Each note of thy dusky song

Is a petal that has delicate breath

And is azure;

And is more beautiful than the drift of leaves.

Dylan Thomas

[Kahgarak]

Awesome!

[JINZONINGEN73]

QUOTE(Starwars4J @ Sep 28 2006, 10:57 PM) *

Well, think about what needs to fit in that space blink.gif

Wires, power lines, pipes, structural integrity for thousands of tons of cargo, armor in case of attack, etc.

Might not be too big a deal if it STRICTLY deals in space during those runs.

; )

I like the sliding parts on it.

It's rare I say this, but I might have to steal that idea (for compartments, mecha canopies, etc).

My only gripe with this is one of the tan antennas being bent. The rest is pure greebly gold.