TOS in the 29th century...

[BigJake]

There's a third possibility for "transporters," which is that they could be a miniaturized, localized application of warp technology. A pod fired to the surface of a planet (or wherever) inside an Alcubierre "warp" field, with a landing unit in place to break the warp field and retrieve it. It really would be "warp-linking" and would look just as instantaneous as beaming.

The idea would have a few positives: first, it puts certain preconditions and infrastructure in place so that teleportation can't be used willy-nilly or from site-to-site; second, the precision it would require makes its use a lot less casual (much as was originally envisaged for transporters in ENT); third, as a technology for transporting large amounts of matter it's probably more realistic than the traditional Trek transporter, which should produce explosions and is really more plausible as a weapons technology. Fourth, it reduces the temptation to use the "wacky transporter malfunction" as a plot device, which however not everyone would regard as a bonus.

Of course it's a bigger change from standard Trek tech than maybe you want.

 

[Warped9]

Thank you, all, I appreciate your observations.

Design can be a tricky exercise. Unless you're designing something strictky utilitarian (and there can be disagreement even on that) it becomes very much an exercise in subjectivity.

When I started this design several years ago the secondary hull was indeed somewhat smaller, and even viewed from some angles it can still look small or at least too short. I think part of the weirdness of looking at the design is tied to the strong element of familiarity. The saucer and dorsal, more than anything else, really echoes the originals in overall shape and so there could be something of an expectation in seeing the rest of the design echo more of the original. Or maybe I don't know what I'm talking about.

Re: the nacelles. On the TMP refit I always thought the nacelles looked too small, too slim when viewed from above or below. I just felt they needed to be bulked up a bit more. The TOS nacelles avoided this visual imbalance because of their cylindrical, and thus symmetrical, shape. On my design some feel the nacelles look too small in profile while I think it's balanced out when seen from other angles because of the width of the units. Note I did enlarge the nacelles about ten percent from the original drawing.

In fleshing out this concept part of the exercise was to try addressing criticisms or inconsistencies with what has come before. At the core we always want our SF hardware to look cool and interesting, yet I feel it can feel even more cool when it conveys the idea of being thought out with a measure of credibility. Much of the appeal of the original MJ design came from it being presented in such a way that it seemed so believable. we're accustomed to real world hardware looking the way it does because its function dictates its form. The TOS Enterprise was presented in such a way that we accepted its appearance credibily reflected the idea that very advanced science and technology dictated its form. Roddenberry was insistent on what he called the believability factor and his insistence paid off.

In similar vein I am trying to build on GR and MJ's approach even as the design reflects more contemporary ideas and sensibilities.


I posted something in the TOS forum a couple of days ago, but in case some haven't seen it here it is. Doug Drexler released this tribure video to Matt Jefferies. It's worth checking out: http://vimeo.com/101613095



On another note I feel like I'm becoming a furniture maker. Since this project began I've designed three differnt chairs and two tables. Now for the VIP lounge I have to design more chairs and tables that are distinct from what I've already done to suit how the lounge is meant to be used.

 

[Warped9]

Here we can see the evolving VIP/command lounge. I still have to detail the ceiling and add something to the walls.

 

[Squiggy]

Regular transporter traffic wouldn’t go through this facility, but if someone needs to reach the Bridge or be brought to the VIP lounge ASAP then this would be the quickest way. Also if the Captain or one of the command staff on duty has to reach somewhere planetside or aboard another ship or station ASAP then this would again be the quickest way.

Oh, I agree that it makes sense, just not very good television.

 

[Warped9]

What possible difference could it make?

 

[aalenfae]

I think it would make great television. Interconnected sets = higher immersion. Firefly and the BSG reboot had lots of cohesion with different locations, and it felt like you were really there on the ship. Being able to do a continuous cut from the bridge to the transporter room would increase the reality of the location a thousand-fold.

 

[Warped9]

So this is where Deck 1 stands so far. I added the corridor for other rooms to be added as thought of.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

Maybe the Captain and First Officers quarters should be on this deck also.

 

[Warped9]

I hesitate to put anyone's quarters, particularly the senior officers, on this deck.

 

[Ensign Ro-]

I've enjoyed following this project. If I may suggest a couple escape pods on that deck for the bridge crew. Just a thought. Looking forward to more of this.

 

[Warped9]

^^ Hmm...that's an interesting idea. I don't have to detail that, but I could section a couple of places where they could be. From the exterior you wouldn't even notice where they are until they actually broke away.

 

[Warped9]

I have just had a totally insane idea. It's crazy and I should get myself committed for just considering it.

