WIP: LOST-YEARS ERA WARPSHUTTLE/MARINE ASSAULT SHUTTLE

[Scott1768]

Hey folks!

I'm back. In conjunction with the Explorer class design (thread here: http://trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=142506 ), I have designed an early forerunner of the runabout: The WS-07A Powell class long-range warpshuttle.

A short summary from the overview:

THE WS-07A POWELL CLASS WARPSHUTTLE IS A RELATIVELY NEW CONCEPT, DEVELOPED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NEW EXPLORER CLASS STARSHIP AND OPERATION FRONTIER. AT FIRST GLANCE, IT IS SIMILAR TO A LARGE SHUTTLECRAFT, WITH TWO MAJOR EXCEPTIONS: IT CAN BE SELF-SUSTAINING FOR MONTHS AT A TIME, AND IT IS CAPABLE OF SPEEDS APPROACHING WARP FOUR. THE WS-07A IS ASSIGNED TO THE EXPLORER CLASS STARSHIP IN PAIRS. WITH THESE WARPSHUTTLES, A STARSHIP IS NO LONGER TIED TO A NEWLY DISCOVERED PLANETARY SYSTEM FOR EXTENDED PERIODS. A RESEARCH TEAM CAN BE LEFT IN A WARPSHUTTLE TO EXPLORE THE SYSTEM IN DEPTH, THEN RENDEZVOUS WITH THE MOTHERSHIP WHEN RESEARCH AND DATA-GATHERING ACTIVITIES ARE CONCLUDED.

THE MISSION-SPECIFIC MODULE (MSM) IS SEPARABLE FROM THE MAIN HULL OF THE CRAFT. AS IMPLIED BY THE NAME, THE INTERNAL ARRANGEMENT OF THE MSM VARIES ACCORDING TO THE NEED OF THE STARSHIP OR STARBASE TO WHICH THE CRAFT IS ASSIGNED.

THE MSM IS AVAILABLE IN MANY CONFIGURATIONS; THESE INCLUDE THE PASSENGER MODULE, LIVING QUARTERS MODULE, LABORATORY/RESEARCH MODULE, MOBILE INTENSIVE CARE MODULE, WEAPONS PACKAGE MODULE, TROOP CARRIER MODULE, ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURES MODULE, AND CARGO MODULE. OTHER MODULES ARE UNDER DEVELOPMENT.

THE MSM CAN, BY UTILIZING A SPECIALIZED CONNECTOR MODULE, BE USED TO ESTABLISH A SMALL RESEARCH OUTPOST ON A PLANET UNDER EXPLORATION. ALL THE PRIMARY NEEDS OF A SMALL FRONTIER TOWN CAN BE ACCOMMODATED BY THE VARIOUS MODULE CONFIGURATIONS.​

Sorry for the caps, I'm too lazy to re-type it all.

This is the cover sheet for the schematic set. I will be uploading further pics as I finish updating them.

I am also working on (re)designing an assault craft for the Starfleet Marine detachment assigned to the starship. My idea is that it is built up from the same basic spaceframe as the WS-07A, but as an assault/stealth surveillance platform, in much the same way as the AH-1 Cobra gunship is designed from the basic UH-1 Huey airframe.

I would like for the assault craft (let's call it the AH-07) to call to mind the general look and feel of the Comanche prototype stealth helicopter. A good illustration of that is here:

http://ns2.flash-screen.com/free-wallpaper/uploads/200609/imgs/1157460928_1024x768_rah-66-comanche-helicopter-wallpaper.jpg

I hope to show my progress on both of those projects in this thread. As I said above, I will upload further drawings in the next couple of days.

As always, feedback, questions and constructive criticism are welcome.

Thanks!

P.S. How do I make images display smaller here, perhaps with a link to the full-size image elsewhere?

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Beautiful work. How "early" a forerunner is this?

I ask because of the TNG era warp nacelles, though you have an early NCC # on there.

Also, most pic hosting sites give you an URL for a thumbnail size. I wouldn't worry too much unless it's more than 600 or 700 pixels wide (?).

 

[sojourner]

Yeah, that's a great design but it looks about 75 years more advanced than your Explorer class mainly due to the warp nacelles. Maybe if you showed more of an Excelsior influence for the nacelles?

 

[Scott1768]

Beautiful work. How "early" a forerunner is this?

Thanks! I ask because of the TNG era warp nacelles, though you have an early NCC # on there.

The time frame for this design is roughly late-movie-era (ST6-ish). I recognize that the nacelles look awfully TNGish; I just couldn't come up at the time with anything else that clicked for me. If anyone has some suggestions of a nacelle design that would fit, I'm open. For the record, I *do not* like the nacelle design of Excelsior.

Ultimately, I figured that if the first Enterprise can look like the Akira, then I can bend nacelle design a bit. There, I said it. It may be an ugly truth, but it's the truth!

 

[Patrickivan]

I know some will go nuts on me for this, but you should also drop the nacelles down a little further- for line of sight. TOS/ movie era ships were pretty consistant with that line of sight rule.

I like it. With the exception of the nacelles. The excellsior style wouldn't work with me for that design. I'd make it simple and basic, not unlike the nacelles on TFF type shuttles.

 

[JES]

I agree, the nacelles look way too advanced for the late 23rd Century. Maybe use nacelles similar to the other known shuttles of that era, or maybe make something similar to TMP-era nacelles, but with some Excelsior-type characteristics at your discretion, to show a sort of transitioning from TMP-era and the soon-to-come Lost Era.

