David replied to me: > That's the right order of magnitude for the amount of tools that a modestly > well equipped auto mechanic has. That would ignore big gear -- fixed > hoists, tire machines -- but include some heavier > tools.
I think that those hoists are a key reasons why a big workshop is required. > On the other hand, if you're building a machine to be taken apart and put > together again, particularly in the the field, you'd work hard to make sure > it could be done with the minimal number of tools. (Having more might > make it easier/faster.) Ideally, you'd be able to carry them on the > vehicle. At modern tech, this probably means a ground vehicle with > electric motors and a internal combustion engine/generator. the task is > easier if the sections don't have to be man portable, but just size > limited. My worries were the hoists and the exact fitting. You start with a reasonably flat area and position the two track assemblies (tracks, roadwheels, suspension, ...). They are probably one section each. Then the lower hull on top of that. The connections must be tight so the hull is waterproof and doesn't work itself apart as the vehicle goes over rough terrain. Two more modules are the engine and transmission. Then seats, instruments, finally the upper hull (could be one or two sections, especially if it comes with the doors and hatches). That might be possible if you have a squad of grunts to hold the parts, but a couple of A-frames should be much easier. And a big powered wrench. I would adopt a rather flexible definition of "man-portable". Small enough so that a couple of people can haul it up a stairwell and a few hundred yards onwards, e.g. a plate 10' by 5' and a few hundred lbs. Regards, Onno _______________________________________________ GurpsNet-L mailing list <[email protected]> http://mail.sjgames.com/mailman/listinfo/gurpsnet-l
