Michael Hopcroft Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 I'm curious to see how you guys would write up Vanships, the two-person light aircraft from Last Exile. Although obviosuly vanships wouldn't work in the real world (what the heck holds them up?) they are obviously cool craft with great versatility. They are used as fighters, couriers, delivery vehicles for small cargoes, and are much faster than the larger vessels used for set-piece battles and to carry larger cargoes. The most important thing to note about a Vanship, and probably the most awkward thing to model, is that it cannot be flown solo. Its propulsion and lift systems are so complex that it would crash without an on-board mechanic in the secondary cockpit making dozens of little adjustments in flight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spence Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 Re: Build a Vanship? (what the heck holds them up?) That weird bubbly stuff in the bubbly stuff tubes of course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hopcroft Posted December 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 Re: Build a Vanship? That weird bubbly stuff in the bubbly stuff tubes of course Flight 20", OIF "Bubbly Stuff"? Of course, trying to figure out just what that bubbly stuff was, or how any sort of steam-powered engine could provide enough lift, is futile -- the Vanships are aerodynamically impossible virtually by definition. However, Last Exile is one of the best examples of a Square-style video game concept translated to animation. It had an extremely rich and complex world and some lovely characters.; Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spence Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 Re: Build a Vanship? Flight 20", OIF "Bubbly Stuff"? Of course, trying to figure out just what that bubbly stuff was, or how any sort of steam-powered engine could provide enough lift, is futile -- the Vanships are aerodynamically impossible virtually by definition. However, Last Exile is one of the best examples of a Square-style video game concept translated to animation. It had an extremely rich and complex world and some lovely characters.; Actually they name the stuff in the show, when he was repairing the Vanship after the crash. I'll have to look through the show again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowcat1313 Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 Re: Build a Vanship? something akin to the Liftwood from Space 1889? or just an unobtanium alloy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edsel Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 Re: Build a Vanship? Claudia is the stuff that powers the Claudia Units. It is extremely valuable (ounce per ounce on par with gold) but is apparently not consumed by the Claudia Unit, instead steam is used to superheat the liquid Claudia which then somehow powers the units providing the ships anti-gravity capability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spence Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 Re: Build a Vanship? Claudia is the stuff that powers the Claudia Units. It is extremely valuable (ounce per ounce on par with gold) but is apparently not consumed by the Claudia Unit' date=' instead steam is used to superheat the liquid Claudia which then somehow powers the units providing the ships anti-gravity capability.[/quote'] Well "Claudia Units" does sound a little better than "Bubbly Stuff Tubes". Just a tad. I think "Bubbly Stuff Tubes" has more style though..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curufea Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 Re: Build a Vanship? Anyone have a link to this show? It sounds interesting and I've never heard of it. Nevermind - http://www.lastexiledvd.com/ Anime and DVD which means I can find it locally Damn flash website though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spence Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 Re: Build a Vanship? Anyone have a link to this show? It sounds interesting and I've never heard of it. http://www.lastexiledvd.com/ It's a pretty good series. Ariel Battleships and all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curufea Posted December 11, 2006 Report Share Posted December 11, 2006 Re: Build a Vanship? You must have posted that reply before I edited my post - that was quick Anyhow, I've ordered it from JB's - although it isn't in stock, they do have a history of carrying anime titles. I should have the 7 DVD box set for $AUD 70 within the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McCoy Posted December 11, 2006 Report Share Posted December 11, 2006 Re: Build a Vanship? To get back to the original question, take everything with the "crew served" limitation, set the crew at 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markdoc Posted December 11, 2006 Report Share Posted December 11, 2006 Re: Build a Vanship? You must have posted that reply before I edited my post - that was quick Anyhow, I've ordered it from JB's - although it isn't in stock, they do have a history of carrying anime titles. I should have the 7 DVD box set for $AUD 70 within the week. Worth every penny, trust me. That gets you about a week's worth of evening viewing, or more if you plan on doing other stuff with your evenings. On topic, I think McCoy has it: that takes care of the need for a navigator/engineer. Otherwise you build them as a plane, with the folowing provisos: 1. They're as maneuverable as all hell, so a limited turning circle 2. They are as durable as all hell - during the series, people crash them, they get holes shot in them, they make crash andings - and a few hours with some simple hand tools is enough to get them airborne again. 3. They float and can even operate on the water, albeit slowly. So, a souple of inches of swimming. 4. They are unreliable. They migh be easy to fix, but they also seem to break down a lot. Some sort of burnout on the flight, that can be fixed by engineering, would not be out of place. That should do it. cheers, Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spence Posted December 11, 2006 Report Share Posted December 11, 2006 Re: Build a Vanship? Worth every penny' date=' trust me. That gets you about a week's worth of evening viewing, or more if you plan on doing other stuff with your evenings.