Python heavy strike fighter

[Smallworld]

Hi all, here is a concept I have been kicking around for a while. The idea is for a heavy strike fighter that would operate from battlestars as a compliment to Mk1 Vipers. This would be like Grumman Avengers in WW2 or Intruders more recently. She is a big beast, but still compact. I have kept the vertical height the same as a Viper, so headroom in the landing bay wont be a problem. I wouldn't fit a 'tube, but its not an interceptor so that shouldn't matter.
As it wont be as manouverable as a Viper, I have added a rear defensive position, with a gunner at the back. I have always thought gunners are way cool!
Underneath there are four internal missile bays, as well as heavy forward firing cannon. The missile bays could hold either one heavy "Base Buster" missile or a pair of smaller ship to ship weapons, suitable for Raider engagement. Here there is a mix of both types. The small door is the crew access hatch.
Other duties would be long range patrol. A bit more comfortable than a Viper. A third crewman could be accomodated in the middle position if required. The last view shows the canopy cover removed. I had an idea four mounting an optical sight beside the pilot like a periscope that the middle crewman could come forward to use for missile guidance. Might look dumb though.

In designing this i was aiming to produce something that looks like it belongs in the BSG universe that could be a cool prop in a production. I think that lots of dramatic scenarios could be written around this ship type. Anyway, thanks for looking, comments and crits welcome!

[KJ]

Neat

She looks like something that would've turned up in the unfilmed episode of Battlestar Galactica. The Beta Pirates, as some kind of Colonial Bomber!

Great stuff you've got there.

KJ

Wow, very cool.

Zoren

[dilbertman]

COOL!

Keep it up.

Jim

[SilentBob]

Cool!!!!!!!

[Smallworld]

Thanks for the encouragement guys! I'll get her textured over the weekend with any luck, I'll post some pics when done.

[gmd3d]

Great design .. tough looking fighter .. the addition of the Guns at the rear .. nice touch

[spcglider]

Originally Posted by Smallworld

Hi all, here is a concept I have been kicking around for a while. The idea is for a heavy strike fighter that would operate from battlestars as a compliment to Mk1 Vipers. This would be like Grumman Avengers in WW2 or Intruders more recently. She is a big beast, but still compact. I have kept the vertical height the same as a Viper, so headroom in the landing bay wont be a problem. I wouldn't fit a 'tube, but its not an interceptor so that shouldn't matter.
As it wont be as manouverable as a Viper, I have added a rear defensive position, with a gunner at the back. I have always thought gunners are way cool!
Underneath there are four internal missile bays, as well as heavy forward firing cannon. The missile bays could hold either one heavy "Base Buster" missile or a pair of smaller ship to ship weapons, suitable for Raider engagement. Here there is a mix of both types. The small door is the crew access hatch.
Other duties would be long range patrol. A bit more comfortable than a Viper. A third crewman could be accomodated in the middle position if required. The last view shows the canopy cover removed. I had an idea four mounting an optical sight beside the pilot like a periscope that the middle crewman could come forward to use for missile guidance. Might look dumb though.

In designing this i was aiming to produce something that looks like it belongs in the BSG universe that could be a cool prop in a production. I think that lots of dramatic scenarios could be written around this ship type. Anyway, thanks for looking, comments and crits welcome!

That is quite interesting. A good application of design movement and critical thought. You didn't just take a viper and slap more guns on it or load it up with missiles.

I look forward to seeing what you do stylistically with it... how you finish it off.

On first blush it seems a little sleek in the body for Colonial Military technology, but I'm sure the application of textures and panels and such will change my view.

I'm a believer of the idea that the Colonial military wouldn't simply have battlestars, shuttles and vipers. There are so many other functions that are not addressed by those craft. We've seen Cylon tankers, what do colonial tankers look like? They must exist... we just never saw them. And as for other military craft, well... there had to be something else. We're talking about a society that has been at war for 1000 years (yahren). They'd have come up with other fighting craft. I mean, look at our military... how many different war vessels we've created (air, land and sea) and we've only been at it for 200 years! Their entire economy would be based upon military contracting. And the military contractors that I know don't make their money from rolling out a blue bazillion of the same unit (though they do that too). They make their money from developing a blue bazillion NEW military goodies and selling them to the government. You know, like snack crackers.

You have an interesting design base here. I'm very interested to see where it goes.

-Gordon

[Cylon Number 13]

Originally Posted by Taranis

Great design .. tough looking fighter .. the addition of the Guns at the rear .. nice touch

I agree with Taranis. Great design. And in addditon to the tailgunner, I see that you've made it a three person craft by adding a seat between the pilot and the gunner. This ship is like the counterpart to the Cylon Raider which carries three crew members. And, I believe your ship would definitely be capable of handling any Cylon threat that came up against it. I wouldn't mind flying one of these against the Cylons. Even though they are they ones that gave me life, I cannot in good conscience (sounds weird doesn't it) condone their actions against the human race. That is why I have joined the fleet. To offer my services in the fight against the Cylon Empire.

I look forward to seeing the finished product. See you around the fleet.

P.S. Just in case you haven't heard. I am a good Cylon.

[Smallworld]

I'm a believer of the idea that the Colonial military wouldn't simply have battlestars, shuttles and vipers. There are so many other functions that are not addressed by those craft. We've seen Cylon tankers, what do colonial tankers look like? They must exist... we just never saw them. And as for other military craft, well... there had to be something else. We're talking about a society that has been at war for 1000 years (yahren). They'd have come up with other fighting craft.

