General Discussion

[Leading Observer]

Would Freightdog's 1/72nd scale EAG.4455 MUSTARD be eligible for this GB?

[Weaver]

Would Freightdog's 1/72nd scale EAG.4455 MUSTARD be eligible for this GB?

I'm not a mod, but if you mean the glider, then I would have thought not. It was only ever intended to, or capable of, flying unpowered in the atmosphere. Of course, since it has an engine option (with a vacuum-ish-looking nozzle too!), you could re-purpose it as a what-if spacecraft. Perhaps some sort of space-station escape system: enough delta-V to de-orbit, follwed by a decent chance of a runway landing somewhere. It'd need a heat-shield on the underside, which means retractable undercarriage. For that use-case, skids would be WAY simpler than wheels. Adding retractable gear would be a non-trivial exercise, since the two fuselage halves are casit one piece, so you'd basically have to carve the bays out of the resin.

[McColm]

Would Freightdog's 1/72nd scale EAG.4455 MUSTARD be eligible for this GB?

Yes if it falls within the rules of this GB.

[NARSES2]

If you take the tracks and track guards off the old Revell 1/40th scale M48 bridgelayer, it looks remarkably sci-fi under the skin. It looks like a 1930s/1950s comic artist's idea of a pressure hull,

First glance upside down it looks a bit like a "walking" vehicle, almost insect like with a lot of legs.

I've an apointment with the optitian tomorrow   

[Rheged]

If you take the tracks and track guards off the old Revell 1/40th scale M48 bridgelayer, it looks remarkably sci-fi under the skin. It looks like a 1930s/1950s comic artist's idea of a pressure hull,

First glance upside down it looks a bit like a "walking" vehicle, almost insect like with a lot of legs.

I've an apointment with the optitian tomorrow   

I thought exactly the same, Chris, and I had my visit to the optician a month ago.

[Mossie]

If the moon (or planet) has a methane atmosphere would the "fuel" be O2 and an intake for the methane to power the engine?

The methane would remain the fuel. However, in a majority methane (or any volatile hydrocarbon) atmosphere, it wouldn't be able to burn. Introducing oxygen would allow this in the confines of your engine.  Ammonia atmospheres would be similar, I'm not too familiar with their method of combustion however.

This works within the rules, although you don't have to have a fully scientific reasoning for your propulsion, a soft sci-fi explanation is fine.

[Mossie]

Would Freightdog's 1/72nd scale EAG.4455 MUSTARD be eligible for this GB?

I'm not a mod, but if you mean the glider, then I would have thought not. It was only ever intended to, or capable of, flying unpowered in the atmosphere. Of course, since it has an engine option (with a vacuum-ish-looking nozzle too!), you could re-purpose it as a what-if spacecraft. Perhaps some sort of space-station escape system: enough delta-V to de-orbit, follwed by a decent chance of a runway landing somewhere. It'd need a heat-shield on the underside, which means retractable undercarriage. For that use-case, skids would be WAY simpler than wheels. Adding retractable gear would be a non-trivial exercise, since the two fuselage halves are casit one piece, so you'd basically have to carve the bays out of the resin.

Would Freightdog's 1/72nd scale EAG.4455 MUSTARD be eligible for this GB?

Yes if it falls within the rules of this GB.

Strictly speaking, it doesn't fall within the rules for the reason Weaver mentioned.

However, a research vehicle may be in the spirit of the GB, I'll have a conflab with McColm and we'll get back to you.

[Leading Observer]

Would Freightdog's 1/72nd scale EAG.4455 MUSTARD be eligible for this GB?

I'm not a mod, but if you mean the glider, then I would have thought not. It was only ever intended to, or capable of, flying unpowered in the atmosphere. Of course, since it has an engine option (with a vacuum-ish-looking nozzle too!), you could re-purpose it as a what-if spacecraft. Perhaps some sort of space-station escape system: enough delta-V to de-orbit, follwed by a decent chance of a runway landing somewhere. It'd need a heat-shield on the underside, which means retractable undercarriage. For that use-case, skids would be WAY simpler than wheels. Adding retractable gear would be a non-trivial exercise, since the two fuselage halves are casit one piece, so you'd basically have to carve the bays out of the resin.

Would Freightdog's 1/72nd scale EAG.4455 MUSTARD be eligible for this GB?

Yes if it falls within the rules of this GB.

Strictly speaking, it doesn't fall within the rules for the reason Weaver mentioned.

However, a research vehicle may be in the spirit of the GB, I'll have a conflab with McColm and we'll get back to you.

Would Freightdog's 1/72nd scale EAG.4455 MUSTARD be eligible for this GB?

I'm not a mod, but if you mean the glider, then I would have thought not. It was only ever intended to, or capable of, flying unpowered in the atmosphere. Of course, since it has an engine option (with a vacuum-ish-looking nozzle too!), you could re-purpose it as a what-if spacecraft. Perhaps some sort of space-station escape system: enough delta-V to de-orbit, follwed by a decent chance of a runway landing somewhere. It'd need a heat-shield on the underside, which means retractable undercarriage. For that use-case, skids would be WAY simpler than wheels. Adding retractable gear would be a non-trivial exercise, since the two fuselage halves are casit one piece, so you'd basically have to carve the bays out of the resin.

