Starship design history in light of Discovery

[David cgc]

Details like hull plating seams and/or aztecing and the metallic look of the DSC Enterprise would have been enough to make the old girl look more updated.

In the end, the angled pylons, big impulse deck and the saucer lights/windows are the only major differences and those could have been left off. From certain angles, it looks like the same ship with HD level detailing.

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I think I would've accepted the ship being squished vertically, or the angled pylons, but both was a bridge too far for me. I can see why they were done, shorter makes the ship look sleeker, and rear-swept pylons give the profile an appealing symmetry, but they also both take away the essential TOS-y-ness of the TOS-Enterprise. The swept pylons, while the bigger win aesthetically, are probably the ones that most need to go, because the straight pylon is the biggest distinction in the silhouette between the TOS ship and the refit.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I think I would've accepted the ship being squished vertically, or the angled pylons, but both was a bridge too far for me. I can see why they were done, shorter makes the ship look sleeker, and rear-swept pylons give the profile an appealing symmetry, but they also both take away the essential TOS-y-ness of the TOS-Enterprise. The swept pylons, while the bigger win aesthetically, are probably the ones that most need to go, because the straight pylon is the biggest distinction in the silhouette between the TOS ship and the refit.

I still think a lot of what we saw on TOS was a result of what could be visible on 1960's televisions. Smooth, long pylons, etc (tall ship). I'm only (slightly) bovvered by the row of windows on the saucer, and a little bit by the (early) angled pylons.

It's a beauty any way I look at it. It "works" for 2021 (or 2022).

 

[Tuskin38]

I'm guessing photon torpedo tubes? The DSC Enterprise has similar notches and torpedo tubes on the underside of its saucer section.

And the NX-01.

 

[publiusr]

My take was that they were TOS-style round nacelles, but with a bunch of extra go-faster parts bolted on to the outside, which could be integrated into the design for better performance, as with Scotty's more finicky engines, but for most ships it was more cost-effective to have them outside the "tube," until TMP rolled around, where you could get top-shelf squared-off engines.

A number of cutaways have suggested that some post-TOS nacelles have TOS-looking nacelles inside them, especially the Enterprise-E, which has three round nacelle caps inside the bussard collectors, an upside-down stoplight-hood nacelle endcap at the back.

That is a good look. I like angled pylons better. Just keep the nacelles above the saucer.

 

[Markonian]

take away the essential TOS-y-ness of the TOS-Enterprise. The swept pylons, while the bigger win aesthetically, are probably the ones that most need to go, because the straight pylon is the biggest distinction in the silhouette between the TOS ship and the refit.

Check this out: https://www.arcgames.com/en/games/star-trek-online/news/detail/11365213

In STO, there's three variants of the Eaves-type carrier, one of which has straight nacelles.

This is the "Constitution Gamma" with the TOS-Constitution "skin": https://mixeddimensions.com/gameprint/product/ecfZCRQRk4EbGAEFQ/?uid=Doblinian

 

[137th Gebirg]

I'm guessing photon torpedo tubes? The DSC Enterprise has similar notches and torpedo tubes on the underside of its saucer section.

It does have the two forward-facing tubes that actually look like tubes. They’re angled (forward) correctly and are easily differentiated from the phaser banks which have a TMP refit look to them. In that case, they were done right (albeit somewhat anachronistically - but that’s another discussion entirely). The three dimples on the AMT kit never seemed to have a clear purpose. I suppose they could conceivably be credited with inspiring the Enterprise refit designers to give it a wider firing arc on the bottom and top of the primary hull, considering how prominently they were included in the early concept drawings.

Oh, well, in any case, the “Long Box Kit” and all its oddities have been canonized since its use as the Constellation in “Doomsday Machine”. No sense in me crying over that long-curdled spilt milk.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

The thing that always irked me about how they used the AMT model so heavily in the beginning stages of pre-production, that many of the concept artworks that came out during that time had those ridiculous three dimples on the underside of the saucer. After all these years, I still don’t know what those things were supposed to be. Sensors? Phasers? Torpedo tubes?

Most blueprints show phasers in those 3 areas. The only torp tubes were forward facing and just in front of the sensor dome.

 

[Tuskin38]

Check this out: https://www.arcgames.com/en/games/star-trek-online/news/detail/11365213

In STO, there's three variants of the Eaves-type carrier, one of which has straight nacelles.

