USS Federation revisited

[WinstonSmith]

hello everyone, this is my first post on the boards, and I would like to introduce myself by sharing part of a project I've been working on. The idea is, essentially, a TOS reboot (don't worry folks); one based on the concept that the original series was a "dramatisation" of actual events, and therefore would have all the "historical" inaccuracies of a 1960's show set in say, the 1660s. this would then be a modern interpretation of the same events, a bit like a modern retelling of Shakespeare. the particular ship I'd like to show is my interpretation of franz joseph's USS federation, the next generation cruiser after the constitution class. I decided to replace the third nacelle with an AWACS module, and I've revamped the registry system to make Federation the first ship of the first class of super heavy cruiser, or NSCC-101.

comments and crits are, of course, welcome.

 

[Forbin]

But if you replace the third nacelle, it kills half the point of the dreadnought design - having a warp-capable saucer after emergency separation.

 

[KDoug]

Not bad. I like it. The only thing I might change is that the line of sight on the engineering section's photon torpedo launcher is really close to the bottom of the saucer section. Of course, the torpedoes are supposed to be able to change course, but if something goes just a little wrong with one of them, you might have a hull breach. But, I like how you've sort of melded the TV and movie aesthetics.

 

[WinstonSmith]

yeah forbin, I see what you're saying, but in the background that I'm thinking about for this, Federation isn't as much of a supership, and is basically a testbed for the weapons, reactor and propulsion systems supposed to be used on the TMP ship, though still filling an intermediary role as more powerful vessel than Enterprise and her sisters. It's all a matter of personal perspective of course

and thanks KDoug, I'm glad you like it! I had noticed the torpedo issue, and they do clear the lower sensor platform, JUST. It's rather a quandary, as it's quite difficult to lower the launchers any further without burying them in the engineering hull...

 

[Kaiser]

Interesting revamp of the Federation class there

 

[largo]

as long as any launcher isn't on the centerline, torpedoes should pass to either side of the lower dome. also, modern torpedoes only arm themselves at some distance from the launching vessel, one might expect the same of torpedoes in the future. lastly, they could be launched at a slightly declined angle to ensure clearance, and adjust in-flight.

 

[JES]

To me, she is just so different from the Federation that I've come to know. She has beautiful lines, but she is almost a completely different ship from the Federation.

 

[WinstonSmith]

ok, I've taken some of your suggestions into consideration, and here's what I'm toying with;

I think the profile is a bit more like the original ship, and I decided to run with the idea of giving the saucer its warp capability back (the idea is that Federation is built around the saucer section of a ptolemy, so it would have space for the extra reactor in there). I have, however gone for TWO nacelles, similar to the stargazer. I'm not quite sure about that, but it looked cool when I sketched it out, so I'm gonna go with it

Thanks again!

 

[Ziz]

and thanks KDoug, I'm glad you like it! I had noticed the torpedo issue, and they do clear the lower sensor platform, JUST. It's rather a quandary, as it's quite difficult to lower the launchers any further without burying them in the engineering hull...

You could also just make the top of the neck a little taller.

 

[publiusr]

Or place the torpedo bay in the front of the saucer and recess it.

I liked the original with the high nacelles. if anything I might make the saucer thinner, more Kelvin-like, and lower--and have a smaller AWACS sensor podat the bottom of the secondary hull.

 

[WinstonSmith]

hm, some things to think about... in the meanwhile, here's my concept of an updated TOS uniform; something a little more serious than those things from the '09 film...

 

[Albertese]

These uniforms are drawn in such a stylized manner that I can't tell what sets them apart from the ordinary "Cage" era uniforms. Hints?

--Alex

 

[Kaiser]

they look nice to me despite looking like the uniforms from the "Cage"

 

[sojourner]

These uniforms are drawn in such a stylized manner that I can't tell what sets them apart from the ordinary "Cage" era uniforms. Hints?

--Alex

shirt tucked in, belted waist.

 

[Albertese]

Ah it's so obvious now. How could I have possibly missed that before!

--Alex

 

[publiusr]

I actually liked the nacelles higher up--even if wasn't in keeping with the Fed class. I might have made the saucer flatter. Nice nacelle work--havent seen TMP and TOS merged in quite that way before.