Okay. With the paint of my last project still drying in spacedock, I am looking around for my next fix... er, I mean my next build. I have decided to have a go at the Springfield Class. Mostly, because I already have constructed meshes of the other "Wold 359" ships, such as the Freedom, Cheyenne, and New Orleans Classes. After this build, the only Wolf 359 ship I would have left would be the Niagra Class, and I don't think I am ever going to go there... Blech.
On the other hand, I wasn't ever going to build the Springfield Class either... I had thought it sorta dull and flat looking. But I was perusing the schematics, and I think I'm starting to see its appeal. So... here we go...
I'm starting in with the basic shapes. I don't see anything very difficult, this should be a pretty simple build.
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Exactly. My life is going to be that much more awesome!
Thanks! I like the nacelle design too. They seem like they may be a slightly more basic design, something that can be deployed with less resources, but still might be very solid and effective?
I'm still working on the basic shapes. I think I like the secondary hull shape I have here. I'm putting it up against my New Orleans Class Saucer to give a better sense of the effect.
I did some work on the weapon pod and then realized that the sensor strip is blocked by the nacelles. D'OH! That will have to be changed.
The Cheyenne and Springfield nacelles are highlighters.
Would you be open to changing the registry on the underside of the saucer to place it within the arc of phaser array and maybe slim it down a bit?
Yeah, that's how i think of this class already. Very simple, paired down, but economical to field. I think she may even be a Cargo Carrier or a Tanker. The pod system on the top or and bottom may have originally been designed for hauling modular pods about. The weapons and deflector pods were perhaps an afterthought for wartime mustering. I think that's what I am going to go with, because I don't have a tanker or cargo carrier mesh in the Galaxy family, and it would be nice to have one.
Yeah, when I build the actual saucer I will most likely make the regs at least a bit smaller. Also, the phaser placements will be rather different as well. Don't know exactly the placements yet, but that will be happening soon.
Yeah, I used to make them look more like the original shape in the front, but I never did find a bussard collector design that looked good on the front of that shape, when taken literally. I saw someone of the boards use a configuration like this one and instantly wanted to monkey-do them that way myself. I don't remember who it was now, but I did get his permission.
Design and raw imnagination is not my strong suit. (Actually, when it comes to this hobby, I don't really have a strong suit.)
Not much to it. Now, I'll rebuild the nacelles and start in in the detailing.
I think I'm going to put a shuttlebay in the undercut of the secondary hull.
I think the deflector is going to be in the style of the secondary deflector on a Galaxy Class Saucer.
Deflector grid, Phasers, Thusters, Bridge and Aztec.
Same beneath, all pretty standard stuff, by now.
These nacelles are complete rebuilds. They look nearly identical to the old nacelles, but the build is much cleaner and more controlled than the old nacelles.
Close up of the basic bridge Layout.
Here's what I am thinking of for a shuttle bay. Placement makes sense, though It would mean that the non-pylon part of the secondary hull would be almost entirely a shuttle bay.
The mesh is looking Great!
Saucer windows are cut, made some improvements to the bridge area. Slimmed the wepons pod down along the z axis. I decided the whole thing is just going to be tucked down between the nacelles. The thing just looked too huge otherwise.
Underside box windows are done. I am thinking about whether or not I want to put the slit windows in on the underside. Looks sorta plain without them, but I am sorta partial to only having the box type windows. Opinions?
Weapon pod and connecting pylons are going to need a LOT more detail to sell them. Still thinking about the connecting pylons. I think they need to be thinner. And maybe a tripod configuration instead of four pylons.
Those red areas are going to be impulse engines. Not only for improved maneuverability; I have decided this whole pod will be capable of detaching and providing another vector of attack during battle. So I will want to make clear that it has its own power source. Still lots of detail to add.
But overall I'm pretty happy with my progress. I like this configuration much more now that I'm building her.
As for the pod arrangement, rather than a tripod or "leg" approach, how about a "fin" style arrangement- for inspiration maybe consider the neck section of the 1701-A-era Enterprise, or the (slightly infamous) 3rd nacelle on the "future" Enterprise D. This way you'd have a sleeker overall design, and you could make a case for the pod actually being a modular, mission-specific addition with a universal attachment?
Oh, of course! I definitely want to go with something like that. Thanks!
That depends on which version you're considering. The Phoenix variant had that goofy looking dual pylon setup for the pod whereas the standard layout was pretty much the same setup as the pylon that was used on the Galaxy dreadnought.
I still have to add some details, but the weapon pod is definitely coming along.
Here's what I went with for connecting pylons. I wanted something familiar but distinctive to this class, and I think I'm happy with my choice. It should detail up nicely.
She looks really good from this angle.
One version of the original studio model had an additional deflector module connected to the saucer. It looked about like this. I like the idea of the additional module. It could be a configuration designed for personnel transport. But I do not care for the connectors, and I will be going a different direction.
In order to create that new module, I actually snagged my Galaxy Class secondary hull in an early step of its creation and then modified it. It really saved a bunch of work. That deflector dish is a bitch to get just so.
I have another project or two that is calling to me, and I may have to set this girl aside for a little while. But I'm really looking forward to finishing this mesh up...
First, here's the Base ship. Designated a cargo carrier, she has expanded capabilities via a modular system of attachment points, one dorsal and one ventral.
Primarily responsible for delivering cargo and material goods, she can nonetheless be joined to several different modules suited to the transport of personnel.
Typically these modules are outfitted with impulse drive, and require the transport to merely tangent the system of delivery. A Springfield class vessel does not even need to drop out of warp, but can release the pod at warp speeds and allow the pod to naturally slow to impulse speeds as it leaves the warp field of the parent vessel. The pod can then proceed into the system under its own impulse power, minimizing the delay in the carrier's schedule.
Numerous other pod options exist for any number of mission profiles. Very rarely, and under times of extreme need, she may even be outfitted with a weapon pod.
Similarly outfitted with an independant impulse drive, this pod can be crewed, or serve as a weapon drone.
That's the gist of my approach, please let me know any objections. Otherwise I will probably finish up detailing her like this. I'm really pleased with the way she is turning out. I had not expected to fall in love with her lines the way I am. I think her profile is really pretty dang nice looking IIDSSM.