Mechanical Craziness!! Cold war preferred, anything nuts also gratefully accepted!

[harmonix1234]

Shell to construct largest floating object ever

Shell to construct largest floating object ever

http://dvice.com/archives/2011/05/shell-to-constr.php

Shell Petroleum plans to build a floating natural gas refinery off the coast of Australia that they say will be the largest floating object the world has ever seen.

When it's completed aroud 2017, the Prelude FLNG will be the largest thing that has ever failed to sink, at 1,600 feet long with a displacement of 600,000 tons. It will require some 260,000 tons of steel to construct, which happens to be four times as much as what went into building the Sydney Harbor Bridge, if that's a useful metric for you.

The ship (or maybe, semi-portable island) is designed to sit above oceanic natural gas fields, refining the gas and cooling it down to -260 degrees Fahrenheit for storage and transport. What it's not designed to do is go anywhere. Despite the fact that a big advantage of things that float is that they're mobile, Shell plans to leave the plant moored in the same spot off the northwest coast of Australia for the next 25 years. Australians shouldn't worry, though: the Prelude FLNG is apparently be able to withstand multiple Category 5 cyclones, although there's no word on what happens if it gets struck by an iceberg on a cold April night.

 

[downhillar]

one of the comments on the article:

"Well there's no way this could ever go wrong" hahaha

 

[nskz]

I want to know the outlay for something like that, would be big.

 

[{ScarFace}]

That metal storm thing only has 180 bullets. not sure what would be involved in up'ing the ammo cache but its takes 0.01s to blow through it all

I haven't watched the 2nd vid, but I wonder how long it takes to cycle through and fire a second burst

The way i understood it was that there were 180 barrels, each with a 'stack' of bullets. The row of bullets would be detonated electrically one at a time, meaning you could shoot like 1800 in about a second without having to be reloaded.

 

[floody]

For some reason it reminds me of the Smokers' boat, the "Deez" (Exxon Valdez), in Waterworld.

 

[harmonix1234]

Thought this thread needed a kick in the arse.

Love this idea.
I know it isn't practical, and it will never work, but there is something about the concept that ignites my imagination.
Like the hubless wheel.

[video=youtube;zNakXjGNjIY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNakXjGNjIY&feature=feedrec_grec_index[/video]

 

[haydenw]

It's called the "It"

 

[mr_casual]

searched "cold war mechanical" on google because i was bored and there's nothing like something crazy to read about, first 3 google images are from rotorburn! the bloody feds will be onto us and our accidental database

 

[Nerf Herder]

heee heeee ^^^ ... porn search aye

nice grave dig ... nd what must be the oldest reply I'm made ... soz

RE: Metal Storm
Having a large number of barrels allowing you to fire a shiteload of projectiles in a short space of time would be quite handy in an anti-missile or aircraft as you can effectively blanket an area where the nasty would be coming in. As the barrels are little more than casings for the rounds they can be easily swapped out quickly to allow for continuous fire. -Just imagine having boxes and boxes of metal-storm ammo just sitting there ready to be slotted into place like the magazine of a conventional gun - only in a conventional gun the magazine still has moving parts and shell casings all waiting to cause a jam.

It really is a simple and ingenious design!

OK ... I understand it now ... just re-watched it and the second vid and can see the application now. belated Ta.

The way i understood it was that there were 180 barrels, each with a 'stack' of bullets. The row of bullets would be detonated electrically one at a time, meaning you could shoot like 1800 in about a second without having to be reloaded.

it has a sequencer either within the barrel or through the collection of barrels ... can understand it when watching the various phases of the 2nd vid ... bit like a gattling gun of sorts at the start, then a massive shotty at the end

Anyway ... whilst watching that vid again ... this one came up (Martin ... is this kinda in your field ... sorry thinking beam and grasping)

[video=youtube;R2eehBk_DNQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2eehBk_DNQ&feature=player_embedded[/video]

 

[hach_bee]

snippy..

Who took batteries in the pit?? Naughty...

 

[Bermshot]

First question I need to ask is how "long" have weaponized lasers been available?