Would Freightdog's 1/72nd scale EAG.4455 MUSTARD be eligible for this GB?

Yes if it falls within the rules of this GB.

Strictly speaking, it doesn't fall within the rules for the reason Weaver mentioned.

However, a research vehicle may be in the spirit of the GB, I'll have a conflab with McColm and we'll get back to you.

Thanks Mossie - I am happy to park the Mustard idea for the time being, as I have just remembered I have the Takom Silbervogel in the stash, which I think will be a better fit for the GB

[Mossie]

Thanks Mossie - I am happy to park the Mustard idea for the time being, as I have just remembered I have the Takom Silbervogel in the stash, which I think will be a better fit for the GB

No probs. I'll hold off on the chat to @McColm then.

If anyone else is thinking of a research vehicle that is related to space but doesn't leave Earth, just mention it and we'll have a thunk about it.

I've got to admit, there's at least three ideas I've had before that would fit in this category.  However,  I'm not going to change the rules just to suit myself - that's my career in politics over...   

[Leading Observer]

Thanks Mossie - I am happy to park the Mustard idea for the time being, as I have just remembered I have the Takom Silbervogel in the stash, which I think will be a better fit for the GB

No probs. I'll hold off on the chat to @McColm then.

If anyone else is thinking of a research vehicle that is related to space but doesn't leave Earth, just mention it and we'll have a thunk about it.

I've got to admit, there's at least three ideas I've had before that would fit in this category.  However,  I'm not going to change the rules just to suit myself - that's my career in politics over...   

Perhaps Research Vehicles is an idea for a future GB

[Weaver]

Thanks Mossie - I am happy to park the Mustard idea for the time being, as I have just remembered I have the Takom Silbervogel in the stash, which I think will be a better fit for the GB

No probs. I'll hold off on the chat to @McColm then.

If anyone else is thinking of a research vehicle that is related to space but doesn't leave Earth, just mention it and we'll have a thunk about it.

I've got to admit, there's at least three ideas I've had before that would fit in this category.  However,  I'm not going to change the rules just to suit myself - that's my career in politics over...   

Perhaps Research Vehicles is an idea for a future GB

And an excellent idea too. 

[Mossie]

Thanks Mossie - I am happy to park the Mustard idea for the time being, as I have just remembered I have the Takom Silbervogel in the stash, which I think will be a better fit for the GB

No probs. I'll hold off on the chat to @McColm then.

If anyone else is thinking of a research vehicle that is related to space but doesn't leave Earth, just mention it and we'll have a thunk about it.

I've got to admit, there's at least three ideas I've had before that would fit in this category.  However,  I'm not going to change the rules just to suit myself - that's my career in politics over...   

Perhaps Research Vehicles is an idea for a future GB

And an excellent idea too. 

It is. I'm open to the idea of including it here though, if there's interest.

[NARSES2]

When it comes to inclusion of Research Vehicles in this GB this is the type of question behind our publishing the draft rules as early as possible and opening up the discussion thread before the GB begins.    The Rules at this moment are indeed of draft status and do not get set in stone until the GB begins.

I think that "Research Vehicles" could be a very good idea for submission to next years GB Poll. I also think that it would in reality only require a gentle "tweak" of the Rules, or wording of them to include them in this GB if the Mod's are ok wiith that.

As a suggestion a "tweak" to Rule 2 could be

The entry should be of a subject that operates in outer space, including moon or planetary environments other than Earth (it may launch from or land on Earth but it shouldn't be the primary operating environment). Entries may also include research vehicles used to test concepts and proposals intended for use in outer space or on other planets. If so then the backstory must explain what the ultimate intended use of the vehicle was.

Purely up to the Mods.

[zenrat]

And there's your blown Hemi.  In order to thoroughly test the running gear of a proposed Moon Buggy a prototype was equipped with an engine so it could be run up and down a (1/4 mile long) test track...

 

[McColm]

When it comes to inclusion of Research Vehicles in this GB this is the type of question behind our publishing the draft rules as early as possible and opening up the discussion thread before the GB begins.    The Rules at this moment are indeed of draft status and do not get set in stone until the GB begins.

I think that "Research Vehicles" could be a very good idea for submission to next years GB Poll. I also think that it would in reality only require a gentle "tweak" of the Rules, or wording of them to include them in this GB if the Mod's are ok wiith that.

As a suggestion a "tweak" to Rule 2 could be

The entry should be of a subject that operates in outer space, including moon or planetary environments other than Earth (it may launch from or land on Earth but it shouldn't be the primary operating environment). Entries may also include research vehicles used to test concepts and proposals intended for use in outer space or on other planets. If so then the backstory must explain what the ultimate intended use of the vehicle was.

Purely up to the Mods.

I agree, just waiting for Mossie's comments