Ships and planes in space.

[Weaver]

Typhoon = totally real.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon-class_submarine

[kerick]

That photo is a little deceiving. The top of the hull is flat and the conning tower is farther aft than it appears as the missile tubes are all in front of it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon-class_submarine#mediaviewer/File:Typhoon_class_SSBN.svg

[zenrat]

That's one thing that I like about Macross-

Yeah, but they introduce my other pet hate: walking machines....

I love Gundams.  But I can see why you would have objections.

[Dizzyfugu]

There's an anime TV series/OAV that just fits to your needs for ships in space: "Arpeggio of Blue Steel" 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arpeggio_of_Blue_Steel

Sick idea, and BAD for your eyes - but it's there. You even get kits of the sentient ship!   

[Weaver]

Cool, but it may not be the one I was thinking of, I think the tower was taller and this one looks too round on top, or maybe I'm just remembering wrong. The Typhoon would make a good basis regardless.

The only other one I can think of that might fit is an Oscar, which is pretty square, but I discounted it initially because you said the sail was far back:




Here's a higher-angle shot of a Typhoon showing the flat upper deck:

[Mossie]

Cool, but it may not be the one I was thinking of, I think the tower was taller and this one looks too round on top, or maybe I'm just remembering wrong. The Typhoon would make a good basis regardless.

The Regulus submarines come to mind, the USS Halibut, or the Grayback class?

[Weaver]

Echo class?

[PR19_Kit]

Here's a higher-angle shot of a Typhoon showing the flat upper deck:

I'm sure you could launch an aircraft off that massive deck, I wonder if they ever tried it? An An-2 perhaps?

[Dizzyfugu]

Launch, maybe - but where to store it?

[PR19_Kit]

Launch, maybe - but where to store it?

A mere detail. 

[ChernayaAkula]

When "Cliffy B" suggested the instrumentation pods on the wingtips of the F/A-18 HARV (High Alpha Research Vehicle - LINK) looked like the wingtip lasers on an X-Wing, things sorta clicked into place...

<...> One thing that occured to me was to make Star Trekish shuttlecraft out of LCM-style landing craft. Either use one hul upside down on a flat plasticard base, or stick two hulls together top-to-top. In either case, the ramp is replaced by a sheet of clear plastic and becomes the main window.<...>

The "Caestus Assault Ram" from Warhammer 40k looks a bit like someone took the looks and concept of an LCVP and added some wings and engines to it.

<...> IIRC the A-Wings from Return of the Jedi were two F-14 fuselages bashed together, with other greeblies added on. <...>

When you know what they are, it's almost bindingly obvious, right?

[Nick]

I can remember a long time ago seeing somewhere a submarine that had the tower way aft and was square with rounded edges in it's hull cross section that I thought would be a good basis for a spaceship. I don't know much about subs and I don't know where I had seen it so I have no idea if it's a real sub or something fictional in a movie or book.

It wasn't this proposal for a LNG tanker submarine was it?
http://www.navalprofessional.com/vessels/submarine-carrier-proposed-dynamics-4482
http://181.224.154.170/~ebenhops/tapr-august-1982/#shipping

[famvburg]

ISTR some '60s artwork with a very Lippisch-looking design atop a rocket. I remember as a kid in the '60s seeing SR-71/YF-12 as space planes as well as X-15s.

[steelpillow]

ISTR some '60s artwork with a very Lippisch-looking design atop a rocket. I remember as a kid in the '60s seeing SR-71/YF-12 as space planes as well as X-15s.

Probably a Sänger spaceplane project. I believe Revell do a kit of one. The X-15 was the first genuine spaceplane, albeit it needed a launch carrier and was sub-orbital. The only Lockheed Blackbird oddity I recall from that era was Roger Dean's replacement of the front fuselage with the skull of a bird. ~~~~

[Weaver]

ISTR some '60s artwork with a very Lippisch-looking design atop a rocket. I remember as a kid in the '60s seeing SR-71/YF-12 as space planes as well as X-15s.

Could by Dyna-Soar?