I like that design, PTrope... just thought I'd mention that. I'm not sure I understand the deal with your sublight propulsion system however... care to expound on that a bit?
How would you re-imagine the NX-01 Enterprise?
- Thread starter Wingsley
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Cary L. Brown, I actually misspoke a bit. The Jensen Drive is a relativistic FTL drive (actually, it can operate in normal sublight modes, as well), which was developed before warp drive, but the consequences of using it were deemed unfeasible for use as a primary propulsion system, due to the time dilation effects of exceeding SOL in normal space. However, since Endeavour is the first high-warp ship built by the UESPA, they decided to include a Jensen Drive for emergency use, giving them a chance to get back home if the drive failed, even though they might arrive years later, by the timeline of their destination. (Additionally, in the story this was designed for, I make a point of the need for synchronizing the ship's time frame with its destination, whenever they drop out of warp and enter a system at near-light velocities). The Jensen Drive, as well as the graviton accelerators, are reasonable technical explanations for components that started out primarily as artistic decisions 
; in fact, the Jensen Drive is named for our own BJensen, who first drew the added components on a sketch of my original Endeavour design.
; in fact, the Jensen Drive is named for our own BJensen, who first drew the added components on a sketch of my original Endeavour design.
I think the NX class, as it is, its a logical choice. Think about it. The design came from a modern time. The military have developed aircraft that follow many of the same design features, especialy in intercepters, which is exactlly what the NX class is.
Granted, the color scheme could be different, but thats about it.
Granted, the color scheme could be different, but thats about it.
The NX is fine as it is. The problem isn't the ship, it's fans' linear mentality towards continuity. They don't know how to look at real scientific and technological progress as a basis for comparison.
No product that has evolved over the years from what it started out as to what it is now has followed a linear progression. Everything had that one or two side-tracks where someone tried something different that, while it might not have necessarily been a bad idea, just didn't seem to work out at the time.
So, to put that into Trek context - the Connie class, and the general design attitude of Starfleet during those years - smooth painted hulls - was one of those diversions. Not that it was a bad idea in and of itself, just that, upon reflection in later years, was decided that there was no real benefit to the extra labor and materials involved.
All that extra hull plating and gallons upon gallons of paint added considerable mass to the ship, decreasing warp efficiency and increasing general power needs. That's why it was a faster trip to Kronos in Archer's day, but longer in Kirk's time. The distance didn't change, the ship's nominal cruise speed changed. Decreased warp efficiency during the TOS years would also explain why the warp chart was re-calibrated during the TNG years. It wasn't changed and re-calculated for the hell of it, it was just corrected BACK to what it was prior to 100 or so years ago.
The fan base as a whole used to be WONDERFUL at creating their own fiction to fill in the blanks in the continuity. Ever since the late TNG years though, when so much "official" source material started to show up, they've become a bunch of whining crybabies who want every last detail planned out ahead of time and served to them on a silver platter. They don't want to THINK any more.
No product that has evolved over the years from what it started out as to what it is now has followed a linear progression. Everything had that one or two side-tracks where someone tried something different that, while it might not have necessarily been a bad idea, just didn't seem to work out at the time.
So, to put that into Trek context - the Connie class, and the general design attitude of Starfleet during those years - smooth painted hulls - was one of those diversions. Not that it was a bad idea in and of itself, just that, upon reflection in later years, was decided that there was no real benefit to the extra labor and materials involved.
All that extra hull plating and gallons upon gallons of paint added considerable mass to the ship, decreasing warp efficiency and increasing general power needs. That's why it was a faster trip to Kronos in Archer's day, but longer in Kirk's time. The distance didn't change, the ship's nominal cruise speed changed. Decreased warp efficiency during the TOS years would also explain why the warp chart was re-calibrated during the TNG years. It wasn't changed and re-calculated for the hell of it, it was just corrected BACK to what it was prior to 100 or so years ago.
The fan base as a whole used to be WONDERFUL at creating their own fiction to fill in the blanks in the continuity. Ever since the late TNG years though, when so much "official" source material started to show up, they've become a bunch of whining crybabies who want every last detail planned out ahead of time and served to them on a silver platter. They don't want to THINK any more.
Good points!
Im not sure but I think that may have been a joke
I get what hes saying about the non linear aproach to design, look at an example of mobile phones, they were at first really big and have got smaller and smaller but over the years there have been a few which have been much bigger for no reason at all other than style (not talking about ones with specific functions like the Ngage)
This said Starfleet could have gone through several 'styles' in their ship designs where they wanted to simplify their ships in the TOS era in the looks department. Just because ENT is set before TOS doesnt mean that it has to be a smooth ship, I love the Vangard but its design is only one possible way to go with the way a ship can be designed.
I get what hes saying about the non linear aproach to design, look at an example of mobile phones, they were at first really big and have got smaller and smaller but over the years there have been a few which have been much bigger for no reason at all other than style (not talking about ones with specific functions like the Ngage)
This said Starfleet could have gone through several 'styles' in their ship designs where they wanted to simplify their ships in the TOS era in the looks department. Just because ENT is set before TOS doesnt mean that it has to be a smooth ship, I love the Vangard but its design is only one possible way to go with the way a ship can be designed.
