U.S.S. Babylon

[nicholasm]

This quarantine has given me time to work on a few designs I've been putting off, and I feel I've improved a fair bit. The U.S.S. Babylon is a massive mobile embassy that I like to imagine was riddled with engineering issues due to being too big for the contemporary tech. The bridge's turbolift is behind the camera in the images I have of it.
The NNC registry refers to a diplomatic craft, and isn't a mistake I took way too long to notice.
The thing in the center of the bridge is a holographic generator. Since the one of the U.S.S. Enterprise was never seen, I have no idea of how the first generation of holocomm generators looked. I don't know if it comes across, but all the workstations on the bridge are touchscreen, with open windows being outlined in a high contrast color.
Looking at it now that it's done, I realize I took some inspiration from the PK carrier from Farscape.

 

[BillJ]

The cut out areas on the saucer seems like a huge amount of wasted space.

 

[nicholasm]

The cut out areas on the saucer seems like a huge amount of wasted space.

You're definitely right. I don't know if I managed to capture it, but the goal of the design was luxury and such a wasteful use of space seemed like the best way to show that.
The other reason it's a ring and not a saucer is that I was trying to differentiate it from just a kitbashed Starship-class. I could probably find a way to make it work, though.

 

[Atolm]

You know I like it Great work mate!

I have never thought of Negative space as a waste of space, but rather I've look at it for several reasons, not least of all just artistic choice... But it could also be use for swappable options, better cloak efficiency, a harder target, less mass to move... many reasons.

 

[ashleytinger]

There's also something to be said for delicacy and beauty and it shows off your fleet's Engineering skills to have something so delicate that gets put through a ton of use.

I like it.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

I'm curious about a viewing gallery around the bridge and the thought behind it. Seems a little odd to me.

 

[nicholasm]

I'm curious about a viewing gallery around the bridge and the thought behind it. Seems a little odd to me.

The upper level of the bridge is a hold-over from an older version where it had additional banks of consoles. Would you suggest I reinsert the consoles or maybe some chairs? The walkway is about twelve feet deep, so there's probably plenty of room for either.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

The upper level of the bridge is a hold-over from an older version where it had additional banks of consoles. Would you suggest I reinsert the consoles or maybe some chairs? The walkway is about twelve feet deep, so there's probably plenty of room for either.

Ah ok, I was just wondering what the purpose was.

As an embassy I can't see much need for a second level of consoles (maybe if she were a huge carrier or mobile command platform), and I'm not sure if a seating area would have much use--fairly certain the captain and bridge crew wouldn't appreciate an ambassador or their staff watching over them from on high