Five Earths, All in a Row

[Prince Charon]

Originally Posted by warellis

So Stp-Earth's cockpit instrumentation would look more like the stuff from the 1940s you'd say?

To some degree, yes. Not exactly, but there would be similarities.

[tshiggins]

Originally Posted by warellis

So Stp-Earth's cockpit instrumentation would look more like the stuff from the 1940s you'd say?

Not really. I think that's a bit too advanced, and 1940s instrumentation used electronics -- just not very advanced electronics.

This page has a couple of pictures of dirigible controls:

http://rectoversoblog.com/2012/07/26...les/#more-1022

I'd think the controls would look more like what you'd see in this classic film:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilQNFn_Lpnc (at about 23:00).

Or this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q8IvcEtC2c (the controls are at about 25:00).

The point is, all the controls and gauges are mechanical or hydraulic. There are no electronics used, at all. Imagine readouts that use mechanical number wheels to display information:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiRgdaknJCg

[Prince Charon]

Thank you, tshiggins. That helps, a lot.

Mind you, there would be some dials, but apparently not so much as I thought, or in the ways I thought.

[tshiggins]

Originally Posted by Prince Charon

Thank you, tshiggins. That helps, a lot.

Mind you, there would be some dials, but apparently not so much as I thought, or in the ways I thought.

You're welcome. Those movies are classics, for many reasons. :)

[warellis]

Originally Posted by tshiggins

You're welcome. Those movies are classics, for many reasons. :)

Very interesting!

Makes me kind of imagine Stp-Earth may have sky carriers and early WW1 airplanes. :P

[Prince Charon]

Originally Posted by warellis

Very interesting!

Makes me kind of imagine Stp-Earth may have sky carriers and early WW1 airplanes. :P

Very probably, yes. It fits, and with magic, isn't too hard to accomplish (it was tried in RL, but there were a number of problems, including trying to 'land' on the airship - it involved a hook, which was hard to get the plan to catch, IIRC).

[warellis]

Originally Posted by tshiggins

Not really. I think that's a bit too advanced, and 1940s instrumentation used electronics -- just not very advanced electronics.

This page has a couple of pictures of dirigible controls:

http://rectoversoblog.com/2012/07/26...les/#more-1022

I'd think the controls would look more like what you'd see in this classic film:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilQNFn_Lpnc (at about 23:00).

Or this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q8IvcEtC2c (the controls are at about 25:00).

The point is, all the controls and gauges are mechanical or hydraulic. There are no electronics used, at all. Imagine readouts that use mechanical number wheels to display information:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiRgdaknJCg

https://firstaerosquadron.com/2015/0...ng-to-present/

This is also a pretty interesting set of images.

[Prince Charon]

A curious demonstration of what modern knowledge can do with patience and primitive equipment: Making a telegraph (key) with stone age tools. Fa-Earth and Clp-Earth have a bit of a leg up on that, not only having higher TLs, but having magic to help.

[Prince Charon]

A new military article from Earth 3/Steampunk Earth:

Royal Astronautical Society of the United Kingdom

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ingdom.svg.png

While not a military organization, the RAnS use a paramilitary structure to organize their spacecrews and related personnel. With the arrival of the other Earths, and particularly those from the future, Parliament is giving much consideration to forming a space military, or to nationalizing and militarizing the RAnS, in whole or in part. For the moment, RAnS officers hold Royal Warrants, but no commissions, save for honourary Chief Superintendent HRH The Prince of Wales, commissioned Marshal-in-Chief of the RAnS.

Ranks

(NCO/Enlisted insignia are on the upper sleeve, Officer insignia on epaulettes or collar)

OF-7 Chief Superintendent (crown over three pips)

OF-6 Superintendent (crown over two pips)
OF-5 Intendent (crown over one pip)
OF-4 Subintendent (crown)

OF-3 <Department> Officer, Grade I (three pips)
OF-2 <Department> Officer, Grade II (two pips)
OF-1 <Department> Officer, Grade III (one pip)

OF(D) Student Officer (plain epaulettes)

OR-7 Master <Specialist> (four chevrons)
OR-6 Supervisory <Specialist> (three chevrons under a crown)

OR-5 Senior <Specialist> (three chevrons)
OR-4 <Specialist> (two chevrons)
OR-3 Junior <Specialist> (one chevron)

OR-2 Apprentice <Specialist> (one angled line)

OR-1 Apprentice Spaceman (no insignia)

'Specialist' is replaced by the specific rating the spacer is trained in, such as Fireman (very important in space), Airman (works with the life-support systems), Radioman, Engineman, et cetra. Likewise, 'Department' is replaced by the department that officer is posted to: the Administration Department (also includes pilots and astrogators), Engine Department, Purser's Department (also includes security guards, if any), and Science Department (also includes gunners, if any, and medical personnel, who may be the only Science Officers on board).

