I posted this in another thread, but thought some of you here might find this interesting as well. Propworks is currently doing an auction that features a Planet of the Titans item: one of the study models built of Ken Adam's take on the Enterprise. These are the most diverse set of photos I've seen of this model, so I'm sharing them. The text from the auction is as follows I actually like some of the lines of this design. The saucer is too chubby, though.
Wow those are cool! While I don't think this design works as a "hero E" it works great as used, as a background filler ship. Cool find there.
Doesn't it appear as one of the ships in SpaceDock in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock? http://movies.trekcore.com/gallery/albums/tsfshd/tsfshd0161.jpg Look to the left of the Enterprise's secondary hull.
^^Either way, it's nice to see these designs get some actual screen time. It'd be a real shame if they had been destroyed, and/or fell into obscurity?
Do you think this flat design had any influence on the Enterprise-D? I know some think it did, I wonder if there is any actual information to that effect. While it's an interesting design, I am glad that it did not become an Enterprise refit. Way too different from the original.
Andrew Probert could answer that question authoritatively. I doubt that this was his inspiration, but who knows. Really, aside from the nacelle pylons sloping slightly forward there's no resemblance.
The flattened secondary hull along with the pylons going straight upwards. Obviously a much smaller saucer. More the idea of the shape than an exact match.
It looks more like the original Enterprise in basic configuration than the E-D. The E-D had graceful lines, not sharp edges. RAMA
I mentioned the pylons. A "flattened hull?" Yeah, a triangular hull with sharp lines and angles, as opposed to an ovoid hull with flowing "organic" lines. A "much smaller saucer?" Yeah, instead of a much, much enlarged saucer compared to the rest of the vessel as Probert chose, this version reduces and deemphasizes the saucer. So, it's "more the idea of the shape than an exact match" by moving in the opposite direction from the TOS ship that the TNG ship does in most respects. Brilliant "influencing."
Someone would have to be blind to not see that there are some similar basic lines that look like the E-D. But who knows if it was an influence or a coincidence.
Hey, better than the "24th century design for the 22nd century ship" thing. At least my theory is linear (in the right direction).
I got copies of much of the Ken Adams/ Ralph McQuarrie work in the early 80s from Mr. Probert via Paul Newitt. When the 1701-D design was released several years later, I saw the resemblance. You have to account for the fact that these were study models and rough in form, and that they might well have been softened somewhat if they had been developed further. I also assumed the bigger saucer on the 1701-D was a functional adaptation to the longer (I think originally stated to be twenty year?) mission of the TNG ship. I did just that when I came up with the Ariel carrier design and then specifically mentioned my "softened" version as a harbinger of later designs as a nod to the 1701-D in the publications where it appeared.
I'd speculate (in universe, of course) that the delta hull design is one of several basic configurations that starfleet likes to reuse from time to time, along with the basic connie, the akira, reliant, and a few other designs? apparently, each config. is deemed ideal for specific roles/missions within the overall fleet?
Before I forget, here are similar designs here: http://www.scifi-meshes.com/forums/showthread.php?73811-Planet-of-the-Titans-Enterprise/page7 And here: http://www.starshipmodeler.net/talk/viewtopic.php?t=85627