Is that a radar dish on top, near aft section?

electronic warfare pod

Oh, I thought those structures were internally mounted.

This one is meant to interfere with squadrons of Cylon Raiders.

Interesting configuration. I would assume these are intended to be covered by other fighters in operation, since that big dish creates an awful blind spot.

You are correct. and the dish is an electronic warfare pod.

This could be remedied by extending the aft portion between the thrusters and adding an automated dorsal and ventral bubble turret. Like on a B-17, but much smaller. Although I dont think that fits with BSG tech, still it'd be neat ^^

I would think it less of a technological issue than a tactical doctrine issue. The last thing you'd want an ECM pilot thinking is that they have staying power on the battlefield. If the escorts can't hold off the enemy, then ECM is probably a moot point. And the last thing you want is the enemy to get hold of your ECM gear, making it pretty much useless by the time the next fight comes around.

Yeah I forgot ECM uses alot of energy. Is it possible to modify existing power facilities on such a craft? If not, what about using a computer to manage power output/fluctuations in regards to auto turrets and the ECM?

It's less about power than it would be mass. The lighter the fighter is, the faster it can accelerate and maneuver. Being able to get out of the way and run for home is king on a craft like this. Any additions become an impediment.

Um...aren't they in space? I would think, given it's a fictional setting, the laws of physics wouldnt apply and mass would be rendered irrelevant, save for in atmospheric operations.

Well, I'm not sure about the exact hypothetical technology used, but most sci-fi writers do their best to include the basic Newtonian laws of motion, even if those are dealt with in an indirect or generally invisible sense. In fact, on TV, maneuvering methods are often hidden beside the main engines as a special effects budget consideration. So it's hard for me to know exactly what was intended in BSG.

While air resistance isn't a factor in space, the motion of mass is still guided by the Newtonian laws. Put briefly, if you want something to move in a certain way, you have to apply force opposite to the desired motion. The more force per unit of mass, the faster the acceleration caused. So, if you want something to be able to maneuver faster, you can add power or reduce mass. Adding power is the more obvious option, but that involves adding more mass. Alternatively, you can remove all unnecessary mass to gain the same effect at reduced cost in materials and a reduced target size that makes an enemy hitting the craft a bit more difficult. There are secondary costs to adding more power and mass as well. The ship that carries the fighters has more mass aboard. The carrier therefore has to reduce its fighter complement, add more power, mass and thus fuel consumption to try to make up for it, or accept reduced performance. And each of those options has its own sets of tradeoffs. All that makes it much more practical to reduce mass per fighter to the minimum possible while retaining the desired performance characteristics. =^.^=

So if I were to write a sci-fi themed story that didn't include any Newtonian laws of any sort, that would be fantasy fiction, right?

As for power sources, this is the magic of fiction; I could have singularity drives or solar drives, the latter being miniaturized stars. Not really new concepts of course.

I just never personally understood the point of writing fiction of any form if one is to limit it with any concrete laws of reality/science/math. Doesn't that make such stories only semi/partially/half fictional?

The main reason folks limit themselves in writing, particularly when writing for TV or the movies, is that the movements of ships have to make at least some degree of fundamental sense to a viewer or it can break immersion quite quickly. This is the reason you almost never see ships doing a horizontal sideslip or rotating about their center-point without actually changing course, both of which are staple maneuvers in actual spaceflight, but are things that don't always make sense to the average viewer. In fact, the only place I've really seen these kinds of maneuvers pulled off well on a regular basis is in the Yamato 2199 series, and that's mainly because the director of the anime wasn't afraid to free up the "camera" to create the proper sense of mass and motion during maneuvers of both the Yamato and the ship's fighters. They also give cues by having actual thrusters that always fire and precisely match the resulting motion, even to the point of alternate firing on either side to stabilize the ship on the chosen heading.

But of course you can use different methods. In Star Trek, field coils perform most maneuvers. In Star Wars, I kind of assume it's the same thing that lets ships hover that gets used to change course. Whatever makes sense within its own world will work. On screen it might not. But in writing it certainly can.

You hit the nail on the head. I never considered fundamental sense or immersive capabilities in regard to audiences. That being said, I'd probably be safer writing things involving magic. I love Warships, especially spacefaring variants but I cant in good consience try to get everything to make sense. Like on a technological level for example. Well there goes my planned writings, but I've always wanted to write magic based stuff.

Getting things to make sense in writing is far easier than for visual media. That's why Star Trek novels are often so much more creative than series episodes. They don't get too hung up on the big wide shot visuals, since the person reading will create a visual of their own that completely works in their mind. So don't let any feeling of needing to make things make real world sense stop you. As long as you keep what you write self-consistent... it will work, even if it flies in the face of reality. If you doubt me... just picture a good ol' steampunk airship. They never make much sense. But they're awesome and inspiring nonetheless!

That's just it, I want to write these things but I'm hoping it can become a visual. I love a good fiction novel but to see it (properly) brought to life on a screen would be my ultimate dream. Not saying anything I write would get that kind of upgrade but I dream.

Why o why do I dream?! O.O

Dreaming is a curse I know well. I do my best to put it all down on paper. But I always get too drawn into the details to make much of it.

Bidi bidi bidi. Hey Buck! How did we end up in the Battlestar Galactica universe? Also, why is there a giant tea saucer mounted to our fighter?

LOL