"Grav Tank Engine Grates? Opinions please." Topic

I'm working on some Grav Tank models, which are nearing completion, but I am a bit torn as to how to represent the engine intakes/exhaust vents, if at all, on the upper, rear deck of the vehicles.

Not really sure a fusion-powered engine needs air, or venting. It might make sense, due to the heat it would generate, but then again, maybe the excess heat can be used to help power: the vehicle, or energy shields, or can be stored to power plasma cannons or other weapons.

In looking at various miniatures ranges, some address this, while others ignore it completely. Some go the route of using slatted coverings for the openings (presumably some armored to protect the sensitive bits), or attach some other representation for the intakes/vents.

These are supposed to be mid to high-tech Grav Tanks (not that all Grav Tanks aren't rather high tech), but they are at the mid to upper end of the development cycle.

I/we can always presume that these also have their intakes/vents underneath the hull, or overhanging turret (if appropriate), and/or are covered by retractable armored plates to prevent damage during some actions, e.g. dropping out of orbit, etc., if they are required at all. As mentioned, maybe the excess heat from the fusion engines is used for other purposes, so no weak points are needed for air/heat transfer.

Anyway, I'm curious as to what you would like to see on production Grav Tank miniatures, if you have an opinion or preference?

I'm striving for something a bit less like a modern day tank, but where you can still see the developmental lines back to current day kit.

What are the intakes for? T'd think they might suck in air to circulate as part of the cooling system, so you wouldn't need large grates. I always envisioned small round inlets and louvered exhausts.

If they are stealth grav tanks then no grates, because that implies a heat signature. On the other hand, detail is always nice.

So do both: make them with grates, and have a stealth upgrade module to cover them up.

I don't care for vents on grav tanks. However, if I like the basic design of a vehicle model, that particular feature wouldn't stop me from buying it.

I have considered doing both, and/or providing glue-on options, but producing two models requires either twice the cash outlay for two different molds to produce an otherwise identical vehicle, or will raise the cost of the miniature a bit, since separate add-on parts will be needed for the various options.

I'd prefer to allocate funds to produce a mold of a completely different vehicle instead, and imagine others would prefer that as well.

There will also be several weapons options for the various models, which will make them look more unique, so I see the engine grate/no grate issue as a minor one, but want to check with potential buyers for input as well, just in case some people strongly desire visible engine grates on their vehicles.

Radiator panels rather than grates would be what I envision: Some equipment will need aircooling, and a channwlled panel would be the best way to do it if stealth is not an issue. They would look practically the same at certian scales of course.

I don't care for vents on grav tanks.

I agree. I see these being a major weak point in any future AFV's armour. The ones on the Old Crow range of vehicles also negate any sloping armour benefits and create significant 'shot traps'in the armour design.

Cheers
Mark

If they look cool, use them.

I don't care for vents on grav tanks.

I agree. I see these being a major weak point in any future AFV's armour. The ones on the Old Crow range of vehicles also negate any sloping armour benefits and create significant 'shot traps'in the armour design.

This presupposes that vents are heat vents. You could argue that anything which vents could give off a detectable signature, but as above, to argue that every vehicle will be able to detect every kind of signature (or that there is one kind of "super detector" for which you just cant avoid leaving a foot print strikes me as absurd. That way madness lies.

The common sense approach is that everything will continue to exist on a spectrum of from virtually obvious to virtually undectable.

In short, that means vents are OK with me-just dont make it look retro…

The argument against vents also presupposes both armor and weapons function pretty much the same as now. If some sort of shielding is developed, or the slat armor evolves, the actual hull could look fundamentally different from anything we've seen--like comparing the Victory to the Gerald Ford.

Thanks for all the ideas, and options everyone.

There are a lot of good suggestions above

Now, I will just need to figure out how to incorporate them into the models, while addressing some of the views you all have.

Of course, I am always interested in more comments as well, so keep them coming.

Sincerely,

Rob

If a design is for an all environment grav tank in a Sci-fi setting it could have to operate in a low atmosphere or hostile atmosphere environment of other worlds. I'd think air intakes or venting would be designed out in favor of a cooling system that is sealed or self-contained. Basically there is no air cooling where there is no air, or where the air is much hotter on the outside than on the inside.

A bit late to chime in but here are my thoughts.

Basic physics. There are two alternatives to venting hot air:
1. Radiators. For a fusion powered grav tank, expect the heat to be red hot, which is rather unstealthy as you don't need IR to see it glowing. The radiator panels are also *very* vulnerable, ie to small arms fire.
2. Heat sinks. Again, pretty soon these will be vats of bubbling molten metal and you will have to dump the heat, soon! (sucks to you if you take a hit in the heat sink too)

The above two are a problem for tanks operating on airless worlds. The hot air is not so detectable as it can be quickly cooled to near ambient by rapid expansion (basic gas laws there). If you were to put some kind of vent on, perhaps some kind of recessed nozzle? Covered by a vent, anyway.

I like option 2, and conveniently, if needed, they can just launch some white-hot molten slag out of the end of the Plasma Gun in order to deal with the temperature issue in a hurry, and to take out the enemy too.