Thanks for the positives guys!
>Gordon, I totally agree! Think about WW2, in service at the same time were the Lightning, Thunderbolt, Warhawk, Mustang and Airacobra. These are just fighters and just for the Army air corps. There must be loads of different vessels out there. And for the cylons too. I really enjoy musing about what they might be and then designing stuff that fits in with the established visual style. The Python is the farthest I have gone with this so far. Its not that sleek when you see it next to the Viper, its quite chunky really. I have landing skids on it now and have hacked out some panel lines in the body which make it look a bit tougher too. More to follow over the weekend hopefully.

[gmd3d]

looking forward to the updates .....

[spcglider]

Originally Posted by Smallworld

Thanks for the positives guys!
>Gordon, I totally agree! Think about WW2, in service at the same time were the Lightning, Thunderbolt, Warhawk, Mustang and Airacobra. These are just fighters and just for the Army air corps. There must be loads of different vessels out there. And for the cylons too. I really enjoy musing about what they might be and then designing stuff that fits in with the established visual style. The Python is the farthest I have gone with this so far. Its not that sleek when you see it next to the Viper, its quite chunky really. I have landing skids on it now and have hacked out some panel lines in the body which make it look a bit tougher too. More to follow over the weekend hopefully.

Groovy! Show and tell!

-G

[TIRex]

Good desing
and I to think ther must be more in the Colonial Fleet than just those 3 crafts
even if nothing else but the Galactica and her Viper survived
and we did see something that might be an early version of the Viper in "long Patrol"

[Qeutzal]

nice fighter, love to see more updates

[gmd3d]

Originally Posted by TIRex

Good desing
and I to think there must be more in the Colonial Fleet than just those 3 crafts
even if nothing else but the Galactica and her Viper survived
and we did see something that might be an early version of the Viper in "long Patrol"

I tend to agree .. there must be more craft types with in the arsenal of a Battlestar
Even in a limited way .. I also think that BattleStar's Would be provided specialised Craft for Specialised missions ... they have the room and that's to spare ...

[spcglider]

Originally Posted by Taranis

I tend to agree .. there must be more craft types with in the arsenal of a Battlestar
Even in a limited way .. I also think that BattleStar's Would be provided specialised Craft for Specialised missions ... they have the room and that's to spare ...

Well, we have to remember, all we ever saw of the fleet were about 12 to 15 individual craft out of 220. Assuming there were duplicates of some craft, there's still plenty of room in there for lots of other older military craft (decommissioned and repurposed old military craft?).

Just because they didn't show it to us, doesn't mean that it couldn't have existed. Now, we can make the assumption that there probably weren't any other active military vessels in the fleet, or they'd have played a role in all of the ensuing confrontations with the cylons. There'd be no point in "holding them back".

But the crux isn't in what they showed us. Its in what they didn't.

And what a huge playground THAT can be!

-G

[gmd3d]

A play ground .. and what a playground

Sweet!

[Viper 1]

Hey there Smallworld,
Would you mind if I tried my hand at making this in a physical model?
I'd like to do one in scale with the R/M Viper (1/32 scale)
Just to see how it would come out?

[Euripedes]

Smallworld,

Very interesting fighter. It reminds me how over a decade ago, long before any hope of revival was in the works, I had tried to design some alternate fighters. You took this far farther then I had ever attempted.

I had always thought a BSG Revival with a wide array of specialized fighters, going back and taking the colonies from the Cylons would be an interesting show. Not that it is likeley that we'll ever see it, but it is nice to some visualization towards it, even if it is just a hobby.

Euripedes

[TwoBrainedCylon]

I like the overall concept. I'm not crazy about the four missile launchers. It seems like overkill and the placement of the rear missiles seems at odds with the probable engineering you'd need for the engines.

Otherwise, nice idea.


Russell

[Smallworld]

Thanks a million for the thumbs up guys! Sorry I havn't been around sooner, was away on holiday and then struck with a flu. Have done a little work on the Scorpion but this has been parked for a while now.

Viper:

Hey there Smallworld,
Would you mind if I tried my hand at making this in a physical model?
I'd like to do one in scale with the R/M Viper (1/32 scale

)

No problems at all, I would be flattered! I could do up some 2d plans if it would help out, with some scale refs to my Viper model if you like.


Russel:

I like the overall concept. I'm not crazy about the four missile launchers. It seems like overkill and the placement of the rear missiles seems at odds with the probable engineering you'd need for the engines.

Otherwise, nice idea.

Cheers! I think it will more or less fit in with the engines, although space is a little tight in there. I have the rear bays positioned outboard so that the line of fire clears the forward inboard ones to allow salvo fire. Rear landing struts are the hardest thing to fit I'm finding.

[HercDestin]

Fantastic .........................just love the design . Cant wait to see more of your designs and models. Cool

[Viper 1]

Viper

No problems at all, I would be flattered! I could do up some 2d plans if it would help out, with some scale refs to my Viper model if you like.


That would be a great help. Yes, and thank you.
PM me when you do them and I can have you send them to me direct. Or you can just post them to the thread here.

[Smallworld]

I managed to upload the 2d plans to my photobucket site. There are four images, broken down as upper laft and right and lower left and right. These are corners of one big image and all are the same size. If you download each pic it should be easy enough to re-assemble in what eveer paint prog you use. Best of luck!

[gmd3d]

very nicely done

[Darrell Lawrence]

Very interesting

Check this ancient thread of mine

http://www.colonialfleets.com/forums...ghlight=Python

[Smallworld]

Wow, thats interesting. I'm amazed at the similarity between the two ships. I suppose the visual style of the original viper is such that a four engined version turns out looking like this. I called it a Python because its a big snake, and was consistant with the Viper.

[Darrell Lawrence]

Pretty much the same reason as me

[Viper 1]

Should Smallworld and I rename the one we're working on?
IF there has been any "stepping on feet" here.... I'd like to appologize.
I do think that Smallworld was independant in his design, and no copying was intended.