I suppose this might work:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/Irishman/Canopussfb.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/Irishman/Canopusbottom.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/Irishman/CanopusTop.jpg
Of course, I designed this to try to bridge the gap between the actual NX and the Daedalus-era. Still, it could stand on its own as a re-imagining of the NX herself.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/Irishman/Canopussfb.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/Irishman/Canopusbottom.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/Irishman/CanopusTop.jpg
Of course, I designed this to try to bridge the gap between the actual NX and the Daedalus-era. Still, it could stand on its own as a re-imagining of the NX herself.
I WAS hoping that you were just being facetious. Evidently you weren't. In the real world (And most fictitious ones) when something new is tried in vessel technology, they build a prototype to see if it works. It saves a lot of cash instead of building a series of ships and discovering: "Oops, it doesn't work!" The idea that starfleet kept building slowboat after slowboat until they realized it didn't work is ridiculous.
Are you paying attention?
Wow, that has to be the most LAME rationaliation ever.
Sometimes, you know, you just have to say 'ENT SCREWED UP'. You do realize that TOS Warp 5 is FASTER than TNG Warp 5, right? The curves are different... the only 'logical' conclusion, by your logic, is that the Klingon systems MOVED a few hundred light years in the 80 years between ENT and TOS.
Sometimes, you know, you just have to say 'ENT SCREWED UP'. You do realize that TOS Warp 5 is FASTER than TNG Warp 5, right? The curves are different... the only 'logical' conclusion, by your logic, is that the Klingon systems MOVED a few hundred light years in the 80 years between ENT and TOS.
Yes! Yes! Yes! I've been saying this forever. Remember Trek magazine? Or, more likely, the Best of Trek compilations? In every book, I think, there was an article where the author(s) came up with 'logical' explanations for continuity, production & other goofs. These articles were fun & imaginitive, but never forgot that the source material wasn't infallible.
By this token, if you believe deep down in your socks that either the NX-01 or the 1701 doesn't fit into continuity, come up with a way to rationalize your perceived incongruity. Calling the producers lazy & stupid is cheating (& not very fun!)
Ziz' rationalization for hull plating is valid, I just don't completely agree with it. But to extend his logic: why did the glowing Bussard Collectors dissapear on the 1701 & reappear on 1701-C? Why did the antenna style deflector vanish after 1701 only to reappear on 1701-D?
I like to think the aztec hull patterns are used to help scatter enemy sensors, somewhat like the angled plating on stealth fighters today. That would explain why the patterns aren't really random, but purposefully thought out. By the time 1701 was launched, Starfleet believed they had other measures in place that were equally effective. Starfleet was proven wrong & for 1701's refit the aztec pattern was re-instigated.
Sorry if this isn't very artsy, but I wanted to add my $.02.
Wow.
Very interesting ideas!
Ancient managed to take the show's design and improve on it.
One thing I thought was interesting about "These Are the Voyages..." was that the characters said the NX-01 would be decommissioned, but the rest of the NX-class was not mentioned.
Maybe Columbia and the others were "adopted" by the new Federation fleet, and became test beds for newer technologies. And maybe they came to look more like Ancient's design.
I don't mind the detailed hull of the show's ship that much. The two things that don't look right to me are the curvy pseudo-dorsals that seem to grow out of the saucer to go back to the impulse engines, plus the too-TMP-like shape of the impulse engines themselves. Those features seem too TMP or TNG like. I can live with the NX-01's saucer and nacelles otherwise.
Very interesting ideas!
Ancient managed to take the show's design and improve on it.
One thing I thought was interesting about "These Are the Voyages..." was that the characters said the NX-01 would be decommissioned, but the rest of the NX-class was not mentioned.
Maybe Columbia and the others were "adopted" by the new Federation fleet, and became test beds for newer technologies. And maybe they came to look more like Ancient's design.
I don't mind the detailed hull of the show's ship that much. The two things that don't look right to me are the curvy pseudo-dorsals that seem to grow out of the saucer to go back to the impulse engines, plus the too-TMP-like shape of the impulse engines themselves. Those features seem too TMP or TNG like. I can live with the NX-01's saucer and nacelles otherwise.
I have always loved this idea and practice it frequently myself so no cheating here. Ideas and imagination is what these shows have always been about for me and playing around with the technology is part of that. This is something to have fun with and taking it so seriously tends to suck the air out of the room.
But I guess I am not really a reliable source though. I tend to find something to like about almost all of the Trek ships and I really like this one just the way it is… if you hadn’t guessed that already.
But I am really impressed with your take on this Irishman.
Well, speaking artistically...
I would probably just kill the majority greeblies on the NX-01, and rely a bit more on weathering on the model to 'bring it out' a little more. The markings and details would be more based on naval ships (like the NCC-1701).
The lines are workable, but it's really the texturing off the NX-01 that seems 'off for the period'.
I would probably just kill the majority greeblies on the NX-01, and rely a bit more on weathering on the model to 'bring it out' a little more. The markings and details would be more based on naval ships (like the NCC-1701).
The lines are workable, but it's really the texturing off the NX-01 that seems 'off for the period'.
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