[EDIT]RELEASED - Get the Download Here (http://sectorgame.com/f2s/downloads.php?action=downloads&id=599).
(http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/images/Wiki-Constellation.jpg)
The Constellation type space-station is a multi-purpose orbital facility, used widely throughout GTVA space. The first Constellations were launched in 2317 as zero-gee manufacturing facilities, and many still serve in this role, however the simplicity of design and low price of construction has made these small stations attractive prospects for modification and customisation. Constellation variants can now be encountered performing a large number of additional roles, such as orbital dormitories, research outposts, shipyard control centres and customs depots. Although typically unarmed, the GTA produced a small number of lightly armed Constellations for use during the Terran-Vasudan war, and, although relatively uncommon, a small number of these are still produced to this day.
For... the better part of a decade now I've been saying that we need more civilian stuff for FS2, and particularly more small installations. Finally decided to do something about that myself. If you've been in IRC much, you might have seen this, but for those who've not:
(http://i55.tinypic.com/10miop2.jpg)
Now, the reason I've made this instead of FREDding is that I'm (finally) going back out to work for 8 days tomorrow, and I wanted a project I could take with me on a netbook - UVing this thing will be that project. But, before I do that, I figure'd I'd throw up a quick shot of the model and ask for some suggestions to improve it - normally, I'd be happy to trust my own judgement, but I've already had one really clever suggestion from Zacam (the sliding inner clamps on the "arms" sticking out the side), and who knows what else people might suggest. But I'm really only interested in making small changes - primarily because once I leave (in about 24 hours) I won't be able to make changes again until after I get back, at which point it should be UVed, and I don't want to be changing geometry then (except to fix errors).
Bit of information about what it's supposed to be - as I said, it's a small outpost - very small by FS standards. Discarding the prongs, that main body is scaled to about 170m tall - the full thing is around 300m from memory. This is designed so that the girders from the modular construction kit (which are 10mx10m in cross section) fit snugly into those clamps. The idea in terms of in-universe use is that it's a Zero-G manufacturing facility for things like transparent Aerogel (http://www.aerogel.org/?p=997) and electronics crystals (http://www.intlspacesystems.com/zerogcrystals.htm) - those six pods are areas outside of the zero gravity area (and yes, I understand the fridge-logic issues of having both artifical gravity and the need to go to space for zero G, but work with me here :p). But, of course, there are a myriad of other uses for small installations like this - scientific research stations, listening posts, refueling stations, terraforming control stations, even pirate bases - anywhere you need to put a small group of people in one place for an extended period of time.
So, any ideas before I head into Lith?
[EDIT]Oh, and there has been one small change since this pic was UL - that "door" looking thing on the side has been recessed into the main body - makes it look better, IMO, but also somehow a bit sparse on the side there.