HOME | DD
Jim197 — WIP small station shuttlebay
Published: 2012-06-12 11:19:46 +0000 UTC; Views: 2163; Favourites: 22; Downloads: 113
Redirect to original
Description
Here are two views of the shuttlebay module from my Midway 331 space station model, with the ceiling removed so you can see the interior. Please excuse the poor lighting: with the ceiling removed the shuttlebay was too bright, so I had to reduce the strength of the exterior light which has made the outside of the module rather dark. It can't be helped.I kept the interior fairly simple since you are only meant to glimpse it through the open shuttlebay doors. I'm mostly happy with it, although the way the little controllers' cabins stick out of the walls is rather inelegant.
I keep saying this station is small, and next to the Enterprise it is, but the shuttlebay interior space is 45 metres across and about 3 decks high, so it is still pretty roomy inside. The module as a whole is 55 metres in diameter.
Rendered using POV-Ray 3.6 on 12th June 2012.
Related content
Comments: 12
I was a bit nervous of posting this picture since it exposes the model to closer inspection than it was really designed for. However the reaction to it has been very positive, so I'm thinking of doing more like this.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Looking forwards to more then
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Nicely done, it should be remembered that shuttlebay is often a catch-all for cargo, improvised maintenance 'sheds' and other usage when a large open space is needed. Your design conveys all of the above well taken into account, kudos !
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you very much, I'm glad you like it.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Just thought of something else for if/when you re-visit. It's just a minor thing, but maybe put in a window on the back of the station where the control deck is. I realise that it wouldn't be visible in many (if any) shots, but just in case you wanted to use an angle featuring a shuttle entering with a larger vessel behind the station (for example), it would be a nice touch if we could see a small segment of the bigger ship through the windows, don't you think?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
It's a nice idea, but it would have to be a very big window for you to be see anything recognisable. An alternative might be to have front and back shuttlebay doors, so that with both open you could see right through the station. All the stuff that is currently at the back of the bay would have to be moved round to one side of course. I will have to give this some thought.
Thanks for the suggestion
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Nice work, i kinda like the controller cabins, bit if you do decide to change them maybe bring them in a bit or have them curved the same way as the wall. You know there is a cheeky lil TOS pod knocking around on deviantart somewhere if you need a different hammer 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
The cabins are growing on me so I probably won't change them now. Thanks for the suggestions though.
I do need more small craft for scenes like this, but I plan to build them myself. I hope to make a range of small ships, from pods to large shuttlecraft, all built around a single basic design (because it makes my brain hurt to try and come up with more than one). I want them to look less starfleet and more civilian, but I don't know how that's going to work out.
Thanks for the faves, I'm glad my stuff is still finding favour
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
That's looking really nice, but a bit Starfleet - since it's a civillian station, it would probably have other (older?) models of shuttles parked. If you think in terms of current Earth tech, a Starfleet shuttle is the equivalent of a hummer in the US military. While hummers are available to the public, there are lots of other designs available. Though it'd probably be too much work for something glimpsed through the door to make a whole new design, if you have any other variants in your runtime, it might be worth putting them in to show that it's not just starfleet using the base (maybe even something like a Star Wars Lamda shuttle for long shots where you'd barely notice it!). Additionally, there doesn't seem to be much maintainence equipment present. While the primary repair role for the station may be working on the big ships, have you considered putting some scaffolding lifts, winches, etc. for people to work on shuttles? Maybe on the left & right sides (assuming the doors & control window are the front & rear), put some form of trek version of a pneumatic hoist like you'd find in a modern garage for accessing the underside of a vehicle? Even if it was just areas of different coloured deck-plating to represent areas where artificial gravity could be turned off to lift the shuttle more easily, there seems to be little to indicate the repair work which would probably go on here.
Sorry to make all these suggestions - it must seem like I'm constantly nit-picking! I don't mean to be overly critical, especially because you're much better at modelling than me.
👍: 0 ⏩: 2
I agree that there should be other types of craft in the bay, but I don't have any yet. I'm building one, but I don't know when it will be ready so I decided not to wait.
All the other points are well made, and when I return to the model I will give them some thought. I particularly like the idea of scaffolding lifts.
Thanks for the comments, they are much appreciated even if the model is frozen for now.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Oops, just saw the image of the Ent docked saying that it's finished. Never mind the above points!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0