Perhaps those type of nacelles would be appropriate for later runs, assuming that they are still in production, somewhere between that of the Ambassador and Galaxy classes. Maybe somewhere in the 2340s or 2350s, when ships started to show characteristics of the Galaxy class (going by the Challenger and New Orleans classes, which have registries in the 50000 range).

 

[Kaiser]

Looks like a good shuttle but i must agree those nacelles look too advanced for a late 23rd century shuttle

 

[Scott1768]

Does anybody have any ideas for a more timeline-appropriate look for the nacelles (that doesn't look like it was taken from Excelsior?)

Just post a link to examples I can take off from if you can. Or post a sketch here. Heck I'll consider almost anything right now. I've looked at this thing so long as it is that I can't see it any other way at the moment. (Drafter's block?)

 

[Kaiser]

scale up the nacelles from the shuttle in Star Trek V?

scaled down Constitution refit nacelles?

Hope that helps

 

[Scott1768]

Here's a screencap of the completed internal cross-section:

 

[Kaiser]

Looks nice inside

 

[USS Triumphant]

I'm no computer graphics artist, but how about something like this?:

Kind of a midpoint between Excelsior and the shuttles from TNG.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

^ Looks good, but with that yellow ridged area behind the nacelle cap ,it still has a TNG feel to it.

 

[Scott1768]

Looks nice inside

Thanks, Kaiser!

I'm presently working on the internal layout for a mobile ICU module as well. Also, a living quarters module, a lab/research module, and a troop carrier module.

We'll see how those go. One thing at a time...

 

[Scott1768]

^ Looks good, but with that yellow ridged area behind the nacelle cap ,it still has a TNG feel to it.

Remember, though, that the Vulcan shuttle from STTMP had a similar area on its warp nacelles, only black.

 

[USS Triumphant]

^ Looks good, but with that yellow ridged area behind the nacelle cap ,it still has a TNG feel to it.

Remember, though, that the Vulcan shuttle from STTMP had a similar area on its warp nacelles, only black.

Yes. And, that the idea is to fit a time period that is on its way to being TNG.

 

[publiusr]

This shuttlecraft design looks better than the runabout, which in some respects might be thought of as the Space 1999 Eagle concept taken to its extreme.

I actually have no problem with your nacelle caps as they are. As far back as the Enterprise Evolution--or rather, the comparison chart, you saw in the TMP era of a possible return to circumferential nacelles like what we finally saw as Ent -C. On Aridas chart, you see a destroyer with a wide ACE nacelle, so a smaller version becomes this nacelle, which inspires later 24th Century designs.

 

[Cary L. Brown]

Hi Scott...

So you're the guy who published this a while back, huh? I like the full-color treatment you're giving it this time around.

I have the "2nd Edition" in the blue paper wrap-around, printed on pale yellow paper, from "Nightmare Distribution." I paid $6 for it back in 1995. I can't remember where I bought it from... maybe at one of the two conventions I went to throughout my life? Or maybe from New Eye or someplace like that?

I always liked this design, and I like seeing it given an "updated polish" now.

I'm not seeing a lot of updates, except for the (very nice) graphical polish. Is there any major revision you've done to the design, or is this mainly a "presentation upgrade?"

FYI, I like the existing nacelles just fine. The onl part that's especially "TNG-ish" is the bussard collector, and the aft shape of the nacelle. If you really want to make it "Excelsior-era" you could make the aft end of the nacelle slightly more angular, and make the nose of the nacelle a bit more symmetrical - more like a missile nose-cone in shape, in other words. And yes, make the ring black rather than yellow... which really isn't a change, since the originally-published version is in B&W, after all...

But I'm perfectly happy with the nacelles as they are...

 

[Scott1768]

I have the "2nd Edition" in the blue paper wrap-around, printed on pale yellow paper, from "Nightmare Distribution." I paid $6 for it back in 1995.

Wow, that was a while ago. When I first drew these plans, it was at the encouragement of Eric Kristiansen (Jackill). When he saw them, he asked if he could distribute them. That's what you got back then. This is the first time that I am distributing my plans myself.

I always liked this design, and I like seeing it given an "updated polish" now.

I'm not seeing a lot of updates, except for the (very nice) graphical polish. Is there any major revision you've done to the design, or is this mainly a "presentation upgrade?"

... I'm perfectly happy with the nacelles as they are...

Thanks for the compliment! I'm glad I'm able to be able to give it the full-color treatment now. Thank God for cheap technology!

As far as external appearances go, there aren't major changes. I was happy overall with the design as is. However, I'm taking the opportunity this time around to fix some little things that have always bugged me.

For instance, all the super-sharp edges never set well with me, so I'm going to soften them just a bit. There's a porthole on the cockpit entrance hatch now. I've corrected a couple of minor inconsistencies that were recently pointed out to me between the different external views. I'm adding more detail to the interior, and changing out the passenger module in the plans for a Mobile Critical Care Unit (much more interesting than an "airliner pod," at least IMHO). Also, I had always wanted to do a sheet showing all the different configurations possible for the Powell class, as well as a sheet detailing the different modules available as well. This set will include those.

BTW, I'm glad you're happy with the nacelles, because after fiddling with them for a bit, I've decided to leave them exactly as they are.

For the visually-oriented among us, here is the external side view of the WS-07 in MedEvac livery, assigned to the hospital station at Starbase 96 (rounded edges not yet included):

More to come! Please stay tuned, and keep the comments and suggestions coming!

 

[Mysterion]

^^^
"Robert Jarvik" is a good name for a med-shuttlecraft, but might I suggest "Joseph Kerwin"? He was, as far as I know, the first MD in space (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Kerwin).