[/quote'] Definitely. It has a different feel than regular Japanese Anime. In fact it may not be from there, I guess I should look. But it is definetly a great story and the animation is first rate. I would consider it a G (maybe PG) rated myself, so it is a good one if you have kids. On topic, I think McCoy has it: that takes care of the need for a navigator/engineer. Otherwise you build them as a plane, with the folowing provisos: 1. They're as maneuverable as all hell, so a limited turning circle 2. They are as durable as all hell - during the series, people crash them, they get holes shot in them, they make crash andings - and a few hours with some simple hand tools is enough to get them airborne again. 3. They float and can even operate on the water, albeit slowly. So, a souple of inches of swimming. 4. They are unreliable. They migh be easy to fix, but they also seem to break down a lot. Some sort of burnout on the flight, that can be fixed by engineering, would not be out of place. Except for #3, think of them as a WW1 biplanes. A wrench and a screwdriver fixes anything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest daeudi_454 Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Re: Build a Vanship? I was going to make a crack about Ford Aerostar... Now I'm looking for the DVD... Ya punks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hopcroft Posted December 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Re: Build a Vanship? Except for #3' date=' think of them as a WW1 biplanes. A wrench and a screwdriver fixes anything [/quote'] Correction: A wrench and a screwdriver in skilled hands fixes everything. Being a good Vanship mechanic takes talent and dedication, enough so that it is worth beings its own skill. The heroine in Last Exile (don't call her Klaus' girlfriend, at least not to her face) has it at at least 15-. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markdoc Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Re: Build a Vanship? Except for #3' date=' think of them as a WW1 biplanes. A wrench and a screwdriver fixes anything [/quote'] That is in fact, exactly how I thougth of everything in that series - the vanships are biplanes, the big flying battleships are .... well, big flying battleships. The uniforms, etc are also very early-20th century Europe inspired. cheers, Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spence Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Re: Build a Vanship? Correction: A wrench and a screwdriver in skilled hands fixes everything. Being a good Vanship mechanic takes talent and dedication' date=' enough so that it is worth beings its own skill. The heroine in Last Exile (don't call her Klaus' girlfriend, at least not to her face) has it at at least 15-.[/quote'] True. I was thnking of the early days of aviation. A lot of stories where the pilot lands on any road or field he can find and fixes his problem before taking off again. The old bailing wire and string age of aviation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spence Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Re: Build a Vanship? That is in fact, exactly how I thougth of everything in that series - the vanships are biplanes, the big flying battleships are .... well, big flying battleships. The uniforms, etc are also very early-20th century Europe inspired. cheers, Mark I think that was why I liked it. The whole feel of that era. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianher67 Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 Re: Build a Vanship? hey my name is brian, and im looking for the question, can i bild a vanship? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowcat1313 Posted December 11, 2010 Report Share Posted December 11, 2010 Re: Build a Vanship? I wont make any cracks about wall to wall shag carpeting and fuzzy dice... or waterbeds in the back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brionl Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 Re: Build a Vanship? Except for #3, think of them as a WW1 biplanes. A wrench and a screwdriver fixes anything I think you mean "spit and baling wire". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stalin_McRally Posted December 29, 2010 Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 Re: Build a Vanship? 4. They are unreliable. They migh be easy to fix, but they also seem to break down a lot. Some sort of burnout on the flight, that can be fixed by engineering, would not be out of place. Can't that be credited to alot of plotdevice from the GM? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markdoc Posted December 29, 2010 Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 Re: Build a Vanship? Can't that be credited to alot of plotdevice from the GM? Could be, but it was such a major part of the background (ie: even when it didn't happen to our heroes, it happened to other people, and was a recurring topic of discussion) that I'd probably include it. Doing so would be a sure way to ensure that players regarded vanships as "a bit unreliable". cheers, Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monoth123 Posted June 29, 2011 Report Share Posted June 29, 2011 Re: Build a Vanship? if you think about it, its not that difficult. im am going to attempt to build a real vanship, but it will probably look slightly different... anyways, whats called the "lift generation fluid cell" and the "power generation" can be cells for hydrogen and electrolasys...i spelled that wrong... the "on board Tank" would store the water necasary for electralysis. the "main claudia tank" would also. now, the water would be supplied to the electralysis engine through the "claudia tube", then hydrogen would fill the "lift generation fluid cells" and create actuall lift. when speed(creating thrust) is added, expecially if the wings were slighty longer creating more lift, it would be possible for take off. the steering mecanism would be fairly similar to one of a WW1 bi-plane. im still working to see what the "main claudia core" and the "thrust direction oscillation resonator" would do for me.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEFCON Clown Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 Re: Build a Vanship? Also its available in Netflix instant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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