Viper's miscellaneous Star Trek projects

[Norsehound]

Small update from yesterday. I didn't manage to do much, but I decided that I need to work on the Excelsior a little bit every day so I can finish it in a timely manner. With that said, I did a few more details at the top superstructure:

I hope you have the intent on doing the NX version of the Excelsior, it's my favorite of the variants (due to its rarity).

Are you just picking White texture for all of your geometry? I appreciate how clean and bright your models look. Goes a long way to selling the TMP aesthetic- even on the Excelsior which is usually depicted blue/grey.

 

[Viper]

I hope you have the intent on doing the NX version of the Excelsior, it's my favorite of the variants (due to its rarity).

Are you just picking White texture for all of your geometry? I appreciate how clean and bright your models look. Goes a long way to selling the TMP aesthetic- even on the Excelsior which is usually depicted blue/grey.

The priority is the NCC-2000 version, but the changes I would have to do for the NX version are fairly minimal, so I might do both. I'm already leaving everything ready for the Enterprise B changes as well though as that's part of my quest to have every Enterprise built in high quality (Only TOS 1701 till 1701-E though). In short, yes, I have the intent

I use the white shader because I think it gives a nice model look for the ships while I'm building them. Kinda like a model kit that hasn't been painted yet. Anyway, fun fact, the Excelsior model was actually painted white as well, they just happened to lit it mostly blue and/or dark on the movies.

 

[Viper]

Did a bit more work on the Excelsior. The blueprints I'm using are not good for details, so I'll have to rely on reference photos from now on. I fixed a lot errors from the bridge base I had before and got started on the actual bridge.

I'm a little annoyed with the size of the bridge. If you go by the details, it should easily have 2 decks, but even if I stretch what I did here, I can get it to be 3m tall max before starts looking stupid. I also compared the Constitution bridge and that structure is a lot bigger. Maybe the resident experts would care to comment on the size of the ship? I'm using the 467m figure for length which seems to be the best size for the ship, but maybe it should be a bit larger? Anyway, here's an image:

 

[ashleytinger]

Did a bit more work on the Excelsior. The blueprints I'm using are not good for details, so I'll have to rely on reference photos from now on. I fixed a lot errors from the bridge base I had before and got started on the actual bridge.

I'm a little annoyed with the size of the bridge. If you go by the details, it should easily have 2 decks, but even if I stretch what I did here, I can get it to be 3m tall max before starts looking stupid. I also compared the Constitution bridge and that structure is a lot bigger. Maybe the resident experts would care to comment on the size of the ship? I'm using the 467m figure for length which seems to be the best size for the ship, but maybe it should be a bit larger? Anyway, here's an image:

Many have tried to reconcile the design of the Excelsior with it's supposed size for years. That and Grissom. They weren't as careful with either with window placement or bridge size on either of the models.

ILM originally tagged it at around 467m, the Enterprise-B MSD would scale up to around 680m. Basically, if you're going for screen accurate and make sense, you're going to have to fudge it. Personally, I'm of the opinion that the bridge is further recessed into the hull below the 'bridge' on the model.

 

[Viper]

Many have tried to reconcile the design of the Excelsior with it's supposed size for years. That and Grissom. They weren't as careful with either with window placement or bridge size on either of the models.

ILM originally tagged it at around 467m, the Enterprise-B MSD would scale up to around 680m. Basically, if you're going for screen accurate and make sense, you're going to have to fudge it. Personally, I'm of the opinion that the bridge is further recessed into the hull below the 'bridge' on the model.

Yeah, I think you are right. That seems to be the way to go. With the current size I have, the round windows with 60cm diameter fit the correct way on the rim of the saucer. If I scale the ship up that won't work anymore.

 

[SITZKRIEG!]

Originally, I was going to just keep the refit one, but as the design progressed I figured it needed something different. This is a very rough blockout, so expect the shape to change. Basically, I'll have the bridge in the round part and have a conference room at the back. The whole structure is also large enough that it should fit a few other rooms in there.

The other interesting part is the weapon pod. The design is also very much in flux. In fact, if anyone has any cool ideas, let me know. I don't want to use the Miranda pod. I think I need something that looks more advanced. What I want to show though is how it detaches:

I could do a similar attachment as the Akira, but that is a weird angle to get a hot swap to happen. The way I did it, it would be very easy to swap to a different pod, or even something completely different. Some folks suggested a big science lab, a sensor pod and a medical facility. I also thought I could design a big auxiliary craft that attaches back there.

