Star Trek Shuttle: Google SketchUp- Second Attempt

[Patrickivan]

This is my second attempt at a Google SketchUp render of a Star Trek Shuttle craft, and this is my first serious attempt at making this a complex and detailed model. As I am of course, not an engineer, my attempt to show the plumbing of this ship is based purely on ideas I’ve come up with from Star Trek, and real life contemporary technology. In other words, I’m trying to put a little thought into what this little ship is about.

So, the plan is to leave areas of the shuttle open so that the viewer can see some critical componants. This includes the helm, main compartment, engine room, main landing thrusters and RCS, and some power transfer and contol information conduits.

This is what I’ve created this morning. The dimensions are intentional, but for now, all you need to know is that it is 10 meters long, and the door is 2 meters high. So it is a fair sized shuttle. It’s primary purpose in this case, is for inter-system transport with low warp abilities, though the basic spaceframe does have modular abilities, allowing for other mission specific based purposes.

Here are a few WIP images- there are a couple of more on my site at

http://patrickivan.wordpress.com/2009/10/24/star-trek-shuttle-google-sketchup/ though I'll post the updates here. I can't seem to stop working on this. I should have posted some earlier images, but oh well. I'm making an effort to incorporate more complex curves that intersect with angles, as well as componants that intersect more fluidly with each other. I've learned some new stuff that makes this a lot more fun (like making a the port window that starts on a flat wall and extrudes out to a curved outer hull.

Any input is welcome of course- and feel free to add some technical advice Cary, but keep it simple please!

 

[NiteTrek]

Looks good....one thing I always wondered, sometimes shuttles are used for long trips...lasting hours at least. Wouldn't it make sense to have a porta-john on board some place? Maybe at the rear of the shuttle you can have a little enclosure.

I HAVE TO PEE!

 

[BorgMan]

I would advice you make the inner body of the shuttle follow the shape of the outer hull; it would be a waste of space not to Other than that,you're off to a good start. Keep it coming

 

[Patrickivan]

Looks good....one thing I always wondered, sometimes shuttles are used for long trips...lasting hours at least. Wouldn't it make sense to have a porta-john on board some place? Maybe at the rear of the shuttle you can have a little enclosure.

I HAVE TO PEE!

I agree- and it's really only needed depending on the use of the ship. In SOL system, trips are really all within the length of a long drive in real life. There's also enough traffic that in the event of an emegency, the wait for aid is pretty short. So for this specific version of this shuttle, it doesn't need one.

My plans for other variants include a small waste removal closet, as well as chairs that recline for sleeping, and for longer missions that may include sitting on a planet doing some small scientific study that requires "camping out", for a couple of people, there may be room for a bunk bed.

It will all boil down to how much I want to be able to make this shuttle be able to do- how modular it can be while still making it practical.

 

[Patrickivan]

I would advice you make the inner body of the shuttle follow the shape of the outer hull; it would be a waste of space not to Other than that,you're off to a good start. Keep it coming

I thought of that, but then I figured that I need some place to run all the plumbing- and keeping the internal compartment of the shuttle "plumb and square" makes it easier to add all the modular componants I intend to through in.

Thanks for the thought though!

Here's a little update. A view of the door, the impulse,some RCS guts, and the start of the warp nacelles. There's only one other one on my site showing a close up of the RCS on the port side.

 

[Patrickivan]

Here's a little update showing the main deflector (that ordinarily you wouldn't be able to see, and the start of the shuttle control.

 

[sojourner]

In the future waste management is handled by precise transporter technology. No need to have restrooms when the waste can be "beamed" straight out of the bowel system.

 

[BolianAuthor]

Nice work you're doing here.

 

[Patrickivan]

In the future waste management is handled by precise transporter technology. No need to have restrooms when the waste can be "beamed" straight out of the bowel system.

While that would be ideal- I don't have a crapper in my mini-van either.

That being said, as I've already stated, for the use of this shuttle configuration, everything is within reasonable distance that waste removal isn't a critical need. Everything is within 6 hours of this shuttle- and in an emergency, say perhaps a blowout, a faster ship can get to them and let the crewmember use their head.

There is however room for a small waste removal system in the aft compartment. It's tight, but other then access to various systems, there's no reason for it not to go back there. But man, if you can't hold it for 6 hours max, just point your ass towards the door, hang on tight, and we'll open up and blow that crap into space. Ew

Nice work you're doing here.

Thanks Starscream... But can you stop pointing that blaster at me?

 

[Patrickivan]

A wee update. Some console detail, and the seats. Though I should have built them later, but I couldn't wait.