My TOS Shuttlecraft...
- Thread starter Warped9
- Start date
Maybe a site regarding naval ship construction would be more appropriate with regard to the Enterprise...
Cary L. Brown's example isn't really a bad one. However I'd be challenged to depict the shuttlecraft in the manner he exampled. I simply don't have that expertise and although I've recently acquired a CAD program I have yet to learn how to use it--presently I'm totally clueless with it.
I'll simply have to muddle along in my own way.
I'll simply have to muddle along in my own way.
A few thoughts to throw out and share.
I've recently revised my planned drawings. In particular I'm thinking of not doing a ceiling Plan since there really isn't much to see in that view and you already get a good sense of the craft's interior with the cutaway views and deck plan already in the making.
Anyway, here it is:
Sheet O: Cover Page
Sheet 1: Class F Port Elevation
Sheet 2: Class F Starboard Elevation
Sheet 3: Class F Bow Elevation
Sheet 4: Class F Aft Elevation
Sheet 5: Class F Top Plan
Sheet 6: Class F Bottom Plan
Sheet 7: Class F Port Cutaway
Sheet 8: Class F Starboard Cutaway
Sheet 9: Class F Bow Cutaway
Sheet 10: Class F Aft Cutaway A (forward compartment)
Sheet 11: Class F Aft Cutaway B (aft compartment)
Sheet 12: Class F Deck Plan
(sheets 1-12 drawn in 1/24 scale)
Sheet 13: Class F Mission Variant Cutaways
Sheet 14: Class F History & Specifications
Sheet 15: Class H 3-view A (top, port & bow)
Sheet 16: Class H 3-view B (bottom, starboard & aft)
Sheet 17: Class H 3-view Cutaway A (deck, port & bow)
Sheet 18: Class H 3-view Cutaway B (starboard and aft[2])
Sheet 19: USS Enterprise Shuttlecraft Complement
(sheets 13-19 drawn in 1/48 scale)
Sheets 20-25: Photoart images of various shuttlecraft in action.
How's that sound?
Some other musings. It goes without saying that my shuttlecraft will not be exactly as we saw onscreen simply because it is a compromise to reconcile two and perhaps even three disparate depictions of the vehicle on TOS. The proportions of the fullsize interior are grossly inconsistent with those of the fullsize exterior mock-up which itself is significantly smaller than the famous 24ft. mentioned by Kirk in "The Galileo Seven." That said what I've tried to due is maintain the integrity of the design so that it still looks near exactly as what we see onscreen while being integrated as more like a "real" vehicle. I tried to do this by adapting real world considerations in regards to such a vehicle actually existing.
Now, when I finish this little project I intend to apply myself to rendering the three TAS shuttlecraft. Right off I must say that my versions will depart from what is seen onscreen far, far more than I ever contemplated doing with the TOS ship. I think it simply has to be so because the TAS ships don't reflect near the level of thought and insight the TOS shuttlecraft does. The TAS ships were done seemingly more for the sake of variety and doing something different and with little regard to how they could possible fit and function in a practical manner within the Enterprise hangar facilities. (Indeed my Class H variant is essentially a more "real" TOS version of the TAS shuttlecraft from "The Slaver Weapon.")
Still the TAS shuttles do have a measure of charm and appeeal to them so I'm gonna give it a try. By necessity they will be scaled down and their lines and portions tweaked and massaged to make them more credible as "real" ships. My backstory for them will basically be that they are specialized craft usually assigned to a starbase and periodically loaned out to starships for specific missions.
Here's a general breakdown:
The Scoutship: This is the shuttlecraft seen in "The Slaver Weapon" and the ship many fans assumed Alan Dean Foster was refering to in his adaptation of "Mudd's Passion." ADF gave us a fascinating little narrative on the ship's hangar and the vehicles housed within it in that story. Very cool then and I still kinda think so since it's stuck with me after all these years. The "high speed, long range scoutship" will have to be somewhat shorter in length than how it was drawn onscreen and I will endeavour to make it look somewhat more integrated as a whole. For instance the vehicle isn't shown with any form of sublight drive. The interior will need some serious thought since what was shown was mostly a large empty cabin. Maybe they meant it as a "delivery truck" version of a shuttlecraft? My take is that it's essentially a 23rd century equivalent of a runabout.
The Lander: I think of this as the HLV or the "heavily armored landing vehicle" ADF has Harry Mudd hijack in "Mudd's Passion." This may be the funkiest looking of the TAS craft with a weird nose and jacked up aft end. I will maintain the overall integrity of the design while needing to scale it down. My rationalization for this ship is that over the years Starfleet learned that periodically it must go into environments that would be hell for a standard shuttlecraft--these environments could be planets with higher than average tectonic activity (boy, they sure could have used this vehicle on the mad planet seen in "The Jihad") or heavy atmospheric pressure. Because sometimes an unmanned probe just can't get the job done and you have to go down there yourself. However the one thing the HLV seems sorrily vulnerable to are oversized reptillian carnivores with a bad attitude and indiscrimiate appetites.
