Nelson Mandela-class Diplomatic Courier

[JES]

As soon as I heard that Nelson Mandela passed away, I knew I had to design a Federation starship to carry his name, as I knew that his is one of those names that the Federation would have a great deal of respect for, and probably even still have an influence on it's politics. I'm surprised that I haven't found any other starships that carries his name yet.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40445677@N06/with/11406398445/

There are two aspects that I'm unsure of, and could use the opinion of fellow starship designers. There are two options for the Point Defense Phasers (PDPs for short, not to confused with the Quad Point Defense Pulse Phaser Turrets, which are designed to take out big threats; the PDPs are meant to take out fighters, other small spacecraft, and projectiles).

One is like akin to the units Malcolm Lu originally designed for the Majestic class, and used on the Legacy class, while the other is compact, and half-spherical shaped, with an emitter sandwiched into the middle.

Then there is the shuttlebays: one design is like that of the Miranda and Sparrow class frigates, while the other design has the doors mounted along the side, like on the Insignia class.

A vote of opinions is necessary before I am to continue the design process any further.

The design of the Nelson Mandela was based on the Diplomatic Courier U.S.S. Robert F. Kennedy (NCC-921), and yes, there are many references to some of Forbin's designs in the starship's bio.

Information (subject to additions and changes):

Armament (subject to change):
14 Quad Point Defense Pulse Phaser Turrets (concealed)
12 Point Defense Phaser Emplacements


Laid down on Stardate 12.16.91, the Nelson Mandela-class Diplomatic Courier was the be the latest designed diplomatic vessel. Designed with Quantum Slipstream, she was capable of even reaching nearby galaxies within hours if the mission called for it. In spite of opposition, due to the incident with the U.S.S. Grand Alliance (NCC-72800), in which her escort, the U.S.S. Claymore (NCC-69426) had been destroyed by Orion mercenary starships, it had been decided that by 2380, all future diplomatic vessels must be designed to be capable of fending for themselves. As a result, the U.S.S. Nelson Mandela (NX, and later NCC-91921) carries not only 12 Point Defense Phasers (PDPs), but also 14 Point Defense Quad Pulse Phaser Cannon Emplacements and Deployable Armor Generators, based on the technology equipped to the U.S.S. Voyager (NCC-74656) upon her return from the Delta Quadrant. The Nelson Mandela class, being designed to carry dignitaries, diplomats, and ambassadors, and if necessary, their families, from whatever worlds she might be required, is equipped with a manner of luxuries, many of which are shared with luxury star cruisers, including 5-star suite cabins, which can be completely re-equipped within a couple of hours due to industrial replicators and nano-constructors inside each cabin, for whatever environment that may be required, a swimming pool, mess halls designed like a 5-star restaurants, and arboretums, not to mention holo-suites, in spite of not being the largest of the Diplomatic Starships in Starfleet's Diplomatic Corp's disposal (Starfleet One, the Quantum Slipstream capable replacement for the U.S.S. Grand Alliance is to take that honor). The U.S.S. Nelson Mandela was involved in one of the last attempts to maintain diplomatic ties with the Klingon Empire, before the Klingon Empire cut diplomatic ties with the Federation. This attempt ended with a Vor'cha class-Attack Cruiser firing at the U.S.S. Nelson Mandela's port bow (not across; the Nelson Mandela's port bow was hit). Fortunately, the shields completely absorbed the attack, but she was forced to return to the Federation border, clearly not welcome in Klingon space.

 

[Kaiser]

Nice

 

[Wingsley]

Slight correction: the NCC-921 TOS-era ship you mentioned is the U.S.S. Robert F. Kennedy.

 

[JES]

Slight correction: the NCC-921 TOS-era ship you mentioned is the U.S.S. Robert F. Kennedy.

Thanks for the heads up!

I've changed my post for accuracy accordingly.

I'm still waiting for constructive criticism, if anyone has any, specifically help on deciding on which shuttlebay design to go with.

