The Apex Class [UNDER CONSTRUCTION]

M · April 3 2008, 05:14 AM

Okay, I thought about designing an own ship class for some time now. And tonight I decided to finally give it a shot. So please be kind to me — this is my first such endeavour.

Anyway, here it is: The Apex class. (And yeah, before someone asks, I named it in honor of electronic music artist Aphex Twin who I just love.)

Basically the idea is to play with the Daedalus design and create something new out of it. I love the spherical design of that ship and always wished they'd have done something more with it. I imagine the Apex as a relatively small ship — maybe a crew of circa 150 or something like that. Maybe it's the 23rd century version of a scout ship (so the dimensions are much smaller than those of a Constitution class ship). I also want it to look sleek, elegant and fast. Here are some of my first sketches:

Relatively fast I decided to go for a wide configuration (for lack of a better word) of the nacelles. It reminded me of a plane or something like that. I also tried to melt the sphere with the secondary hull in a new fashion.

And here is what I finally settled on. I think I go with a rather unusual nacelle design. I'm not really sure though about the joint of spehre and secondary hull.

Maybe I'll realize some more elaborate pictures in Flash. We'll see. Anyway, I'm looking forward to your thoughts and suggestions.

FalTorPan · April 3 2008, 05:48 AM

I like it!

Sean_McCormick · April 3 2008, 10:55 AM

Great looking design. Love it.

AmbassadorKosh · April 3 2008, 01:20 PM

Looks GREAT, go with it. That final sketch, in particular, looks really good.

M · April 3 2008, 03:15 PM

Thanks for the kind words guys.

I'm still thinking about how I should go on with it. Maybe I'll do a cutaway drawing. But I'm not sure if I have the artistic ability to do that.

Wingsley · April 3 2008, 05:08 PM

Your concept reminds me of the Mystery Ship seen in the newly remastered "Is There In Truth No Beauty?" that aired in the last couple of weeks.

Nice.

M · April 3 2008, 06:00 PM

^ Yeah, you're right. There are similarities. I didn't like the small nacelles on this one though.

philbob · April 3 2008, 07:27 PM

Thats really good...it looks simlar to a peice of fanart that was posted years ago on one of these sites of what someone thought NX-1 should of looked like ill go try and fine the picture bear with me

Wingsley · April 3 2008, 09:43 PM

As you develop the Apex further, I have an idea:

I notice the nacelles extend outward from the aft-hull on opposite sides. This reminds me of the Phoenix from "First Contact". Maybe you could rotate the nacelles so the aft caps oppose each other, just like the Phoenix.

Kaiser · April 3 2008, 10:22 PM

I like it

judexavier · April 3 2008, 10:54 PM

Wow. Love the sketching, reminds me of those M.J. development drawings. The 3D view is really nice. I like that "shelf" that circles the dome and projects into the Eng.hull.

M · April 3 2008, 11:28 PM

philbob wrote:

Thats really good...it looks simlar to a peice of fanart that was posted years ago on one of these sites of what someone thought NX-1 should of looked like ill go try and fine the picture bear with me

Yeah, I also belonged to those who wished for the NX-01 to be some kind of Daedalus class derivative.

Wingsley wrote:

Maybe you could rotate the nacelles so the aft caps oppose each other, just like the Phoenix.

Very good idea. First, that will integrate the Apex more into the Trek continuity and second, it will look really cool! The next sketches will included this notion.

judexavier wrote:

Wow. Love the sketching, reminds me of those M.J. development drawings. The 3D view is really nice. I like that "shelf" that circles the dome and projects into the Eng.hull.

Yeah, I like that, too. Thanks for you appreciation.

Wingsley · April 4 2008, 02:21 AM

Give your next Apex sketches a "Cage" bridge. That would be a neat touch.

Chaos Descending · April 4 2008, 03:30 AM

I'm really, REALLY starting to like these Daedalus inspired designs.

Very good work!

M · April 4 2008, 03:43 AM

Wingsley wrote:

Give your next Apex sketches a "Cage" bridge. That would be a neat touch.

It's already in the planning stage.

Chaos Descending wrote:

I'm really, REALLY starting to like these Daedalus inspired designs.

Very good work!

Thank you! I love, LOVE the Daedalus design! I think it has something to do with the heaviness conveyed by the big and bulky sphere. I somehow find it very cinvincing as a space ship design.

April 3 2008, 05:14 AM	#1
M Vice Admiral Location: Zita Johann (1904–1993)	The Apex Class [UNDER CONSTRUCTION] Okay, I thought about designing an own ship class for some time now. And tonight I decided to finally give it a shot. So please be kind to me — this is my first such endeavour. Anyway, here it is: The Apex class. (And yeah, before someone asks, I named it in honor of electronic music artist Aphex Twin who I just love.) Basically the idea is to play with the Daedalus design and create something new out of it. I love the spherical design of that ship and always wished they'd have done something more with it. I imagine the Apex as a relatively small ship — maybe a crew of circa 150 or something like that. Maybe it's the 23rd century version of a scout ship (so the dimensions are much smaller than those of a Constitution class ship). I also want it to look sleek, elegant and fast. Here are some of my first sketches: Relatively fast I decided to go for a wide configuration (for lack of a better word) of the nacelles. It reminded me of a plane or something like that. I also tried to melt the sphere with the secondary hull in a new fashion. And here is what I finally settled on. I think I go with a rather unusual nacelle design. I'm not really sure though about the joint of spehre and secondary hull. Maybe I'll realize some more elaborate pictures in Flash. We'll see. Anyway, I'm looking forward to your thoughts and suggestions. __________________ Bashir: »Out of all the stories you told me, which ones were true and which ones weren't?« Garak: »My dear doctor, they're all true.« Bashir: »Even the lies?« Garak: »Especially the lies.« Last edited by M; April 3 2008 at 11:31 PM. Reason: Minor cosmetic changes

