Custom Athena/Artemis-class Starship Design

[Arvis Tadjik]

So I've started laying the ground work to build my own version of the Athena from Starfleet Academy, using my own texturing preferences and building off of the aesthetic I created for my Wanderer II-class starship.

I've established the preliminary scale for the ship based off of window and deck height here:
[many thanks to Michael's hard work in making orthos of the Athena ]

And for those who need a refresher, here's my Wanderer II-class Starship design:

Wanderer II-class Starship on Sketchfab


Feedback and ideas are always welcome, but note that I WILL be sticking with my previously established aesthetic and textures, so that's not changing

 

[publiusr]

Lovely work.

 

[Arvis Tadjik]

I've built most of the ship's structures with the exception of the nacelles and some specific surface details that will be new. Docking ports, lights, hardpoints, etc. will be copied off of my Wanderer II model to keep them consistent in design.

Also don't ask me how I managed to do the smooth geometry for the "feathers" along with the ridges on them. I probably wouldn't be able to do them again the same way lol.

 

[Arvis Tadjik]

Another update. I've built my own nacelles, not following the blueprint (because I felt like it lol).

Mostly just detailing left to do along with a bit of subdivision and beveling to ensure that the trim mapping works properly.

 

[Matthew Duck]

Looks really great !!! Congratulations

 

[Arvis Tadjik]

Another bit of an update, got pretty much all of the unique detailing done on the ship, including the "spokes" on the top and bottom of the saucer. I built them in such a way that they aren't integrated into the saucer geometry but instead sit on top of it. Hopefully that should create the desired effect without making my job of UV mapping the thing even harder lol

And here's a first look at the trim mapping work using my texture from the Wanderer II so far:

 

[djzzd]

May I have a copy of the blueprint? I'm eager to build a printable model and put it on my desk.

 

[Arvis Tadjik]

May I have a copy of the blueprint? I'm eager to build a printable model and put it on my desk.

If there's interest, then I'll have someone convert it into a printable model with peg holes for supports, but that will have a cost associated with it since doing that isn't free.

 

[Michael]

If there's interest, then I'll have someone convert it into a printable model with peg holes for supports, but that will have a cost associated with it since doing that isn't free.

Thanks for wanting to help! However, such a deal would have to happen off-site or privately, as we don’t allow such transactions (or sales in general) here, as the board can’t be liable if the deal goes south.

@djzzd, if it’s just the Athena blueprints that Arvis Tadjik used as a starting off point for his design you’re after, they are freely available here. However, I should probably do an updated version at some point, since these were made before the show premiered.

 

[Arvis Tadjik]

Thanks for wanting to help! However, such a deal would have to happen off-site or privately, as we don’t allow such transactions (or sales in general) here, as the board can’t be liable if the deal goes south.

No issues with that at all. I have a friend on Twitter/X that does 3D print conversions and all of that happens separately from here

 

[djzzd]

Thanks for wanting to help! However, such a deal would have to happen off-site or privately, as we don’t allow such transactions (or sales in general) here, as the board can’t be liable if the deal goes south.

@djzzd, if it’s just the Athena blueprints that Arvis Tadjik used as a starting off point for his design you’re after, they are freely available here. However, I should probably do an updated version at some point, since these were made before the show premiered.

Thank you so much! You offered what I need. I want to build a 3D model, and your picture can help me save some time.

 

[Atolm]

So beautiful

 

[Arvis Tadjik]

Another update:

I've remodeled the "wing" segments at the back to be smoother, follow a curve more consistent with the Athena on screen, and I sized the ribbing to match the spokes around the top and bottom of the saucer for width and height from the hull.

I've also, thanks in big part to @Michael , remodeled the nacelles to more closely match the ones seen on screen. For the life of me I couldn't sus out how they were shaped but when he managed to isolate the nacelles from the concept art and show them alone, I was able to build them then. So big thanks to @Michael

Feel free to let me know what you think of the design so far.

Edit:

I've also gone and added the warp components to the central saucer section as seen in the most recent SFA episode. While this ship isn't the Athena, I still want to make sure that it keeps as many features of the Athena as possible while being a non-Academy standard-type Exploration Cruiser.

 

[Matthew Duck]

It sure looks great. Hope to see more of it soon

 

[valkyrie013]

https://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/lcars/epics/SFA-S1/S1E4/599.jpg

https://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/lcars/epics/SFA-S1/S1E4/598.jpg

https://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/lcars/epics/SFA-S1/S1E4/004.jpg

Saucer has its own FTL engines..

 

[137th Gebirg]

I noticed that. Makes sense, really. The Prometheus was the same way. Few people noticed the tiny little pair of retractable nacelles that popped out the top and bottom of the Alpha module so that it could maintain a warp field with the other two modules with the larger engines. I like little details like that. Tells me they're paying attention to those details - because they know we are too.

 

[Arvis Tadjik]

https://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/lcars/epics/SFA-S1/S1E4/599.jpg

https://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/lcars/epics/SFA-S1/S1E4/598.jpg

https://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/lcars/epics/SFA-S1/S1E4/004.jpg

Saucer has its own FTL engines.

Yup, I've already added those to my model, along with a deflector strip front end of the inner saucer and a dual torpedo launcher on the bottom of the inner saucer, attached to the planetary sensor dome system I also added. I made these changes to (A) make it look LESS like the Athena [since my ship is NOT the Athena] and (B) because I'm also a fan of details such as those.

I've also gone with a large Starfleet Emblem on the top of the ship instead of the skylight, as well as adding smaller impulse engines to the back of the central hull in addition to warp field emitters just above those impulse engines.

 

[Colonel Midnight]

Has anyone done a 3-view graphic diagram of this yet?

I have to admit it’s really difficult for these old(ish) eyes to understand the ship’s layout/geometry, to be honest.

Cheers & Mahalo if so,
-CM-

 

[Atolm]

Has anyone done a 3-view graphic diagram of this yet?

I have to admit it’s really difficult for these old(ish) eyes to understand the ship’s layout/geometry, to be honest.

Cheers & Mahalo if so,
-CM-

This is the only one I know of, and I got it from @Arvis Tadjik who asked me to do my own spin on the vessel:

https://i.postimg.cc/xjBYzm44/USS-Athena-Star-Trek-Starfleet-Academy-2.jpg

 

[Arvis Tadjik]

@Colonel Midnight the one @Atolm just posted was created by @Michael based on early views of the Athena. We have since learned that the "feathers" at the rear are much longer so my model has been updated to reflect that.