 

[martinpb]

heee heeee ^^^ ... porn search aye

Anyway ... whilst watching that vid again ... this one came up (Martin ... is this kinda in your field ... sorry thinking beam and grasping)

The YAL-1 is a bit of a meh from me...
i don't think that the idea of shooting down missles in the boost phase using an ABL is practical. The range of the laser is a few hundred km. that means that the ABL platform must be reletively (in ICBM terms) close to the launch site during the boost phase. An aircraft that large so close to enemy airspace should be reasonably easy to shoot down. in order to protect it from enemy fighters, the owner would need to put up a large force of their own, which then becomes a target in and of itself for an attack with nuclear anti aircraft missles (or even just a bunch of MIRV set to airburst at 10,000m ASL) - don't forget, if you're planning to shoot this thing down, it's probably because you want to launch an ICBM anyway, so starting the war with a nuclear attack on the enemy's airforce will seem like a logcial thing to do from a nuclear strategy POV.

More intersting for the Star Wars and Star Trek fans out there is the design for the Gerrald Ford class carriers and some of the technology that is going into the JSF. They both have huge electrical power reserves so that they'll be able to make use of directed energy weapons if they become practical during their lifetime (in the case of the carriers... the replacement for USS GHW Bush will be required c.2060, that ship will then be in the fleet for 50-60 years (could be longer) so the designers are having to think about weapons that may be added at a last refit in 2110!!!)

 

[floody]

Decided that should W.W. Z break out, I want a Soviet AT-T or BAT-M.
AT-T, Heavy Artillery Transporter

BAT-M Combat Engineering Vehicle, or High Speed Bulldozer;

Both based on T54/T55 tank chassis architecture, cab based on Zil 150 truck, interior looks like a jet cockpit with a console full of dials and a stick for control, 39-44l V12 Diesel depending on variant, 415hp and an ungodly amount of torque, 35.5kmh top speed and 750km range.

Were in use in the former Soviet Union and Warsaw pact countries into the 90s.

 

[Hamsta]

Shell to construct largest floating object ever

http://dvice.com/archives/2011/05/shell-to-constr.php

Shell Petroleum plans to build a floating natural gas refinery off the coast of Australia that they say will be the largest floating object the world has ever seen.

When it's completed aroud 2017, the Prelude FLNG will be the largest thing that has ever failed to sink, at 1,600 feet long with a displacement of 600,000 tons. It will require some 260,000 tons of steel to construct, which happens to be four times as much as what went into building the Sydney Harbor Bridge, if that's a useful metric for you.

The ship (or maybe, semi-portable island) is designed to sit above oceanic natural gas fields, refining the gas and cooling it down to -260 degrees Fahrenheit for storage and transport. What it's not designed to do is go anywhere. Despite the fact that a big advantage of things that float is that they're mobile, Shell plans to leave the plant moored in the same spot off the northwest coast of Australia for the next 25 years. Australians shouldn't worry, though: the Prelude FLNG is apparently be able to withstand multiple Category 5 cyclones, although there's no word on what happens if it gets struck by an iceberg on a cold April night.

Funnily enough I've recently applied for a job with a view of obtaining a job on that mother of all FPSO's. Fuck all the stairways though...knee reconstruction material right there. Will need a folding bicycle as part of the package.

 

[workmx]

A chopper lover myself. All time fav. Tried to post a couple of days ago but it has finally presented itself.

1969 Mil Mi-24 Hind, .... flying fortress?

Tech data Mil-24

2-crew: 2xKilmov TV3-117 turbo shaft, rated at 1620 kw. Main rotor diameter: 18.8m. Height: 4.17m. Take-Off weight: 11500kg. Empty weight: 8200kg. Max speed 330km/h, cruising speed: 217-270km/h. Rate of climb 12.5m/s. Service ceiling: 5000m. OGE: 1500m. Range: 500km. Pay load: 2500kg

As a combination gunship and troop transport, the Mi-24 is a unique helicopter.

Trivia: current operators include the US Army and Air Force.

 

[Xavo.au]

Yes but the MI-35 is only used in Aggressor roles in combat exercises and is only used in combat in Afghanistan so they can train the ANA troops.

 

[workmx]

Yeah - OPFOR only.

The use of Stingers in Afghanistan and SeaCobras in Iran showed up some significant design faults in the MI-24/Mi-25/Mi-35.

Still a unique helicopter though.

 

[workmx]

Love that we get to ride on a number of these at least once a year.

 

[workmx]

Hope to visit the Tokyo Skytree next time too.

 

[PINT of Stella. mate!]

Love that we get to ride on a number of these at least once a year.

I'll be travelling across Japan in a couple of them later this year before getting on this thing:

The craziest thing about this is that the entire length of the Trans-Siberian railway (9289km) is electric. Whereas here you can't even go from Melbourne to Geelong without swapping over to diesel.