Were did the design of Starfleet vessels come from?

[downWithPecard]

Well I actually watched a documentary of some sort a long time a go, And ol' Gene said originally the ship would have beened flip upside down. Just some fun facts

 

[sojourner]

^Only half true. Once Matt Jefferies came up with the familiar layout it always had the orientation we are familiar with. Earlier sketches did play around with flipping the ship.

 

[Saul]

Wasn't Gene inspired by an image he saw in a science fiction magazine and showed it to Jefferies so he could draw something similar.

 

[22 Stars]

Is the story of the model being hung upside down for Network execs true?

 

[Starlock]

^True! The prototype model was said to be too heavy on top - so it had to be flipped over in the presentation.

Just need to point out that some design elements of the Enterprise were said by Matt Jeffries to be inspired by the B-25 Flying Fortress - a plane which both he and Gene Roddenberry had wartime experience with:

The spherical gun turrets at the top and bottom of the bomber inspired the navigational domes on the top and bottom of the saucer.

The rounded engine cowlings inspired the domes at the front of the nacelles.

 

[Patrickivan]

^True! The prototype model was said to be too heavy on top - so it had to be flipped over in the presentation.

Just need to point out that some design elements of the Enterprise were said by Matt Jeffries to be inspired by the B-25 Flying Fortress - a plane which both he and Gene Roddenberry had wartime experience with:

The spherical gun turrets at the top and bottom of the bomber inspired the navigational domes on the top and bottom of the saucer.

The rounded engine cowlings inspired the domes at the front of the nacelles.

B-25 flying fortress? Do you mean the B-25 Mitchell or the B-17 Flying Fortress?

 

[Starlock]

^Ye Freakin' Gods and Nano Glitches...

***B-17*** Flying Fortress !!!!

Thank you! (I blame lack of caffeine when I typed that up there...)

Purportedly GR wrote a poem to his plane that was quoted by Gary Mitchell in "WNMHGB".

 

[lennier1]

Here's one I came across in my image archives that probably fits the original topic much better:

I'm not sure how far along this particular concept got, or if it's even accurate. I'm guessing it was one of those "Blue Sky" type concepts with an artists' impression based loosely on a sketchy description. In any case, I think this one was supposed to be sub launched, and the "saucer" tips have pop-out wings. See here: http://www.palba.cz/forumfoto/displayimage.php?pid=21370&fullsize=1

I don't know where I originally found the image, but I re-found it here: http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/332082-silhouette-challenge-1398.html

Wouldn't take much work to reshape this into a nifty little Federation fighter!

Powered by pulse jet engines of that era? The pilot would've been deaf within a couple of flights.
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8Q9oAPrvZo[/yt] [yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-xlttsfWn4[/yt]

 

[Forbin]

Well, I doubt it was going to be sub-launched with pulsejets. Can't imagine they'd work wet. I know I have the book that was scanned from, so I'll have to check later.

 

[lennier1]

Water-proofing them to unseal only once something else has pushed them past the water surface would actually have been one of the smallest problems on a project like that.

 

[T'Girl]

I was under the impression that they could not take off under their own power.

 

[CuttingEdge100]

How did the V-1 manage to produce thrust without motion? I thought it required motion to work...

 

[sojourner]

Rocket assisted launch.

 

[FordSVT]

^Incorrect. Godwinned refers to making a comparison to Nazi's or Hitler.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law

That's a bit simplistic. It's the increasing likelihood during any online discussion that someone will mention Hitler or the Nazis. It's also not really applicable to a subject of conversation that deserves a comparison to Nazis, as this one could be argued to be.

Like, comparing the attitude of a waiter to Hitler because he snapped at you when you ordered a glass of water? Godwin'ing.

Comparing the actions of Saddam Hussein to Hitler when he gassed thousands of Kurds? Not Godwin'ing.

Overusing Nazi analogies diminishes the actions of the Nazis, that's the spirit of what Godwin was saying.

 

[sojourner]

^Incorrect. Godwinned refers to making a comparison to Nazi's or Hitler.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law

That's a bit simplistic. It's the increasing likelihood during any online discussion that someone will mention Hitler or the Nazis. It's also not really applicable to a subject of conversation that deserves a comparison to Nazis, as this one could be argued to be.

Like, comparing the attitude of a waiter to Hitler because he snapped at you when you ordered a glass of water? Godwin'ing.

Comparing the actions of Saddam Hussein to Hitler when he gassed thousands of Kurds? Not Godwin'ing.

Overusing Nazi analogies diminishes the actions of the Nazis, that's the spirit of what Godwin was saying.

If only I had included a link to some website that had a more detailed explanation.... Oh wait!

 

[FordSVT]

Oh, condescension!

I assumed you didn't read your own link, given the fact that you misapplied the general usage. Do you call people out for Godwin'ing during discussions about genocide too? .

 

[sojourner]

The OP compared Starfleet design to Nazi design in the first post. That's pretty solid godwin territory. Maybe you need to read the link on godwinning.

If I were taking part in a conversation on genocide I would of course wait until a reference was made to Nazis/Hitler before calling a godwin.

You might also check the definition of condescension as well, seeing as my previous reply was ironic sarcasm.