Is the NX 01 one of the better ships (aesthetically)?

[C.E. Evans]

I like the idea that Starfleet simply had a different design philosophy during the TOS era, perhaps one driven by the use of standardized, one-size-fits-all parts (nacelles, saucer sections, etc)., for its ships. TMP may have marked the end of that particular era, IMO.

[ThankQ]

BillJ wrote:

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If I had to rank the designs, I'm not sure where I would place the NX-01...

NCC-1701 (TOS)
NCC-1701-D (TNG)
NX-2000 (Excelsior, STIII)
NCC-1701-C (Yesterday's Enterprise, TNG)
NCC-1701 Refit (TOS Movies)

The NX-01 would definitely come in behind those.

NCC-1701-D
NX-2000
1701-C
NX-01
1701-A
1701
WhateverthehellVoyagersnumberis

[Antni]

NCC-74656

[Saul]

I love the design


of the Akira class ships. Love it.

I would have hoped for something more original with the NX but it's lucky we got that since the producers were just gonna go with the Akira model without any changes. Nuts.
I agree with what others have said, Enterprise NX is a more functional looking ship which is what I thought about TOS Enterprise too. You could imagine it actually working in space. Also after reading Doug's Blog I appreciate all the little details I hadn't quite noticed before.

[RAMA]

I liked it, but THIS ship is gorgeous (for it's time):

[CorporalCaptain]

My favorite is the TOS Enterprise, closely followed by the TMP refit. Everything else is far behind.

As far as aesthetics go, I've always been reminded of a person without arms, when looking at the TOS ship. The saucer is the head, the secondary hull is the torso, and the nacelles are the legs. There's a rough parallel with function, too. The saucer "thinks," the engineering hull "metabolizes," and the nacelles "walk." I guess it doesn't need arms because of the tractor beams; and just from the proportions and the layout, the arms don't really seem to be missing, either.

Funny, then, that I also see the Starfleet arrowhead badge as a five-pointed star with two arms ripped off.

[heavy lids]

Shazam! wrote:

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It's one of the worst. In fact, it might actually be the worst.

I agree. It makes sense for the show, but it's a pretty ugly ship.

[Dick_Valentine]

Like many people, I enjoyed looking into the background scenes of First Contact/the Dominion War/isolated Voyager episodes and spotting the Akira Class, thinking it looked pretty cool (tho personally the steamrunner was my out and out fav of those background ships )

Then perhaps like a lot of people I felt exploited that the producers used that popularity to base their new ship on the Akira, all the while ruining the design by changing what made the ship unique.

Nah, never took to the NX-01, Voyager too looked like a stupid upturned spoon....but most other Trek ships look great.
(except the Oberth...don't know what THAT'S about! )

The Enterprise-E and the Defiant are my out and out favs. Since you didn't ask.

[Nx-01fan]

The NX-01 is my personal favourite.

[solariabsg25]

BillJ wrote:

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Always wished they had went with this one for the NX-01...

Had they gone with this design, then I suspect right now we'd have people complaining that they were just lazy and didn't come up with something more original.

Complaints about the NX-01 resembling the Akira-Class, well, so what? The Excelsior resembles the Constitution, the Nebula resembles the Miranda. Who's to say there weren't a couple of designs between NX-01 and Akira that weren't similar?

I like the NX-01, but then again, I don't really hate any starship design.

[Danger Ace]

[QUOTE=solariabsg25;7816102]

BillJ wrote:

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Always wished they had went with this one for the NX-01...



Had they gone with this design, then I suspect right now we'd have people complaining that they were just lazy and didn't come up with something more original.

And I would agree with that complaint. I do believe the starship illustrated above is very nice looking, but ultimately too sleek and on par with TNG (as opposed to a precurser to TOS).

I always thought it would have been neat if they had actually gone with more of an arrowhead design to the main body of the NX-01. My reasoning being that the starship's design would allude to the future insignia as paying homage to that first wave of Starfleet explorers.

Oh well, water under the bridge.

[Christopher]

Danger Ace wrote:

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I always thought it would have been neat if they had actually gone with more of an arrowhead design to the main body of the NX-01. My reasoning being that the starship's design would allude to the future insignia as paying homage to that first wave of Starfleet explorers.

Except it's not a future insignia relative to Enterprise, but a past and current one. VGR: "Friendship One" established that the arrowhead insignia was the United Earth Space Probe Agency logo as far back as the 2060s. What's more, it was already in use on Starfleet uniforms during Enterprise. You have to look closely, but a very small arrowhead was part of the rating insignia worn by enlisted crewpersons like Cutler.

[Shazam!]

Dick_Valentine wrote:

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except the Oberth...don't know what THAT'S about!

I ike that one : (

I'm into designs where the remit hasn't been to make it flatter and more streamlined. That stuff shouldn't matter in space. It's why pretty much everything post (and including) Enterprise-E is a load of rubbish

[Danger Ace]

Christopher wrote:

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Except it's not a future insignia relative to Enterprise, but a past and current one. VGR: "Friendship One" established that the arrowhead insignia was the United Earth Space Probe Agency logo as far back as the 2060s. What's more, it was already in use on Starfleet uniforms during Enterprise. You have to look closely, but a very small arrowhead was part of the rating insignia worn by enlisted crewpersons like Cutler.

I'm sorry but I have no idea who crewmember Cutler is or was or will be. I'm sure he was an important and valued part of the crew though.

Seriously, the background info is both appreciated and interesting. Thank you.

With full acknowledgement of what you said, I still think an arrowhead design would have been an improvement over what we were given, BUT what we got was pretty good.

[Christopher]

Danger Ace wrote:

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I'm sorry but I have no idea who crewmember Cutler is or was or will be. I'm sure he was an important and valued part of the crew though.

Elizabeth Cutler, played by Kellie Waymire, was a recurring character in the first season of the show, starting with the second episode. She was an entomologist and medic, and a potential romantic interest for Dr. Phlox. She was only in a few episodes, but after Waymire died suddenly in 2003, it kind of raised her character's profile in fandom's eyes.