The officer commanding an astronef is generally called 'Captain,' as with ships, while the Executive officer is usually called 'Deputy Captain' or 'Vice Captain.' A large astronef might have a Vice Captain as XO, and one or more Deputy Captains or Assistant Captains as watchstanders, and as third and fourth in line of command. On smaller astronefs, there may be only one or two officers in the Administration Department, with the third in command being a Senior Pilot or other Administration Department NCO, or an officer outside the Administration Department, like the Chief Engineer or Chief Scientist. The commander of a space station (including Moonbases) tends to be called by an Army rank commensurate with the number of men under his command. An officer given field command of several astronefs is called a 'Marshal,' regardless of how many he commands.

To warrant assignment as a Captain, one must be at least an Administration Officer, Grade II, but usually Grade I or higher. Deputy Captains or Vice Captains would also be Administration Officers, preferably also at least Grade II, but may be Grade III. Station commanders are mostly from the Administration Department, but may instead be from another, usually the Purser's Department. Marshals tend to be Subintendents or Intendents from the Administration Department.

Uniforms are cut to resemble those of the 17th Regiment of Lancers, as two of the founders were officers in that regiment. However, their buttons and epaulettes are silver, while the chevrons on their sleeve-cuffs are red, as is the trim surrounding their button-holes. As with many cavalry units, officer uniforms vary a fair bit, being bespoke clothing. Upon their heads, they mostly wear either glengarry bonnets (for another of the founders, who had been a bagpiper in the Royal Scots) or pith helmets.

Space suits are not standardized, but any man who cannot afford his own is supplied with an armoured vacuum suit, resembling an atmospheric diving suit with a standard diving dress helm.

[Prince Charon]

Another military article for Earth-3/Steampunk Earth:

United States Navy Space Service

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped..._stars.svg.png

The United States Navy of Steampunk Earth is divided into three large segments: the Navy proper, or blue-water navy (seagoing vessels, including submersible boats), the Freshwater Service or brown-water navy (swamp, lake, and river vessels) and the Space Service or vacuum navy (space-going vessels). The Space Service is growing nearly as distinct from the rest of the Navy as the Marines are, save for still using naval ranks.

Ranks

Insignia are mostly as for the US Navy of the era, with Flotilla Captains using the Commodore's insignia and uniform, and Fleet Captains using those of a Rear Admiral (ranks are partially distinguished by the uniforms worn). As there has been no US Civil War in this worldline, 'admiral' ranks have not been authorized by Congress, being considered too 'royal' for use by a republic. Even getting one rank above 'Captain' took a great deal of effort, let alone two. The title of Commodore is occasionally granted to officers, usually Captains and above, holding command of multiple vessels in the field, or an important shore posting. The commanding officers of both the brown-water navy and vacuum navy are Captains granted the title of Commodore, by 1885(3). As of its founding in 1880(3), the head of the Space Service is a Commander, with a Lieutenant Commander as XO.

OF-7 Fleet Captain
OF-6 Flotilla Captain

OF-5 Captain
OF-4 Commander
OF-3 Lieutenant Commander

OF-2 Lieutenant
OF-1 Master
OF-1 Ensign

OF(D) Midshipman

WO-1 Boatswain

OR-6 Petty Officer

OR-4 Leading Seaman
OR-3 Able Seaman
OR-2 Ordinary Seaman
OR-1 Landsman
OR-1 Boy

The rank of 'Boy' is assigned to young sailors-in-training who are expected to become enlisted, as opposed to Midshipmen, who are training to be officers. Such children often served as powder monkeys and cabin boys. Not all such sailors are male, though they often pretend to be. A Boy might be as young as twelve, if not younger, but it is rare for a Midshipman to be younger than sixteen.

A Landsman is a sailor with less than three years of experience at sea. Sailors who have held the rank of Boy for more than three years skip directly to Ordinary Seaman when reaching eighteen, if they remain with the Navy.


Uniforms are those of the rest of the Navy, save for silver, eight-pointed stars worn on the collar of anyone qualified for work in space.

Spacesuits resemble those used by the Royal Astronautical Society (or at least, the model they supply to those who cannot afford one).


It is the preference of the Navy to launch rockets from platforms or great barges some ways out to sea, to reduce the risk of accidents damaging anything inland. It is also done to maintain naval traditions. They are familiar with the Sea Dragon concept from Earth-1, and have been performing experiments in that direction.


Thoughts?