Nice!

Very xleek and I see no wasted space. A good solid compact design with enough capability to be classed a warship. Enough radiators to dissipate the waste heat, but aside from radar, wouldn't that much waste heat, wouldn't they be HUGE targets for all manner of targeting? Their ECM would suck because they drive around on huge torches, and at rest they are emitting waste heat! How could they defend from positive lock ons with those inescapable deficits? Wild weasel missiles? Laser irradiated reflective chaff dispensers (dump and dazzle defense)? Just some thoughts.

Very cool! As for Joelglaines's "giant target" issue, I think that's what the CIWS is for. Nice detailed explanation of the lasers too! I really like your engine section design on all these.

Excellent!

Hi Joel, You are absolutely right -- there is no hiding your heat signature in space -- not without violating the 2nd law of thermodynamics (and then you get perpetual motion machines of the 2nd kind and we do not want to even go there!). Keep in mind that no-one can hide in space -- your ship will always radiate (habitat sections at 285 k and drive systems hotter). So while you cannot hide, your enemy cannot sneak up on you. Everyone is going to know that intercept with the enemy fleet is going to happen in three days, 7 hours, ten minutes -- you may as well get some sleep before the battle. Drive systems of this capability are visible across the entire solar system -- and those radiator panels are vulnerable -- that's why I go with a one sided design folded flat against the hull -- certainly they would be self sealing and be designed for multiple flow-through configurations, but once hit with enough fragmentation to knock them out the crew would have a very short time in order to die heroes and ram their opponent, or surrender before they roast. Your drive will only interfere with detection and ECM coming from the direction it is firing -- and there are other shorter range systems that can take over -- such as the individual turret tracking systems. Of course your drive will only generate interference while you are boosting. Maneuvering thrusters are less problematic. Real space craft will NOT swoop and jig the way fighters (not likely to exist ever in purely a space borne version) do on Battle Star Galactica -- they will handle, as Nayrath says, like multi-tone tractor-trailers moving at high speed on black-ice. Very, very, careful long slow sweeping curves. The problem of combat is very close to that of current technology in terms of the U.S. and the (former) Soviet Navy -- The U.S. evolved the doctrine of layered defenses to shield their Carrier Task Force Battle Groups -- some ships acting entirely as anti-missile pickets -- while the Soviets went for air launched long range hi-mach sea skimming missiles. I had a friend who served on an Aegis Missile Frigate, he said the typical scenario they faced were attacks comprised of up to 5000 missiles launched from all around the compass with groups of anti-missile picket ships acting to absorb the barrage -- combat life-span under these conditions is counted in minutes. I am modeling my tactical combat operations along this same scenario and these ships would use something similar to an Aegis Integrated Combat System and would be deployed as Task Force Groups several layers "deep" so each ship is within the umbrella of AA (okay -- anti-missile) fire from the next ship. Performance of lasers (as a missile defense) integrated into a self-directed rapid-attack and response system like Aegis would be nothing short of frightening -- or so some experts say. The major trouble with lasers is that you have to cool them -- they have been described as a beam weapon attached to a blast furnace -- hence my duel level cooling system -- and this would only allow limited use -- just till the coolant runs too low. So the layered system is: 1. Lasers. 2. CIWS. 3. SRBOC Chaff deployment and TORCH Flare decoys. This about Aegis (adjust the data for spacecraft): The Aegis Combat System (ACS) is an advanced command and control (Command and Decision, or C&D, in Aegis parlance), and Weapon Control System (WCS) that uses powerful computers and radars to track and guide weapons to destroy enemy targets. The ACS is composed of the Aegis Weapon System (AWS), the fast-reaction component of the Aegis Anti-Aircraft Warfare (AAW) capability, along with the Phalanx Close In Weapon System (CIWS), the MK 41 VLS, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) systems, and Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles (TLAM). Shipboard torpedo and naval gunnery systems are also integrated. AWS, the heart of Aegis, comprises the AN/SPY-1 Radar, MK 99 Fire Control System, WCS, the Command and Decision Suite, and SM-2 Standard Missile systems. The Aegis Combat System is controlled by an advanced, automatic detect-and-track, multi-function three-dimensional passive electronically scanned array radar, the AN/SPY-1. Known as "the Shield of the Fleet", the SPY high-powered (six megawatt) radar is able to perform search, tracking, and missile guidance functions simultaneously with a track capacity of well over 100 targets at more than 100 nautical miles (190 km). The Aegis system communicates with the Standard missiles through a radio frequency (RF) up-link using the AN/SPY-1 radar for mid-course guidance of the missile during engagements, but still requires the AN/SPG-62 radar for terminal guidance. This means that with proper scheduling of intercepts, a large number of targets can be engaged simultaneously. At least that's the general idea ...

Joel, P.S. Love the Laser irradiated reflective chaff dispensers (dump and dazzle defense)-- awesome idea!

Fantastic modeling! Corrie

outstsanding modelling.awesome neatness.

The quality of your modeling amazes me - the detail, as ever, is outstanding - a joy to examine. You seem to have real world knowledge behind your creations and how they would be used, with a well worked out and detailed story line driving your art. Another image worth lingering over

glad to know SeaWhiz will live on in space.... all the work you've put into this makes my brain hurt, William... grand stuff!!

Xcellent presentation!

brilliant work!! I like your info so much!!! they are inspiring, thanks for sharing!!!!

would love to see some examples of the vessels this ship defends against

Hi dcmstarships, The next set of diagrams will present the opposing Alliance Forces, I'm also working on some representations of the commercial space craft and some specialized low-orbital military platforms deployed at Mars for scenes from the Mars Colony insurrection. I usually have a number of projects in the pipe-line at the same time, so keep an eye peeled, more art from the Orion's Arm series is on the way.

excellent modelling and awesome work..!!!