Masao's Fleet Museum

[Thomas P]

Look what Masao made - it is very nice. I couldn't wait and have already started on it. :)

http://www.concept40.com/galleries/sciartpost/10182001/SFM_001.jpg

[Masao]

Thanks for posting, Thomas.

This station was based on Andrew Probert's design for Starbase 74, which I posted last week. I kept the same basic layout, but backdated it with details from the K7 station. I'm thinking that this station was originally Starfleet's orbital headquarters, but was given to the Starfleet Museum when it became too small for the new Constitution class ships.

The two big fat discs at the end are partially hollow for internal docking. I figure that one probably has Federation crusiers while the other has pre-Federation cruisers. The ships are suspended in zero g. The globes on the bottom were originally for reactors and for storage of deteurium, antimatter, and water, etc., but are probably mostly empty or converted to other uses. Each disc has four spheres and four doors, but those are probably too many doors. If each has only one door, than ships could be docked at the recessed dark grey ring without blocking the doors. I also haven't decided whether the two discs should be aligned or offset, as I drew them.

The cones at the ends were originally offices, apartments, etc. I don't know what they're used for now. Maybe the SFM runs a hotel or casino?

The center stalk includes shuttle bays for arriving visitors and shuttles to view the museum ships, transporters, gift shops, snack bars, and exhibits. I've shown large windows (four decks high) but I'm not sure whether you can see much from them. The number of shuttle bays should probably been reduced as well. The six-armed docking ring can hold 12 ships and probably has internal passage ways for people and cargo.

In addition to this station in Earth orbit, the Federation probably built others to serve as starbases. They're much larger than K stations, one of which is shown for scale.

Any ideas what letter I should assign to these stations? K is already taken, so what else sounds good?

[skyhawk223]

M for museum or mothball?
How about A for archive?

[Thomas P]

Those are windows?! OMG!

[skyhawk223]

Those windows would be huge! Transparent aluminum, anyone?

[Masao]

Yeah, they're monsters. Four decks high. But I figure that airport terminals and museums on Earth often have windows nearly as large (albeit not always in a single piece). If figure that the skin of that section of the station is not load-bearing. The actual strength is provided by a stiff core at the center of the section. At least, that's what I'm saying. Anyways, if Thomas, when he details this station, feels the windows are too big, he can change them somehow.

[Thomas P]

To be honest I thought they were some kind of huge plasma vent (I know how stupid that sounds). I was figuring on different possible configurations that all lloked absurd. As windows they make sense. I think, based on the size, that they could happen without any structural issues.

The L-5 designs of the 80's have hugh windows.

[Masao]

Windows will also give the modeler an opportunity to fully detail the inside of the museum with shuttlecraft, flags of Fed members, display cases with artifacts and ship models, etc.

[skyhawk223]

Oh boy. You just added a whole other level of complexity to the model. I'm sure Thomas appreciates that :)

This could be a good point of entry for the Starfleet Museum. Browsers could point to the docked ship which would then take them to more detail. Just a thought.

[Thomas P]

Eeewwwww! I'm sure Bernd would love that!

[Masao]

Yeah, maybe it would be too complex.I figure that there's some sort of promenade or lobby near the windows, with some displays further inward. There might be banners hanging from the rafters (Bernd actually made up a bunch of banners for Federation members.) But glare off the windows would hopefully obscure the view.

Using a picture of the museum for an navigation interface might be difficult, since some ships are inside and others are outside.