The Aquashuttle: The AQV as drawn onscreen has zero credibility as a flying submersible at least in my eyes. Far more convincing is ADF's description of the craft in his adaptaion of "The Ambergris Element." He described it as generally ovoid in shape with a bubble on top from where the pilot flies the ship. This ship will diverge far mare than either of the other two shuttles and my approach will lean more towards ADF's concept while adapting elements of the TAS onscreen version. A thumbnail sketch of my concept will look something more like the submersible Proteus from the 1966 sf film Fantastic Voyage, but my ship will look more Trek like. Wait until you see it before you pass judgment.
That's it for now.
I've recently revised my planned drawings. In particular I'm thinking of not doing a ceiling Plan since there really isn't much to see in that view and you already get a good sense of the craft's interior with the cutaway views and deck plan already in the making.
Anyway, here it is:
Sheet O: Cover Page
Sheet 1: Class F Port Elevation
Sheet 2: Class F Starboard Elevation
Sheet 3: Class F Bow Elevation
Sheet 4: Class F Aft Elevation
Sheet 5: Class F Top Plan
Sheet 6: Class F Bottom Plan
Sheet 7: Class F Port Cutaway
Sheet 8: Class F Starboard Cutaway
Sheet 9: Class F Bow Cutaway
Sheet 10: Class F Aft Cutaway A (forward compartment)
Sheet 11: Class F Aft Cutaway B (aft compartment)
Sheet 12: Class F Deck Plan
(sheets 1-12 drawn in 1/24 scale)
Sheet 13: Class F Mission Variant Cutaways
Sheet 14: Class F History & Specifications
Sheet 15: Class H 3-view A (top, port & bow)
Sheet 16: Class H 3-view B (bottom, starboard & aft)
Sheet 17: Class H 3-view Cutaway A (deck, port & bow)
Sheet 18: Class H 3-view Cutaway B (starboard and aft[2])
Sheet 19: USS Enterprise Shuttlecraft Complement
(sheets 13-19 drawn in 1/48 scale)
Sheets 20-25: Photoart images of various shuttlecraft in action.
How's that sound?
Some other musings. It goes without saying that my shuttlecraft will not be exactly as we saw onscreen simply because it is a compromise to reconcile two and perhaps even three disparate depictions of the vehicle on TOS. The proportions of the fullsize interior are grossly inconsistent with those of the fullsize exterior mock-up which itself is significantly smaller than the famous 24ft. mentioned by Kirk in "The Galileo Seven." That said what I've tried to due is maintain the integrity of the design so that it still looks near exactly as what we see onscreen while being integrated as more like a "real" vehicle. I tried to do this by adapting real world considerations in regards to such a vehicle actually existing.
Now, when I finish this little project I intend to apply myself to rendering the three TAS shuttlecraft. Right off I must say that my versions will depart from what is seen onscreen far, far more than I ever contemplated doing with the TOS ship. I think it simply has to be so because the TAS ships don't reflect near the level of thought and insight the TOS shuttlecraft does. The TAS ships were done seemingly more for the sake of variety and doing something different and with little regard to how they could possible fit and function in a practical manner within the Enterprise hangar facilities. (Indeed my Class H variant is essentially a more "real" TOS version of the TAS shuttlecraft from "The Slaver Weapon.")
Still the TAS shuttles do have a measure of charm and appeeal to them so I'm gonna give it a try. By necessity they will be scaled down and their lines and portions tweaked and massaged to make them more credible as "real" ships. My backstory for them will basically be that they are specialized craft usually assigned to a starbase and periodically loaned out to starships for specific missions.
Here's a general breakdown:
The Scoutship: This is the shuttlecraft seen in "The Slaver Weapon" and the ship many fans assumed Alan Dean Foster was refering to in his adaptation of "Mudd's Passion." ADF gave us a fascinating little narrative on the ship's hangar and the vehicles housed within it in that story. Very cool then and I still kinda think so since it's stuck with me after all these years. The "high speed, long range scoutship" will have to be somewhat shorter in length than how it was drawn onscreen and I will endeavour to make it look somewhat more integrated as a whole. For instance the vehicle isn't shown with any form of sublight drive. The interior will need some serious thought since what was shown was mostly a large empty cabin. Maybe they meant it as a "delivery truck" version of a shuttlecraft? My take is that it's essentially a 23rd century equivalent of a runabout.
The Lander: I think of this as the HLV or the "heavily armored landing vehicle" ADF has Harry Mudd hijack in "Mudd's Passion." This may be the funkiest looking of the TAS craft with a weird nose and jacked up aft end. I will maintain the overall integrity of the design while needing to scale it down. My rationalization for this ship is that over the years Starfleet learned that periodically it must go into environments that would be hell for a standard shuttlecraft--these environments could be planets with higher than average tectonic activity (boy, they sure could have used this vehicle on the mad planet seen in "The Jihad") or heavy atmospheric pressure. Because sometimes an unmanned probe just can't get the job done and you have to go down there yourself. However the one thing the HLV seems sorrily vulnerable to are oversized reptillian carnivores with a bad attitude and indiscrimiate appetites.
