How big is the Galactica

[gmd3d]

Star Ship Dimensions
or
“what size is your ship ?”.

I want to show you all the key classic designs along side each other using the main ships from these shows

Star Trek

Star Trek TNG

Star Wars

&

Battlestar Galactica.

These following images are showing the scale of each ship with a very small degree of error.

USS Enterprise Refit: length -1000ft – by Dennis Bailey

USS Enterprise D: length – 2000ft – by Prologic9

Imperial Star-destroyer: length - 5249ft or 1600m by Fractalsponge

Battlestar Galactica: length 6080ft by Folkrm

Adjusted to scale by me some years ago




I know some people favour the Galactica to be 2 miles and the shuttle leaving the Galactica over Carillon. but I wished to dispel the scale of 2000ft as found on http://www.merzo.net/.

2000ft is the same length as the Galaxy class ship in Star Trek TNG..

I hope you like these but I know some of you have seen them before now.

Best Ger

[gmd3d]

This is the Galactica at 2000ft with the 1000ft USS Enterprise refit along side..

[gmd3d]

Battlestar Galactica at various scales for reference

[Rhaven Blaack]

This thread peaked my curiosity about how bid the Galactica is.
During my research, I found this article (I am not certain how accurate it is, though): http://www.tecr.com/galactica/capships/battlestar.htm

Here are the specs (for this class of ship) that the author as stated:

SCALE: Capital
LENGTH: 1,265 meters
TONNAGE: 20,000,000 metric tons
SPEED: 0.2C sub-light
POWER: 1 Tylium energizer [7,360 Terawatts]
2 fusion reactors [43.8 Terawatts]
STANDARD CREW: 496 [1,012]
24 officers [32]
200 warriors - 90 are fighter pilots [240 - 180 are fighter pilots]
272 crew [496 crew - 134 civilian]
PASSENGERS: 510 troops [110]
CARGO CAPACITY: 600,000 metric tons
CONSUMABLE: 18 months [9 months]
MANEUVERABILITY: class C
HULL/ARMOR: 2.8 to 4 meters
EM-SHIELDS: 20% - 40%
SENSORS: Short/Medium range, sub-light, 200,000 m^3/s
SCANNERS: C at 300,000 kilometers
WEAPONS:
32 Blaster batteries
2 Turbo-Laser cannons
12 20 megaton Solonite missiles (anti-capital ship)
2 400 megaton solonite bombs (planetary bombardment)

FIGHTERS: 75 Starhound class Vipers [150]
12 Landram surface transports
12 Mk. VI space shuttles

Here is the link to the home page of this site: http://www.tecr.com/galactica/index.html

[gmd3d]

This thread peaked my curiosity about how bid the Galactica is.
During my research, I found this article (I am not certain how accurate it is, though): http://www.tecr.com/galactica/capships/battlestar.htm

Here are the specs (for this class of ship) that the author as stated:

SCALE: Capital
LENGTH: 1,265 meters
TONNAGE: 20,000,000 metric tons
SPEED: 0.2C sub-light
POWER: 1 Tylium energizer [7,360 Terawatts]
2 fusion reactors [43.8 Terawatts]
STANDARD CREW: 496 [1,012]
24 officers [32]
200 warriors - 90 are fighter pilots [240 - 180 are fighter pilots]
272 crew [496 crew - 134 civilian]
PASSENGERS: 510 troops [110]
CARGO CAPACITY: 600,000 metric tons
CONSUMABLE: 18 months [9 months]
MANEUVERABILITY: class C
HULL/ARMOR: 2.8 to 4 meters
EM-SHIELDS: 20% - 40%
SENSORS: Short/Medium range, sub-light, 200,000 m^3/s
SCANNERS: C at 300,000 kilometers
WEAPONS:
32 Blaster batteries
2 Turbo-Laser cannons
12 20 megaton Solonite missiles (anti-capital ship)
2 400 megaton solonite bombs (planetary bombardment)

FIGHTERS: 75 Starhound class Vipers [150]
12 Landram surface transports
12 Mk. VI space shuttles

Here is the link to the home page of this site: http://www.tecr.com/galactica/index.html

I tried the 1,265 meters or 4150.26 feet and found that the Vipers had a very tight squeeze in the launch tubes, and the 110 feet long shuttle did not have any real clear headroom at the hanger bay entrance.. I not saying they could not fit,

But not well enough for my liking.. and that's just me.. but I also wanted to see how the Glen A Larson and John Dykstra supported scale of 6080ft or 1 nautical mile would show.

