TAS made real....

[trynda1701]

I put that in there like that because that was its first canonical appearance. That actual drawing is from the USS Enterprise Officer’s Manual (1980) page 73, by Geoffrey Mandel and, yes, Doug Drexler, so it has quite an excellent pedigree, which is why it’s so well done.

That's the book!

I did not know you had input that link entry. I humbly stand corrected!

@Warped9, have a look at the link for the "USS Enterprise Officers Manual" book it you want to use the schematics for reference. The book image on the Cygnus X-1 site shows a split top/bottom plan view in the original, unlike just the top plan elevation my pic shows.

 

[Warped9]

I have seen those drawings. It's still a contradictory little thing from what I see.

I'm working on something that will look better than my first effort as well as looks more like the original concept even though I am trying to massage it into something somewhat...more substantial.

 

[trynda1701]

I put that in there like that because that was its first canonical appearance. That actual drawing is from the USS Enterprise Officer’s Manual (1980) page 73, by Geoffrey Mandel and, yes, Doug Drexler, so it has quite an excellent pedigree, which is why it’s so well done.

As a small aside, was there more than one edition of this book? The reason I ask, I don't think I still have it, and therefore can't check, but I remember the Phaser Rifle page, but don't remember it having the pages with the Phaser 1 & 2 or the communicator, or the helm/navigation station page either?

 

[Warped9]

I see this as an alien designed ship given it has such an odd look to it. Maybe it's a Jupiter II sized type of craft with perhaps two levels. The somewhat winglets on each side could perhaps house the warp drive which also seems more alien as opposed to having external warp nacelles. That slot in the aft end is likely the impulse drive. With so little detail to the original there is lots of canvas for filling in detail.

 

[XCV330]

I put that in there like that because that was its first canonical appearance. That actual drawing is from the USS Enterprise Officer’s Manual (1980) page 73, by Geoffrey Mandel and, yes, Doug Drexler, so it has quite an excellent pedigree, which is why it’s so well done.

I never read that book before. that thing is awesome. I like the "obsolete" McQuarrie design in there.

 

[137th Gebirg]

As a small.aside, was there more than one edition of this book? The reason I ask, I don't think I still have it, and therefore can't check, but I remember the Phaser Rifle page, but don't remember it having the pages with the Phaser 1 & 2 or the communicator, or the helm/navigation station page either?

Yes, the first edition was spine-bound with glue and I think the second edition used a plastic spiral binding.

 

[Mysterion]

Yes, the first edition was spine-bound with glue and I think the second edition used a plastic spiral binding.

Other way around I think. First was the comb-bound, second was the glued binding, and had additional material.

 

[trynda1701]

I see this as an alien designed ship given it has such an odd look to it. Maybe it's a Jupiter II sized type of craft with perhaps two levels. The somewhat winglets on each side could perhaps house the warp drive which also seems more alien as opposed to having external warp nacelles. That slot in the aft end is likely the impulse drive. With so little detail to the original there is lots of canvas for filling in detail.

Funnily enough, I always thought the ovoid design gave it a Federation feel because it invoked the Starfleet saucer! If there was a Klingon equivalent, it would have been more like the Cobra class trader you start with from the computer game Elite (the original wire frame editions)! The two deck size sounds about right.

Other way around I think. First was the comb-bound, second was the glued binding, and had additional material.

I'd agree with that, my version was comb-bound. I knew I didn't remember the extra weapons and that console

 

[Warped9]

Okay. Start with a somewhat flattened disk, then make it narrower by thirty percent then, then try to find a shape to intersect it properly. I still think it looks funny, but it is what it is. Maybe it will look better as I start fleshing it out.

 

[Henoch]

Windows will drastically change its appearance. I think the front flat segment is too wide and needs a tweak.

 

[Redfern]

I think the front flat segment is too wide and needs a tweak.

Unless Warped9 purposely invoked "artistic license" ; then it's just fine the way it is.

 

[Warped9]

If you narrow the front it changes the connecting parts as well. I’m still not happy with this so I have to think about it some more.

 

[trynda1701]

I have a feeling that when you 3D artists work, something that looks simple on paper to us onlookers isn't that simple to acheive. And like you said, one simple suggestion for a change might change other parts more significantly.

Looking forward to see what you come up with.

 

[Warped9]

3D modelling works best when you can think in 3D—you’re aware of the facets you cannot see from a given angle and how those elements affect each other. Also something that looks okay on paper might not look that good in physical form.

I do have, what I think, is a better idea for this design, but the issue is whether I can make it in 3D.

 

[Bernard Guignard]

what if the oval was shaped more like an egg in plan view ? just a suggestion.

 

[Warped9]

what if the oval was shaped more like an egg in plan view ? just a suggestion.

Up to now I was trying to stay reasonably true to the original drawing, but now I’m reconsidering that. The real issue is not the main ovoid hull. The real issue is the shape of that collar around the oval and how it intersects the oval in a decent way. As is it looks...cartoony and silly to my eyes.

 

[Warped9]

I am beginning to reinterpret this design. We are all assuming there is a belt or collar that goes around most of the main hull. But look at how it's drawn from the top view. From the front three quarter view that doesn't actually look like a collar around the hull until it gets toward the rear, and thats emphasized when you see it from the rear three quarter view and from underneath.

Maybe this thing is basically just an ovoid with pieces cut off the sides.

Or maybe whoever drew this just thought it looked cool, but didn’t really think about whether it was really plausible in three dimensional form.

 

[Warped9]

Leave it to good ol’ fashioned sketching on a lunch napkin to figure this thing out.

it’s an ovoid with sections cut off the front and sides. The “wings” are just an extension from the where the the ovoid was sliced.

That means the schematic is an incorrect interpretation.

 

[trynda1701]

Leave it to good ol’ fashioned sketching on a lunch napkin to figure this thing out.

Go Old School!

That means the schematic is an incorrect interpretation.

NOOOOOOOO!

How far away from reality is the schematic? Is it the same with the original two sketches?

 

[Bernard Guignard]

Yea