 

[surak-toc]

the design work so far looks amazing, cannot to see more and how it pans out and see everything in its entirety.

 

[JES]

Thanks!

It always makes me happy to see people say that. Encourages me to continue the work that goes into developing these designs.

I'll try to make sure I have something to show by the end of next week. I probably won't be doing them in Illustrator (takes too long; sketching orthographics won't be as accurate, but it will be far faster. I'll let someone else vector or model her if they want/don't mind).

Since nobody seems to care which design options I choose, I'll just go with the Miranda-like shuttlebays, since I see them as a safer design element. The (smaller) PDPs will be based off of the ones used on the Legacy class.

 

[Starship]

A good homage with an interesting concept.
Therefore, I suggest a short name: USS Mandela.

 

[Maurice]

Am I the only one who thinks it's weird that a discussion about a "Diplomatic Courier" starts off by discussing its weaponry?

 

[JES]

Starship: I chose to use both his first and last name just in case there was a contemporary U.S.S. Mandela that I didn't know about, since Starfleet vessels usually use only the last name as a homage to a person, more often than not.

But to be fair, if another person seconds your opinion, then I might make the changes accordingly in the schematics. But if your suggestion is thirded, then I will definitely make the change, since you know what they say about the third time being the charm...

Maurice: It is a bit odd when you mention it, but that is because weapons are always the first of the statistics that I add about a starship, and statistics in turn appear first, before the flavor text. As time goes on, I plan to edit the original post, and add things, such as impulse, warp, and slipstream speed, once I've done the necessary homework.
For instance, I've decided that the Nelson Mandela is 12 decks high, and has a maximum quantum slipstream velocity somewhere in between that of the Vesta class and the Odyssey class (but I need to research the two classes QSD velocities, and come up with a something in between, stuff that I'm not prone to doing right away).

Anyways, here is a schematic set I've been working on:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40445677@N06/11630566233/

I'm happy with the side view, and have managed to work out the number of decks to 12, but being the slob I am, have made the nacelle pylons, hull, and nacelles out of proportion, so the top view will need a lot of work, and much of it will probably have to be erased, and started over.
I know it isn't much right now, but what can I say, I'm a terrible procrastinator!
I really need to get more work done next week.

Thanks for viewing, and keep the comments coming!

 

[JES]

Yet another update:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40445677@N06/11933161105/

I've noticed that there hasn't been any new comments after my last post, which is making me consider just moving on to another design.
I'm not fishing for complements. I just want to know that others are enjoying my work, and that it is worth continuing to go through this long design and sketching process. After all, if the design isn't worth a comment once a week (like "keep up the work" or "looking good"), then I don't consider it worth continuing to work on, when I have so many other design ideas I haven't given visual form or posted.

Anyways, for some reason, I've decided to go a bit further, and use Illustrator to give the illusion of the whole dorsal by using the reflect tool, traced the outline of the dorsal using the pen tool, and even added a simple pulse phaser unit to one of it's mounting areas, as well as pulse phaser fire, illustrating how it would work when in use.

 

[surak-toc]

the design so far is coming along nicely, the design from the top of it looks amazing, cannot wait for more, just a design point, would like it to have a little romulan influence

 

[Maurice]

The point I was making is that diplomatic vehicles are typically unarmed. Air Force One doesn't carry air to air missiles. Defensive countermeasures, yes, but weapons?

 

[Cyke101]

The point I was making is that diplomatic vehicles are typically unarmed. Air Force One doesn't carry air to air missiles. Defensive countermeasures, yes, but weapons?

It always struck me as odd that there were so very few anti-torpedo countermeasures in Starfleet, aside from shields. Interceptor torpedoes and point defense phasers (like in ST:Armada) would have been neat. Even modern-day Fedex planes have countermeasure systems designed to feed incoming missiles a false target (like how O'Brien defeated the Cardassian weapons platforms) and then automatically signal air traffic control of the attack.