I said I would not be detailing other decks as I'm detailing Deck 1...but, it could be possible to place the decks along with the inner hull. And from that I could add the few specific sections I could flesh out.

But that is still a helluva lot of work for a fictional exercise. Still, when finished I would have a decently accurate layout for cross-section.

Hmm...

 

[Irishman]

So this is where Deck 1 stands so far. I added the corridor for other rooms to be added as thought of.

I just wish that Sketchup came naturally to me as it does to you.

So much I want to render.

 

[Warped9]

So much I want to render.

Thank you. But SketchUp hardly came naturally to me. There were a number of false starts as I struggled to understand what tools do what and how to use each of them. With my early models there were times of frustration where I could get quite pissed off because I didn't understand something. I also had to incrementally learn how things were put together and what was and was not possible with each tool. From that I learned to work around limitations.

I will say it helped to be able to think in 3D in the sense that in my mind I turn an object around in my imagination and see or envision sides and elements otherwise hidden from view.

One strong point of SketchUp is that you are literally drawing in 2D and then using those shapes to create your 3D objects. A 2D square becomes a box when you extrude that one surface into 3D form. A circle becomes a cylinder when you extrude it into a 3D form. Or a half circle becomes a 3D sphere when you extrude it along the circumference of a circle. Everything starts with those basics even if they eventually become more complex. And with each success you learn more and gain confidence to try something more elaborate. There are also lots of free plugin tools to help you do things that are otherwise impossible or at best very difficult with SketchUp's standard tools.

I can have my moments of impatience frustration even now. One thing that can screw you up is a very small element (line) that you can't easily see that needs to be erased or it can prevent you from doing something you want. I experienced numerous incidents of frustration over this and it still happens periodically. But the more practiced you get the fewer incidents of mistakes or oversights. Now my mistakes are largely trying ideas that don't work out as well as I'd hoped and then I have to try something else.

Another plus with SketchUp is the support network. The Sketchucation forums as well as countless video tutorials can be a great help when you're faced with something you don't understand. They've helped me a number of times.

One of the most basic things is you can't be afraid to make mistakes and need to be willing to experiment.

 

[Warped9]

What you can see here is I've added a companionway aft of the Bridge that goes up into the sensor array service platform. This platform would be crammed with equipment and access panels to service and repair the upper space and planetary sensor arrays. The ceiling on that platform is only 6-1/2 ft. and a bit less directly over the Bridge. The outer dome directly over the Bridge also has added reinforcements for additional protection for the Bridge.

 

[Warped9]

I've run into a situation because of where the windows are on the upper part of the saucer. These windows mostly represent the senior officers' quarters. But because of where they are I'm faced with a decision: I can make Deck 2 with a rather high ceiling and the space between Decks 1 and 2 would be little more than a crawl space with a ceiling of about 4-5 ft. or I can make Deck 3 a more reasonable 8-9 ft. ceiling and Deck 2 would be essentially a service deck with a still rather tight ceiling of about 6 ft. or maybe a bit more. This would mean Deck 2 could house replication systems, fresh water storage, transporter machinery, computer core and other things. Deck 2 wouldn't be a regular duty deck, but one used mostly for periodic service.

If I go this route then the aft end of Deck 3 could house something like Stellar Cartography. Two transporter rooms could be located near the centre of Deck 3 or lower on Deck 4.

The only thing I'm certain of is the two turbolift shafts going straight down through the saucer. Those two shafts would run parallel when they also run horizontally aft to the dorsal to resume going straight down again. Or I might try something tricky to see if those shafts could run diagonally through the dorsal until they reach the secondary hull. We'll see. I haven't given much thought to whether I'll show turbolift shafts branching out through the saucer.

Any thoughts?

 

[Potemkin_Prod]

Warped 9, why would they still be using turbolifts? I'd think that this far into the future, they'd be using transporters to go from site to site or at least deck sector to deck sector.

 

[BillJ]

Warped 9, why would they still be using turbolifts? I'd think that this far into the future, they'd be using transporters to go from site to site or at least deck sector to deck sector.

Wouldn't that be a pretty energy intensive way to move around a starship?

 

[Warped9]

Warped 9, why would they still be using turbolifts? I'd think that this far into the future, they'd be using transporters to go from site to site or at least deck sector to deck sector.

Wouldn't that be a pretty energy intensive way to move around a starship?

Yes. There's a very fine line between making something looking advanced and amazing and making it look too much like magic.

 

[Tim Walker]

The trick may be to give your highly advanced technology some limitations.