The Aquashuttle: The AQV as drawn onscreen has zero credibility as a flying submersible at least in my eyes. Far more convincing is ADF's description of the craft in his adaptaion of "The Ambergris Element." He described it as generally ovoid in shape with a bubble on top from where the pilot flies the ship. This ship will diverge far mare than either of the other two shuttles and my approach will lean more towards ADF's concept while adapting elements of the TAS onscreen version. A thumbnail sketch of my concept will look something more like the submersible Proteus from the 1966 sf film Fantastic Voyage, but my ship will look more Trek like. Wait until you see it before you pass judgment.
That's it for now.
All my essential work for the TOS shuttlecraft is pretty much done. What remains is mostly detail work and making sure everything I want to be there is there and I haven't overlooked anything. Mind you I will be sharing what I have to get other perspectives just to be certain I haven't overlooked anything essential.
Regarding the TAS shuttlecraft project I've already begun to sketch out my ideas.
But like all dedicated enthusiasts I'm doing this as a hobby in my free time. If this were actually my paying job then I'd likely be done already.
With luck this week I'll begin posting some finished sheets. And I will share a bit of a surprise with you. By cleaning up my drawings with more precise linework and also redesigning the aft landing pad I've arrived at a final ship that is not only a tad shorter than I originally expected yet also a tad roomier inside. My final length came out as--get this--25.88 ft (25'-9.56") with a 5.8 ft. interior ceiling (a smidgen over 5'-9") and a slightly longer interior as well. Not bad I must say. 25.88 ft. puts the main hull length pretty damn close to the mythical 24 ft. figure referenced by Kirk, close enough that one could rationalize that he may well have misremembered the rounded off figure when he made his reference to it.
You're saved with this, this time, Warped. :P
What is the length sans the rear landing gear? Nose to aft nacelle cap? Is that your 25.88' figure?
If so, you are right -- the main hull would be close to 24' and thus make the statement in the episode mesh with your concept.
If so, you are right -- the main hull would be close to 24' and thus make the statement in the episode mesh with your concept.
^ Oooh, nice dodge. 
My length is 25.88 ft. from nose to trailing edge of the aft landing pad. Subsequently the main hull will be in the neighborhood of about 24.5 ft. or so.
While you are all waiting for tastes of the main course here is a little sampling of what's coming down the road from your's truly.
I've now tried three different browsers.
With IE and Firefox, no go. I can't see a thing. Once I get to your hosting service, if I click on the image directly with Firefox, I get a message that the URL can't be displayed because of errors. I can't even get this far with IE.
With Opera, I still can't see the image but at least it will allow me to download the image to my Desktop. Neither IE or Firefox will allow me to do this. I can then open the JPEG normally off of my desktop. Cool design.
Until you can get these issues addressed, I'll host the picture for you, Warped9. It's the least I can do for you, considering all you've given to this community. (For what it's worth, when I tried uploading your image initally to my hosting site, it came out distorted. I had to convert it to a .bmp and then back to a .jpg to get it to look right. The problem may be in the original image itself. You may also want to try this trick.)
Computers work a lot better in the 23rd century.
Warped9 TAS scoutship
With IE and Firefox, no go. I can't see a thing. Once I get to your hosting service, if I click on the image directly with Firefox, I get a message that the URL can't be displayed because of errors. I can't even get this far with IE.
With Opera, I still can't see the image but at least it will allow me to download the image to my Desktop. Neither IE or Firefox will allow me to do this. I can then open the JPEG normally off of my desktop. Cool design.
Until you can get these issues addressed, I'll host the picture for you, Warped9. It's the least I can do for you, considering all you've given to this community. (For what it's worth, when I tried uploading your image initally to my hosting site, it came out distorted. I had to convert it to a .bmp and then back to a .jpg to get it to look right. The problem may be in the original image itself. You may also want to try this trick.)
Computers work a lot better in the 23rd century.
Warped9 TAS scoutship
Please take this in the spirit of constructive criticism, Warped, but I think that ship retains too much of the half-baked original. I think you have to start with trying to figure out the logic of the design -- why does this ship have the nacelles above and the other one has them below? How does that change in purpose and design influence the interior layout, and how would that change the shape from the familiar Galileo design? Then there is the matter of style. How would Jefferies have done it? Or, how would you do it, using the same design influences he used? In particular, I think the design is simplistically retro without doing anything original with the form. Galileo may have been a flying brick, but it was a damned stylish flying brick, showing the same kind of design input that could turn a Dodge pickup into THIS.
While your argument is valid that the TAS scoutship as seen on screen was a bit of a kitbash, I've never had problems with the nacelles up on top. In fact, I've always had a problem with them on the bottom. Why leave your main propulsion devices where they could be so easily damaged? One hard landing and you're out of business.
Regardless, your criticism of the basic design is a good one, aridas sofia. There is a clarity and unity of design to a shuttlecraft that a TAS scoutship lacks.
Regardless, your criticism of the basic design is a good one, aridas sofia. There is a clarity and unity of design to a shuttlecraft that a TAS scoutship lacks.