 

[Robbiesan]

Actually Mandela being the name of a diplomatic ship strikes me as odd given he's either a freedom fighter for the African National Congress or a terrorist to some ( he was caught with multiple explosive devices and given to necklacing the opposition [filling a tire full of jellied gasoline around an opponent's neck then igniting it]). Rather gruesome and hardly diplomatic.

I guess you mean his statesman years?

 

[aloha62]

Am I the only one who thinks it's weird that a discussion about a "Diplomatic Courier" starts off by discussing its weaponry?

Kind of makes sense in this context, Mandela did start his career with murders, weapons and bombs.

 

[JES]

the design so far is coming along nicely, the design from the top of it looks amazing, cannot wait for more, just a design point, would like it to have a little romulan influence

Thanks, happy to hear that.
Now that you mention that, I might give the nacelle pylons a hull plating design similar to the Akira class, which has a design that reminds me a little of the hull pattern on a Romulan ship.
Either that, or I might research both, and try a pattern that is a combination of the two. The hull and components however will remain unchanged from the concept. This is a Federation design after all. But I do appreciate ideas like this, and welcome them, even if I don't act on them.

The point I was making is that diplomatic vehicles are typically unarmed. Air Force One doesn't carry air to air missiles. Defensive countermeasures, yes, but weapons?

True, but Air Force One has never had to deal with mercenaries or pirates. I think that there are many space pirates who wouldn't think twice about kidnapping Federation dignitaries for ransom, or sell them to the Federation's enemies for political leverage.
Fortunately, it is very difficult to board an aircraft in mid-flight, but unfortunately, the same restrictions don't exist in space, and it is quite possible to damage a starship until they are rendered adrift, and then board that said starship, similar to how pirates can board ocean-going ships at sea.

The point I was making is that diplomatic vehicles are typically unarmed. Air Force One doesn't carry air to air missiles. Defensive countermeasures, yes, but weapons?

It always struck me as odd that there were so very few anti-torpedo countermeasures in Starfleet, aside from shields. Interceptor torpedoes and point defense phasers (like in ST:Armada) would have been neat. Even modern-day Fedex planes have countermeasure systems designed to feed incoming missiles a false target (like how O'Brien defeated the Cardassian weapons platforms) and then automatically signal air traffic control of the attack.

Actually, I believe that it was Malcolm Lu's Majestic class that introduced me to the idea of Point Defense Phasers, and the Legacy class and Madeinjapan's/Samuelson's Perception class have inspired me to make them standard equipment on any of my designs that are contemporary with the Legacy class and beyond.
It now makes sense to make tertiary weapons, similar in function to anti-air batteries on even todays warships (but especially the battleships of old that were covered in weapons), while the main phaser arrays focus on enemy warships.

Actually Mandela being the name of a diplomatic ship strikes me as odd given he's either a freedom fighter for the African National Congress or a terrorist to some ( he was caught with multiple explosive devices and given to necklacing the opposition [filling a tire full of jellied gasoline around an opponent's neck then igniting it]). Rather gruesome and hardly diplomatic.

I guess you mean his statesman years?

I guess so, since I've never heard of Mandela as violent in his political endeavors.

Am I the only one who thinks it's weird that a discussion about a "Diplomatic Courier" starts off by discussing its weaponry?

Kind of makes sense in this context, Mandela did start his career with murders, weapons and bombs.

And here I was rethinking the name, or the take of ship that would carry his name. But I guess that Teddy D. Roosevelt did say "walk softly, and carry a big stick", or something like that.

I appreciate the comments, and please don't be shy, because they encourage me to continue this long design process.
Tomorrow, I'll probably post the progress I've made this week

 

[Robbiesan]

Mandela is/was well known today as the leader of the ANC who overcame decades of imprisonment to become the head of South Africa and an important world leader. Most know him because of the struggle of all colored people (not my term) and imposed by the Dutch Afrikaaner controled South African government as a result of apartheid.

What's not well known is that he was caught with lots of explosive devices, ordered lots of bombings himself, married a person who did some of the most heinous things committed by the ANC, was a Communist but wouldn't publicly admit it in his written biography though a leaked and authenticated biography admits this, and would never condemn the terrorist actions committed by the ANC. He also purchased enormous amounts of armaments after becoming a leader in his country.

