"Laser cut cargo dropship?" Topic

So I'm not sure I can do it. I also have this big 28mm set to get out but I'm always looking for the next project. So an idea popped into my head.

Would a larger dropship kit interest anyone? Not something that carries a few troops but something kinda massive. Like it can hold 2 silars and a few troops or 4 Merka 5 tanks. Something equivalent to the cargo capacity of a C-5 but I figure it can hail a little more because it only has to land the load. Something like it can drop 4 Merkas but only pickup 2.

The kit might be rather complex but I've got a few dozen tricks up my sleeves now so I think I can pull of a cockpit and landing gear. The rest is just a box with jets on it.

I would love to see this. Even if not used as a military dropship it'd be cool to use for objectives or spaceport decoration.

-Eli

Seems like a great concept. Most of the common drop ships are basically big boxes. Some may be squashed octagons in section rather than rectangles but they still have big flat sides that could easily be fabricated with a laser cutter.
Only wish I had the skills to do it.

I too think that it's a great idea. I've often looked at certain paper models and considered cutting them from styrene and building them.

Count me interested. I'm with Eli that it would be set dressing for me.

I think it is a good idea. You could attempt to make it work for both 15mm and 28mm.

GW makes a huge one for the Tau. I'm not sure why something wouldn't be even more popular for 15mm since more people would have tables on which it could fit.

If you want an objective for the centre of a table then the old Traveller Scout Ship would be easy option to do as a laser cut self build.

yes please!

Depends upon the design, and overall shape.

I second the request for a Traveller style Scout Ship, in wood, though I'd prefer a hard plastic material instead, e.g. styrene, or another material.

I actually prefer the Scout to the Dropship idea, myself. Would like to see one about 12" – 18" long, with 15" being just about perfect for the length.

It would be our standard styrene over an mdf skeleton. I wouldn't dream of doing it in straight mdf.

I have actually been toying with the idea of a spaceship corridor system. Not boring rooms and hallways but an actual spaceship. Engine room, Med lab, bridge. Stuff like that. The details are the problem right now. Some stuff just needs to be done in resin or metal. I could easily do doors and detailed walls but furniture is an issue. Those kinds of details are rough. If the 28mm kickstarter makes enough for me to get an Epilog then that might change the situation. My current laser is not capable of frequency adjustment. I need to experiment with that to reduce melting and maybe move to a thicker styrene so it can stand on its own.

Yes

I'd prefer styrene over styrene, if that is a choice, since I suspect it might be lighter, but more importantly, not likely to warp as much as MDF may, when glued, painted, etc.

Mako11: "I'd prefer styrene over styrene"

Huh? :)

Dan

Styrene doesn't have the structural strength needed. I have spray painted and glued a few dozen buildings together and never had one warp. Granted over time they might if left in an area that isn't climate controlled.

I HATE MDF buildings. That is the entire reason I designed this method was to overcome the faults of MDF yet still be cheap.

The trick will be designing it so that the mdf is able to support the finer details without making it overly complicated to put together. That introduces variations in squareness and other issues that make the styrene not fit perfect.

I was thinking about an internal skeletal structure, like how real ships, and presumably spacecraft are built.

If you added internal bulkheads, ribs, walls, made out of styrene, they'd be easy to glue together, and would be structurally sound.

Then again, perhaps you have another method of constuction you are envisioning, as mentioned above.

If someone wanted just the model, without the internal details, polystyrene foam might be an option too, for the "guts" of the vessel, and then we could just apply the styrene sheeting over top of that.

I'll consider the MDF, if you think it will be acceptable, but imagine gluing/welding styrene to styrene to make for a very strong, structural bond, and internal frame.

I'll take one

Well learning how to do internal rooms and true floor plans is on my rather large todo list for this technique. It would take a slotting system that I have yet to devise. For instance, The styrene walls would have tabs that slotted into the mdf base. Two textured walls bonded together would be strong enough. My first instinct would be to frame it with MDF and apply the styrene onto that. Gets tricky but has advantages of being sturdy enough to do clever things with. Like slots for removable doors.

In a ship layout, You expect rooms to be tight and I can make them true scale. Buildings are proving to be a challenge. You have to compromise on exterior dimensions so the insides are way out of scale. Bathrooms too small to even put bases in. stuff like that.

Of course this is all dependent on a successful kickstarter because as much fun as designing this stuff is, The buildings are not selling. We sold 1 copy of each of the 15mm ones. That would be the reason that the other buildings never made it to market. After the kickstarter, I'll be rolling back through those designs to clean them up and update them to the new framing system.

Jim you'll always take one. Mostly because they are free scrap because you don't care too much if the first prototype is jacked up. I'm getting better. The Armory framing went together with only one minor design change.

