| | There are a few things missing here. Torque thrusters alone will not change the velocity vector, they will only rotate the ship. Because you want to turn as well, you need to have a rear thruster.
Conservation of angular momentum will not change the velocity vector because the torque thrusters will be ejecting mass from the rocket. So as the rocket rotates clockwise with angular momentum, the ejected mass is rotating counter-clockwise with the same angular momentum.
As the rocket is losing mass, it will rotate faster and faster as the thrusters continue to burn. So they must be reduced in intensity as the flight continues.
Because of the loss of mass, the ship will be decelerating and the rear thruster must compensate to keep the velocity magnitude the same and turn the ship in a circle. It's been a long, long time since I've done the math but here's the beginnings:
p = mv
conservation of momentum
0 = dp/dt = d(mv)/dt = mdv/dt + vdm/dt
dv/dt = -(v/m)(dm/dt) = a = F/m
F = -vdm/dt is the decelerating force, so
the rear thruster must exert force vdm/dt
dM = quantum of mass ejected rearwards
2dMt = quantum of mass ejected by the two torque thrusters
dm = dM + 2dMt
To turn in a circle of radius R it will have angular frequency w = v/2piR
Now there's the moment of inertia business which I've totally forgotten. But that's probably why you said there was practically no ship volume.
Well, it was fun, anyway :-)
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