The results where far better for me to support.. It could even be a bit larger in my mind..

I don't know about the 2 mile scale.. others like it..

[Rhaven Blaack]

I have to say that you have a very valid point.

As a (paper) model builder, I have always found information (like this) very valuable.
Thank you for sharing it with us!

[gmd3d]

No Problem.. :).

I think the scale of the Galactica was the very first question I ever asked when I joined years ago.. spent that time trying to find out..

But let me share the source of my scale confusion.

[Rhaven Blaack]

I see what you mean!:?:

[gmd3d]

2000Feet..... I was ??? lost, only twice the length of the Refit Enterprise (this was before TNG and the 2000ft Galaxy class,
Later when I originally saw 4150ft I was a lot happier with that scale.. for years it was the scale I liked.. but doubts raised by other, I used the models you see to explore the scale as best I can..

The lowest length scale I now support is 6080ft.. as I said.. it could be larger.. how big, well your preference is as good as mine :)

[Rhaven Blaack]

To be honest, I really had not thought about it, until I read this thread.

[gmd3d]

http://www.nick.co.uk/shows/spongebob/img/planktonchr.jpg
I like to spread the pain around :)..

[Rhaven Blaack]

Actually, it is no pain at all my friend.
Like I said, I like stuff like this.
So (by all means) please post more!!!

[gmd3d]

I will be doing some more..

but anyone know the scale of a base-star..

These are 2 I did at the same-time as the Galactica. but I think I am way off.. much to big

BTY I think the BASESTAR is by Raffs but its been so long I have forgotten ..

sorry if I am wrong

[Darrell Lawrence]

Ger, remember the Trek TMP image with Kirk and crew standing on the bridge of the Enterprise? That gives you a human, about 6' tall, to scale against. Put that image next to the landing bay of the big "G" and it should give you a good idea on the scale.

[gmd3d]

Its a big bay.. I had a crew man in the shell of the 6080ft Galactica and was amazed.

Massive !! :)

This angle I love.. .what I like to call the money shot :)

[Darrell Lawrence]

Yeah, that is my fav angle too :)

[Rhaven Blaack]

When you put ships together (like how you did) for size comparison, it quickly becomes apparent just how HUGE something is and the scale is mind-blowing!
I knew that the Galactica was a huge ship, but I had no idea that it was this HUGE!!!

[Punisher454]

I tried the scale thing over and over, using 3d models of the battlestar, shuttle and viper. The Viper is real easy to determine, the shuttle takes a bit of work, but the 110' length works very well for it.
Now, then using a reasonably accurate 3d model of the galactica you can place the shuttle in the opening of the landing bay. Adjust the scale of the Galactica so as to recreate the screen shots of the shuttle landing and taking off and you will arrive at something at or near 1 nautical mile. BTW, the screen shots of the vipers landing are very obviously way out of proportion, so dont use that as a guide.

[gmd3d]

I tried the scale thing over and over, using 3d models of the battlestar, shuttle and viper. The Viper is real easy to determine, the shuttle takes a bit of work, but the 110' length works very well for it.
Now, then using a reasonably accurate 3d model of the galactica you can place the shuttle in the opening of the landing bay. Adjust the scale of the Galactica so as to recreate the screen shots of the shuttle landing and taking off and you will arrive at something at or near 1 nautical mile. BTW, the screen shots of the vipers landing are very obviously way out of proportion, so dont use that as a guide.

For sure, The Vipers landing always looked wrong for me.