Do some checking as to the state of South Africa today especially regarding the number of murders. It's appalling. Apatheid was horrifically bad and affected folks who were Asian and Indian as well as African or combinations of those things even in the most miniscule amounts. But all of that has to be measured within an honest appraisal of history and seeing Mandela for who he was completely.

There's nothing wrong with your art. It's creative and beautiful. But naming a diplomatic ship the Nelson Mandela is rather like naming a diplomatic ship the Ariel Sharon. It would be as controversial.

Desmond Tutu would be entirely appropriate, an almost saintly man, known for trying valiently to end apartheid, respected by almost everyone, etc.

 

[JES]

Mandela is/was well known today as the leader of the ANC who overcame decades of imprisonment to become the head of South Africa and an important world leader. Most know him because of the struggle of all colored people (not my term) and imposed by the Dutch Afrikaaner controled South African government as a result of apartheid.

What's not well known is that he was caught with lots of explosive devices, ordered lots of bombings himself, married a person who did some of the most heinous things committed by the ANC, was a Communist but wouldn't publicly admit it in his written biography though a leaked and authenticated biography admits this, and would never condemn the terrorist actions committed by the ANC. He also purchased enormous amounts of armaments after becoming a leader in his country.

Do some checking as to the state of South Africa today especially regarding the number of murders. It's appalling. Apatheid was horrifically bad and affected folks who were Asian and Indian as well as African or combinations of those things even in the most miniscule amounts. But all of that has to be measured within an honest appraisal of history and seeing Mandela for who he was completely.

There's nothing wrong with your art. It's creative and beautiful. But naming a diplomatic ship the Nelson Mandela is rather like naming a diplomatic ship the Ariel Sharon. It would be as controversial.

Desmond Tutu would be entirely appropriate, an almost saintly man, known for trying valiently to end apartheid, respected by almost everyone, etc.

In light of this, I have to reconsider at least the class name of this Diplomatic Courier, and for now, I think that this ship will carry the name Desmond Tutu, due to Robbiesan's recommendation, unless someone has a better idea, or thinks that in light of this, the Nelson Mandela should still be a diplomatic vessel.

The Federation and Starfleet would no doubt measure the worth of one of their starships after a person based on their cumulative actions and beliefs, and those actions and beliefs would determine the type of starship a person would be named after. The Federation would put more merit in truth more than reputation.

What type of vessel should carry the name (if any) is up for suggestion, and if so, might be a future project.

Once it has been decided what to do with this information, this starship class's data will be changed as well to reflect these final decisions.

No doubt I will need help figuring out what (if anything) I should do with the above information, but I'm sure I'll muddle on through with enough helpful comments and suggestions.

I suppose I might also have to change the name of this thread... Anyone know if that is possible?

Anyhow, on to last weeks update:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40445677@N06/12055769296/in/photostream/

The major change for this week was moving the pylon impulse drives aft-wards, to blend better with the nacelle pylons themselves, which were also tweaked a bit to in turn blend a little better with the pylon impulse drives.
I've unfortunately noticed that the pencil work scanned in a little too lightly to be very visible (which are really darker then they appear). I am not looking forwards to have to go over with a darker pencil, especially since I don't consider half of the sketching "finalized", but what else can I do...

Among the other added details are some of the RCS thrusters, what is probably the last of the dorsal weapons hatches, and red caution marking.

I've considered starting to trace everything in Illustrator a next logical step, rather than starting on the other angles, and most likely getting flustered with trying to get every to stay lined up. I'd probably use Sketch-Up by now if my laptop didn't wasn't slow in Illustrator, but it is... It is trying to get all of the angles to match up that I'm not looking forward to, and has caused me to give up in the past, but we'll see...

Anyhow, as I've said, comments and suggestions are as always, encouraged and encouraging, so please, drop by for a few minutes if you can!