What role do you envision the class being tasked with? Will it still be a torpedo gunship like the TNG era Akira or something else? If you're open to new looks, I'd personally suggest an original Nebula class variant U.S.S. Prometheus style AWACS sensor dish up top as shown below. That way, the TMP era would have its first electronic warfare/dedicated command and control ship. If you're open to making it a bit more TMP as well, I'd suggesting less of curving lines on the booms and a bit more angular lines going back. Regardless, great job so far!

 

[Viper]

Well, after a break and then just being busy with a lot of work, I finally started to work on my projects again this past week. I did quite a bit of work on the overall shapes and also designed a new weapon pod based on the torpedo launcher section from the Constitution. I think it flows nicely with the rest of the ship.

 

[Santaman]

Nice ship.

 

[Norsehound]

That torpedo rollbar is perfect. The older one felt like it broke the flow of an otherwise sleek design. Fantastic! I can see this one coming fresh off the yards after the 1701 Refit, competing with the Miranda. Likely the Miranda won out for political reasons.

In fact unless you have another registry picked out, when she's done try giving her NCC-1864 Reliant and pose her next to the Enterprise. I'm a fan of AUs, what if this was the Reliant instead?

 

[Viper]

That torpedo rollbar is perfect. The older one felt like it broke the flow of an otherwise sleek design. Fantastic! I can see this one coming fresh off the yards after the 1701 Refit, competing with the Miranda. Likely the Miranda won out for political reasons.

In fact unless you have another registry picked out, when she's done try giving her NCC-1864 Reliant and pose her next to the Enterprise. I'm a fan of AUs, what if this was the Reliant instead?

Thanks dude! Glad you like it. I can do that yeah, replacing the registry will be easy. My story behind this ship is that it was a technology test bed for the Excelsior after the Transwarp drive failed. They went back to the drawing board and built this ship using pre made Constitution class parts to continue development while the Excelsior was being refitted. Maybe a handful were built, but the project is quite a bit more expensive than the Miranda, and with the Excelsior Class becoming active, not much point in keeping two Heavy Cruiser models running at the same time.

Here's a small update. Trying to figure out how to detail the catamarans. I'm trying to think if I do it Connie style or Excelsior style. Unfortunately, the shape of the catamaran is quite weird, so the lines look a bit off as well. I think the layout works, just not sure about the green panel yet. Maybe it'll pop when it's textured.

 

[SCE2Aux]

I think the green panel works, and helps sell the ship as a late 23rd century design. I would be tempted to make it not simply a strip though, and have it step in and out so that it's wider in places perhaps?

It's looking good so far!

 

[Norsehound]

I like the Green Panel, brings her closer to the Refit Enterprise because that feature never shows up again on other vessels. And I'm in favor of anything that brings the design closer to TMP.

My story behind this ship is that it was a technology test bed for the Excelsior after the Transwarp drive failed. They went back to the drawing board and built this ship using pre made Constitution class parts to continue development while the Excelsior was being refitted. Maybe a handful were built, but the project is quite a bit more expensive than the Miranda, and with the Excelsior Class becoming active, not much point in keeping two Heavy Cruiser models running at the same time.

Where do you see the Constellation fitting in all of this? For myself, I pictured the Constellation being a conventional technology counterpart to the Excelsior developed at the same time... being the superior design to the Miranda it got production time before the Excelsior was re-worked. Your TMPKira kind of fits the same niche, so I was curious where you'd see the overlap.

She does seem more advanced than the Miranda, I can picture her getting axed for the simpler-to-build Mirandas, which were appealing even over the more advanced Constellations.

 

[Viper]

I think the green panel works, and helps sell the ship as a late 23rd century design. I would be tempted to make it not simply a strip though, and have it step in and out so that it's wider in places perhaps?

It's looking good so far!

I think that might break the simple flow the Constitution has. See the new image below of how this is progressing.

I like the Green Panel, brings her closer to the Refit Enterprise because that feature never shows up again on other vessels. And I'm in favor of anything that brings the design closer to TMP.

