Weekly Developer Log #2: Ship Builder Kickstarter

Hello everyone!

Today I was cleaning my printer and after I was done I saw my paper plans and decided to cut some cardboard. AND BEHOLD!...the result of my DIY Skills. lol

A few considerations before we start:

• As you can see in the pictures the tiles don't align correctly, my fault there. 
• The Grid size is 26cm (in most cases I assure you)
• Don't pay attention to the background, it's only my messy craft table.

First Picture: Sample Ship

As you can see the ship is really big, I used Thisia Thunderbrand and a 30cm ruler(close to 12 inches) as references.

Unfortunately, I did not cut enough material to try and make the 12-tile width ship, but from my testing, it would not fit on my table lol. If you add rotors that expand beyond the tile set it takes a lot more space.

Second Picture: Split Ship

I reduced the sample ship and kept pieces apart, if you include more mid-sections you will be able to expand your ship, or if you remove them, shrink it. This will work for any ship, it's my starting point.

Third Picture: Pointy Tip 6 Width

This is one example of a tip that you can build your ship, it has 6 tiles and it's 6 tiles long.

I forgot to take a picture but from this 6 tiles width you can also make a 4 tile Width

Fourth Picture: 10 Tile Width

From 10 forward the ship will be massive. You can also split this tip and create a 6-tile Width Short Tip.

Fifth Picture: 12 Tile Width

This is the biggest that you will be able to build with this set. Just a reminder that if you use the rotors, you will require more width. This ship would probably take the whole table.

This is the closer that I can get from the reference ship.

Sixth Picture: 8 Tile Width

This is a short large tip, it's not exactly like the reference ship but it could also be used as if it were (taking less space of course)

Seventh Picture: A tail example

Without creating too many variations for now, I decided to make the tail as modular as I could. For that, I create a small angle corner piece. This piece could be used to stretch the tail and reduce its size giving a different flow to the ship.

I also just realized that I could use this piece on tips perhaps? If this confirms to be true it might increase the amount of tips that this project will have.

About each tile

So far I've been thinking of making each tile a 2mm detail layer and 2mm structural layer, with a bit of overlap between them. I think that a 4mm tile should be ok for FDM printing and will also print great on Resin. Each 3x3 tile would cost on Resin an equivalent to a Hollow Huge dnd base, maybe let's say 0.41 USD.

The sample ship would use 12 tiles (equivalent estimation), so it would cost something around 5 USD (Rounded up) *Please note that this is only an estimation, the final result might be a bit more (or less if we are lucky)

To help connect the tiles I will make a rounded connector that must be glued, it will have 2mm height 5mm width 16 mm long.

More reference 

If you have live access to this ship, if you be so kind and take some screenshots from more angles it might help me in the development process. Pictures on the deck, mainly the Tip, and Tail. How do that side platforms go out, I mean how are they connected to the ship?

I don't think that reaching there is possible for a level 20 character (since we don't fly)

Next Step

I will now start planning the walls for the Tip and Middle section. These walls are only the first level of the ship, I do not intend to go down to the Hull yet.

If you missed my last post here's the link: Weekly Developer Log #1: Ship Builder Kickstarter | Patreon

If you have any comments or suggestions, please let me know.

Best regards,

Ivo