USS Defiant, NCC-1764-A

[sojourner]

I'm sorry, but the placement of the aft torpedo launcher just makes the ship look like it's going to take a photon torpedo dump on the bad guys. Never was a fan of aft torpedo launchers, especially after Star Trek VI when torpedos were depicted as being capable of homing in on their targets.

Even with homing weapons there are arguments for launchers facing in more than one direction. Submarines have aft torpedo tubes.

 

[Jeyl]

Even with homing weapons there are arguments for launchers facing in more than one direction. Submarines have aft torpedo tubes.

Homing torpedoes sort of resolve the whole 'more than one direction' portion of your argument. All an aft torpedo launcher would do is just allow the ship to fire off another shot, that's it. And with the rapid like fire of the torpedo launchers depicted in various Treks, that's kind of redundant as well.

In World War 2, Subs had to have aft launchers because the torpedos of the time had no homing capabilities, and most of the time they used them was because they were often pursued by attack ships.

And besides, weapons fired from the front of a ship that goes in the opposite direction can still look awesome. Ever see "The Last Starfighter"?

 

[BK613]

Agree with the "orifice" observations on the aft launcher. Then again, I never liked the indentation in that area, either on the new version or on the excelsior before that

 

[kkozoriz1]

However, having an aft launcher does give you a weapon in a different location that the one in the neck. Harder to take out both locations at once.

 

[erifah]

Blah. I'll add some details in the area, to make it look a little different.

What, another body part? An actual sphincter?

(Look, I kid because I'm a kidder, and I'm a kidder because I love.. Please don't hurt me.)

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

However, having an aft launcher does give you a weapon in a different location that the one in the neck. Harder to take out both locations at once.

The intent in TOS/TMP, of course, is that screens and shields are the line of defense against weaponry. That is, it doesn't matter squat where your stuff is, because and unshielded ship would be sliced to bits or outright vaporized by enemy weapons fire.

Thus, if you're designing a ship to be redundant against damage sustained by weapons fire, then something is being done horribly wrong.

 

[judexavier]

Blah. I'll add some details in the area, to make it look a little different.

Funny, I must be too old or naive, I didn't see any body parts when I saw that render...I just thought "oh, a rear torpedo launcher, cool"...(Any function in that silly cutaway area is a good thing, IMO...never understood that, even on the TOS E.)

Perhaps twin tubes? I like the smooth faired-in look, as it's different than the greebled Excelsior or Nu-Prize take on that area.

 

[Jeyl]

How about a launcher behind the neck directly opposite of the forward launcher?

 

[MadMan1701A]

How about a launcher behind the neck directly opposite of the forward launcher?

That location came up a little earlier... we decided that there wouldn't be room for the turbolift car to move up and down if the two sets were connected.

I think I'll be leaving the rear torpedo bay down there, but I am definitely going to put some hatches or something around it, to detail it out.

Maybe I'll get something done on this today... too much STO this weekend.

 

[MadMan1701A]

Alright, I made some progress! I have all the windows cut out, that's always a time consuming part, making sure they are all inset the same, etc.

A major change that I played with today, on the Nacelle Pylons. I decided that they were too "deep" before... I like how wide they were, but they were making the Nacelles look short. I also made them up in a more TOS style...

What do ya'll think about those new pylons? I really like them better, it seems more balanced, to me, anyway.

Updates later, if I can pry myself away from the TV and STO.

 

[TrekkieMonster]

You're right, the new pylons look much better. I hadn't realized until you changed them the effect the original version was having on the visual appearance of the nacelle lenght.

I like the windows a lot, as well. I like that you kept a pattern similar to the TMP refit along the saucer rim. Big

p.s. -- and in looking again, it seems that you've closed off the aft ends of the nacelles. Be interested in seeing that a little closer.

 

[Kaiser]

great updates

Now it reminds me of the X-ship from Starfleet Battles

btw.. wheres Icy been? did he get fired from them or something?

 

[MadMan1701A]

Thanks, guys.

I don't know, I haven't seen Icy Penguino in a long time... I hope everything is cool with him.

 

[publiusr]

He did nice Klingon ships IIRC. I kinda miss the inside of the old pylons, but these look nice as well. Perhaps you could emulate the inside of the pylons on the outside--no vents there, just paneling that evoked the earlier ones--so as to break up the exterior of the pylons.

 

[MadMan1701A]

That's a really good idea... big removable panels, with red stripes on them will work.

 

[CDR6]

Alright, I made some progress! I have all the windows cut out, that's always a time consuming part, making sure they are all inset the same, etc.

A major change that I played with today, on the Nacelle Pylons. I decided that they were too "deep" before... I like how wide they were, but they were making the Nacelles look short. I also made them up in a more TOS style...

What do ya'll think about those new pylons? I really like them better, it seems more balanced, to me, anyway.

Updates later, if I can pry myself away from the TV and STO.

Oh yeah, this is the good stuff! When I first looked at the nacells I though they tapered too much. (Same-same the engineering hull...) But this is coming out so cool as you start to detail it out. It's intriguing how one has to look at her several times to figure out what era she represents. This just gets better and better...

An lastly remember to relax and let yourself heal.

-Chuck

 

[MadMan1701A]

Oh yeah, this is the good stuff! When I first looked at the nacells I though they tapered too much. (Same-same the engineering hull...) But this is coming out so cool as you start to detail it out. It's intriguing how one has to look at her several times to figure out what era she represents. This just gets better and better...

An lastly remember to relax and let yourself heal.

-Chuck

Thanks. That's exactly what I'm going for.

I'm definitely taking it easier this week. I don't need a repeat of last Friday...

 

[MadMan1701A]

Alright, it's starting to come to life a little more.

Some big renders...

I'll probably tweak those domes some more, but I want to keep it pretty simple, for this model. I want it to look a little similar to the TOS style, but a little more simplified / refined. Let me know if it's a failure.

 

[erifah]

Alright, it's starting to come to life a little more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8GRQHsAVjI

 

[MadMan1701A]

OK, so I wasn't happy. I tweaked it some more...

That's the last big image for a while. I'll go back to 800x600.