Switched again, I swear, I see something while surfing the net.. gets me interested in some other ship.. In this case "Ships" Started on the Best of Both Worlds graveyard fleet, Done the Cheyenne and the Challenger awhile back, a nebula is somewhere in the pipeline, eventually. But today I'm working on the Springfield, the New Orleans, and the Niagara classes! All are Works in progress, Started on the New Orleans, and drifted over to the Niagara and Springfield. So, will continue with these for abit, till I'm tired I guess.. I'm so fickle lately..
I always had the impression that these were all test-beds for technology that eventually culminated in the Galaxy and Nebula classes and then quickly decommissioned. They were all pressed back into service when the Borg encroached into Federation space, which is why they were so horribly overwhelmed. They were simply not production-quality ships and served as nothing more than a windbreak made out of cardboard against a Tsunami. And yes, beautiful work as usual, @valkyrie013!
@137th Gebirg I agree, in that they were test articles for the galaxy class, especially the Niagara, that screams nacelle test bed that used maybe a low production run hull for tests. So, in my head, you have the Ambassador, and the Niagara, either fighting for the next heavy cruiser, like the F-22/F-23 fly off, and the Niagara lost, or an aborted follow up class to the ambassador, or just a custom built test bed with a frankenstien various parts. with the saucer being oval instead of circular could be a test bed for the oval saucer and the new engines were put on her for test, then mothballed. maybe? New Orleans and Cheyenne seem to be fully formed ships, the Challenger, and Springfield don't. They seem like test beds or short run ships. Maybe after Qwho, that starfleet started taking stuff out of mothballs and refitting and arming them for defense and they were used for Wolf 359 battle. Maybe also like the Challenger and Niagara got Galaxy nacelles because they were just thrown on in a pinch to get it out of the dock? EDIT: Was looking through old files, found this K7 alternative design that someone asked for, because they wanted a 3d printed dock of some sort. Got to the ready for print stage, but never happened. Not going to do anything with this, So just sticking this here
More work on the New Orleans Class, going to get this one done first. Lifeboats, shield grids, shuttle bay done. Need to cut in the windows, and finish the neck and some details. Thanks!
More! Put in the windows and other details like the torpedo launchers Not much left, just to make it printable now! Thanks!
More! This time its the Springfield class for BoBw fleet. Layed out the shield grid, widows, still some work to be done. I Honestly don't care for the bottom pod, and think it looks better without, but owell, still doing the bottom pod. So, more soon!
More! got a question on the upper shuttle door, there is a whole deck worth of space above the doors, so plenty of space. if it was a "Roller Type" to open. Though it does need.. something.. So getting close to done, few thing here and there. but almost there.
Another hard left turn! Today is the Steamrunner! Worked on this ... err... 10 years ago? Since then there are better references, so most of the saucer I redone, but the rest I left as is. Looking at the references, the Eaglemoss version is a bit.. wrong. Refs were low quality, so i guess they made there best guess at what was going on. Better than the Completly wrong Starcrafts kit thats out.. So, without further ado. Still have some details to make, rcs thrusters, cut in the windows, few odds and ends.
Something new, @Atolm design inspired, a "Single" engine patrol ship, I'm thnking 2370 ish, Some voyager influences, mostly Tng elements. So, Have a question, the Atolm design had the Warp engine on the bottom, but decided to see if it looks better elsewhere, on the upper, or on the traditional side. Now I could just be a variant of the same class, Now to add an extra wiggle, the "single" engine is actually a Dual engine with a common bussard. So the side mounted is a 4 engine variant.. he he So, just keeping on with this, and asking for input on what ya'll like in the engine mount!
I don't know... It's only 200 or so meters long. So not that many. Hmm. An NX had a crew of 80 and it was 223 meters... And aiming at a 2370 time frame, more automation. And it is a patrol ship. So if say 100 max, closer to 60? Maybe.
I like the "forked" warp nacelles — it's a nice way of taking Atolm's request for a single-engined starship and still sticking to the "rule of two".
@cardinal biggles For me it's just reliablity, like how the navy has 2 engines on everything, if one goes fubar, you still have a 2nd one to get ya home. If your lightyears away and something breaks or damaged, and have no spare.. Unless your close to home your a bit screwed. Why I thought in enterprise, the nx should have a 2 or 3 ship fleet going in the same direction but slightly different. And if something went tits up, you'd have help. ... Anyways