Here is a 30ft Viper. I used the scale in the article above as a guide.. I know the studio prop was around 28ft or so.. Using the largest possible scale for the viper. but in the images that follow. the viper does just fit the opening.

The second image shows the 110ft shuttles departing

[gmd3d]

I found this "the diameter of a Base Star at 5670 feet"

from here..

http://ravensbranch.allen.com/galacticasize.html

additional note
In the magazine Science Fantasy (October 1978) James Burns writes "The 'Galactica', which is supposed to be two to three miles long, has been built down to scale..." ?

so for those who like the larger scale

[Senmut]

Tight fits, but on a warship, space is always at a premium.

[Matador]

For sure, The Vipers landing always looked wrong for me.

Here is a 30ft Viper. I used the scale in the article above as a guide.. I know the studio prop was around 28ft or so.. Using the largest possible scale for the viper. but in the images that follow. the viper does just fit the opening.

The second image shows the 110ft shuttles departing

Wow, those are great shots of the Ships detail... Makes me want to re-do a bunch of stuff on my ship.

:cool:

[gmd3d]

I want to have a go at building the Galactica myself.
But I am torn between the one we see on the TV or the concept art one that I have tried twice.

Titon, Folkrm and maudib are doing awesome work.

[Rhaven Blaack]

I would like to see something like this turned into a paper model.
Although, in order to get the same kind of detail, it would have to be studio scale (which would make for a HUGE model).

[Senmut]

I'd like to see it built in orbit. ;)

[Rhaven Blaack]

I'd like to see it built in orbit. ;)
Having a "REAL" Battlestar in orbit would be rather nice.
I would do all that I could to sign on as a crew member.

Does anyone know where the nearest recruiting office is? :salute:
I would like to be first in line.:salute:

[GAIUS]

I'm surprised no one has done a kind of " TOS SCALE CHART " yet like they have done for NU-BSG ?

[137th Gebirg]

^^^ That's because nobody knows for an absolute certainty how big any of these ships are. It was a simpler task for the NuBSG crew to come up with sizes, as all their stuff was CG-based and easily scalable (although the scene at the Scorpion Fleet Yards in "Razor" called into question the relative size difference between Columbia- and Mercury-class Battlestars).

In TOS, all the Cylon ships, for example, appear to be bigger than their Colonial equivalents, but aside from a rare head-on shot of a Battlestar going after a Basestar (Living Legend), Larson and Dykstra saying the Galactica is one nautical mile in length, and the size of the 1:1 Viper mockup (which doesn't quite track with the filming miniature's scale based on nose length), we really don't have much of a clue how big these ships are. As with ILM whence it sprang, John Dykstra's VFX house seemed to suffer from a similar lack of scale attention when it came to compositing scenes.

I'm still trying to figure out how they fit the Eastern Alliance Destroyer inside the Galactica's landing bay with that long-ass landing gear it had on it.

[gmd3d]

^^^ That's because nobody knows for an absolute certainty how big any of these ships are. It was a simpler task for the NuBSG crew to come up with sizes, as all their stuff was CG-based and easily scalable (although the scene at the Scorpion Fleet Yards in "Razor" called into question the relative size difference between Columbia- and Mercury-class Battlestars).

In TOS, all the Cylon ships, for example, appear to be bigger than their Colonial equivalents, but aside from a rare head-on shot of a Battlestar going after a Basestar (Living Legend), Larson and Dykstra saying the Galactica is one nautical mile in length, and the size of the 1:1 Viper mockup (which doesn't quite track with the filming miniature's scale based on nose length), we really don't have much of a clue how big these ships are. As with ILM whence it sprang, John Dykstra's VFX house seemed to suffer from a similar lack of scale attention when it came to compositing scenes.

I'm still trying to figure out how they fit the Eastern Alliance Destroyer inside the Galactica's landing bay with that long-ass landing gear it had on it.
Agreed on all counts..

its also very hard to say how big the Eastern Alliance Destroyer I spend a while on that one. I guess its reserve height about twice that of a Colonial shuttle

now work out how tall the shuttle are,, if we assume its 110 feet.. I think really for the EAD to fit the Galactica would need a taller entrance to the bay or the ship is bigger than 6080ft or the mile.

