NX Refit

[publiusr]

Words fail

 

[Cyfa]

I am re-reading Christopher L. Bennett's Rise of the Federation series and this is how I imagine T'Pol's Endeavour now

 

[SCE2Aux]

I am re-reading Christopher L. Bennett's Rise of the Federation series and this is how I imagine T'Pol's Endeavour now

Thanks Cyfa! I read the first couple of post Enterprise novels years ago but got distracted before reading any further. I should really get back into them. How are you finding the later books?

I'm looking to do another animation now, but need more ENT era ships, so I'm starting to block out a kitbash ship:

 

[David cgc]

Not the one you asked, but I found the Romulan War books disappointing, but once the novel line was relaunched (so to speak) as “Rise of the Federation” by Christopher L. Bennett, it improved tremendously, so I’d just skip straight to those even if you didn’t make it though the war-era stories.

The catamarans connected to nothing look awkward to me, but it kind of fits with the more industrial look of this version of the ships, like Starfleet kept every bit of NX-class tooling they could reuse even if it was vestigial and not how they’d build it from scratch, just for the efficiency savings of not having to make a new version of the back half of the saucer without them.

 

[SCE2Aux]

The catamarans connected to nothing look awkward to me, but it kind of fits with the more industrial look of this version of the ships, like Starfleet kept every bit of NX-class tooling they could reuse even if it was vestigial and not how they’d build it from scratch, just for the efficiency savings of not having to make a new version of the back half of the saucer without them.

This is the big issue to solve with this configuration. As you say, it makes sense from a logic perspective, but it's not too pleasing aesthetically, and despite the utilitarian era it's in, I still want a satisfying design - even in a kitbash. I'm experimenting with a Miranda Class-style roll bar between the catamerans in order to try and literally tie the design together somehow. It's not working yet, but we'll see.

 

[Santaman]

I REAAAAALLY like that one!

 

[blssdwlf]

This is the big issue to solve with this configuration. As you say, it makes sense from a logic perspective, but it's not too pleasing aesthetically, and despite the utilitarian era it's in, I still want a satisfying design - even in a kitbash. I'm experimenting with a Miranda Class-style roll bar between the catamerans in order to try and literally tie the design together somehow. It's not working yet, but we'll see.

I think the catamaran extensions helps balance the ship out a bit when viewed from the side. You could just connect the catamarans to the nacelle and make it almost like an Oberth-class Although I think if going with a single nacelle I'd have a smaller saucer section instead of keeping it the same size. YMMV.

 

[SCE2Aux]

I think the catamaran extensions helps balance the ship out a bit when viewed from the side. You could just connect the catamarans to the nacelle and make it almost like an Oberth-class Although I think if going with a single nacelle I'd have a smaller saucer section instead of keeping it the same size. YMMV.

I think we're on the same wavelength, because I tried the Oberth-esque connection during my lunch break today, but it turned out that the silhouette wasn't really what I wanted. I still think the roll bar has potential - will post a mockup later

 

[Cyfa]

Thanks Cyfa! I read the first couple of post Enterprise novels years ago but got distracted before reading any further. I should really get back into them. How are you finding the later books?

I'm looking to do another animation now, but need more ENT era ships, so I'm starting to block out a kitbash ship

~ I have to agree with @David cgc about the post-Enterprise novels. Personally, I find Rise of the Federation far superior to the Romulan War novels, mainly because of Christopher L. Bennett's skill at characterisation (and using neglected characters extremely successfully - I'm looking at you, Travis Mayweather!), world-building, linking together somewhat disparate elements of the Trek Universe and coming up with something new & thoughtful. Plus, I don't care much for fighting and war stories.

Even though the saucer and cut-off catamarans do appear a little clunky for the single nacelle, I do love your kitbash! I think it's totally in keeping for the era, and looks rather elegant in that final slightly angled side view.
How about having a go at kitbashing something similar to the Intrepid-type if you're after more ENT era ships? (The Intrepid-class Pioneer features heavily in the Rise of the Federation novels, too!)

