Constellation class technical manual

[MichaelS]

Posted by hutt359:
Nice. Which copy of Ships did you pick up, Volume 1 revised or volume 2. Both are probily the best of the Trek Fandome Tech works out there, and I highly recomend trying to get both.

Something else I thought about. You said that your idea was that the foward shuttlebay was used for a large aux craft similar to the DS9 era runabouts. I think that the lat TOS film era's version of that would be the "excutive shuttle" from TUC. I have felt for a while that this was that eras runabout. Espically when I saw it at the end of Generations.

To be honest, I didn't look at it that closely when I ordered it (I was glad enough to find any SOTSF volume on Amazon), but it seems to be Volume Two (Akyazi-Class Perimeter Action Ships).

Regarding the support vessel, I only used the DS9 runabouts so give you an idea of the size. I won't base its appearance on them.

Speaking of which: Here are the first promised sketches. Enjoy and/or criticise! Also, there's progress on the front view, though some details aren't quite accurate ATM (and a lot of stuff is still missing).

 

[MichaelS]

Here's the finished bow view.

 

[Tomalak]

Fantastic work!

I have always liked the Constellation, and it is great to see it fleshed out like this. There are no accurate plans of the ship in any "official" publication, which is maddening.

 

[Wee Bairns]

Looking fantastic. And probably the most accurate set of schematics ever created of the ship.
Two

way up on this project!

 

[Psion]

You know, I think this ugly little ship is growing on me.

Good job!

 

[The Axeman]

You know, it's still an ugly little ship.

Nice work on the drawings by the way, I am one of those folks who cant resist poring over labelled drawings and cutaways to see how everything goes together and if it does what i thought it did.

 

[AlexR]

I've been lurking this thread for a while, but wanted to chime in here and agree, this is really great work!

I'm looking forward to seeing how it continues to evolve. (I also know of some clubs that are using the Constellation-class as their fictional motif, so this would be of particular interest--especially the early 24th Century aspect--to them.)

Best,
Alex

 

[Christopher 390]

I absolutely love the four nacelled designs for federation ships!!! This is awesome! The only question I have is this, the SNARES that you have on the bow view... seems out of place. I don't understand it. Its just kind of thrown onto the design and doesn't really seem to fit anywhere. Also, the different hanging items on the underside of the saucer seem to be ... vulnerable? The antimatter storage tanks usually on most federation designs are usually more pretected than being a bubble on the underside of the ship. One lucky shot with a photon, and that sucker would be lit up like the fourth. I LOVE your designs though, they are the most awesome thing I have seen in a long time! I hope that you do interiors soon as well... such as bridge etc!? Please???! Lookin forward to more!

 

[MichaelS]

First, thanks to all for the positive comments and encouragements! Alex, that's high praise coming from you, one of the people responsible for the Avenger/Miranda blueprints (which I don't own, but what I've seen on the web I like a lot).

I suppose I have to be honest with you: the labels I put on the various ship parts are about as tentative and subject to change as Pocket's 2005 schedule (or even more so). I'm still trying to figure things out, attribute a proper function to everything.

The easiest thing would probably be to turn all the greebling on top and bottom into sensor epuipment, but I won't do that. There's lots of it, but not THAT much, IMO. Hence the creation of two arboretums (or arboreti? My Latin is rather rusty, I admit) and the storage tanks. Regarding the antimatter tank, I do agree with you, it's awfully vulnerable. But the entire ship is - if the shields fail (just think of "Generations" ). I think I'll keep the antimatter where it is, but I might make the walls thicker and eventually add enough security measures to prevent accidental annihilation.

The SNARES acronym came from Rick Sternbach himself. Even though he said it jokingly, I included it nevertheless. I don't quite understand if you mean the acronym is out of place, or the entire sensor cannon assembly...

A bridge design already exists, as posted at the beginning of this thread. Sean Robertson of Webolutionary.com (and moderator at Scifi-meshes.com) kindly did this one for me, based on the scant reference and non-existing floorplans for the redressed battlebridge set.

The current plan is to include other interiors as well, yes.

