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Comparative design: Tos E, Refit E, and NuE

Chrisisall

Chrisisall

Commodore
Commodore
TOS Enterprise was ground-breaking; a design never before seen in SF, and still unique to this day.
TMP refit was somewhat needlessly aerodynamic, yet meticulously detailed in a way that surpassed the design & execution of the original fantastic model.
The NuE meshes the two designs into a fluid & bold re-shaping of the familiar classic.

In my final analysis, I find TOS E lacking in futuristic finesse, TMP refit lacking in understanding of zero-resistence factors, and the NuE lacking in general asthetic established conventions.

My call for the winner of the three is TMP refit, although I DO like them all.

Your views?
 
I find the TOS E to be retro even for the 60s era in a lot of component ways, but that probably helped offset the overall weirdness. I think it was bold as hell, in a kind of MILLENNIUM FALCON way (if you realize the BLOCKADE RUNNER [minus the interesting cockpit] was the original version of the FALCON, they really took a bold step away from convention with the final version), but with a bold silhouette that few SW ships can even dare to be compared with.

Aesthetically, I prefer the refit (which in many ways in TMP is as gorgeous as any spaceship in a movie), but with the caveat that I HATE the strongback and the nacelle c(r)aps and the saucer's deco rim lines.

I don't think I like anything about the new one, except the chunks lifted from the refit. But that is fitting, because I didn't like anything about the movie either, so at least it was a stylistic match.
 
I like them all since they're pretty much the same. I don't think I could pick a favourite, but they definitely did a great job with the design of the most recent one.
 
In looking at the design process of the TOS Enterprise, the only thing that struck me as retro in any way was the primary hull (which started out as a sphere, but ended up back towards a more C-57D design by August of 1964... most likely because it was supposed to land like the C-57D).

I, personally, don't see anything 60's about the TOS design any more than I see anything 60's about passenger jets today (who's form, or style, hasn't evolved at all since the 60's). In fact it is the lack of style (and how it moved away from the C-57D's esthetic) and became more and more utilitarian throughout the fall of 1964 that makes it iconic. Jefferies wanted everything to seem reasonable (even if reasons hadn't been attached) to everything about the ship. Of course the final design wasn't just by Jefferies (who was an assistant art director at that early stage), a lot of other people added influences (including Roddenberry).

And because the original process was rushed some of Jefferies favorite ideas about the design came after the models had been built. He put some of those ideas into his Klingon Battle Cruiser design, and then got the chance to introduce them to the Enterprise design in 1977 when he was asked to redesign it for Phase II. Most notable among the things he wanted changed was the engines.

The design eventually became the foundation of the TMP Enterprise. And I personally think that had the design stayed dialed back (similar to how the model was originally built), it would have been a better design. The push for art deco influences in the design are it's biggest detractors.

As for the new movie's version... I thought the original paintings by Church felt elegant and artistic. And in that it seemed like what we might have gotten for the TOS Enterprise had they not steered away from the influences of Forbidden Planet. But as a prequel to TOS, maybe the stronger connection to Forbidden Planet would have been appropriate. Sadly all that type of nuance was lost on the director who apparently wasn't aware of SciFi outside of Star Wars, so what started out going in an interesting direction went astray quite fast. The saddest aspect of the new Enterprise is she was an after thought in almost every respect (mostly because the people making the film didn't believe the audience would care... and they were proven right).

So yeah, I don't think much for (or about) the new Enterprise... and that was the way it was intended, so success all around. :techman:
 
My only real problem with the TOS E is that it seems really bland which for the time can't really be helped. The Refit will always be my favorite, it's just a sexy and regal ship. As for the NuE , I'd have perfered they just use the TOS design but with a bit more detail or less drastic changes, really the only thing that really kills me on the NuE is the Nacelles. Fugly to the max.
 
TOS Enterprise is like your first love... no matter how many years pass, you will always remember it with fondness and overlook those minor flaws.

TMP Enterprise showed us what a bigger budget and more advanced filming technology could do with the same basic idea. It was a more stately ship for a maturing cast. It gave us many more rich details which many loved, but it also had its detractors.

Star Trek Enterprise showed us yet another original interpretation of the old girl through the use of CGI. This incarnation gave us a muscular, hot rod ship which set the mood for a new interpretation of Star Trek. It will also have its detractors.

Each version is special for its own reasons. Each is appropriate as the main setting for our characters home in space. Each also comes with its own set of flaws which are often difficult to see through the rose-colored glasses of fond memory.
 
Chrisisall said:
TOS Enterprise was ground-breaking; a design never before seen in SF, and still unique to this day.
Click to expand...
Says who? How do we know there wasn't a class of starship that resembled the Consitution class before they first started making them? also, to aliens unfamiliar with the Federation, they would think the Connies looks the Galaxy class.
 
EVL_Ripper said:
really the only thing that really kills me on the NuE is the Nacelles. Fugly to the max.
Click to expand...
LOL, funny, but they are my FAVOURITE part of NuE!!:lol:
Not simply round like those on TOS E, yet more stylish than refit E. It's the secondary hull underside & curved nacelle struts that I have the most problem with- I feel a little design balance is lost there.
 
I like all the versions... Just depends on the mood, basically. :)

Still, my favorite is probably the refit. Just gorgeous...

Cheers,
-CM-
 
I would say My favorite Enterprise is the Refit, while the Original has grown on me, but I'm really liking the Nu-Prise more and more everytime I see it.
 
Of the 3 choices I like the refit best and the Nu-Enterprise least of ANY Trek ship. Each nacelles looks like an uncircumcised penis.
 
I really don't know if I could pick, since they all pretty much look the same to me. I know a more dedicated fan could undoubtedly find a whole bunch of little differences, but I really couldn't come up with anything myself.

I guess I like the refit, but really that's only because it was the first one I was really exposed to. I had seen TOS one on TV, but that was a sight different from going to see VI in theaters and seeing the refit on a huge movie screen.
 
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