 

[SCE2Aux]

~ I have to agree with @David cgc about the post-Enterprise novels. Personally, I find Rise of the Federation far superior to the Romulan War novels, mainly because of Christopher L. Bennett's skill at characterisation (and using neglected characters extremely successfully - I'm looking at you, Travis Mayweather!), world-building, linking together somewhat disparate elements of the Trek Universe and coming up with something new & thoughtful. Plus, I don't care much for fighting and war stories.

Sounds good. I often see Star Trek books on the shelves of local second hand and charity book shops - I'll keep an eye out for the later ENT era novels.

Even though the saucer and cut-off catamarans do appear a little clunky for the single nacelle, I do love your kitbash! I think it's totally in keeping for the era, and looks rather elegant in that final slightly angled side view.
How about having a go at kitbashing something similar to the Intrepid-type if you're after more ENT era ships? (The Intrepid-class Pioneer features heavily in the Rise of the Federation novels, too!)

I think I'd go crazy if I tried to cut that saucer up to make an Intrepid; the geometry has a lot of intersecting elements that would take more time than I've got the motivation for at this point. Right now I'm looking at using the original longer catamarans and mocking up lots of radiator fins.

 

[Colonel Midnight]

Maybe a ‘Kelvin’ version/configuration would work better?

Have the catamarans connect to a secondary above the saucer, and put the single nacelle down below the saucer?

Just a thought.

Cheers,
-CM-

 

[publiusr]

Love the fins

 

[C-Dub]

I think it needs something between those catamaran hulls - maybe a sensor pod? The AWACS pod from the Nebula class, but period/style specific?

 

[SCE2Aux]

I think it needs something between those catamaran hulls - maybe a sensor pod? The AWACS pod from the Nebula class, but period/style specific?

I tried mocking up stuff like that as well, but I've come to the conclusion that it's the catamarans that are ultimately at fault, and adding stuff to them isn't going to achieve what I want for this design. They look fine from some angles, and awkward from others - ultimately they're really just designed to hang nacelles off of. I think I'm just going to ditch them to clean the silhoutte up and balance the design. Also... despite saying I wouldn't make a half saucer... I kinda want to make a half saucer now.

 

[Cyfa]

Also... despite saying I wouldn't make a half saucer... I kinda want to make a half saucer now.

~

Good luck with all that intersecting geometry!

 

[SCE2Aux]

Mostly there on this kitbash frigate - just the pods on top left to model, and then sort out the ship's decals.

I think I'll call this ship the Hecla.

 

[Mage]

That is amazing! It really works in the design lineage of the NX

 

[SCE2Aux]

That is amazing! It really works in the design lineage of the NX

Thanks, I'm quite happy that I managed to get a kitbash working with the components already modelled - it's like having a lego set to have fun with, and trying different configurations.
In-universe, I think it makes some amount of sense as well - using the same production lines to fulfil different ship requirements. You wouldn't want a giant NX Refit always tied to a freighter convoy during the Romulan War, when (at least in my headcanon) the Refit's main fortè is getting quickly behind enemy lines and doing strategic interdiction missions, and of course, major fleet actions.

Much better to build a smaller ship like the Hecla for the lighter tasks - it's only about 60-ish% the mass of the NX, is slower (warp 3.5 maybe?), and much reduced in armaments (I've deleted a lot of the Refit's rather excessive weaponry from the Hecla). But that's good enough for convoy duty or being permanently assigned to the core-system starbases and colonies.

I'm also giving some thought on doing a revision of these ships post war. They aren't currently very friendly looking in overall design ethos, which is obviously a function of the era they're in. But it might be nice to see these ships become more civilised - ditching the heavy weaponry and painting the hull in TOS colours, plus TOS fonts on the registry/name and pennants etc.

~

Good luck with all that intersecting geometry!

Turns out that cutting the ship up wasn't too bad, but plugging all the resultant gaps certainly was lol

 

[Professor Moriarty]

I don’t know what they are but I like the things that look like old-fashioned rocker switches planted on the hindquarters of the Hecia.

 

[Mage]

I'm also giving some thought on doing a revision of these ships post war. They aren't currently very friendly looking in overall design ethos, which is obviously a function of the era they're in. But it might be nice to see these ships become more civilised - ditching the heavy weaponry and painting the hull in TOS colours, plus TOS fonts on the registry/name and pennants etc.

Now there's a thought! I think I speak for everyone following that that would be very interesting.