NX-01 Deck Plans, Version 2.0

[AstroSmurf]

^ To be completely honest… and I mean completely honest… I have almost no interest in doing any more of these after I finish the NX-01. After four years tinkering with blueprints, I have totally lost my curiosity and drive for it. Call it “schematic burnout”. Sorry to disappoint but I do have a several other Trek related projects that I would like to do next.


And a have a little bit of an update for you. As I mentioned before, D Deck is very complicated and might take me a while to finish. So to tie you over, here are a few “appetizers” for you to nibble on.

First off, I would like to show off the perfect example of my obsession for details. I have admitted several times that I am OCD. This just proves that I really am and not just making a joke. (I am and I do joke about it. ) In my world, things have to be as accurate as possible. I can’t just kludge a bunch of crap together. Most people wouldn’t notice but I would lose sleep over it… seriously. Anyway, I spent about three hours today going though Trek Core for screen grabs of cargo containers. Yes, that’s right. I said cargo containers. I wanted to be sure that I reproduced them, and I mean all of them, as accurately as possible. I even tried to work out their approximate sizes by comparing them to the set or to the other containers. If that doesn’t scream “NUTS” I don’t know what will. I expect the men in white jumpsuits and the butterfly nets to show up any moment now. Anyway, here they are.

I have also been going over a few things that are related to matter-antimatter reactions. Does anyone remember all the warp reactors recycling processes that B’Elanna mentions in the Voyager episode “Night”? How about the trilithium resin stealing terrorists that Picard thwarted? Well I have been working those things backwards and trying to add them into the NX-01 systems. Most of them are hard to show in a graphic form, the exception being trilithium resin processing. I just assumed that most starships would be able to process it into an inert substance, rather than risk hauling it around. (Since I don’t know exactly what it is or how or why it is produced, I have no real-world tech explanation to how it could be converted. Let’s just say they bombard it with high levels of gamma radiation while mixing it with unobtanium and Scooby Snacks.) So I added a nice lab adjacent to the warp core that can process the stuff. I even built some containment pods for the inert mass after it has been processed. Check it out.

Enough of my prattling. Let me know what you think.

 

[Saratoga]

Sweet! Can't wait for a (TNG Relaunch-era to "Star Trek: Online"-era) upgrade of the NX-Class.

 

[doctorwho 03]

If being OCD gets results like this, I say go for it!

 

[AstroSmurf]

I was looking through some notes last night and found a notation I had made to myself over a year ago. It simply said "check outer hull elevations of C Deck". It immediately occurred to me that I had royally screwed up version 2.0 of that deck. When I had done the first version of the plans, I had not taken into account the height of the outer hull on C Deck. I cuts in very sharply. Needless to say, much of the floor space in the outer sections was useless because of the lack of overhead clearance. If I had gone with that version, the crew would have to be crawling around on the floor. So I went back late last night and redid my elevation figures and found that I was going to have to remove about seven feet from the outer areas and relocate the outer crawl space/conduits. The new inner wall now runs just below the windows and is about four feet high. Basically, the lab spaces are now small and with low ceilings, similar to the ready room. Many of them I just converted into simple work spaces. I also added the support structure around that outer inner wall, which I had forgotten about in the previous version.

Anyway, here is the revised version. I also added a a shower to the steam room area. Check it out.

I am still working on D Deck. I am also moving apartments this week, specifically Thursday, so it may be sometime next week before I get my internet back up and running to make up dates.

 

[AstroSmurf]

Hello kids. I just wanted to make one last post before I start the move tomorrow. I took a little break from packing this afternoon and ended up messing with D Deck for several hours. I don't know why but I couldn't stop placing furniture. Now I have the port side of D deck completed (except for the floors) and I wanted to share. (And I know it looks weird. For some reason it reminds me of the unfinished Death Star in ROTJ. Oh no! I am mixing me franchises! )

Needless to say this version is a thousand times better than the previous version. I made more than few changes to the forward sections so I could get the corridors cleaned up. With the corridors worked out/added to, the crew quarters all fell into place much better. And speaking of crew quarters, I changed the number of configurations. In the first version, I jumped from the enlisted version (two people in something close to a closet) to a single person cabin with a private head. Now we have enlisted cabins (still two people in each room) with a central dormitory style bathroom area. Next in line we have a lower rank suite consisting of two double rooms that share a bathroom. Two people would share each room but would have their own areas separated by a partition. The next quarter type would be the middle rank suites. They consist of two separate single rooms that share a bathroom. Last we have the senior officers quarters. This type would be a separate single room with a private head of course. These are all located on E Deck. I also cleaned up the cargo bay areas and added a second open level to the second stage plasma accelerator bays.

I don't know why but I am VERY proud of how this one is turning out. The previous version was messy. This version is much more structured and flows much better with the shape of the saucer.

Stay tuned! I will be back soon.

 

[B.J.]

Sweet work! Can't wait for the larger finished version!

 

[doctorwho 03]

I too see the Death Star. In fact, I also see the path the Millenium Falcon took to fly inside and outside it.

Seriously, so far so good. I forgot, is Crewman Daniels quarters on D Deck or E Deck?

 

[Irishman]

Hey, did you notice when you were putting these deckplans together that the original orthos distributed by EdenFX and Drexler are not proportioned 100% accurately?

I mean in the top and bottom views, the saucer skews oval, and makes it impossible to overlay a perfect circle for the deckplans without stretching the orthos themselves.

 

[AstroSmurf]

^ Yes I did! At first it drove me crazy trying to Photoshop the distortions out but I finally gave up. I basically figured out what the proportions were for each separate piece of the hull and then matched them up later in the final composites.

