Ok, with Augusts Challenge days from ending, and with FirstLight on my list as my second major project and with all of the cool ideas poping up on the boards cuz of the Firstlight floor planner... I'm thinking lets get another friendly Challenge going. FirstLight Builds... due anytime in the month of October. We'll keep it light... but lets try this...

1) Floor plans need to be posted on this thread.
2) Build needs to match floor plan.
3) Pics if you got them. Links on this thread.
4) Begin..... NOW.

Size requirements... none, If all you have time to build is a very small ship... then join the Challenge.

I'm already planning a December Challenge, details in October....

Well ...I guess my second build will qualify ...got the deckplans up...and will be posting WIP shots...so count me in ...I have not got the build skills and experience of you folks yet...but will give it a try

My Floor Plan


trying to make it modular with passanger cars, and larger crew cabins and galley for a future build. Think of it as a space train.

Ok, I edited the layout, The bridge is atop the reactors via a ladder, and that Bridge unit is atop the typical cargo 'car' via a ladder. Will add 2 air locks in the reactor room.

Modular Freighter design...I like it
Detachable pods and Bridge/Power Plant?

I agree with Conaill. I think the Bridge should go with the engines, to facilitate drops and pickups of various cargo container loads.

The cargo sections should have access for inspections, but there's no reason not to have one sealed and "top secret" ...for a price. Of course, that'll be the one that the nasty stuff jumps out of.

[edit] Your post snuck in, Solospirit! Front or back would be okay, but I would think rear engines would be more efficient for propelling a craft, without having to worry about burning the cargo pods off.

Ryan Wolfe of BlackWyrm Games just put a set of deck plans up for Tug-4103 on RPGNow that is a tug with cargo pod string. As long as the pods can take standard conex boxes, I am good, heh.

Nice design, Mychal! It reminds me of something from Cowboy Bebop.

Good point...depends i guess what drive tech you are using..or modelling...
But i think even with reaction drives...the engines are mounted high enough to be pretty safe for the pods....Mind you...Thrust vector in relation to CoG might be off...but then thats getting nit-picky


Outlaw...hasn't that Tug-4103 been up for a while now?..part of the wayfarer pack...I seem to remeber getting it ...need to check

I posted this in the Kitbash section, and I should have it done by October. So, here is my First Light deckplans, tentatively entitled a Mallard class. (Why, you ask? My wife looked at my original sketch and said "That looks like a duck" - hence, Mallard.) The plan is based off a Firefly class vessel, although a bit larger, and meant to be used in the same universe, but the Mallard class could be used in any number of universes, although in some you might need to add armament.

Mallard



Its not fully finalized, and I'm still soliciting input (see the thread in Kitbashing if you have any), but it is pretty close to being ready to start the build process (including a fair amount of Photoshop work).

Ok...was doing some building and thinking last night (almost completed the full first deck of my FL...just the exterior hull parts to go)
And have decided to be a little more ambitious for my second build



Added 2 more tubs to the lower deck...and will be putting a Engine thruster on each of the four...outboard, as lift and control units..I was wondering how I could mount them to rotate 90/180 degrees vertically Im thinking about using 2 turret rings on each...or maybe mounting them into the hull dressing box's that are the front of the FL.

WOW, you guys are going to blow me away I really like the floor plan. I'm excited to see what we all end up with by October I just purchased FL:RF...

Thanks Mychal...But the planning is easy now ( thanks and curse's to Spoo again ) I really hope I can build the thing !
I was just going over the RF parts (I know your going to love it Mychal)...to see what i could do with the side engines...and thought maybe I will just use the wing mounted engines instead....could put one top and bottom on each tub...and get the desired effect...and much much more simple to do

I went for simple... lol This is my second project... so I'm still learning.

Hehe...My second project too....

Well, mine isn't going to be a firstlight build, but since I need a challenge, I'll particapate. I'm building a CWU build that is simply huge. I really will have no need for the entire thing gaming, I simply had the desire to build a city. Maybe I can post my ''deckplans'' of it on the thread later .

I'm planning for the ground to have a complete elevation in one part of the city. It's going to allow me construct basements for some of the buildings and give that wall an interesting twist. With this undertaking, I def won't be done by october but I'll make a goal one half the city or some such--i'm going to need to stock up on foamcore.

Hope this isn't too big. Anyway, this is my first design of my city. The line that goes down the center of the city with the stairs is going to lead to the elevated area that i was talking about. Keep in mind, many of those buildings are going to be specialized shops, etc. I might have to dig into the Himmel thread because there is so many great ideas that can be kitbashed in there.