Some random notes (and a placeholder for them) for the universe I like to play in (3 Little Maids, Pirates of Hyperspace, Bounty Huntrix, etc.)
The Solarian Union

By the late 27th Century , Earth had a stable world government, colonial outposts throughout the solar system and had taken a long leap out of the cradle with long established colonies in the sectors surrounding Sol.  Early stage colonies were busy forming the second wave of colonization, establishing Sol's control of even more space.  With the establishment of long range colonies on 40 Eridani, Procyon, Eta Cassiopeia, and Tau Bootis, a push for bureaucratic reform made its way through the colonial legislatures and parliaments, as well as the Terran Parliamentary Senate.
A treaty circulated through the multiple regional legislatures formally establishing the Solarian Union, with Sol, and Earth, as the focal point and capital.  The Union claimed sovereignty over a 40x40x40 lightyear area of the Milky Way and continued to expand in all directions.

By the mid-29th Century, the Solarian Entente had expanded to encompass a 320x320x320 lightyear area and included the Áflar.  But friction with outer colonies resulted in a short civil war, resulting in a loss for the Entente by forces of the newly independent Ceti Imperium.  A second civil war resulted in the loss of the Gamma Tucanae sector and the establishment of a New Roman Republic/Empire.
The Solarian Union has made inroads into additional sectors, but, according to Socrates Cuthbert Burdon, political social science professor at Enterprise University on Fomalhaut, inertia set in the early 30th Century, after the defeat of Entente forces by what has since become the New Roman Empire.

Solarian Military
During the earliest years of Earth's expansion, the Army and Navy were made up of natural-born humans.  After the first expansions into uncharted space, Solarian forces began to plus up with life expectancy-limited clones, commanded by non-cloned officers.  This, however, caused a problem during the Gamma Ceti revolt when entire ships' complements and whole battalions of clones reached their built-in expiration date.  The natural born humans still serving in the Army and Navy were barely able to suppress the mutiny, their numbers significantly fewer than their clone troopers.
After the Gamma Ceti War, the Union's cloners removed the built-in expiration date.  While still rapidly aging, the clones were able to develop more experiences; reportedly some even developing true sentience and refused to give in to their fate.  Rumors spoken in spacer bars tell of entire Earth-type planets inhabited by clones from ships reported lost with all hands.

Solarian Internal Security Bureau
Pending development

I have this vision of an old style RSM striding around the parade ground kicking a load of time expired clones who are laying on the parade ground screaming "get up you lazy B'tards" and one or two of them being so scared that they do 

Quote from: NARSES2 on January 22, 2023, 05:34:00 AMI have this vision of an old style RSM striding around the parade ground kicking a load of time expired clones who are laying on the parade ground screaming "get up you lazy B'tards" and one or two of them being so scared that they do 

Watched that again the other night, I'm almost perfect with the dialogue nowadays 

I have two oddball questions that I need some assistance on.  How much did a Sunderland Mk.V cost HMG?  And are there any decent photos of the nose turret?

Quote from: scooter on August 09, 2023, 11:52:44 AMI have two oddball questions that I need some assistance on.  How much did a Sunderland Mk.V cost HMG?  And are there any decent photos of the nose turret?

No idea on the first, but how about this for the second?

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Quote from: PR19_Kit on August 09, 2023, 01:30:49 PM

Quote from: scooter on August 09, 2023, 11:52:44 AMI have two oddball questions that I need some assistance on.  How much did a Sunderland Mk.V cost HMG?  And are there any decent photos of the nose turret?

No idea on the first, but how about this for the second?

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I can work with that.  Thanks, Kit

Nothing on a Sunderland Scoot, but Lancasters were £45,000/50,000 if that helps. Probably £2.8/£3m today

Random profile contemplations on the train - building an AEGIS cruiser on a Long Beach hull, with three 8"/55 Mk 71 mounts, and 2x 32 cell Mk41 VLS

Quote from: scooter on October 02, 2023, 03:45:33 PMRandom profile contemplations on the train - building an AEGIS cruiser on a Long Beach hull, with three 8"/55 Mk 71 mounts, and 2x 32 cell Mk41 VLS

This has been actually bouncing around my mind for the past week.  So, I started some work on it last night.
The original profile, USS Long Beach, CGN-9

Option 2, Arleigh Burke bow


I went with Option 2.  Completed here

Quote from: scooter on October 02, 2023, 06:01:39 PM

Quote from: scooter on October 02, 2023, 03:45:33 PMRandom profile contemplations on the train - building an AEGIS cruiser on a Long Beach hull, with three 8"/55 Mk 71 mounts, and 2x 32 cell Mk41 VLS

This has been actually bouncing around my mind for the past week.  So, I started some work on it last night.
The original profile, USS Long Beach, CGN-9

Option 2, Arleigh Burke bow


I went with Option 2.  Completed here

I really like the bow, but I've never quite taken to the diagonally set superstructure of the Burke class. I much prefer the longitudinally/transversely oriented aegis antennae of the Ticonderogas.. But that's grumpy old me. Never mind.. 

The book "Wings over Windemere"  ( Alan King 2011  9788389450821)    which tells the story of the wartime Sunderland factory at White Cross Bay  https://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/windermere-ii-white-cross-bay  does not give a "unit price per aircraft"  but implies that the basic airframe in 1942 cost approximately £55,000 ;  and further information on the cost of refits and overhauls in 1944 suggests that "ready to enter service"  price with all military equipment fitted would be in the region of £65,000.  No doubt this would vary depending on the exact date of purchase and precise equipment fit. 

In January 1944  the British government offered New Zealand the opportunity to purchase four Short Sunderland Mk III transport flying boats, to be operated by the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). The asking price was £60,000 each, which was considered to be very cost-effective.  As transport aircraft, these may not have carried full military equipment.

In 1951, the RNZAF acquired 16 Sunderland MR5.   The aircraft was sourced from the RAF's reserve stocks and were to cost £7,000 each, with refurbishment expenses of £30,000. This was considered to be remarkably  economic, particularly given the USAF offered  the Martin PBM Mariner, at a cost of $1,000,000 per aircraft.

Randomness in the renders for the past while.  And today was spent driving out to Ikea S. Philly this morning (and lamenting with SWMBO that this may be the last time we may see the SS United States in her berth) and assembling more Ivar shelves in the storage room and the shared office, replacing a resin shelving unit.  Of course, I had forgotten what size we had, and wound up getting the 89" tall units.  They fit.  Barely

Well "barely" is far better than having the "well why didn't you remember the correct size/measure it argument 

I also use the "Ivar" shelf system in our hobby room/office. OK, I'm Swedish, so I probably should, but it's still a bit nice hearing that there's a similar use in other parts of the world. 

Lots of talk about your upcoming election over there, and the result will definitely have an impact far beyond your borders, so yes, we're kind of holding our breath over here as well. These are dangerous times.