I’ve been looking into Kickstarter as a way to generate some business. It seems geared quite closely to artist types and people looking to set up businesses that require lots of funds. Sadly, the rules explicitly ban campaigns for things like “help me get a new computer.” And since a new computer is what I need, that’s kind of a shame. Additionally: every idea has to be reviewed and approved by humans, and I’d bet good money that most of the ideas I’d try through Kickstarter would get shot down. Oh well.

But the general concept is interesting. Someone says “I need X number of dollars for Project Y by date Z,” and offers a series of goodies of increasing value for specific levels of buy-in ($10, $25, $50, $1000, whatever). People who are interested pledge whatever amount they want. They sign up with Kickstarter and have to assign a credit card. If by date Z X dollars have not been pledged, then the project has failed, and those who pledged aren’t charged; on the other hand, if the project is successful and at least X dollars have been pledged, those who pledged have their credit cards charged and the artist gets his funds.

Seems like a plan. One I’ll copy for my own “I need a computer” project.

So, here’s the deal.  I have, as I’ve shown before, a pretty good 3D CAD model of the 2001 Space Station V. But I need a new computer to carry it any further. I need $600 for this new computer. So here’s what I’ll produce for various pledge levels:

$10: A hearty “thanks” and a PDF file with a few good illustrations of the Space Station V model

$25: As above, plus a collection of 11X17 prints of the SSV, showing it as a “real” design (akin to the numerous “blueprints” of Star Trek ships that people have done over the years).

$50: Everything above, with a MagCloud printed booklet describing the Space Station V. Not the kit or the CAD model, but a fictional, technical account of how the NCA & contractors would go about using the Orion II cargo shuttle and other much heavier lifters to orbit and build the thing, as well as a general overview of the design.

$100: Everything above, with the addition of large-format prints of the Space Station V CAD diagrams, at least 16X20 (probably 24X36).

$150: Everything above, with high-rez, non-encrypted extractable PDFs of the CAD diagrams

The timelimit: hmmm, let’s call it a week or so.

UPDATE: The project was successful in obtaining a sufficiency of pledges; it is now closed to new pledges.

The time to deliver your goodies: rather longer. Several months, I’d guesstimate.

If you’d like to pledge, send me an email: scottlowther@up-ship.com/blog

Don’t send money (unless you have a driving urge to pay off that $600 Right Now) until I’ve actually succeeded in getting a sufficiency of pledges to make it worthwhile.

If this works – and it’s a big if – another idea I’ve pondered is “photographic expedition.” I need to get down to Albuquerque to the nuclear weapons museum in order to take a few thousand photos, but I can’t financially justify it. However, a similar sort of “kickstart” might make it worthwhile. We’ll see…