HOME | DD
WideFoot — Gathering Survey Data
#spaceship #startrek #trek #federation #nova #sovereign #starfleet #starship #trekkie #startrekstarship
Published: 2018-02-17 22:40:20 +0000 UTC; Views: 1394; Favourites: 30; Downloads: 30
Redirect to original
Description
So, JESzasz was wondering if this is a competitor design to the canon Nova, or if this is something else. To be honest, I hadn't really thought about how it might fit into Trek canon lore. I was mostly interested in creating a good model.The canon Nova Class has a surprisingly robust backstory which matches it's actual visual effects production history. That's sort of astonishing, considering that many smaller Trek ships are kitbashes or are slapped together with whatever happens to be lying around the modeling department's "extra parts" bin. I don't really want to mess with the class's pedigree because it is so satisfyingly solid.
I also don't want to call this an "Alternate Universe" version because I think that's a cop-out.
The James Burke bears more of a resemblance to the Rhode Island than the original arrangement of the Nova class. So, this is what I'm going with:
The original Nova Class starships first entered service in 2368 and filled their niche as a replacement for the ageing Oberth extremely well. However, after a decade of service, the origin of their spaceframe as a ship of war had proven somewhat problematic as newer sensor systems had entered into use and the spaceframe battled between it's original purpose and the one it had been press-fit into. Crews complained that spaces which were obviously designed to store torpedoes did not work well when filled with lab equipment. Additionally, further advancements in warp drive which had been refined for the Sovereign Class, launched two years after the Nova, had not been fully implemented for the slightly younger craft.
Historically-minded engineers at the Advanced Starship Design Bureau noted that Starfleet should look to the problems encountered when the Comet Class ship design was pressed into a scientific role as the Daedalus Class following the Romular War.
As a response to the problems encountered with the Nova Class, the ASDB embarked on a two-pronged approach. The sixteen, largely successful Nova Class ships already in service were re-fit. The most obvious change over the course of the refit was filling the notch in the primary hull, which allowed for a more reasonable deck plan. The bridge was also lifted into a more traditional position, as opposed to the embedded position it occupied in the original Nova, which was a holdover from the spaceframe's roots as a warship.
The second part of the ASDB's plan was for all new ships to be constructed with a newly-designed spaceframe. The ASDB took the design of the Nova, the edits used to refit the original ships, and all of the technology which had been generated for the Sovereign Class and applied it to a new design for the science ship. The USS James Burke is the fourth of an additional ten ships built with the new spaceframe.
Hopefully, this will be the last image I make which is just an export from Sketchup. I'm re-learning Kerkythea now, and I hope to have some renders soon.
Related content
Comments: 10
To comment on your first concern, I too have done a couple re-designs of the Nova Class that don’t really work as “Alternate Universe” designs, but still seemed to fit within the Star Trek Universe. In cases like these, where the design is such a drastic overhaul, yet still keeps enough of the profile to be recognizable, I would simply call it “Mark 2” or even “Second Generation” to show that the design outgrew upgradability, so it was tweaked to continue service.
As for the design itself, I remember when this was still early in its design stages. One thing I wish you had considered more was the bridge area. In the description you provided, they even mention tweaking the bridge as well. “The bridge was also lifted into a more traditional position, as opposed to the embedded position it occupied in the original Nova, which was a holdover from the spaceframe's roots as a warship.”
I think a slightly more elevated module to continue the transformation from war-ship to science-vessel (unless this returns the ship to more war-oriented function?) would have been a nice change. That said, I love the addition of the conference room at the back of Deck 1.
The cargo area is much-improved as well. It looks like you elevated it quite a bit, and it would no longer feel as cramped as I assume the old one would have been.
I’m not partial to the windows that run the length of the saucer section. I think they need to be reduced height-wise, if only by 1/4 of their current size.
The move to have 2 impulse engines at the aft of the saucer was smart. I never really liked the position of the 1 engine on the old design. The location and addition of an extra engine would likely make the system more efficient, and probably improve the speed of the ship.
Moving the docking area was smart too. It was in an awkward position on the old design, and makes more sense here.
I think you should have added a bit or armour to the underside of the secondary hull. From just behind the phaser array extending several meters past the war core ejection hatch. It seems like an area that could use the protection.
You kept the wave-rider shuttle!!! Its one of my more petty-but-honesty-to-goodness least favorite parts of the original design. I seems like such a waste of space on a vessel that's already cramped.
I’m not sure about the secondary deflector… I think its position is right and I like the shape. It fits well into the design, but I dislike the design of the dish itself. It seems to stick out compared to the main deflector. Might look a little better if the blue was a bit darker.
Overall, excellent design! I think you managed an amazing blend of Sovereign and Nova. The profiles haven’t changed drastically so she’s definitely recognizable, but there are enough changes to see that she’s been upgraded to take on more roles.
Keep up the good work, and I look forward to your next project!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you so much for the critique! feedback is the best part of this hobby.
Regarding the bridge, I kept the bridge on deck one, which also has the conference room and what is probably the captain's quarters. From an aesthetics standpoint, a higher bridge might have looked better, but then it would have fallen out of the deck plan. but, I do see your point. Maybe you could think of it as a cynical Starfleet: moving the bridge upward, but not too far upward.
The cargo bay / shuttle bay door on the Nova was tiny! Mine isn't much better, but maybe you can land a real shuttle in there now. also, the original Nova had an awkward half-height deck under the shuttlebay. I got rid of that.
