Enterprise Era Starship Thread

[HauntRod]

Variations of the same designs for different groups. One design for exploration, another for cargo, still another for police actions. Each with its own purposes.

Starfleet doesn't really seem to care for ships designed for individual purposes, with rare exception. Most Starships seem to take a more Swiss Army Knife approach. Sure, some designs are better suited for certain things, but they all seem at least somewhat capable at doing a little bit of everything.

 

[somebuddyX]

I'm always kind of sad there's not too many fan-made designs from the Enterprise era. I've always loved the visual aesthetic they created with the show and always thought it would lend itself well to the kitbashing community.

It might interesting to play about with the model and make some other NX-family ships, like taking the saucer and making a Nebula/Miranda version (and no not the Akira). Or a baby NX type like New Orleans to Galaxy. Or an NX/Kelvin with one nacelle.
They could have the USS Pioneer concept art be part of the Franklin/Freedom-class family but still even smaller than Franklin.

 

[HauntRod]

They could have the USS Pioneer concept art be part of the Franklin/Freedom-class family but still even smaller than Franklin.

You're right. This would would be an interesting design for the era. It's absolutely tiny. Perhaps a Corvette of the Romulan War.

 

[knightgrace]

The purpose of different designs in the Federation, would be to distinguish functions of which ships do what. Then remember that with computer control, comes very great capabilities.

For example: The F/A-18 series. Toggle one way, you have an attack aircraft. Toggle the other way and you have a fighter.

Also remember that cargo requires different designs to maximize capacity.

 

[somebuddyX]

I saw PUFFINSTUDIOS did an image of the Shikoku

by Citrullux

 

[HauntRod]

I saw PUFFINSTUDIOS did an image of the Shikoku

by Citrullux

I like it.

 

[MurphyCooper]

Pre-Federation designs are definitely a favorite of mine.

 

[Saul]

OK, so here are some A.I. enhanced images of lost (hard drive failure) artwork by Doug Drexler for the NX in the very early days when trying to figure out shapes for the NX. These images were upscaled from the image below which came with the Bandai NX model. I had hoped we would have seen a cleaner scan of this pamphlet over the years but it's been 2 decades and nothing. So I decided to try and enhance the image. They aren't perfect. But they might give a better idea of what the image looks like cleaned up. I dislike using A.I. but decided to post these here because even if I didn't someone else probably would later on down the line and might not give due credit. I also hope the hive mind of Trek BBS will be able to retain the fact that these are A.I. upscales and remind that to anyone who might repost these as the real thing. They are NOT. If anyone can find a cleaner scan of the original pamphlet in question then I will remove these.

Original

A.I. upscale

 

[David cgc]

These images were upscaled from the image below which I believe came with the Art Asylum 12 inch NX model released in 2002.

It was the Bandai model, which I think was a good deal rarer. Of course, even a better scan might not reveal more details, the ones we've got already have visible printing artifacts, I think they were just too small to start with.

 

[Saul]

It was the Bandai model, which I think was a good deal rarer. Of course, even a better scan might not reveal more details, the ones we've got already have visible printing artifacts, I think they were just too small to start with.

Good to know. I updated my post, thanks.

 

[Eudoxia]

Starfleet doesn't really seem to care for ships designed for individual purposes, with rare exception. Most Starships seem to take a more Swiss Army Knife approach. Sure, some designs are better suited for certain things, but they all seem at least somewhat capable at doing a little bit of everything.

This actually isn't true if you know anything about ship design. There's a lot of cruiser and destroyer and frigate variants in the world that look similar but actually have radically different roles. The same with Star Trek probably.

It might interesting to play about with the model and make some other NX-family ships, like taking the saucer and making a Nebula/Miranda version (and no not the Akira). Or a baby NX type like New Orleans to Galaxy. Or an NX/Kelvin with one nacelle.
They could have the USS Pioneer concept art be part of the Franklin/Freedom-class family but still even smaller than Franklin.

I wouldn't be surprised if Pioneer was a reference to the original ~60m concept Enterprise set and design like how Franklin's size was based on The original 150m Enterprise of The Cage.

Second one from the top actually looks a lot like one of the unused DS9 kitbashes in the Tech manual.

 

[HauntRod]

This actually isn't true if you know anything about ship design. There's a lot of cruiser and destroyer and frigate variants in the world that look similar but actually have radically different roles. The same with Star Trek probably.

I know plenty about ship design, both real and fictional, thanks. I was specifically referring to Starfleet ships, and I’ll stand by what I said. With the exception of vessels like the Defiant, which is a pure combat ship, or dedicated science ships such as the Oberth and Nova, Starfleet tends to take a jack of all trades approach. Most of their ships are designed to handle a wide variety of missions.

 

[Boo-khat!]

I know plenty about ship design, both real and fictional, thanks. I was specifically referring to Starfleet ships, and I’ll stand by what I said. With the exception of vessels like the Defiant, which is a pure combat ship, or dedicated science ships such as the Oberth and Nova, Starfleet tends to take a jack of all trades approach. Most of their ships are designed to handle a wide variety of missions.

