The D7 Klingon Battle Cruiser in "Elaan" Remastered...Yea? Or Nay?

[Tallguy]

Just looked at the FX reel and just noticed something.
It look like the ship has 2 "waist" mounted phasers (or whatever) on each side of the the rear hull.
AKA SFB D7

I haven't seen these. But I recall when Remastered started up they were showing the FX team working with McMaster's plans for reference.

"They had a pattern to follow. They may have followed it too precisely."

So far the worst flaw I'm seeing is where the textures bunch up on the tail end of the "command module". (I think the "errors" on the underside are due to lighting and the curve of the hull - I don't think it's segmentation.)

Overall I like these. Not as much as some of their matte paintings, but more than the Enterprise.

 

[aridas sofia]

I say nay on three counts.

At times it's difficult to suspend disbelief enough to accept that TOS and TMP took place in the same universe...

Amen, brother.

It is rather remarkable how this CGI model lacks even the additional detailing that distinguishes the AMT Klingon D7 from the filming miniatures, e.g. the ram scoops. The pylon lacked any detailing whatsoever -- even the detailing present on Jefferies' rough final drawing of the ship. No vents, no graphics. No nothing, except a little texture.

The original model. Note the nacelle pylons:

http://www.uah.edu/~jim/amtprototypepic17.jpg

http://img.trekmovie.com/tosrem/eot/old_tosr057_09.jpg

Close up of the CGI model:

No graphics. No venting. No little polygon shape on the vent. Weird.

 

[USS Mariner]

I really have a hard time understanding why the TOSR team gave us such a shit model this time. Making an accurate D7 is a pain in the ass, especially in the reference department, so I'm a little forgiving about any possible shape errors. The quality of this model, however is inexcusable.

Recently, I've tried to defend the CGI staff from being underfunded and overworked (along with having somewhat mediocre artistic talent,) but this is utter shit. Fan models for games like Starfleet Command look better than this. In fact, that's exactly what I thought this was initially. I can't believe that not one person on the staff didn't try building this lady during "off-hours," as they had to have known far ahead of schedule that they were going to need one eventually.

They've shown far greater competence on a tight schedule for one-off guest ships. Why botch the job for a recurring one?

 

[Lieut. Arex]

Jiminy Cricket! I didn't catch that. No vents, no Klingon (or Romulan) lettering there. You can see the waist phasers in that shot. Doesn't look like they included the boom or belly mounts though.

I noticed on the oblique front view of the TEI ship bird texture wraps around the front of the secondary hull where the boom connects with the head of the bird on top of the hull facing backwards. That's just sloppy. It's embarrassing. I know I wrote the CGI team doesn't sit down intending to do bad work, but looking at that shot it's almost possible to believe the reverse. Almost.

 

[Philo]

It really is shocking and inexplicable!

 

[cooleddie74]

I wish the nacelles had glowed a little. Is that too much to ask? Wait. Yes.