"What Does Your Asteroid Mining Ship Look Like?" Topic

Check out this weird little guy:

What does your mining craft look like?

Dan
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Small picture.

I think a mining craft is going to have something to anchor the ship so it can use it's drill. The drill might be a laser, so it might not be visible. You shoudl probably have a little cargo space. The front is probably going to be more utilitarian and less streamlined.

It's also going to depend on what you're mining.

That thing is very insect-like. I can see why some might like it but I'm lukewarm on it.

Here's the original image. Click on the pic for a larger view:

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By the way, here's an artist's representation of an early asteroid miner:

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Another one:

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Dan

Oh, it's a Star Wars universe ship, that makes sense.

Come to think of it I really do need to build me an asteroid mining ship… perhaps a really big vessel that is both a mining ship and a mobile processing factory/refinery all in one….

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

I don't have one! maybe I should work one one, I like the idea that BWP is thinking of.

I heard that most asteroids are probably relatively loose aggregations.

Two kinds of ships: one mass driver to fire relatively a low energy pellet to 'break it up', and the other a big funnel to drive through the cloud.

Probably do some presorting via solar wind.

Doug

That first picture looks like a giant mechanical prawn…

As outlined above, surely it has to be Red Dwarf:

I plan to be using one of Spartan's Terran Alliance Carriers as a mining ship for another alien faction I am working on. I am using the Terran Alliance ships as proxies for their ships.

Here's the basic hull, which I may spruce up a little, or not.

RED DWARF !! LOL !!

Here's one I scratchbuilt ages ago. The concept was that the ship itself is just a frame welded to an asteroid, and then it hauls it back to an orbital smelter. The rock is from my neighbor's yard, and the rest is just sprue, wooden dollhouse bits, and some plasticard.

That's pretty nice, Javelin.

Thanks!

Looks like it might be an asteroid hauler. What's the logo?

Doug

Nice kitbash Javelin98!

Have the one from Kallistra that I need to assemble.

Oh, sweet! I hadn't seen that before, and I've bought a couple fleets from Kallistra! Just goes to show my level of attentiveness, I guess. Mind like a steel sieve.

Whats even nicer about the Corgi "Red Dwarf" is that the design and size goes well with Brigade's British star ships – One reason i use them as a corporate fleet. Also it's a pretty practical design.

TheBeast, a few asteroids are "rubble piles" but not the majority as far as can be seen; None of the ones that have come close to Earth were.

Odd Fact: First person to speculative on such asteroids received the honor of having the first one located named after him – that was Carl Barks, who had Donald Duck step onto one and fall through in one of scrooge McDuck's adventures.

@CW Thanks! Obviously, I've not been careful enough with my 'media goggles…' ;->=

Never seen the Corgi; big thumbs up for that! I'll have to keep an eye out, but some of the best never make it over here.

Mark: That Kallistra is SWEET! I've several ships, and always thought of them as 'cheap and cheerful', but THAT is impressive!

Doug

How do you like this?

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Dan

Cacique those are some great portraits. Will have to paint a "Murph"

He looks so cool, doesn't he?

Imagine him walking and working in these asteroid tunnels:

Image source: link

Image source: link

And sleeping in these quarters:

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As for lining the rocky tunnel walls, looks like mesh fabric might actually have some use in terrain of that sort:

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Image source: link

Dan

Mine is a very very big rock with a bridge and very big thrusters

You might like this layout then:

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And this look within:

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Dan

A lot like a tick.

Several grapple arms to anchor the ship to the asteroid, and expandable tanks on the side away from the asteroid to hold the harvest.

Oh no!

I have an asteroid mining vessel gap.

This one works for me:

@javelin98 That mining ship is great. I'm going to steal your idea and make a few of my own. Thanks for sharing.

And I shall destroy them! *mua-ha-ha-ha*

I know, all talk… ;->=

Doug

Mining Vessel? Like this?

@sean68333: Steal away, my friend! Such is the beauty of TMP -- the cross-pollination of ideas to produce ever-cooler designs and techniques.

Something like this….

Us independents scoff at your cushy corporate cruise ships.

…until your ship's 'accidentally' swallowed into the maw of that 'uge processor along with the bit of rock you're tappin'. ;->=

Fun stuff! Is that another 'mouse that roared?'

Doug

It IS based on a mouse. I made it for the trash bash a few years ago. Shame they didn't do one this year.

Here is a bare version of it.

In the end I used so little of the asteroid. It was a shame.

Did you leave the daisy showing? ;->=

Seriously, even upside down, the skull, paw-print, and maltese would have look awesome 'showing through…'

That 'asteroid' would make a GREAT floating island in a 3D Aeronef or Spelljammer game!

While, I've been spending so much time VSF'ing of late, the dome mid-mouse screams to have most of the clear plastic left as glazing.

Doug

I got rid of the asteroid after the contest never even used it in a game. Sometimes I kind of wished I had kept it. Of course it was covered in seasoning salts.

As for lining the rocky tunnel walls, looks like mesh fabric might actually have some use in terrain of that sort:

That is actually steel chain-link fencing; we use it in addition to normal roof bolts when the back is heavily fractured and/or prone to small falls. It is especially frequently used at and near portals, often in conjunction with steel strips bolted into the back and ribs.

Of course, unless artificial gravity is provided for the atmosphere, the loading on any part of the workings will be pretty well different from anything we've seen. It would definitely make sense to line drifts with chain-link, both to reduce the quantity of drifting loose rock, and to provide handholds for miners. I would imagine that materials haulage would be provided by captive-rail systems similar to industrial-strength roller coasters.

Of course it was covered in seasoning salts.

Hmmmm, fragrant! ;->=

I'm planning on printing the piccie for wall-of-ideas…

Maybe hollow, and split in half, for keeping 'nefs. ;->=

That is actually steel chain-link fencing…

And mesh fabric could be used to mimic same? Might have been what he was speaking of. Could be used to keep a passage relative clear, especially if one of the rubble-pile asteroids I mentioned.

I'D probably prefer spray-on walls, but mesh as temporary prior to or substrate for same make sense?

If the latter, modeling could still be mesh fabric, painted to look 'coated.'

Doug