April 3 2008, 05:48 AM	#2
FalTorPan Vice Admiral Location: Out there... thataway.	Re: The Apex Class [UNDER CONSTRUCTION] I like it! __________________ Watch ASTRONUTS! Visit Trekplace! Check out my personal website!

April 3 2008, 10:55 AM	#3
Sean_McCormick Captain	Re: The Apex Class [UNDER CONSTRUCTION] Great looking design. Love it.

April 3 2008, 01:20 PM	#4
AmbassadorKosh Lieutenant	Re: The Apex Class [UNDER CONSTRUCTION] Looks GREAT, go with it. That final sketch, in particular, looks really good.

April 3 2008, 03:15 PM	#5
M Vice Admiral Location: Zita Johann (1904–1993)	Re: The Apex Class [UNDER CONSTRUCTION] Thanks for the kind words guys. I'm still thinking about how I should go on with it. Maybe I'll do a cutaway drawing. But I'm not sure if I have the artistic ability to do that. __________________ Bashir: »Out of all the stories you told me, which ones were true and which ones weren't?« Garak: »My dear doctor, they're all true.« Bashir: »Even the lies?« Garak: »Especially the lies.«

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April 3 2008, 05:08 PM	#6
Wingsley Commodore Location: Wingsley	Re: The Apex Class [UNDER CONSTRUCTION] Your concept reminds me of the Mystery Ship seen in the newly remastered "Is There In Truth No Beauty?" that aired in the last couple of weeks. Nice. __________________ "The way that you wander is the way that you choose. / The day that you tarry is the day that you lose. / Sunshine or thunder, a man will always wonder / Where the fair wind blows ..." -- Lyrics, Jeremiah Johnson's theme.

April 3 2008, 06:00 PM	#7
M Vice Admiral Location: Zita Johann (1904–1993)	Re: The Apex Class [UNDER CONSTRUCTION] ^ Yeah, you're right. There are similarities. I didn't like the small nacelles on this one though. __________________ Bashir: »Out of all the stories you told me, which ones were true and which ones weren't?« Garak: »My dear doctor, they're all true.« Bashir: »Even the lies?« Garak: »Especially the lies.«

April 3 2008, 07:27 PM	#8
philbob Commander	Re: The Apex Class [UNDER CONSTRUCTION] Thats really good...it looks simlar to a peice of fanart that was posted years ago on one of these sites of what someone thought NX-1 should of looked like ill go try and fine the picture bear with me

April 3 2008, 09:43 PM	#9
Wingsley Commodore Location: Wingsley	Re: The Apex Class [UNDER CONSTRUCTION] As you develop the Apex further, I have an idea: I notice the nacelles extend outward from the aft-hull on opposite sides. This reminds me of the Phoenix from "First Contact". Maybe you could rotate the nacelles so the aft caps oppose each other, just like the Phoenix. __________________ "The way that you wander is the way that you choose. / The day that you tarry is the day that you lose. / Sunshine or thunder, a man will always wonder / Where the fair wind blows ..." -- Lyrics, Jeremiah Johnson's theme.

April 3 2008, 10:22 PM	#10
Kaiser Rear Admiral Location: Boyertown, PA as of July 2011	Re: The Apex Class [UNDER CONSTRUCTION] I like it __________________ https://www.facebook.com/groups/112860258811333/ For all your Sci-fi ship model and mini goodness 3DS Friend code: 0731-4800-6817

April 3 2008, 10:54 PM	#11
judexavier Commander Location: Hot Springs, AR	Re: The Apex Class [UNDER CONSTRUCTION] Wow. Love the sketching, reminds me of those M.J. development drawings. The 3D view is really nice. I like that "shelf" that circles the dome and projects into the Eng.hull.

April 4 2008, 02:21 AM	#13
Wingsley Commodore Location: Wingsley	Re: The Apex Class [UNDER CONSTRUCTION] Give your next Apex sketches a "Cage" bridge. That would be a neat touch. __________________ "The way that you wander is the way that you choose. / The day that you tarry is the day that you lose. / Sunshine or thunder, a man will always wonder / Where the fair wind blows ..." -- Lyrics, Jeremiah Johnson's theme.

April 4 2008, 03:30 AM	#14
Chaos Descending Vice Admiral Location: Grand Canyon State	Re: The Apex Class [UNDER CONSTRUCTION] I'm really, REALLY starting to like these Daedalus inspired designs. Very good work! __________________ "Romanes eunt domus" - Brian