I hope to do some more scale work soon..

[maudib]

(Patiently waiting for Taranis to start up Lightwave) :drool:

[gmd3d]

I am working on a project at the moment sadly non BSG related.. but I hope to get there soon

[Senmut]

Having a "REAL" Battlestar in orbit would be rather nice.
I would do all that I could to sign on as a crew member.

Does anyone know where the nearest recruiting office is? :salute:
I would like to be first in line.:salute:

Oh yeah.
Funny thing is, we could build something that big in orbit, if the $$$ were not a problem. The big rub is propulsion. We just ain't there yet.
Frack!

[Punisher454]

Perhaps Helium-3 would be part of the propulsion answer. I'm sure the Chinese will let us all know about that in the years to come.

[gmd3d]

I found some more images from my time working out the scale of the Galactica etc etc etc..

so here they are supporting the 6080+ ft Galactica

[gmd3d]

I recreated the often used scene where 2 Vipers (Starbuck and Boomer) over fly the superstructure of the Galactica in pursuit of a single Cylon Raider

[gmd3d]

Galactica given the 2 mile treatment, note the 110ft long shuttle against the hangar bays/Launch tubes. I would love the Galactica to be 2 miles, it’s a great size but the that image dispels the 2 mile long scale for me.. it looks wrong..

[Matador]

Those are awesome pictures... Thanks for posting...

I really love the comparison with the aircraft carrier. That really helps with perspective.

:cool:

[gmd3d]

Found another ..

Viper on the Aircraft carrier deck

[gmd3d]

Those are awesome pictures... Thanks for posting...

I really love the comparison with the aircraft carrier. That really helps with perspective.

:cool:

thanks .. these where done a few years ago..

[gmd3d]

a forward view

[gmd3d]

another 2 mile scale with 110ft scale shuttle

again to those who like a 2 mile scale.. I was not attacking it.. its only what the renders show..

I would love the Galactica to be 2 miles, but the scale of the launch tubes and the shuttle are a big problem for me to accept it.

[maudib]

I am using the 2-mile scale for my model. I have an easy fix for the launch tube problem already in my head.

[gmd3d]

Cool..

I think making the design your own is great... and altering the tubes is the way to go I think.

The shot over Carillon where a shuttle departs would help support a larger Galactica (2 Mile or there about) ..

[Senmut]

Anybody ever done some imaging of/for Croad's fighter, from Proteus?

[gmd3d]

there no model of it around to use, alas.

classic Galactica does not get much attention these days, apart from the work Steve does and other member here..

I hope to do some more BSG models sometime, once I sort out RL stuff too get the time, I know I have the yearning to do it.

[maudib]

Interesting tiny scale vipers from Matthew Asanuma

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Adu5dbSgUo8/TMi008R0HSI/AAAAAAAAAGE/_I7w2I6Ekug/s1600/matt+portfolio+%2843%29.JPG

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Adu5dbSgUo8/TMi0oDTOWnI/AAAAAAAAAF4/iwUrWgdZ8Kg/s1600/matt+portfolio+%2840%29.JPG

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Adu5dbSgUo8/TMi0-ZOJwPI/AAAAAAAAAGM/sedmcp0C-x4/s1600/matt+portfolio+%2845%29.JPG

[gmd3d]

yeah . now that looks cool.

I find that working with a 3dprogram its handy to work out possible scales.. but the real deal always has an edge imo

[lonewriter]

I wonder how the TOS version compares to the nuBSG?

[Solaria CIC]

I favor the 6080 feet ( 1 nautical mile, or just over 1. 82 km ), myself. Something of that dimension and size is impressive.

[gmd3d]

I favor the 6080 feet ( 1 nautical mile, or just over 1. 82 km ), myself. Something of that dimension and size is impressive.

its the best I found myself covering key areas I looked at years ago.