And here is the result of me having some fun:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/tooltime/CCTM/cctm_cover1fun.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/tooltime/CCTM/cctm_cover2fun.gif

BTW, if somebody wants to check out my SFM thread, go there.

 

[Klaus]

...love those covers!

 

[Rick Sternbach]

Posted by MichaelS:
The SNARES acronym came from Rick Sternbach himself. Even though he said it jokingly, I included it nevertheless. I don't quite understand if you mean the acronym is out of place, or the entire sensor cannon assembly...

Well, you certainly don't have to put the copyright symbol next to it. I don't have any claim on it. 'Twas just a bit of fun.

Rick
www.spacemodelsystems.com

 

[Wee Bairns]

Those covers are great!!! I think I like the take on Mr. Scott's Guide, but they're both great!

 

[Mysterion]

Those covers are very spiffy!

Shuld have the crew complement posted here tomorrow. (Got distracted by John McCain last night...)

 

[MichaelS]

Posted by Rick Sternbach:
Well, you certainly don't have to put the copyright symbol next to it. I don't have any claim on it. 'Twas just a bit of fun.

As was the copyright notice. Besides, it's cool to be able to say that Rick Sternbach commented on one's work.

 

[Christopher 390]

What I stated earlier about the SNARES thinger is just that it looks out of place. It seriously looks like it is going to just fall off of the ship, if someone hadn't of superglued it. It just looks like its in quite the odd spot... Thats all. I was wondering if, well it was just put there so you could say it had a SNARES... I mean is it a peice of conjectural tech that you are adding? (I am NOT criticisng your work at all! in fact, i LOVE it, and am a HUGE fan of this thread! )

Also - on the bridge... I hate that bridge design! If the Constellation is seriously breed from Constitution and Miranda parts, then shouldn't it have the same bridge as the Constitution refit, or the Miranda? Both are pretty much the same.

I know that the USS Hathaway was a newer ship, and had been updated quite a bit, but I do believe maybe the bridge should have more newer styled.

Also - I have a question for you. If Picard was captain of the Stargazer, how old was the beast? I mean as far as I know, the Original Series is set in like 2280 right? That means that the Constellation class if it was designed back then would have to be REALLY old. Assuming the Stargazer was made in 2290 - then the ship would have at least been pushing fifty when Picard Took Command - if not then Picard is way older than he looks. How does that work?

Also a theory for ya. I remember that the USS Lakota was upgraded heavily in a DS9 episode... So that the agin Excelsior class ended up a match for most anything out there. Do you think there is any way to upgrade the Constellation class to those same parameters? Quantom Torps - Phaser banks - Transphasic Sheilding and all that good stuff? You know, like a complete overhaul and upgrade.

I could just be out of my noggin though, let me know

 

[SonicRanger]

Posted by Christopher 390:
Also - on the bridge... I hate that bridge design! If the Constellation is seriously breed from Constitution and Miranda parts, then shouldn't it have the same bridge as the Constitution refit, or the Miranda? Both are pretty much the same.

I know that the USS Hathaway was a newer ship, and had been updated quite a bit, but I do believe maybe the bridge should have more newer styled...

We've seen two Constellation-class bridges -- the Stargazer and the Hathaway. The bridge in this thread looks a lot like the Stargazer's, which was constructed from the refit-E's bridge (as was the E-D's battle bridge).

 

[Mysterion]

Proposed crew complemt posted over in the Tech forum.

 

[Tomalak]

I quite like the bridge design. It suggests that computers had become more advanced between the Enterprise and Constellation-classes, meaning that fewer officers were required on the bridge.

 

[Christopher 390]

I just find it depressing, tight and confining... Not very opening and inviting you know? Or impressive in the least... It looks like an overextended closet. I just always thought that the bridge should be a big elaborate command center with all major department heads on station and lots of information right now.

 

[MichaelS]

The bridge shown is the one of the Stargazer as seen in "The Battle". It isn't intended to be representative of Constellation class bridges in general. In fact, I might come up with two or three other modules and draw some brdige plans for them, though I don't know if and when I finally get around to that.