The AWAC device on the right side of the image is the front. I’m joking with the Brian “Augustus” Brophy bit (think James Tiberius Kirk), but I did like the uniqueness of the ship. A bit more on the design from the original thread:
...I found that I liked the
hornet-like shape of the saucer, neck, and front stardrive. And the overall shape made me think of an Olympian on the
rings.
Still, I needed a reason for the configuration, as the Excelsior shuttlebay by itself didn't seem to make much sense now at the front of the ship — too rinky-dinky and pointlessand somewhat phallic. The idea of an AWAC-like attachment came to mind like the oneon the
U.S.S. Phoenix and fan designs like the
U.S.S. Alacrity (though I also kinda like the idea of a warp-field destabilizing
interdictor unit, if less so a
battering ram):
U.S.S. Tiburon
There is an aft shuttlebay where the deflector typically is and a deflector where whatever
this is is. This ship is primarily asubspace research and communications analysis vessel, and, by virtue of its Excelsior parts, a highly defendable one at that.
Like the Phoenix's, this AWAC is wider than it is long and (from the front) gives a slighthammerhead vibe. I'm not really happy with the AWAC's design atm, but I'm working with an unsophisticated program and need to let it go for the time being. I may shorten the front blade to keep the ship's overallleft/right
cantilever balance a thing.
But I like the AWAC being far ahead of the rest of the ship to suggest its importance and/or danger....either the whole area needs to be clear of living matter, or the crew there needs to wear Excelsior Era
engineering suits for their safety. I'm wondering if I need to show that visually in some way — maybe color the AWAC and the front half of the blade with a hint of antler yellow, so that it reinforces the lifelessness. Conversely, I may light the AWAC/interdictor up, like the spaceship from
Close Encounters...
