Discuss: The Voyager Fleet

[Clawhammer]

Sxottlan wrote:

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Can you please clarify what is the situation with your development of the fleet? Is this something you're doing on your own or something Pocket commissioned from you?

If it's the latter, was there an announcement of some kind? Because I did not hear of this until recently and I believe I've seen others say they were not aware of this as well. Just curious is all.

This was initiated by me, I enjoyed reading Unworthy and Full Circle. When I noticed that the fleet also had 2 Vesta class ships in it, I just knew I had to create the other ships as well. The Merian class has been checked and approved by CBS. When I finish another ship, I hope to get that checked and approved as well. I had contact with Pocket about this in the past, but with all the editorial shifts going on I decided to give them a rest. After all it's a trivial part of the entire scheme. (some fictional ships that are described in books.) But as long as I enjoy creating them, I will.

Cap'n Crunch wrote:

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Those images of the Merian class look a lot like how I pictured the Galen, which I seem to remember being described as a mixture of a Nova and Miranda class.

Yes! however the Galen will be somewhat smaller and will be more organic (more Nova) in design. It's not as "run of the mill" as the Merian, so it's components and hull design can be a bit less utility.

SicOne wrote:

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Be sure to come back to us here on this thread, as well as put up a few links in Trek Tech, to keep us appraised on updates as new renderings/schematics develop. Did you develop specs (length/height/width/tonnage) on these ships, or are they to be left fairly fluid ("about 400m", etc) to give wriggle room for writers?

They start out fluid, and get more concrete over time. When a ship is finished, the exact dimensions can be measured. (The ships are created in a real world scale, so 1 meter in reality will be 1 meter on the ship too.)

I will update here if I can! Hope to work the next 2 days on Demeter. After I noticed the crew was only 43 I had to revise my plans. This is going to be a cool ship, but also most unconventional, always a risc in Trek.

[SicOne]

^ Thank you, Claw; look forward to the updates!

[SicOne]

^ Thank you, Claw; look forward to the updates!

[Clawhammer]

This one kept me thinking all day, how to make the warpfield of a sleek (almost Vulcan) ship more effecient without going to a ringdrive system. (As those would require heavy maintenance and, by the looks of it, have over 300 coils in them.) Below is a possible solution to the problem. It also gives a first glimp of the sideshape. (heavy subject to change)

http://www.ewe-squad.com/demeter/demfield.jpg

[Sxottlan]

Thanks for the background on your project Clawhammer.

I think I'm looking forward to seeing the Demeter and Achilles the most. I'd think they'd be bulkier, more utilitarian.

If I may, seeing your silhouette of the Demeter, I would hope for something other than a down swept nacelle design. If the Merians are going to be new Mirandas and the Galen is an apparent Mirandized Nova, I hope there is some more variety with the last two designs.

Also, was it said in the earlier books that Voyager had undergone major changes? I saw some of your early shots of a refit Voyager.

[Clawhammer]

Sxottlan wrote:

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Also, was it said in the earlier books that Voyager had undergone major changes? I saw some of your early shots of a refit Voyager.

Thanks! Voyager had to be refitted for quantum slipstream, and repaired after the events in Destiny. I think it's logical that the refit plans where there for a couple of years already, also newly designed parts would have been pre-constructed, (deflector, nacelles, new bridge module etc.) They just needed a window to go ahead with the refit. This was done from mid February up to the end of May just before launch of the fleet. A short period of time, but still possible. If there is going to a be new book, I hope to get my refitted version on the cover. Would be cool.

[MatthiasRussell]

Are we going to be seeing anything of the Voyager fleet in the '12 SOTL calendar?

[Clawhammer]

MatthiasRussell wrote:

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Are we going to be seeing anything of the Voyager fleet in the '12 SOTL calendar?

The U.S.S. Planck might be on it.

[MatthiasRussell]

Any idea when the final image selections for the calendar will be made?

BTW Mark, have absolutely loved your renderings and original designs. You are a very talented designer.

[Clawhammer]

MatthiasRussell wrote:

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Any idea when the final image selections for the calendar will be made?

Thank you! You can skip the "might be" (I should have used this smiley: )
By now the calendar is probably already under print. Our deadlines are roughly 1 year before calendar's year. Lets say I create something for SOTL2013. In August 2011 I would start on that work, around February 2012 I would have to hand in my final. That gives them enough time to edit the layout of the calendar, do a couple of proof prints, and then print and distribute it later in 2012.

[MatthiasRussell]

I saw on Rademaker's blog he posted pictures of his in-work Voyager refit on bbs. Anyone know where this is being discssed at.

BTW, love the images. Really made her look MORE beautiful. I especially appreciate the elongated nacelles; I always thought Voyager's were too small. 2 things I would like to see in the refit are the aerowing shape changed to look like it was swapped out with a slipstream-capable shuttle and the addition of the dorsal torpedo tube that was used in the show but is nowhere to be seen on the model.

[Clawhammer]

That topic is here: http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=143093

the Areowing has to go entirely, the space will be used for quantum slipstream sensors.

I'm not sure about the dorsal torpedo launcher, I might have missed something, can you clarify in what episode it was used? Thanks!

- Mark

[MatthiasRussell]

No aerowing? Awwwwww . . . now we'll never see that baby in action! I noticed you expanded the shuttlebay. It always needed a bigger one.

Has the main deflector been replaced with one like that on the Aventine? It has a chroniton integrator in front of it, right?

The dosal torpedo tube was used in VOY: Resolutions, though I don't know if they showed it firing. You don't see such a tube on the pysical model, CGI model, or OPS display. http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Intrepid_class

[Sxottlan]

So I'm liking the description of the Achilles. Shape-wise it's pretty much exactly what I envisioned: triangular or arrowhead primary hull, long body and nacelles off the back.

Book says it's 960 meters long. Memory Alpha puts the Sovereign class at 700 meters and last I knew that seemed like the longest ship in the fleet. I'm looking forward to seeing what this thing can do. Could other ships dock or pull into those hangars on the Achilles for repairs? Could it more or less spit out space stations or ground bases?

My only other question is if all of these new classes are new in-universe or just new to us? If the Mulciber is new, I'm wondering if the SCE will replace its Sabers with these?

[MatthiasRussell]

As I read the Voyager books, I keep picturing the Achilles as the Jupiter class from STO. I don't know why, I know its not, and I wish I could stop cause I HATE that ship.