Now that I have the problems with my USS Phoenix ironed out, I've been concentrating on the USS Independence.
Some here have expressed an interest in having operating shuttle craft bay doors. According the the plans by Geoff Mandel, the cargo doors on the side of the ship open to four small cargo airlocks which in turn open to the interior of the ship - no room for a shuttle in any of those airlocks. However, it will be fairly simple to make the doors open and close and add a basic airlock interior.
As for the cargo airlock on the top of the ship, a classic era shuttle will just barely fit, but docking would not be a lot of fun! Plus, it doesn't look like that was the intention behind this structure, as the spot landing target is on top of it. I view it more of an access point to the main hold, with shuttles landing on top and crewmen in spacesuits manhandling the cargo into the ship via the forward and aft doors.
It should be fairly easy to make these doors operate too. But, what about shuttle operations?
Well, I've decided to make the center of the spot landing target a docking point which will coincide with a docking point on the bottom of a shuttle craft. I believe there is a TOS shuttle over at Orbit Hangar Mods which is set up that way.
However, I wanted something a little different...
It is not widely know that Matt Jefferies who designed the Enterprise, was himself a pilot. He did not design TOS shuttle craft, and, in fact really didn't like it! He knew what aircraft looked like and could easily project that look into aerospace vehicles of the future and a butter dish with mini warp nacelles on it wasn't even close!
When talk of a new Star Trek series or movie began in the late 70s, he designed a new shuttle craft - one which, ultimately, never made it to screens either large or small. However, I figured that this would work perfectly with my Independence class small freighter.
So here she is, a WIP.
Now, does anyone know where I can get a pilot figure for it? I don't do "people" very well!
KirkUnit