I'm not partial to any of the windows. I need to think of them as "portholes" more than "windows" to keep them smaller in my brain. But I grew up on TNG where the sets had windows larger than most people are tall. It doesn't look out of place to me while I'm building the ship, and then, suddenly, they're huge and out of proportion. It's falling back into old habits. Next time, I'll do better.
The move of the engines started this project down it's somewhat awkward path. "Impulse engine" is just a fancy way of saying "rocket." by the definition of "impulse", throwing a rock out of the back of a rowboat to get it to move forward is an impulse engine. in space, if that engine isn't placed along the center of mass, you'll go in a circle, which is why I have a problem with so many of Star Trek ship designs. The impulse engine on the classic Nova is so far off-center that it breaks my suspension of disbelief. I fixed it.
The docking area in the old design was also very small. it was more of a jefferies tube hatch than a proper docking port. it still isn't in a great spot, but at least you can get to it with an umbilical passageway now.
I think the docked spacecraft idea is pretty good, even on a cramped ship. I understand why TOS invented the transporter. You know, from a show's budget standpoint, it makes sense. But, it's a bit dull and not as much fun as making planetfall. I like the idea of having a large craft that a ship in orbit can use to get people and equipment to the surface. And maybe it can be useful for things that can't be transported.
And, you're right. I updated the model. the deflector now is darker. (it has the same texture pattern as the main deflector)
And, my next project will probably be a re-hash of the Shadowfax with a modeling skill upgrade and some JJ influence. We'll see how it goes.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Always glad to critique work. I know what its like to create something and either ignore the errors or just not see them. I hope my critiques are helpful in the long run, I think you're a great artist. Keep up the good work!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I have added the James Burke to my list. I will list her as the "James Burke Variant" until her subclass vessel is worked out. I'm guessing that her sister ships are named after scientists and explorers, at least the ones that not already used.
I would assume that she is a variant, due to being too similar to the Nova class to be a new class entirely, but not different enough to be a design from another timeline.
The mention of the Comet class from Starfleet Museum fame is the icing on the cake for her backstory.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I love the Starfleet museum project. I don't care anymore what CBS does. That website is my official head-canon.
And, a "variant" is probably about right. I wasn't thinking too hard about how this ship would fit in the Trek universe. Most of my designs straight-up just don't fit anywhere useful including the design I have in my head for my next model, which will be a ring ship on the scale of my Shadowfax.
Frankly, I'd need input and consensus from the rest of the fandom if it is to fit anywhere useful. I'm just happy to have a model people enjoy.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I actually try not to have too much of a problem with Enterprise's designs. I like to think of the UESPA as the exploratory agency resulting from the merging of the world's space exploration agencies on the founding of the United Earth government, and Starfleet being the Defense organization resulting from the merging of Earth's military forces.
The difference in designs could be a result of different companies winning contracts from the two branches, with Yoyodyne being the preferred design firm of the UESPA. They might even be from different countries, and thus split off in two different directions. Don't know who would have designed the vessels for Starfleet, since I don't know the names of the design firms that designs today's warships. It is perhaps a little more likely that Lockheed or Boeing would have designed Starfleet's equipment, due to their knowledge in aerospace, even though they don't design anything approaching the size of an NX class today.
Enterprise should have theoretically have been under the auspices of the UESPA, but being an experimental ship, was put under the authority of Starfleet to test her for military applications first. It could also be that the UESPA was delegated mostly to closely examining subjects that Starfleet had already charted, and whose threats they had analyzed.
During the Romulan War, the UESPA's exploratory fleet was pressed into service, and expanded upon as the Yoyodyne designs proved successful and their simplicity meant they were easier to produce faster, while Starfleet vessels took positions at the front of fleet formations, acting as vanguards and first-strike vessels.
After the war, the UESPA and Starfleet were formally merged with the founding of the Federation, along with the rest of the member world's space agencies. Even so, the UESPA remained Earth's exploratory branch, as depicted in TOS.
At least that is how it is in my head-canon.
Even so, assuming I was aware of it, and assuming the nature of the direction Enterprise was headed in was leaked, I would have signed a petition to the executives, telling them to give the concept artists far more leeway, or even to contact Masao, and request permission to use his designs. Enterprise was an opportunity to experiment with designs far different than what we saw before in any Star Trek series, and sadly, the executives failed to see this.
👍: 1 ⏩: 2
Nah, I talk about politics online from time to time. I've learned it's best to have a thick skin, have some patience, and not take things personally.
It's okay, I get and respect that you feel strongly about the franchise, and you do make a fair share of strong points.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Well, no, they didn't fail to see it. In fact, they were told directly that there is a story line to the origins of Starfleet and a well-established future history with major events, ship classes, and characters all referenced in TOS, TMP/movies, and TNG... and they intentionally ignored all of that out of fear that people "wouldn't recognize it."
And, now I give you Discovery and ask you, was that worry really worth all of the nail-biting and bet hedging? No.
Enterprise was a folly and my headcanon about it is that it was all a holo-novel run by Commander Riker. Not actual history.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
By failed to see, I mean that refused to consider it.
They also failed to recognize that their audience are a group of geeks. We know that technology changes significantly over the centuries, and that even if Earth entered into a post-scarcity era, they would still be limited by the technology that they could employ.
The slab-sided designs of Discovery probably would have made more sense for Enterprise, due to looking primitive, like there is no room for aesthetics. It's not good that the NX class actually looks more advanced in design than the Crossfield class, with it's gentle curves.
Though again, saucers weren't necessary for Enterprise era. And since Star Trek for better or worse has never really been big on integrating Ufology into it's timeline, perhaps they should have just had no saucers at all, or had one of the other races use them.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0