Greetings!

Welcome to Scifi-Meshes.com! Click one of these buttons to join in on the fun.

3DNebula-class variant

ericoerico340 Posts: 6Member
edited July 2020 in Work in Progress #1
A Nebula hot-rod! I've always loved the Nebula class and wish more configurations beyond a sensor dome or weapons pod had been presented. I've always thought that many other options might be interesting, such as a landing platform for craft just a bit too large for a standard shuttle bay, to provide support for recon/fighter/whatever squadrons, etc. And a place for those poor DS9 runabouts to park beyond large stations! Or in my own little universe, these stealthy AWACS peregrine falcon thingies. (While I've done some of the modeling here, some elements are the work of others, especially flateric's nebula model, rduda's chairs/desks/etc, main shuttlebay island structure from Aryh-Peixoto-Filho). The back half of the main shuttle bay has been widened beyond other fan designs to allow berthing for peregrine-sized craft. (Also, as a side-note, notice how much of the Galaxy-class saucer should have been visible outside the ready room and observation lounge windows!)

This is my first posting here, so If this is the wrong place to post this kind of thing, admins feel free to remove this of course!

dp9klngqw13k.jpg
bhnl7bclojdp.jpg
3dalj3k8pn3h.jpg
90vh44a8fdv1.jpg
a6wkaau4kvkf.jpg
kb98qottlp8f.jpg




Post edited by erico on
ashleytingerevil_genius_180BolianAdmiralRekkertLizzy777cool65Dark Angelpubliusrderkxl
Tagged:

Posts

  • FreakFreak1088 Posts: 4,361Member
    edited July 2020 #2
    first of all Welcome to the site.

    I agree with your idea of more Modules for the Nebula class.
    But Personal I am not a fan of what you have done here. Now if you had gone with an enclosed module that did the same thing that could work better. Maybe also have it feed into the Main Hanger bay.

    As for your comment on observation lounge windows. It looks like you got it spot on.
    Post edited by Freak on
  • count23count23361 Posts: 779Member
    Hey there, welcome. You picked the right place to post, so don't sweat it.

    I do concur somewhat with Freak, in the scenario of star trek ships, having them exposed to air is generally not within the federation schema. Definitely replacing the triangle pod with a massivey extended shuttle/hangar bay would be a great idea. You could pull the existing shuttle bay's hatch all the way back and make the entire superstructure some large hangar/carrier segment.

    Your observation lounge looks like it's off to a great start
    Formerly Nadesico.

    Current Projects:
    Ambassador Class
  • ericoerico340 Posts: 6Member
    Thanks for the comments! Yes, I agree this is a rather untraditional idea I'm toying around with. I think the Nebula actually has nice lines without a large pod hanging above it, so I've been thinking about what more modest, lightweight configurations for the aft section might entail. A big hangar up there would be more conventional for sure, and something I'll also explore at some point, I'm sure.
  • FreakFreak1088 Posts: 4,361Member
    edited July 2020 #5
    If you don't want the module to over hang like the sensor or Weapons module.
    You could have it elongated and play with the lines so it fit with the rest of the ship.
    Post edited by Freak on
  • ericoerico340 Posts: 6Member
    Yes good thoughts. I guess what I’m tinkering around with here is exploring the question of why, in the Trek universe, we don’t see this approach to landing pads, given transporter and shield technologies. Craft are not really much more vulnerable outside, given how shields work, and launches of larger craft like these seem like they’d take less time. Less mass overall, so the ship is more maneuverable; fewer construction resources; smaller size also leads to better firing arcs for phasers. I suppose that’s the answer, since starfleet ostensibly is not a military force. But, still something I’m mulling over.
  • evil_genius_180evil_genius_1804256 Posts: 11,034Member
    It's an interesting idea for sure. It's not conventional, but not all ideas have to be. Indeed, they can simply beam aboard auxiliary craft, rather than boarding them normally. And it makes sense for runabouts.

    Definitely love the conference room. So, welcome to the site and I hope you keep posting great work and presenting ideas that challenge convention. :)
  • markmasseymarkmassey512 StaffordshirePosts: 586Member
    I guess you could suggest that this would be a way to go in terms of aiding in natural disasters.. The nebula class could maintain a low orbit while the shuttles or runabouts drop down supplies or personel.. I mean i guess they wouldn't really need to due to being able to transport everything down to the surface.. But i like the idea of a carrier for support craft, i think you could go further in terms of designing a larger landing platform so you can house more craft... less sold on the fighters to be honest but i'm willing to admit defeat on that aspect..

