Click on above image to see larger view.

^ Control room, before being placed in the model.

Scale: 1/250
Source: Protector by Larry Niven

Phssthpok is a Pak, coming to our solar system from the Pak homeworld (located near the galactic core) to find some lost Paks.

When modeling his ship, I had to cheat a bit - the three modules are in scale to each other at 1:250. However, the cables connecting them are 8 miles long - which would have meant a model over 52 meters long. Instead, I used a 2m long wire.

Since it is rather plain on the outside, I concentrated on modeling Phssthpok's control room. A tiny, 1cm long Phssthpok figure sits on a couch in front of a control bank. At his side is a bin containing "tree of life" roots. Behind is the door to the "gymnasium", and around him are several panels of the different recycling units.

Unfortunately, I realized that the current direction of the control room would make it impossible for Phssthpok to use when accelerating/decelerating - AFTER completing the model!

Image: Front view of entire ship

Image: Rear view of entire ship

Image: Cargo module

Image: Control module

Image: Engine exhausts

Image: Engine ramscoops