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Explorer
Explorer is a long range science and research vessel.
About this creation
Here’s a pic of me hoisting Explorer overhead to offer a full view of the ship’s underside.
Explorer is a long range science and research vessel with a crew of 8. Features include a shuttle/cargo bay, 2 storage rooms, crew quarters and bathrooms, 4 escape pods, a science/med lab, crew lounge/dining room, 2 airlock entries, and a spacious bridge. The ship is armed with dual laser cannon for blasting space debris in its path.
The model is 141 studs long, 74 studs wide, and 24 bricks high and weighs about 30 lbs. It took me about 3 months to complete, working at various intervals. Construction on the ship proceeded from the front to back, from the bottom up, and from the inside out (for the most part). I made an initial rough sketch of an idea I had for large shuttle with a forward bridge and airlock section followed by a central hub of escape pods and lounge/living areas. I had no plan for the back section, other than propulsion. I started building right away and tried different ideas as I went along.
The design and utility of this ship is somewhat of a departure from my previous large space MOCs. Explorer is not meant for combat and, unlike warships like Dragonstar or Gibraltar , it does not feature multiple decks or a conning tower. Also, while those designs were mostly influenced by anime, the design for Explorer drew on many inspirations. I didn’t set off to design it to fit into any particular popular sci-fi universe, though some people think it leans a bit toward Battlestar Galactica.
I’d say the feature I’m most satisfied with is the floor of the main corridor. This was the first thing I built and it probably took the most time because I wanted every detail under the floor grating to have a realistic purpose.
Overall, I had fun building this model and I’m pretty satisfied with how everything turned out. I tried a few different things this time and I have some ideas now for the next big ship.
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This low level shot shows the main sensor dish (blue). Above it is the exhaust for the reverse engine (trans neon green). The cylinders alongside the bridge are smaller reverse thrusters for maneuvering. The model is very sturdy and balanced and I used very minimal display stands.
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A good overall view of the design. I used several large tiles (with the studs along the edges) to minimize the exposed studs on the main body and give the ship a smoother appearance. The stickers are from the UCS X-Wing set.
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This head-on view offers a better look at the asymmetry of the ship’s paneling or plating. I inserted dark gray slopes and yellowed light gray slopes randomly to give the ship a more weathered look.
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This high angle rear view shows a more sparsely and subtly detailed rear section.
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The low angle view offers a better look at the engine exhaust configuration and the greebling on the side engines.
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A complete view of the ship’s interior to give a better idea of where everything is located. The ship is divided into 6 bulkheads. From the left is the bridge, followed by airlocks, med-lab/lounge, escape pod access, crew cabins and storage, and shuttle/cargo bay.
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An overhead view of the shuttle/cargo bay at the rear of the ship.
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A technician works on the blue Spiffcrafts Freem-drive as a toolbot stands ready to assist. On the left side of the picture are cargo containers and supply drums. To the right is a work bench (in back) and a meteor that’s being analyzed.
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This maintenance platform, with retractable ladder, was the final touch on the shuttle/cargo bay.
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An overhead view of Explorer’s living quarters and storage/hydroponics bays. At the top right of the frame is the storage/hydroponics bay on the starboard side of the ship. At lower right is the port side storage bay. The crew cabins on either side are identical and each feature 4 bunks, storage space, 2 tables and 4 chairs, and a bathroom.
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A closer view of the port side storage bay with shelves and container cylinders.
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This view offers a closer look at the intricate network of pipes, conduits, and relays that run underneath the floor.
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A tighter view of one of the bathrooms in the crew cabins. To the left is the sink, above is the toilet, and squared tile below is part of the sonic shower emitter.
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Down the main corridor, about mid-ship, are the escape pod access hatches (marked with the red doorways). There are 4 escape pods, 2 on each side.
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A crew member standing in the doorway of an escape pod, access hatch closed.
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Access hatch open, with the crew member on the right standing inside the escape pod.
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An overhead view of the med-lab (on the right) and the lounge/galley (left).
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The reverse view from above, med-lab on left and lounge/galley on right.
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A closer view of the retractable exam table (left), bio-scanner (center), and microscope (right).
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Looking in from the port side airlock hatch, with a crew member standing in the opposite airlock entry way. Explorer has 2 airlock entrances on either side, just aft of the bridge.
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A full view of Explorer’s bridge. Up front are pilot and co-pilot. On the left is the nav/comm station. To the right is science/engineering. Center is the captain.
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The science/engineering display is also a custom sticker . When I completed Explorer’s exterior, I took an overhead and side view shots and used Photoshop (namely the Find Edges filter) to create the ship schematic.
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After I posted my initial pics to Brickshelf, I went back to take pics of an individual escape pod.
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Comments
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I like it |
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December 21, 2012 |
You ever thought of applying to join the Lego industries because I've seen your work and people would pay money for some of the models you've created. You can also make Lego building instructions easy on Lego Digital Designer (LDD) |
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I like it |
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November 26, 2012 |
amazing work..well done |
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I like it |
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October 1, 2012 |
Hello I would like to know how much I use bricks and I wish I could help consruir one please help nesarange@gmail.com |
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I like it |
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September 20, 2012 |
Excellent work! |
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I like it |
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August 20, 2012 |
Beautiful Ship!!! |
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I like it |
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July 6, 2012 |
(Silence)...need I say more? |
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I like it |
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June 22, 2012 |
Very well done. The ship looks both inhabitable and has all the necessary functions to carry out it's mission. Nicely done on the exterior. |
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I like it |
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March 27, 2012 |
EPIC |
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I like it |
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February 21, 2012 |
o. m. g. can you upload it to ldd? then i can buy one! 100000,00000/5 |
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I like it |
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January 24, 2012 |
Re-addicted to LEGO after I first saw this a couple of years ago, inspirational build! |
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I like it |
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January 20, 2012 |
WOW! I love the detail, it feels like it should have its own special shutel. :D |
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I like it |
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August 17, 2011 |
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