TMP-era Ship(s)
 

There I was I was searching for my next big Trek build when someone working on the Star Trek Lexington fan film series posted a request at 3DSciFi looking for some modelers to build some original and established designs in the TMP-era. So, I decided to build some TMP-era ships in case they want to use them and it sounds like they probably will. :)

So, I started on a nacelle yesterday and (mostly) finished it today. It's based on not only the 1701 refit and Reliant nacelles but also the Constellation-class, to give it a slightly different shape than some of the other TMP-era ships. The first ship I'll be building is going to be a catamaran-style ship based off the Akira-class designed by Alex Jaeger and built by ILM for Star Trek: First Contact. It won't be exactly the same configuration, but it will be similar to the Akira-class, only in the TMP style. :D

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I made this years ago :)

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It's mission? To rescue this ship:

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I like that first one a lot. It's kinda like a cross between the Miranda and Nebula classes. One of these days, I've gotta figure out how to build that kind of main hull. I've tried with little success in the past. I've been thinking of giving it a new go, though. :)

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OK, I managed to get a little modeling done earlier (extremely little.) However, since a lot of people seem to have a rough time with this piece, I decided to start the saucer with it. Aside from the slight weirdness around the corners in the back, it turned out quite well. I have a couple ideas how to get rid of the weirdness, though (or just leave it and let the textures cover it up. ;))

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I finished up the modeling on the B/C deck and bridge (for now.) The bridge is pretty much the same design as the Constellation-class, with only a couple changes. The B/C deck thing is a little tall (more like B/C/D deck) and the window layout is probably not exactly like the 1701-refit but that's all right. I'm eventually going to build a low poly officers' lounge or something for the back but not right now.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_011.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_012.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_013.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_014.jpg

I also started on the saucer and catamarans. It's not much yet but I need to lay everything out on the saucer before I lay out my grid lines and whatnot.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_015.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_016.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_017.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_018.jpg

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Pretty cool stuff dude. So movie era Akira.....hey that rhymes.....

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Thanks dude. (and just when I wasn't sure anyone was even paying attention to this thread. ;))

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Nacs gonna be above or below?

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Definitely below. In fact, here are some images of the preliminary configuration:

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_019.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_020.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_021.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_022.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_023.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_024.jpg

I have many changes to make. I'm going to remake the catamarans and alter their shape slightly. Also, the deflector won't be in that round thing on top (which also wont' be round anymore) and the nacelle struts won't slope down as much so the ship won't be as tall.

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Interesting :)

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New catamarans. I widened the back, allowing the struts to pass through at not such a steep angle (and making the ship shorter than it was before.) I also started on the grid lines, since the ship is mostly laid out. Ignore the deflector housing between the catamarans, that is just a placeholder and the deflector won't be going there.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_025.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_026.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_027.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_028.jpg

Next I plan to either start on the catamaran details or build the real saucer (the one that's there is a placeholder.)

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Looking good :)

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Thanks dude. :)

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I do have one Q though... why are grid lines modeled in?

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Looking good dude! My only beef is that the pylons and the platform the bridge module is sitting on look like they were taken right off the modern Akira class and don't fit the look of the saucer, engines and deflector dish pod or the era IMHO. I would suggest trying to 'moviefy' them a bit. But thats just my 2 cents. Other than that she is looking sweet!

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That's how I roll. ;) Besides, the TMP-era ships had etched grid lines.

They're not exactly the same. Besides, the movie-era includes the Excelsior and Oberth classes, which are a lot more streamlined than some of the other more TOS-based ships. (not to mention those cool little shuttles they started showing in Star Trek 4) And there aren't really too many ways to do those parts any more "movie"-ish without making them look stupid, IMO.


OK, revision # 11051 (or at least that's what it seems like. ;)) The navigational deflector is back to being between the catamarans in the back. Sorry to everyone who didn't like it there but that's how it's going to be. I tried other arrangements in my head and just don't like any of them for this ship. I also sank the BC deck down into the saucer more (which required me to nix the observation lounge in back) and decreased the height of the bridge and the sensor dome so the deflector would cover those without raising it. I also changed the angle of the struts a little (again) so they're even less steep than before. And I started on a couple small details for the deflector housing. For the saucer, I re-splined the main part. It's still a placeholder (not enough segments for my taste) but that is the spline I'll use for the final saucer.

And I'm happy to report that everythigng fits with a normal deck plan (none of that fudging stuff to make it fit like other Trek ship designers.) There are 16 decks at present and that's not likely to change since the nacelles and lower sensor dome won't count. BTW, the bridge is on deck 7. (I love weird starship arrangements. ;))

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_029.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_030.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_031.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_032.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_033.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_034.jpg

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Really? Got some pics of that?

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I think the six is not the best place for a bug-deflector ;) but otherwise an interesting design-concept :) I really like this kind of catamaran design !!

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Of course I do.

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...hmp! I was always under the impression the lines were painted on... dunno why.

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In a lot of the shots (both of the model and in the movies) they look like they could be, that's why I dug deep into my references for shots that have the right lighting to show that they're not painted.

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She´s looking very good, but I´m sure you can do better than a new akiraprise. :D I´ll be waiting to see the next of your TMP designs. ;)

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More little odds and ends.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_035.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_036.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_037.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_038.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_039.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_040.jpg

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Something about those cats just don't seem right... can't put my finger on it though...

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Well, if you figure it out, speak now or forever hold your peace. ;) I'm rapidly approaching the point where I absolutely won't rebuild the things.

Update time. I would have had an update yesterday but I added the impulse engines to the back of the catamarans and they took a lot longer than expected (mostly because of the crappy bevel tool in trueSpace.) I also added docking ports and windows to the catamarans. I also made a new texture for the deflector but that's not that big a thing, so we won't really focus on that much. ;)

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_041.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_042.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_043.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...MPS_01_044.jpg

I haven't decided yet if I'm going to add windows to the insides of the catamarans but I probably will add some of those and some grid lines as well.

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...hmm Maybe not so "round" on the outsides. Be more "movie era-ish" if they were a bit more "squarish" like the nacelles (not as much as the nacelles, but some "square" in there).

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It might be more "Movie-ish" but it would also be pretty fugly, IMO. :( Maybe I'll do something like that on a later ship where I have a totally different catamaran structure.

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I don't think so... Just a little bit of flatness to the tops of them, then they curve downward, instead of just only curving.

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They're flat on top, especially towards the back.