    I'm loving the tng aesthetic at the minute... seems like a lot of you guys are doing interiors in that style.. could be because i'm half way through a tng binge... i just find it so appealing.. Keep up the great work..
  • ashleytingerashleytinger1999 Central OhioPosts: 1,233Member
    I like it. You can't always beam things down to the surface and I have always thought a fleet of long range shuttles with a sensor suite on board would seriously increase the capabilities of a scout or survey ship.
  • Adam WarnockAdam Warnock65 Posts: 102Member
    Interesting take. I would wonder if having docking ports on the pads wouldn't make more sense. From what I remember about trek transporters, they aren't exactly foolproof.
  • RekkertRekkert4037 Buenos Aires, ArgentinaPosts: 2,302Member
    Love what you've done with the interiors and with the modified shuttles, particularly that Type-11 with added windows. Looks more... inviting, than the canon version.

    I agree with others regarding the docking platform though, it looks more like something out of Star Wars. The main difficulty I see with it is that without a gravity field, the shuttles essentially need to be kept in the landing pads with tractor beams at all time. That would be a huge and otherwise unnecessary use of energy, plus we see how often these fail in Trek, particularly during battle or at warp, and those are two situations where you definitely don't want your shuttles floating away.

    Still, I like the concept and how unique it is, I just feel it needs some more refining. :)

    Also, keep in mind, the DS9 runabouts do fit into the main shuttlebay. We see the Enterprise use them in one episode, and we know they were the ones who transported the runabout squadron to DS9. The shuttlebay's just high enough to have them inside.
    For all my finished Trek fan art, please visit my portfolio
  • BrandenbergBrandenberg1655 CaliforniaPosts: 1,937Member
    Welcome. Glad to have you aboard. You posted in the right place I would think.

    I've always been a fan of the Nebula class - the "Reliant" of the 1701-D. I like the fact that you are working on a "carrier" concept. Your design has the advantage of faster fighter launches. Will be interested to see what you come up with as you play with it.
  • ericoerico340 Posts: 6Member
    edited July 2020 #13
    Thanks again for the thoughts, everybody. A few responses:

    1) I would think gravity plating is still an option on those kinds of external pads. I'm not aware of any reason why it couldn't be. Open to space does not preclude the possibility. We see the crew mucking about on the outside of the Ent-E with gravity boots because there's no reason to have the outer hull fitted with gravity plates, but on these kinds of pads the options would be there.

    2) Like those gravity boots, I'd think craft in this arrangement would be magnetically locked to the platform. Grappling mechanisms built into the pads would also be an option.

    3) I will need to revisit the issue of the Danube fitting within Shuttlebay 1 without some sort of Tardis technology at play. I was using the Danube as an example, but perhaps that's not the best one. A Danube could fit in Shuttlebay 2, which has a taller door, located beneath the landing platforms, but it'd be a tight fit for sure. Regardless, external platforms like this could serve as "overflow parking" for when the two shuttle bays are full.

    Another thought was that perhaps keeping craft like these AWACS peregrines on the exterior would allow linking the sensor pods they are carrying into the sensor system of the Nebula itself, while they are docked, extending sensor capabilities along the lines of Paul Allen's SETI radio dish array being linked together.
    Post edited by erico on
  • NevetsNevets201 EarthPosts: 134Member
    Love the shuttles on 'shelves'.
  • publiusrpubliusr550 Posts: 1,746Member
    Such a great design. Thinking about doing some TMP era designs?
  • Warp Propulsion LaboratoryWarp Propulsion Laboratory913 BrooklynPosts: 322Member
    Welcome! I think a hangar pod for the Nebula is a great idea. I found this image of an alternate pod model Doug Drexler built for the show if you are interested:

    bnnn0aoc67dv.jpg

    This is from a catalog for an upcoming auction:

    https://content.propstore.com/auction/EMLA+LA/EMLA-LA2020_Catalog_OnlineView_B2.pdf?_ga=2.214181783.180733806.1595887109-1827870685.1595887109

    There is a lot of other cool stuff in it as well. If anyone wants to build a model of the Nostromo there are some great refs.

    publiusr
    Please visit my YouTube channel!
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqRhLEHgwgTKxsalM5YznYQ


    Formerly furswift
Sign In or Register to comment.