Where do you see the Constellation fitting in all of this? For myself, I pictured the Constellation being a conventional technology counterpart to the Excelsior developed at the same time... being the superior design to the Miranda it got production time before the Excelsior was re-worked. Your TMPKira kind of fits the same niche, so I was curious where you'd see the overlap.

She does seem more advanced than the Miranda, I can picture her getting axed for the simpler-to-build Mirandas, which were appealing even over the more advanced Constellations.

That's an interesting question. At this point in Starfleet history they didn't have as many conflicts. The Romulans were very much secluded and the Klingons were dealing with their own crisis after the explosion of Praxis. So I can see them scrapping the more expensive, albeit powerful, design of the Kusanagi (my ship) in favor of the cheaper to produce ships like the Miranda and Constellation. The Excelsior would fill the role of Heavy Cruiser once production ramped up and my design would be put on the shelf to be revisited again for the Akira Class.

Some more progress btw:

 

[Norsehound]

I can see a few Kusangis being made (about a dozen) and well-regarded by everyone other than Federation planners. They were kept on rotation as much as they can, being the 2290 version of the venerable Constitution while the Constellations and Mirandas became increasingly mundane. She'd compete with the Excelsior in terms of performance, but ultimately the sheer heft of the Excelsior (raw power, cargo space, space in the hull for upgrades) meant they won out. Kusangi is the last gasp of the Enterprise-refit technology before succumbing to the LCARS-ridden future of the Excelsior and early 24th century. They never became the clunkers Mirands and Constellations turned into by the early 24th century; she was retired with the same grace the Enterprise refits were as parts ran out to maintain her high performance.

Still years on everyone remembers the Kusangi fondly. Enough that the Akira is essentially a 24th century refit, much like the Sovergin can be seen as the neo-Constitution.

It's weird, I never bought the hype about the Akira, but this TMP version makes me like the design. Please forgive me for belting out some supplemental backstory, it's something I like doing for awesome designs such as these

 

[Viper]

I don't mind My idea is similar actually. I also figured they would build only a few of these ships.

Did some more tests. Let me know what you guys think about this panel config and detailing. I think it works, but maybe it needs something else?

 

[Cyfa]

I don't know whether I like the black separator lines on the catamarans or not? They certainly don't spoil the lines of a very beautiful ship, that's for sure! Would they be separation planes to rid the main body of the ship of the nacelles in an accident or something? Instead, how about having some sort of black vent/grille in the panel just ahead of them - kind of like that bit at the lower rear of the refit-Constitution's "neck" (sorry - don't really know how to describe what i mean, exactly).
The panel lines look much better now that the vertical lines are not meeting the primary hull. and I agree with @Norsehound about the new, sleeker torpedo rollbar.

 

[Norsehound]

I'm not wild about the black lines, looks very much like gaps for separating those parts of the ship. I like the sleekness of the ship without the black lines breaking it up.

For more detail to make the hull a little more interesting I'd suggest staring at the neck area of the Refit to get some ideas (Cyfa's describing the vent in this shot, and this one). One detail I'd highlight are the little recessed vents along the dorsal side of the engineering hull, flanking the neck within the teal area. I don't often see this subtle detailing on other period ships, but you could re-use it here?

Also don't forget thin red lines to mark stuff. They're all over the place on the refit (Under the fan-tail, surrounding the bridge, on the neck). So long as they're not overstated.

What's the phaser arrangement like?

 

[Viper]

I agree with you guys. So I redid that black area so the grills are more visible and changed it to green. Hopefully that works better. I understand wanting to keep the flow, but at the same time I have to create something to detail it I also did a bunch more iterations on the panels and started to try adding some windows as well to see how it looks. This config works much better I think:

@Norsehound I haven't given much thought on phasers yet. I'm guessing similar to the Constitution. Have a few on the saucer and a few more scattered on other parts. I might make it 5 on the saucer instead of 3 though.

 

[SITZKRIEG!]

Lookin' good and very sleek! Will you be uploading the finished model on a site like thingiverse or sketchfab when you're done?

 

[Viper]

Lookin' good and very sleek! Will you be uploading the finished model on a site like thingiverse or sketchfab when you're done?

Erm, no, I won't. The ship is already 3 million polygons. This isn't really for that purpose.

Couple more renders: