For the most part I just switched out the original plan's massive ship's locker and wasteful circulation for two very small staterooms and a common area with galley, and relocated the controversially placed port turret to the top of the ship. Finally, I changed the lines of the ship just a bit as I'm not fond of overly "pointy" ships (Vargr designs excluded of course). Still, this keeps the general appearance of the original plans.
This is my first deck plan with drop tanks. I never really cared for the idea of having to rely on a starport to have tanks available and it possibly could curtail visits to more interesting frontier worlds. I included fuel scoops, processors, and and extra 10 dtons of fuel so that in the event no drop tanks are available, the ship can still function as Jump 1 starship. Book 3: Scouts suggests variants are available, so I included an Advance Scout option and another for a robotic crew.
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For a high resolution PDF, click this link: (Traveller Starship Deckplan Firebird XP4 Variants). All three deck plans are included in a single PDF file. The deck plans were created to be printed out on 11"x17". Scale is 1" = 10'-0" so it can be used with 15mm miniatures. Enjoy!
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I have been following the discussion on the Facebook group. I like your take on the ship!
ReplyDeleteThe advantage of the drop tank system would seem to be of more use inamongst worlds that share a higher tech lvel. The J-4 abilites of the ship would make it a really naffy interstellar buisness courier. After all, infromation in the Traveller realms can only move between worlds as quickly as the 'Fastest' ship.
ReplyDeleteJust another thought. Does the hip have the carry cpacity to haul a 20 dTon tank though jump space? If so, then the 'Scout' version can be a rather cheap 'System survey Scout' with the ability to jump out 2 parsecs and back. Of course... You're wasting a 20 dTon tank out there in the black. Just another idea for vesatility. (^_^)
ReplyDeleteI considered installing two twenty ton drop tanks instead of the single forty ton tank for that very reason. As you point out, doing this would allow you to jump 2 parsecs and arrive with an unused twenty ton tank. The problem is the mass of the ship by itself is 100 tons. The second tank makes it 120 tons. Technically, the rules allow the mass of a ship to be within 20% of its stated tonnage, so you can get by with the extra twenty ton tank. It just feels kind of like cheating to me.
ReplyDeleteAh! *Nods*
DeleteI am very much looking forwards to your continued works. :)
and a Scout ship that relies on ports having drop tanks is not a Scout craft but a courier.
ReplyDeleteAs always - really appreciate both your plans and the thoughts behind them!
That's a great point I hadn't even considered. Seems kind of obvious now. Duh. :)
DeleteI have been a fan of the performance of the XP4 since MgT Scouts came out. Thank you for the update! IMTU, I use Book 5 engines too keep the performance closer to the MgT version.
ReplyDelete