...
:!:maybe if you ask for sir pleamo's help a complete 3-d model could be made to better understand the "scale" of the problems.
:yup: and he is also a genius on his knowledge of system-x possibilities.
this could work but the appearence of the hull when seen from the outside would be terrible.I see your point, but if the edges were irregular (say, like planking), this would be alleviated, but not fixed entirely.
maybe if you ask for sir pleamo's help a complete 3-d model could be made to better understand the "scale" of the problems.
:yup: and he is also a genius on his knowledge of system-x possibilities.
:hmm: i agree that keeping the water out is a real problem.
tipically one solution would be to let it in and pumpig it out faster - something that only a mechanized set would accomplish.
another solution would be sealed loints (with o-rings for example).
this could work but the appearence of the hull when seen from the outside would be terrible.
what drama.
Here is my crude mock-up of how the ship could be expandable. It would feature a base set consisting of a bow, a stern, and one mid-section piece, forming a tri-mast ship.
The middle piece can be expanded by adding additional mid-section hull pieces.
Additionally, the ship can also be expanded by additional deck levels, allowing multi-decked ships.
Different configurations can be accomplished by adding extra topmasts, spritsail masts, etc....
I want it!
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t188/BlackPearl2006_album/expandablePLAYMOship.jpg)
Just in case anyone was wondering, I decided to play around with some proportions.
Using the 3286 ship as a reference, and basing the size off the playmobil cannons, were Playmobil to release a grand flag ship ala HMS Victory, brandishing 100 guns across 3 gundecks (not including the main deck), AND have a proportionate bottom hull to accommodate a realistic waterline, according to my calculations, in Playmobil proportions, the HMS Playmobil Flagship would be about 1.8 metres long (1.3 metres without the bowsprit) and 1.8 metres tall to the highest mast.
This is about a ratio of 3:1 (as far as length goes) when compared to the existing 3286 ship that is only about 60 cm long, and about the same in heighth. (technically though, this imperial ship is 9 times bigger than the 3286; it would literally take 9 3286 ships to hack up and join together to make this ship with 3 gundecks totalling 100 guns. Just in relative cost alone, considering a brand new 3286 at original retail went for about US$80-90, that would bring this size ship to about US$720 at LEAST!)
My measurements may be a little off, but the point is, this thing would be about as tall if not TALLER than me! (I am 1.6 metres tall). Just to check, I did stack 3 3286 ships end to end and layed down next to them to find that their length did in fact exceed my own. From the pic you can see the 100-gun warship in playmobil proportions is roughly 3 times as long as the 3286 ship, just to accommodate about 15-16 guns per row (one 3286 can theoretically accommodate about 5 guns across the length of its hull, although Playmobil only gave us 4 ports).
Take a look at this behemoth monstrosity!
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t188/BlackPearl2006_album/imperialPLAYMOship.jpg)
Bigger, even, I wager, than MacGuyver's Dolphin. Hmmm, after looking at how unrealistically huge this would have to be, I am beginning to think MacGayver's Dolphin is the closest we may ever see to a Playmobil multi-decked flagship. This just seems too big for a company to produce realistically.
I still think it may have SOME hope if it can be built through a series of expansion components. I think, realistically, perhaps a mere extended hull with a third mast ala MacGuyver's Unicorn may be the best we can hope for from Playmobil, without having to customize one ourselves.
Nice idea. Have you tried to "bash" some sections together with wood, or cardboard, to get a 3 dimensional view?No. I’m not that skilled. (In fact, I suck.)
Andy R, that's really a great idea, indeed I was thinking about such things too for a while! I think even the "waterproof"-problem is not a real hard one (even if I have not included them in these pics, but if you are interested in my solution I can post them too.)The only “problem” here is there are no hatches. ¿How are you going to access the below-deck areas without them? (And they need to be a bit bigger to let hands in.)
Will each section have a mast? Or will there be the option of 2 sections? :) And I see you can make it wider as well (something you have already said? :-[ ).The idea is that each section of hull has two guns, a mast between them, and a hatch forward of that.
Wow! But how big would such a ship be? :o¿How big do you want? The idea here is to make her as big as you want- Even big enough (in theory) to make her into a catamaran for a REAL boat (as silly as that idea may be).
right, I think that's why they never have produced one this large. But it would be great to have a ship that's really to a realistic scale.
THere's another thread about an expandable ship:I missed that thread, but it is the basic concept I’ve outlined. You did add that the masts could be expanded as well. (I’d considered that possibility, but wanted to simplify things so that PM might actually move forward- My fear being the more molds they have to make, the less “supportive” they’ll be).
I love the additional thought Andy has outlined, and Sir Pleamo's pics are spot-on awesome! If only Playmobil would make it reality.
After studying this a little longer, I think I see a problem… The ship, with guns, is about 2 steck castle pieces tall! :o This will work great for in water, but what about on land? The ships will be fairly ridiculously tall... ???It’s a mistake of perceived proportions. It’s not your fault. It’s the reason we’re working on building the blueprints.
I sure could do with 2-3 of these lovely ships :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :PI need a fleet of a dozen 1Ø-decker 12-sectionals. Forget how many one-section/one deckers I need. :lol::lol::lol:
...It’s a mistake of perceived proportions. It’s not your fault. It’s the reason we’re working on building the blueprints.
The keel/bilge and lowest deck combined (assuming you built a Ø2-deck ship) would STILL not quite clear a castle wall (assuming it had parapets, that teeth- or block-like section at the top the defenders stand behind). ...
There was a Danish ship who’s name I forget that capsized on her maiden voyage because some Danish king wanted a two-deck warship; It was determined that if her hull was 2 feet wider and draft 1½ feet deeper she would not have.
Taking a look again at your project, Andy, I do find it a little too big ...So don’t add on sections and decks. Problem solved.;)
(Specially in the bottom.)
It's a very interesting idea nevertheless!
I missed this thread so far!And to think it only took me 2Ø minutes to figure out the puzzle I couldn’t solve in a year.
Brilliant idea, Andy! :love:
That would be the dutch ship "Vasa."
(http://www.kiac-usa.com/kingsship3.gif)
If built to original spec it would have fared alright in the water, but the king wanted an additional gundeck. The engineers were too scared to insult the king to protest and simply did what he asked even though they knew it would mean their doom. As soon as it set sail it capsized.
All correct, except the "Vasa" was not Dutch but a Swedish vessel.Hmmm… Now that you mention Stockholm, I do remember something about my mystery ship being associated with that city…
She sank in 1628 in the harbour of Stockholm (Swedish capital), and the very well preserved wreck was salvaged in 1961. It is been kept on display in a museum since then.
So don’t add on sections and decks. Problem solved.;)
I understand your love for scale, but playmobil is toy ::) ... I think your project is very cool, but geobra would never produce it the way it is. To think it viable to produce it, it should be at leas a little smaller ...¡Make her as small or as big as you want her! ¡That’s the beauty of it! Make her a bow and stern long and one deck (bare minimums), or 25 feet long, 3½ feet wide, and 2 feet deep and actually use her as a kayake… Well, maybe not THAT far out…
But it's an awesome project! :yup:
a modular design would also be conducive to some playmobil aircraft carriers.Well, I don’t see that as being terribly successful; A basic hull can be bilt simply enough, but to build a carrier requires a MUCH greater degree of careful engineering and would, in the end, not be seaworthy; She’d heel over, then eventually keel over, in favor of whichever side the deck angled to (if a through-deck configuration, she’ll favor the island side). Sorry to burst you bubble…