Yes I vote for a Traveler scout ship, I'm just now starting to work on this as project have most of the materials together

mil-net.net/hercules.cfm

figure it would be easier to build vs on of those paper Fireflys, for my space crew, I've been studying how I might be able to open it up and get some deckspace and layout forsome extra play

On the ships, for the internal rooms, its a real issue, since if you make them the "right" size, and/or small, as mentioned, you can't get the figures in there, much less the bases.

If you do manage it, you'll have an even tougher time getting them out, short of turning the whole thing upside down.

Same goes with corridors, etc. too.

Not really an issue on a large, star destroyer, but for scout ships and shuttles, etc., it is a big concern.

I'm interested.

I'd be interested in both 15mm and 28mm cockpits for the same vehicle. 28mm to further stretch my flightline table for Infinity and 15mm to game everything else.

I'm interested…

For smaller ships such as the scout courier I think etched floor showing the rooms and corridors is the best option. As you say once the walls are up it looks divine and plays like a pig!

Must say a brick drop ship type would be good.
A scout courier from Traveller is a must.
Any of the Traveller inspired no starships such as pinnace would be excellent.

Yes, I'm looking at you MMG!

I would be interested. Any rough sketches? Also a smaller shuttle, scout ship would great too.

One thing about a 'brick' is you may be able to make it an actual transport. I've oft thought about taking a tool/tackle box, grebbling/painting to look like a troop carrier.

Some of the toys I wanted to convert had interiors large enough to suggest carriage.

Even dinged up an old plastic mailbox. Never got the landing gear right, but would have had a kewl drop door/ramp.

Doug

Yep.

I'll take 2. Don't see me putting my players "In the all one box" situation. I tend to screw them alot in other ways.

Sounds like a great project.

Hey just saying…if you are looking to catch a Firefly it would bring me Serenity…hey hey, say no more say no more :)

@Micman "Any rough sketches?" Nope! That would be like an outline for a paper. I always wrote the required ones after the paper was done. I have some reference material collected but it's down the road a bit. I don't have but a rough idea of what I'm going to be doing for this 28mm kickstarter at this point. The armory is framed and the command center is 90% complete.

Just kinda working out a rough release schedule based on interest at this point. Post kickstarter, I'm going to try and get a vac former and work out a method for laser cutting pieces from it. Only was I can get cheap textured styrene and maybe even get it to do domes. Alignment is tricky.

Have been having a go at design, which have got mostly done, gone for a blocky slab sided winged design, about the only thing you can do with MDF.
Body size is around 32Lx7Wx8cmH, with wing span of approx 27cm. Will have module on each side for the triple engine/thrusters & an internal cargo bay approx 20x5x4cm, need to work out a hinge design.
Will post picture of the design once finalised, mostly minor things to do (doing in between finishing a master for a heavy armoured car). Been considering getting some 1mm MDF to do surface paneling.

Also have been thinking of doing a almost wingless flying brick with 4 rotating engine modules on stub wings.

Regards

Can't wait to see!

gone for a blocky slab sided winged design

Sounds a bit like the X-Men Blackbird I've been eyeing at a local flea market.

Doug

believe me no way as nice as a blackbird, looks a bit like a chipped brick with wings.

Dear All

Please see picture of my large Dropship.

link

I hope this is satisfactory?

Regards

@Mad Mecha Guy – not bad for an all-MDF ship! What are the assembled dimensions?

-Chris K.

I think it's the wrong sort of design to try with MDF. There are designs that are much better suited to the medium that might produce a better result and look less awkward.

Some examples –

Just a thought but these sorts of ships would work as well as ones that look like big frames that carry containers under.

-Eli

Oops, forgot to include the sizing:
Body 32cmL, 12H to top of tail, hull 7x7 plus side modules
Wing span 29cm. Internal cargo bay would be 20Lx5Wx4H
I can shift the version bits around change the design.
Price would be around £20.00 GBP Have not designed the land gear yet, either be skis or wheels, have to look how to creat void in hull for them,

Was think of doing a 'knocked-up' version with wider cargo belly, might do that as changeable/dropable, have to fiddle with the engine set up.

Wkth other designs I am not able to do the leopard style. Might be able to do one like the Nam2070 transporter, have to have good think on that, have to be slabby style though.
Have got a vague design for one like the scratch built moon launcher. Blocky body with 4 rotating engine pods mounted on stubby 'wings'.

I am looking to use some 1mm MDF for the surface detailing, as have found a dolls house supplier that does it.

regards

MMG.

I have always thought of a dropship that dropped off container/prefab, barracks, maintenance bay, command HQ, medical aid station, ammo dump the support stuff after the main assault.

Assault wise it would just touch and go, while troops and equipment unloaded, some sort of assault container, while CAS gives support, instead of sitting there wait for everything to disembark then leave.

Just my opinion

The Leopard was a suggestion because the sides, while angled, are still straight. Seemed to be built pretty much like a pitched roof.

-Eli

Personally I've always quite fancied the dropship from " ground control"

looks like it might be laser cuttable:

link