And for everyone out there who don't have a clue what we are talking about... the original Eden FX orthographic renders have a certain amount of "fish eye" lens distortion to them. This causes the outer edges, or the parts of the ship farther away from the virtual camera's center line, to slope-off away from the center. Not only does this cause the saucer to loose its perfect circular shape, it also causes the far forward sections to "crunch in". Technically, the saucer isn't even an oval in the renders. It is a distorted ellipse! So I drew the saucer (and the respective decks) by using its width in meters rather than the renders. Actually I haven't been using the renders at all in the latest version, except to check window alignment and equipment placement (after correcting out the distortion). The only views that managed to escape with minimal distortion were the forward and aft views. Their narrow profiles kept them more or less intact.

And funny that someone brought this up. I know I will be getting emails upon emails with people telling me that the windows don't line up. Well they do, just not when you compare them with those renders. And I will get to repeat what I said in this post until my fingers fall off. I would be a liar if I said I wasn't dreading it. *sigh*

I forgot, is Crewman Daniels quarters on D Deck or E Deck?

That would be E Deck.


As for an update, I hope to have a view of D Deck online tomorrow. I am just having some issues getting the image uploaded to post it. I have also started on E Deck! So far I am thrilled with how everything is lining up and falling into place. She is going to be beautiful! It may be a few weeks before I have anything to show though. This one might take a while.

 

[AstroSmurf]

Ok folks. I finally managed to get some images uploaded for everyone to check out. So I am pleased to present… an update.

This is D Deck in all her glory. This one was complicated! There is so much going on here that I had to check and recheck everything to make sure it all lined up and jived with the C and D Decks. I also polished up the crew quarters in the forward section. I am very pleased with how she turned out. Anyway, here she is.

I also have a few detail shots to show. First off we have the upper level of Engineering. I redid the warp core completely and added lights, signage and better details.

This is transporter chamber. I also gave this a makeover.

This is the Aft Observation Deck. I am including a peek because I think this area is cool. And the hatch/ladder in the window area leads up to the upper observation booth.

Last on today’s update are the new and improved crew quarters. If you look closely, I even included a PADD on the desk.

Right now I have moved on to E Deck and she is already giving me a headache. And I am already predicting that this deck may keep me busy for a couple of weeks. It is very exciting though!

 

[judexavier]

Simply amazing. Wonderful work, AstroSmurf. So what would you charge to do other people's deck plans?

 

[Albertese]

^^^ I expect for this level of detail, he would have to charge a tidy fortune. I've done similar work with Photoshop and I assure you it's not quick work.

So, AstroSmurf, do you dare think about how many actual hours have gone into this project?

--Alex

 

[AstroSmurf]

^ I don't think I could guess on a total but I could maybe extrapolate on the Version 2.0. Just off the top of my head I would say maybe 400 hours. Even though I am working from a sizable catalog of generic parts, furniture and equipment, there is A LOT of custom work in there too. I spent more than 20 hours on the warp core alone! I just burned off the last four hours drawing out the navigational deflector dish and outer housing. But I am an insomniac so I have quite a bit of time on my hands most of the time.


And judexavier, if I had enough interest in something, I wouldn't charge anything for it. For me it isn't about the money. It is about the work. (And I wonder why I never have any money. )

 

[Sarvek]

Fantastic detailed work, Astrosmurf! Keep the great work and keep those updates coming.

 

[AJBryant]

Holy snappin' arseholes, that is FANTASTIC.

This is just too spiff for words, man. Daaaaaaamn.

 

[AstroSmurf]

^ After this complete disaster of a day, you have no idea how much I needed that. You folks are always very kind and it is very much appreciated.

And I just can't wait until I have E Deck finished. I am absolutely thrilled at how the main Navigational Deflector is turning out and I just had to share. I admit it took a little while to find a plausible technical reason for the blue glowing bulkhead behind the dish but I think I have solved most of it nicely. And please remember that this is still a work in progress so we are missing floors, pipes and various greeblies.

So what do ya reckon?

 

[Albertese]

Wait.. So what are the glowy things supposed to be? Sensors?

--Alex

 

[AstroSmurf]

Actually I didn’t explain things purposely. I had planned on writing something about the deflector systems at a later date. However, rather than torture you folks, here is a brief summary.

The interstellar medium has trace amounts of solids (dust), neutrals (gas) and plasma (ionized particles). The heavier sold particles, such as dust or micrometeoroids, would cause the most harm to a vessel traveling at warp. The main parabolic dish has been designed to deflect these solid elements from the path of the ship. By sweeping a tuned graviton beam ahead, the particles can be pushed out of the way preventing damage. However, though neutrals and plasma would not significantly harm a ship’s hull, these secondary elements are also a menace to a vessel traveling at warp. Their interaction with the hull would increase drag coefficient reducing fuel efficiency and impeding proper navigation. The navigational deflector includes a secondary “static shield” designed to work in concert with the parabolic dish to move neutrals and plasma from the path of the ship.

(Or in other words, that glowing blue bulkhead behind the dish houses the static shield generators. Those long thingies with the glowing tips are the generators themselves.)

 

[Major Chord]

^Impressive as always AS. She is a beaut...can't wait to see the site updated with the new deckplans. I know I'll end up spending hours pouring over them lie I did the previous plans.

 

[AJBryant]

^ After this complete disaster of a day, you have no idea how much I needed that. You folks are always very kind and it is very much appreciated.

After a month like I've had, I need THIS.

My mom passed away two weeks ago, so I'm getting my succor where I can find it.