Brick replica project: ND-001 _Nadesico_ from "Martian Successor Nadesico"
Phillip Thorne
Tuesday, 14 May 2002
Friday,  02 Aug 2002

I. Introduction
The High Mobile Battleship ND-001 _Nadesico_ is the star vehicle for the
popular late-1990s anime SF TV series "Martian Successor Nadesico".  Its form
is "sphinx"-like: four "limbs" around a central fuselage, topped by a delta-
shaped command-and-crew-deck "head".  The four limbs/sponsons are held away
from the fuselage with horizontal wing-sections; the forward wings each
contain a launch catapult for the "Aestivalis" mecha.  The forward fuselage
contains the firing orifice of the "gravity blast cannon".  The predominant
color is white, with trim in grey, black, and red.  (The observant techie can
see the design homages to the assault carrier _White Base_ from the original
1978 "Mobile Suit Gundam".)

The original has many subtle angles and hexagonal features that can't be
replicated in brick at the small scale I've selected.  Instead, I've reduced
them to right angles, or added "impressionistic" ones in nearby locations
(e.g. with roof peak tiles).

Certain portions should be red (the dorsal portion of the bridge) or white
(slopes), but are currently occupied by grey stand-in bricks.  (Some of the
necessary elements are currenly occupying the SDF-1 port gun boom, or the
Masaki house.)

II. Reference images
These have been obtained from various fan websites, and grabbed from the
ADVision DVDs.  Copyrights accrue to the original holders.  Replication 
beyond "fair use" is prohibited, yadda yadda.

nad-ref-011.jpg - lateral
nad-ref-012.gif - lateral engineering cross-section
nad-ref-021.jpg - overhead (dorsal)
nad-ref-031.gif - for keystoned view, from the opening credits
nad-ref-032.jpg - for vent, closeup on gun and pods
nad-ref-042.gif - for port dorsal, plastic model kit
nad-ref-041.jpg - for port dorsal
nad-ref-051.jpg - aft port dorsal

III. Iterations
Design goals: shape, color, self-supporting and durable, modular.  The upper module, and the forward sponsons and engines, should all be removable.  In the show, the module jettisons, à la "saucer separation"; but I want packing-ability.

I apologize for the blurry photos; my digicam has difficulty focusing (a) at
close range, (b) on shiny plastic, and (c) under the fluorescent-lit
conditions prevailing in my cellar.

Delta-shaped bridge/habitation module, forward sponson, engine, and mock-ups for connecting wings and dorsal.
nad-011a-aftport.jpg
nad-012a-forport.jpg
nad-013a-port.jpg
nad-014a-parts.jpg
nad-015a-pars.jpg

I adjust the shape of the bridge/habitation module: the bridge-tip is pointier, there are blunt features to each side before changing to the smooth delta shape, the underbody is flatter, and the triplet aft features change.
nad-022b-hab.jpg
nad-023b-hab.jpg
nad-024b-hab.jpg

Intermediate revisions to bridge/hab module: stretch the tip.

The bridge/hab gets much larger, and gains the problem: how to balance it?  The engine expands in width from two to three studs, gains centerline detail.  Add the fuselage, with pods above and below forward wing (launch bay above and whatsit? below).  Insert grey brick into forward pontoon to represent section housing vertical-launch missile tubes.
nad-031a-parts.jpg
nad-032a-aftport.jpg

Revision to the fuselage.  Intermediate clean-up of colors in engine.  New pontoon internal design for greater strength.  Add upper plating to bridge/hab, but haven't figured how to depict angular plate lines; aft detail unfinished; temporary antennas.
nad-041a-forport.jpg
nad-042a-for.jpg