1. VICTORIAN AIRSHIP
A. Back Story
Chosen theme for this Airship design is Victorian Era which last around the 18th to the early
19th century. The design is maintained to be simple, but yet unique and attractive. It has the
looks of traditional vehicle in some parts. Moreover, it is also inspired by the style of fantasy
vehicle and cartoony design.
This is an airship for British scholars in that Victorian Era. The main clans will be in the main
Gondola at the front while the others will be in the two ships at the back. Each of them
provides a large space for passengers. The airship is the most efficient transportation to bring
them to their mission trip destination. Its main location will be at the top of an old British
tower with its moorings fastened to a point, so it will not fly away.
It is constructed and operated by traditional and modern technology. Furthermore, instead
of having fuels as the main power supply, it is powered by particles accelerator, solar energy,
and steam engines. Its working system is similar to light air balloon, but this is a large one.
Several engines are controlling propellers through the main panel, so that the airship will be
able to be navigated.
The envelope of this airship is using parachute fabric and the hard surface is made of riveted
aluminum for aircraft.
B. Order, Structure, and Meaning
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2. The first concept is to have a zeppelin. However, it is more appropriate to call it airship as it
gives wider range of construction’s possibilities. There were a lot of ideas for this airship’s
basic construction as it is shown at the above image.
The main idea is to have a large light-air
balloon with particle power which
controls its rubbers back and gondola for
passengers. Right image here shows
several possibilities of those elements
combination with different sizes and
form.
Further, there are more of important
elements to be added, such as wings and
propellers. In addition, it is important to keep the airship system in balance, but to have it too
symmetrical can lead it to be less attractive. Therefore, image below shows some
modification to break the symmetry.
To have a bit of cartoony style into it, it is nice to have a unique form which is large in front
and going thinner to the back as those at the most right of above image which was derived
from the sketches left below. Then, the scope for the design possibility is narrower.
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3. C. Form and Shape
Instead of having a single air balloon, it will be more interesting to have some as those in the
early sketch on top right image and play around with the composition again.
There was an idea that the gondola does not have to be attached to the main body. It can be
hanged onto it. Then, it can be functioned to reach onto something by just rolling out the
rope which hangs it.
Moreover, it needs propeller to break the compact structure, have more things to see, and
also alter the speed.
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4. Above right image shows the upside down look of the previous idea and this is the one that
was based on for the final product.
The design process had a lot of back and
forth went on since it is easier to do mix
and match in Autodesk Maya and more
flexible to do the details in sketches.
Then, the final design is shown at the
image below with further details
development.
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5. D. Details
Power and Rubber
Gondola
Detailed Airship and Engine
Propeller’s Power
Detailed Props
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6. That is the detailed sketches from perspective view. Then, the following is the look and feel
made in Maya.
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7. Propellers
Light
Rotor
Weather Radar
Dome and
Control Panel
The largest one is the main
riggid light-air balloon which
has internal frames build in.
Attached to it, there are two
small engines with rotors and
two big one at the back. To lift
passenger, there are red
gondola and two ships.
Everything is controlled and
adjusted from the control
panel which is at the gondola.
Air baloon
Engines
There are eight sets of
propellers. Two largest one are
at the back, they can be
rotated 90 degrees at their
center points in order to
change direction.
Gondola Ship
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8. It has two moorings, so that it
can be tightened to stay in a
place. One is attached to its nose
and the other is attached to the
gondola.
Light Indicators
Those blue glowing lights are the
particle accelerators which have
two outer rings. When it is
working, these rings are rotating.
In addition, there are some air
Moorings valves within the golden rings.
Rudders
These rudders and elevators also
functioned to grasp solar energy.
Elevators
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9. “The nose cone serves two
purposes. It provides the point
of attachment for mast
mooring and adds rigidity to
the nose (which encounters
the greatest dynamic pressure
loads in flight). On the ground,
the inflated blimp is secured
to a stationary pole called the
mooring mast. The rigid nose
dish is attached to the
mooring mast. The secured blimp can move freely around the mast with wind changes. There
are nose lines attached to the nose dish used by the ground crew to maneuver blimp during
takeoffs and landings.” [Made How: Volume 3: Airship]
This Airship provides some controls such as:
1. Valves for Air and Helium
2. Power Quantity and Pressure
3. Fuse Panel
4. Rudder pedals
5. Elevator Wheel
6. Weather Radar
7. Radio Navigation
8. Encoding Altimeter
9. Attitude Horizon
10. Moving Map Display
11. Air Speed
12. Rate of Climb
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11. E. Bibliography
Made How: Volume 3: Airship. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2011, from How Products Are
Made: http://www.madehow.com/Volume-3/Airship.html
newline.com:properties:goldencompassthe. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2011, from New
Line Cinema: http://newline.com/properties/goldencompassthe.html
F. Appendix
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12. 12 2D 5 Production Design Janice Tirtautama - 090332
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