I originally thought this would make a good position for a phaser crew control pit, as this will be flanked by phaser projectors next, but then I'd have to make one for the projectors on the primary hull...
Okay, this design is finally starting to grow on me, and I'm glad. Looking over its development I've begun to see this more as a "workhorse" version of the Constitution design; it's beefier, more built-up, maybe a bit tougher-looking than the more elegant shapes we're used to seeing. Sort of like the 23rd century version of the Dodge Ram 1500 truck: it looks good just driving down the street, but it will also get than 100 year old tree stump pulled out of your backyard no problem. In fact, it really shares that same concept with your Eagle Transport design I like so much so I guess you can say I've officially been converted. I take back any ambivalent comments I may have posted earlier.
No cause for alarm, citizens, this is only a test, I repeat, only a test...
Haha! Thanks man, well, yeah, this is a more chunky, utilitarian approach to the traditional Connie... Dodge Ram with a little A10 Warthog... hopefully she'll have a degree of elegance, but mostly, she's built for serious business. Exploring the galactic frontier is a dangerous environment, and you need a solid ship that can take a beating.
She's really at about the 5% completed stage here, the final geometry is so far off I cant think about it lest I simply embrace the futility and abandon it...
But I'll switch back to my other projects as I burn out on this...
Dont sweat it, it's radically different than other Connie redesigns, and a real design risk... it could still go horribly wrong!
I've been also thinking about the Klingon D7 while I model this old girl... and I have a pretty cool concept for a redesign of the Starfleet communicators... man, I hope I can resist re-designing the whole Trek universe, thats a career in itself, and I'm not getting paid for it!
Woah, just found this bit of interesting info... from the animated series that never was, I thought my design was a radical departure, but I havent seen anything until this:
Wow! Those orthos really show off how radical this design is. I'm struck by the feeling it's very origami-like; each piece meant to support, enhance, and strengthen the pieces around it. Very cool!
I agree with all the positive comments thus far - this is one of the most interesting takes on the ship I've seen in a while. While I appreciate the smooth "aerodynamic" versions, I have to agree that they are a bit anachronistic in space. And the 'origami' comment is right on.
Starting to shape out the sublight engines, I might go bigger. I'm also thinking the stardrive section should also have impulse engines, like the galaxy class ships.
As usual, I love the fact that you've got figures in the scene to keep the scale correct. I really wish the Hollywood FX industry would do that more often.
I also have a design question. It looks like the dorsal neck protrudes up through the saucer, which is a good design choice since it makes the connection between the saucer and neck much stronger. My question is, how does the crew get from the saucer to the neck section? There must be a point where the Turbolift and Jefferies Tube(s) connect one with the other, but I'm not sure where that might be. The impulse engines take up a lot of space on either side of the dorsal, so a pathway there seems unlikely. Any ideas on where these connection points might be?
Along the sides of the dorsal, where it connects to the saucer, there are (will be) a series of locking lugs and where the upper turbolift manifolds terminate vertically, they move horizontally out of the dorsal, into the saucer.
Along the sides of the dorsal, where it connects to the saucer, there are (will be) a series of locking lugs and where the upper turbolift manifolds terminate vertically, they move horizontally out of the dorsal, into the saucer.
I figured you had an idea for that in mind. I just wanted to bring it up in case you hadn't thought about it. Can't wait to see more!
The saucer section separates of course, in the Galaxy class,it becomes a lifeboat, that, when it "lands" on a planetary body, it's destroyed.
I think its pretty wasteful, really. I always thought, on the original, that the two triangular structures underneath the saucer might be where retractable landing gear are stowed.
So, I'm thinking of adding four landing rigs that deploy from the underside, along with vertical impulse engines that are also behind panels in the hull.
Feh, who knows, this is just a design exercise... I cant take it too seriously.
The gear will of course have articulated hydraulic cylinders. I may have to put a nav deflector on the saucer, since it will be able to travel at relativistic speeds.
I knew I'd get sucked into the devilish details.. I always do, dammit. Ah well! I'm glad I'm getting this ship outta my system.
I'm right there with you, bud. I can't help digging into the details. "It would be so cool if the ship could do THIS, but then I'd have to make THAT THING this way so it could do that!" It's an addiction, but there are far worse in the world.
Posts
Which I may... we'll see.
These pop out of their recess, can be directed in a hemisphere exceeding a 180 degree radius, and boy, do they pack a wallop.
I'll have some conduits, tanks, indirect lights to detail out the hull cavity this sits in at a later point.
Haha! Thanks man, well, yeah, this is a more chunky, utilitarian approach to the traditional Connie... Dodge Ram with a little A10 Warthog... hopefully she'll have a degree of elegance, but mostly, she's built for serious business. Exploring the galactic frontier is a dangerous environment, and you need a solid ship that can take a beating.
She's really at about the 5% completed stage here, the final geometry is so far off I cant think about it lest I simply embrace the futility and abandon it...
But I'll switch back to my other projects as I burn out on this...
Dont sweat it, it's radically different than other Connie redesigns, and a real design risk... it could still go horribly wrong!
I've been also thinking about the Klingon D7 while I model this old girl... and I have a pretty cool concept for a redesign of the Starfleet communicators... man, I hope I can resist re-designing the whole Trek universe, thats a career in itself, and I'm not getting paid for it!
I'm wondering if I should do the single torpedo launcher, or the dual launchers... forward and aft?
http://zeroroom.squarespace.com/gallery/ships/
Would have been an interesting series, but that ship! Yow!
I made a series of drawings years ago, for a project about an animated series based on TNG, you can see one that survived here:
http://jefferywright.com/illust/ink/animatedtrek.jpg
I love the origami comparison, I see it now, well spotted!
Got some detail sussed out near the stardrive / saucer interface. This girl is built to separate:
I also have a design question. It looks like the dorsal neck protrudes up through the saucer, which is a good design choice since it makes the connection between the saucer and neck much stronger. My question is, how does the crew get from the saucer to the neck section? There must be a point where the Turbolift and Jefferies Tube(s) connect one with the other, but I'm not sure where that might be. The impulse engines take up a lot of space on either side of the dorsal, so a pathway there seems unlikely. Any ideas on where these connection points might be?
I figured you had an idea for that in mind. I just wanted to bring it up in case you hadn't thought about it. Can't wait to see more!
The saucer section separates of course, in the Galaxy class,it becomes a lifeboat, that, when it "lands" on a planetary body, it's destroyed.
I think its pretty wasteful, really. I always thought, on the original, that the two triangular structures underneath the saucer might be where retractable landing gear are stowed.
So, I'm thinking of adding four landing rigs that deploy from the underside, along with vertical impulse engines that are also behind panels in the hull.
Feh, who knows, this is just a design exercise... I cant take it too seriously.
The gear will of course have articulated hydraulic cylinders. I may have to put a nav deflector on the saucer, since it will be able to travel at relativistic speeds.
I'm right there with you, bud. I can't help digging into the details. "It would be so cool if the ship could do THIS, but then I'd have to make THAT THING this way so it could do that!" It's an addiction, but there are far worse in the world.