What is it that makes Russian design so quickly identifiable as Russian?
Take, for example, this rocket launch https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5760/30397203786_e6ff96f2b7_k.jpg . The rocket of course I know is Russian but the support structure just looks Russian. If you told me that support structure was of American design I probably wouldn't believe you.
Posted Oct 22, 2016, 9:38 PM UTC
74
From the outside, we (I) tend to see Russian engineering as heavy, overdone, and over-engineered. I look at 'western' engineering as favoring sleek lines, where Russian engineering just looks robust.
They tend to look more at function and strength, without any apparent consideration to economy or artistic form.
It's neither heavy, overdone or over-engineered. They simply don't care that much about looks. Under all the sleek and smooth panels an American aupport structure might look similar to the Russian one. While the actual structures are different as they need to support different structures, but the general idea is the same: lots of metal and shit.
Do you have any examples of what you mean? That rocket launch structure looks so sci fi to my American eyes
Soviet tanks & rocket launcers
US tanks
Russian cars
Even the MI-8 helicopter has multiple engines and huge amounts of armor compared to US medium-duty craft.