And even the Oberth was used as a science vessel, a supply ship, and a transport ship for both Federation bigwigs (Admiral Satie) and lowly cadets (Wesley Crusher).

Ship roles in Star Trek are meaningless, when the modus is to either use an old model or use stock footage of said old model, despite whatever the script or dialogue might have said. Or use the Enterprise-D or whatever as whatever that scriptwriter decided the ship's mission was going to be for that episode.

 

[Eudoxia]

I know plenty about ship design, both real and fictional, thanks. I was specifically referring to Starfleet ships, and I’ll stand by what I said. With the exception of vessels like the Defiant, which is a pure combat ship, or dedicated science ships such as the Oberth and Nova, Starfleet tends to take a jack of all trades approach. Most of their ships are designed to handle a wide variety of missions.

Even Defiant is used for science missions when the episode demanded it. The problem is that in terms of looking at the ships you either have to take the approach of looking at them within the entire framework of the media (so script, writers' intentions, etc.) or a much more technical approach of trying to cut them out of that framework and put them into a system and framework that makes sense for Starfleet's ship design philosophy.

But even going into the real world, just because a ship can handle a wide variety of missions doesn't mean it's designed to. Yeah you could use an Arleigh-Burke-class Destroyer's sensors to study seafloor geology, but that doesn't mean the ship is designed for that purpose.

I'd argue Starfleet's problem really is the same as Star Wars, where every ship is basically designed to be a WWII military vessel with a couple torpedo tubes and main guns, with the equivalent of helicopters (shuttles or runabouts) tacked on. Except Star Wars is a bit worse since every ship is also a carrier. There's basically three exceptions to this, which are Akira (50s/60s Missile Cruiser), Sovereign Refit (Iowa-class refit), and Defiant (doesn't really match a role because it's basically trying to be a "starfighter" but you can make an argument it's a Coastal Defense Ship/Littoral Combat Ship).

And even the Oberth was used as a science vessel, a supply ship, and a transport ship for both Federation bigwigs (Admiral Satie) and lowly cadets (Wesley Crusher).

Ship roles in Star Trek are meaningless, when the modus is to either use an old model or use stock footage of said old model, despite whatever the script or dialogue might have said. Or use the Enterprise-D or whatever as whatever that scriptwriter decided the ship's mission was going to be for that episode.

Exactly, it's the problem of narrative soap opera storytelling and budget versus design principles, as you say. The Akira for example probably falls into today what we'd call a "Helicopter Support Cruiser" (not really used by the US but is used by some European navies), but gets labelled all sorts of things in Beta Canon sourcebooks and novels. Or the big gun reused from the Stargazer on the Freedom is a mining laser, prototype phaser cannon, or prototype phaser lance. Virtually the same problem for every other ship. Lantree/Miranda is also a great example, as Lantree was a supply ship.

It still happens in all sorts of franchises today. Look at SWTOR where they couldn't even be assed half the time to use a Republic or Imperial model for ship in a mission, so you end up with the default freighter. It's basically a single line of code to show the correct sprite/icon/model, but it still happens due to deadlines. NeoConnie from Pic S3 is also a case in point where it was put together in a rush in 2 weeks.

 

[Boo-khat!]

Exactly, it's the problem of narrative soap opera storytelling and budget versus design principles, as you say. The Akira for example probably falls into today what we'd call a "Helicopter Support Cruiser" (not really used by the US but is used by some European navies), but gets labelled all sorts of things in Beta Canon sourcebooks and novels. Or the big gun reused from the Stargazer on the Freedom is a mining laser, prototype phaser cannon, or prototype phaser lance. Virtually the same problem for every other ship. Lantree/Miranda is also a great example, as Lantree was a supply ship.

The one thing that still bugs me to this day (because I am a big starship nerd) is that the Oberth class was never supposed to have been represented by the Grissom model from STIII. Okuda's dedication plaque for the Tsiolkovsky in "The Naked Now" indicated that the ship was commissioned the same year as the Enterprise-D, and its registry number was indicative at the time of a ship that was brand-new. Obviously Okuda was assuming that the producers were going to build a new science vessel model contemporary to the Galaxy class, but instead the VFX guys reused the Grissom (without even relabeling it from its last use), and the production designers reused sets from the TMP films for the ship's interiors. So because of that, the name "Oberth" was given to this ship, and we never got a proper 24th century science vessel until the Nova class in VOY.

 

[Eudoxia]

The one thing that still bugs me to this day (because I am a big starship nerd) is that the Oberth class was never supposed to have been represented by the Grissom model from STIII. Okuda's dedication plaque for the Tsiolkovsky in "The Naked Now" indicated that the ship was commissioned the same year as the Enterprise-D, and its registry number was indicative at the time of a ship that was brand-new. Obviously Okuda was assuming that the producers were going to build a new science vessel model contemporary to the Galaxy class, but instead the VFX guys reused the Grissom (without even relabeling it from its last use), and the production designers reused sets from the TMP films for the ship's interiors. So because of that, the name "Oberth" was given to this ship, and we never got a proper 24th century science vessel until the Nova class in VOY.

