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Description

Ported to OBJ from the fan created model made for the Starfleet Command (SFC) series of video games. Based on the original design by noted classic Trek fan tech expert Aridas Sofia (Federation Reference Series, et al) and first published as one of the starship profiles featured on his fan-published Federation Starship Comparison Chart (FSCC) back in the day (Ariadne is the second ship from the left on the top row), and as further detailed online in postings on various classic Trek forums. CG model by Atrahasis. Preview picture posed in XNALara XPS. NO MODEL DOWNLOAD.

One of the more original Feddie pre-TOS starship designs to come out of the Guenther/Sofia school of classic Trek fan techdom was the Ariadne class clipper by Aridas Sofia himself. This was a small ringship design (large ship because of the ring, very small crew given the size of the control module at its base) that was noted for its speed in the pre-TOS, pre-"Pike era" period and back in the early years of the Franchise, when Warp 4 was considered the absolute top limit for FTL travel in the pre-TOS era (ref 1st TOS pilot "The Cage"). It was used by both Starfleet and Federation civilian authorities in a variety of roles -- as a system patrol ship, as a perimeter action ship, as a police ship, as a priority high-speed transport for small cargoes, and so on. It was also favored as a courier ship by selected members of the Federation diplomatic corps, who continued to use them well into the TOS/TAS era before they were finally retired from diplomatic service due to age, and that's the main reason why they turn up in various TOS/TAS era fanon media and such. There were seven different versions all told across Ariadne's long service lifetime. This CG model is of the third iteration, which was the best known and the one most frequently associated with high speed courier and Federation diplomatic use. According to Mr. Sofia various members of the Ariadne class continued to be used in selected roles all the way to the the end of the TMP era, although they were definitely dated by that time and what they could still be used for was rather limited given their age and design. While I didn't completely buy his backstory back then and still don't, I'll be among the first to say that this is a very original Trek fanon design that's definitely gotten the recognition it deserved over the years. That's why it's here, folks.

This is strictly Trek fanon for the pre-TOS, TOS/TAS, and TMP eras. What you do with it in your various thread(s) of the Trek multiverse is strictly up to you -- but be sure to give Aridas credit for his creation and Atrahasis credit for the CG model, okay? Thanks!

Description

Ported to OBJ from the fan created model made for the Starfleet Command (SFC) series of video games. Based on the original design by noted classic Trek fan tech expert Aridas Sofia (Federation Reference Series, et al) and first published as one of the starship profiles featured on his fan-published Federation Starship Comparison Chart (FSCC) back in the day (Ariadne is the second ship from the left on the top row), and as further detailed online in postings on various classic Trek forums. CG model by Atrahasis. Preview picture posed in XNALara XPS. NO MODEL DOWNLOAD.

One of the more original Feddie pre-TOS starship designs to come out of the Guenther/Sofia school of classic Trek fan techdom was the Ariadne class clipper by Aridas Sofia himself. This was a small ringship design (large ship because of the ring, very small crew given the size of the control module at its base) that was noted for its speed in the pre-TOS, pre-"Pike era" period and back in the early years of the Franchise, when Warp 4 was considered the absolute top limit for FTL travel in the pre-TOS era (ref 1st TOS pilot "The Cage"). It was used by both Starfleet and Federation civilian authorities in a variety of roles -- as a system patrol ship, as a perimeter action ship, as a police ship, as a priority high-speed transport for small cargoes, and so on. It was also favored as a courier ship by selected members of the Federation diplomatic corps, who continued to use them well into the TOS/TAS era before they were finally retired from diplomatic service due to age, and that's the main reason why they turn up in various TOS/TAS era fanon media and such. There were seven different versions all told across Ariadne's long service lifetime. This CG model is of the third iteration, which was the best known and the one most frequently associated with high speed courier and Federation diplomatic use. According to Mr. Sofia various members of the Ariadne class continued to be used in selected roles all the way to the the end of the TMP era, although they were definitely dated by that time and what they could still be used for was rather limited given their age and design. While I didn't completely buy his backstory back then and still don't, I'll be among the first to say that this is a very original Trek fanon design that's definitely gotten the recognition it deserved over the years. That's why it's here, folks.

This is strictly Trek fanon for the pre-TOS, TOS/TAS, and TMP eras. What you do with it in your various thread(s) of the Trek multiverse is strictly up to you -- but be sure to give Aridas credit for his creation and Atrahasis credit for the CG model, okay? Thanks!