This is the "Constitution Gamma" with the TOS-Constitution "skin": https://mixeddimensions.com/gameprint/product/ecfZCRQRk4EbGAEFQ/?uid=Doblinian

That's what I fly

 

[Markonian]

That's what I fly

Just from this screenshot I can tell that you're playing space Pahvo daily and used a nanite-laced torpedo on that poor Terran Empire Dreadnought.

 

[Tuskin38]

Just from this screenshot I can tell that you're playing space Pahvo daily and used a nanite-laced torpedo on that poor Terran Empire Dreadnought.

Yep haha
I was surprised the glow in the centre also turned green.

 

[cooleddie74]

She looks so much better with straight nacelle pylons.

 

[Dukhat]

She looks so much better with straight nacelle pylons.

Actually, I think that particular design of the Enterprise looks better with swept back pylons like what was seen on screen. But the actual TOS Enterprise would look dumb with those pylons.

 

[ExtremeSail]

Actually, I think that particular design of the Enterprise looks better with swept back pylons like what was seen on screen. But the actual TOS Enterprise would look dumb with those pylons.

I agree. the Disco Enterprise has a shorter neck and nacelles that are further apart making the ship look squat and wide. So the swept back pylons alleviate this effect.

 

[Timo]

OTOH, we have gotten so many takes on NCC-1701-nil now that we might actually enjoy one that is deliberately a bit awkward - an ugly duckling in the middle of modern Eavesness that still manages to best 'em all. The straight double pylons look good on the "original original", but might make a good impact on a sleeker ship, too, emphasizing how she has been around and gotten more than the t-shirt for her troubles. "You broke both pylons again? I'm giving you doubles from now on!"

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Markonian]

The 2nd edition of the Star Trek: Shipyards - Starfleet Ships 2294 - The Future book reveals the names and registry numbers of Starfleet ships of the year 3189.
One of these is the four-nacelled (but unpyloned) USS Curie NCC-81890-J. Named after Kirsten Beyer's Merian-class USS Curie NCC-81890 from the Project Full Circle VOY novels!
Memory Beta link: https://memory-beta.fandom.com/wiki/USS_Curie_(NCC-81890)

The Merian-class explorer (= modern Miranda counterpart): https://memory-beta.fandom.com/wiki/Merian_class

Found a more satisfactory version...

 

[Dukhat]

The 2nd edition of the Star Trek: Shipyards - Starfleet Ships 2294 - The Future book reveals the names and registry numbers of Starfleet ships of the year 3189.
One of these is the four-nacelled (but unpyloned) USS Curie NCC-81890-J. Named after Kirsten Beyer's Merian-class USS Curie NCC-81890 from the Project Full Circle VOY novels!
Memory Beta link: https://memory-beta.fandom.com/wiki/USS_Curie_(NCC-81890)

The Merian-class explorer (= modern Miranda counterpart): https://memory-beta.fandom.com/wiki/Merian_class

They had previously misspelled the Curie’s name as ‘Currie.’ Glad to see they fixed that

 

[F. King Daniel]

The 2nd edition of the Star Trek: Shipyards - Starfleet Ships 2294 - The Future book reveals the names and registry numbers of Starfleet ships of the year 3189.
One of these is the four-nacelled (but unpyloned) USS Curie NCC-81890-J. Named after Kirsten Beyer's Merian-class USS Curie NCC-81890 from the Project Full Circle VOY novels!
Memory Beta link: https://memory-beta.fandom.com/wiki/USS_Curie_(NCC-81890)

The Merian-class explorer (= modern Miranda counterpart): https://memory-beta.fandom.com/wiki/Merian_class

Love the novelverse reference!

 

[Agony_Boothb]

I kinda like that the Curie-type has it's name and registry number on it's butt like a tramp stamp.

 

[Timo]

At the bow, too, but in extremely fine print. Perhaps this one is a carrier of some sort, and there's a need for an address at the end where the auxiliaries enter?

Although actually that black trench at upper bow looks like an approach ramp if anything. A through-deck ship? Or perhaps a giant ping-pong paddle that pivots its central hull to deliver deadly blows...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Markonian]

Timo, I like your idea of it being a carrier and your observation of the potential through-deck hangar.

In STO means, this vessel could be a tactical vessel, a strike-wing escort (like the 24th century Akira-class carrier).