I mean technically speaking the Nebula has two science vessel variants (the Phoenix with it's "AWACS" pod and the Farragut/Sutherland/etc. with its oversized "Antares-type" style sensor and probe launcher pod).

You could also argue the Olympic-class was a science vessel, and if we really want to get into Beta Canon material surrounding the Wolf 359 ships, the pencil sharpener case on the Springfield-class is supposed to be either a big Cargo pod or Science pod, and the highlighters on the New Orleans are either deep space imaging sensors or torpedo launchers depending on if you're looking at Decipher, Last Unicorn, STA, or the various other sources that discuss them.

Anyways, I really wonder if it actually ties back to "The Pegasus" and the unused "Lost Era pre-Nebula" design they came up for it. Maybe the Oberth was originally meant not to be the Grissom, but the actual name for that concept design. (Most Beta Canon sources that bring it up I think call it the Apollo-class after one of the Okudagrams for the starship graveyard in Unification recycled from Wolf 359, but we now know that was the McQuarrie concept model.)

 

[Neb Lleb]

I don't think we ever had one of these threads for Enterprise, so I figured I'd start one. Better late than never.

Just to kick it off, why not show some love to the titular star of the show....

The NX-01.

I've always thought she was one of the most beautiful starships in the franchise. She's so perfectly balanced and well thought out. Everything has a purpose.

Both inside and out, I love the futuristic, but not too futuristic look they managed to achieve. She genuinely, in my opinion, looks like a predecessor to the Constitution class. Especially when you throw Strange New Worlds into the mix.

The NX-01 Enterprise, alongside the USS Enterprise-D and USS Voyager, is honestly my favourite Hero Ship of the franchise. It's literally a Trekified UFO... But that's why it's so good! It make sense that the first Enterprise would be a UFO-like ship, and you can see how it would lead to the later Constitution class from The Original Series, Strange New Worlds and both sets of films with Kirk and co.

Hell, from what I've read, its legacy plays a role in saving Brad Boimler and Beckett Mariner in the SNW story "Those Old Scientists", and even before that a painting of the NX-01 can be seen on the wall of the briefing room in "Ad Astra per Aspera" when Pike and co. are watching the trial of Una Chin-Riley. That's how great of a ship it is.

 

[Boo-khat!]

I mean technically speaking the Nebula has two science vessel variants (the Phoenix with it's "AWACS" pod and the Farragut/Sutherland/etc. with its oversized "Antares-type" style sensor and probe launcher pod).

But again, there's nothing canonically stating that those variants are 'science vessels.'

You could also argue the Olympic-class was a science vessel...

It was used canonically as a medical vessel in an alternate timeline, and a regular duty vessel docked at DS9. So there's no real proof that the class is any different than any other pre-Galaxy class ship.

and if we really want to get into Beta Canon material surrounding the Wolf 359 ships, the pencil sharpener case on the Springfield-class is supposed to be either a big Cargo pod or Science pod...

It was a cockpit from a Robotix set. And the Melbourne had one as well, but it was just meant as a pylon for the smaller nacelles.

and the highlighters on the New Orleans are either deep space imaging sensors or torpedo launchers depending on if you're looking at Decipher, Last Unicorn, STA, or the various other sources that discuss them.

I wouldn't read too much into extraneous parts. They could be literally anything.

Anyways, I really wonder if it actually ties back to "The Pegasus" and the unused "Lost Era pre-Nebula" design they came up for it. Maybe the Oberth was originally meant not to be the Grissom, but the actual name for that concept design. (Most Beta Canon sources that bring it up I think call it the Apollo-class after one of the Okudagrams for the starship graveyard in Unification recycled from Wolf 359, but we now know that was the McQuarrie concept model.)

The fan-made Apollo class is a separate thing from Sternbach's unused Ambassador kitbash concept art for the Pegasus.

 

[Eudoxia]

But again, there's nothing canonically stating that those variants are 'science vessels.'

It was used canonically as a medical vessel in an alternate timeline, and a regular duty vessel docked at DS9. So there's no real proof that the class is any different than any other pre-Galaxy class ship.

It was a cockpit from a Robotix set. And the Melbourne had one as well, but it was just meant as a pylon for the smaller nacelles.

I wouldn't read too much into extraneous parts. They could be literally anything.

I mean, like I said, it depends on how much you want to go outside what is actually stated on-screen. Medicine is science though, so you can argue a Medical vessel is functionally a science vessel.

The fan-made Apollo class is a separate thing from Sternbach's unused Ambassador kitbash concept art for the Pegasus.

Is it not called that in the Decipher/Last Unicorn RPG? I know it appears in Beta Canon somewhere.

 

[tomalak301]

I know this thread is long now and this has probably been talked about but what Enterprise did with the Vulcan ships was a highlight of the series for me. They were big and beautiful looking and looked very Vulcan if that makes sense.

I also loved how each Xindi had its own unique ship. I wish we could have seen them more.