Based on a Caravel design, the lateen-rigged double-masted cargo trader would ply the rich seas of the ancient world. Often these boats were built on age-old designs, with a rugged sail plan that just plain worked with a minimum of cloth material for sails. The fore-and-aft rig allows for good upwind performance and tacking is made simple by way of the topmast rigged spar, later to become known as the boom on western designs; a requirement for sailing the Nile River, or the Coast of East Africa in the forgotten past as well as today. This vessel may be as small as 22 feet (7 meters), but could get as large as 125 feet (40 meters)!
November, 2015:
Gallery: Graf Zeppelin in SL 1:5 Scale Walkthru and Further Lighting Tests & Development
More Lighting tests and mood choosing for the upcoming episode or chapter of Ice Domes of the Bandit Queen by K.T. Sebastian
Gallery: 1:5 Scale Zeppelin in progress – Interior
Some revisions to the decks, bulkheads, and more lighting tests…
(more…)
Gallery: Photo Tests, Graf Zeppelin in SL
Build progress continues, testing lighting effects
(more…)
Gallery: Graf Zeppelin Improvements
As a research project, I looked up the plans for the zeppelin / rigid air ship Graf Zeppelin and proceeded to build her in my spare time in SL. It was a familiarization effort, to get to know the subtleties of airship design and construction for use in a creative project for a client. Quite an education! Below are snapshots taken during the exercise: