Topic: RIP Mastercom... Apparently (Read 4785 times)

DestinyCalling · « **on:** October 15, 2003, 09:47:58 am »

You know, many years ago... WAAAYYYY before I even thought about owning a PC, I used to get my starship fix from Mastercom.. Now WE all know who they are and what they did, but what has happened to them... Are the wonderous "Ships of the Fleet" books still available (I only ever got Vol 1 and 2)... And has anyone ever modelled the "Constitution II" class as seen in Volume 1.... For those who need a reminder we have......

Similar to the "Phase 2" Enterprise but not quite the same....

Originally in Volume 1 of Ships of the Fleet, image above from Shipscematics....

So, any ideas???

Kaenyne · « **Reply #1 on:** October 15, 2003, 10:08:37 am »

Well, I think (but know for sure) that Mastercom has gone the way of the dinosaur. But that doesn't mean you can't still find their work. Theit are to my knowledge three books by them. Twoyou have obviously and one more called "Starfleet Prototype". Now ALL of these volumes are long out of print and rare. I would would recommend eBay as a starting point for your search. It may take some time, but keep checking and a copy is bound to appear.

And as far as the "Constitution II", I scour model sites and this forum pretty regualrly looking for ships like this, 'cause I'm a Connie junkie. I love all these variants. I have never found this particular version. If you and I are on the same page, we would be thinking of putting out a request for this beauty.

Modelers like WillardDcker, P81 and WickedZombie are real masters at capturing the lines of these ships. I myself have recently asked if someone would like to model the U.S.S. America seen in the "Ships of the Star Fleet Volume One". It is the one with the bigger impulse deck like the Connie II but also has a rear torpedo tube, wider support nacelles, etc.

I'd love to see the Connie II make are game debut.

DestinyCalling · « **Reply #2 on:** October 15, 2003, 10:24:01 am »

Well DTW has a "Tikopai" Class... er USS Ticonderoga, I think.. And I did get hold of "Starfleet Prototype"... Did mastercom ever do Volume 3 though???

Thanks to various modellers efforts we can have every step of Connie evolution as laid out in the book... There are only TWO exceptions... The Connie 2 (above) and I've never seen ANYWHERE an original "The Cage" type Connie... The one with the big dish and no balls.....

I wonder if anyone did that one???

DestinyCalling · « **Reply #3 on:** October 15, 2003, 10:26:13 am »

Actually Kaenyne, I think we may well be on the same page... Trouble is though, I'm not much of a modeller!!

DestinyCalling · « **Reply #4 on:** October 15, 2003, 10:27:48 am »

Oh, and I dont think "Starfleet Prototype" was a Mastercom book... Similar but different....

Kaenyne · « **Reply #5 on:** October 15, 2003, 10:39:26 am »

You might be right. I'll have to go back and take a look. But it'll have to wait as I'm moving and it's buried in a box right now.

Hey, even if you don't feel you're a modeler, we can bug one of these other guys about it. At the moment WillardDcker is finalizing his Star Trek Khambatta site and he has mentioned a few surprises are in store. I don't know the status of P81 and WickedZombie has been very busy with a number of projects which I'm sure you've seen around here.

Kaenyne · « **Reply #6 on:** October 15, 2003, 10:46:00 am »

Oops! Forget some stuff:

There's never been a third volume of "Ships of the Star Fleet" I've honestly thought of "Starfleet Prototype" and the other two as a three book set, whether or not they are. So I think you've got all the books.

I'm not exactly sure but Fleetdock 13 may have that "Cage" Connie. There is something called the Smithsonian Constitution which may be the same thing. I suggest you dowwnload her and compare to any pictures or schematics you may have. Let me know because I'm curious now if it is ineed the same ship.

Captain Ron · « **Reply #7 on:** October 15, 2003, 11:01:31 am »

WZ is still active with his own projects, but has been known to pick up anything he finds interesting.
If it is TOS Atra will probably get to it eventually
Kitbashes of ships come from numerous people here, so if it can be parted together it will be done (probably by DM in a few blinks)
We have a few retexture people as well that just redo the textures on a ship. (WilDeckers RL issues have slowed him down but he is still out there finishing projects)

Pneumonic81 is out of the modelling business last I heard. When he switched jobs to a software firm as a artist the contract he signed pretty much ended his modelling days. He can be contacted to build custom ships (as can Cleeve i believe) for a price. They may have also stopped doing this as well, over some problems that developed.

Kaenyne · « **Reply #8 on:** October 15, 2003, 11:39:02 am »

Hey Captain Ron!

Nice to talk to you again!

I went over to Mackie's place and helped myself to a couple of your latest additions, that lighter blue Connie and the Connie ship names listing.

I didn't find the rest of the Connie ship names on the forums, however. Will you have them at Mackie's soon? Speaking of which, one more question: how do I replace the ship name the model has with a new name. Is it simply replacing the appropriate bitmap file?

Anthony_Scott · « **Reply #9 on:** October 15, 2003, 12:01:31 pm »

Ya know, I still have their book about the Akayazi in my library! If anyone is interested that is. I am annoyed that I never got my mitts on their Ships of The Starfleet...Oh well.

Semper Fi, Carry On

Captain Ron · « **Reply #10 on:** October 15, 2003, 12:15:46 pm »

Quote:

Hey Captain Ron!

Nice to talk to you again!

I went over to Mackie's place and helped myself to a couple of your latest additions, that lighter blue Connie and the Connie ship names listing.

I didn't find the rest of the Connie ship names on the forums, however. Will you have them at Mackie's soon? Speaking of which, one more question: how do I replace the ship name the model has with a new name. Is it simply replacing the appropriate bitmap file?

Depends on what you are doing it with, Paint, PSP8, or another program. If you are using PaintShop Pro 8 then use the PSP file one and copy and paste they are on a invisible back ground to make the copy process easier. If you use paint or another program you will have to cut them out and then paste them on. If you need it I have the blank versions on my HDD and can send them. So it does take a little work to replace the names but that is only because the size of the files one 10 name list page eats less space 1 complete saucer registry with the whole hull texture intact.

The other names will be loaded up later probably by the weekend as I have them scattered about on various models still.

Kaenyne · « **Reply #11 on:** October 15, 2003, 12:31:38 pm »

Okay. Well, I don't have PaintShip but it's no tragedy. I might play with those ship names someday. In the meantime, I'll go fly my new Connie. And a beauty she is.

Wiat until we see what WillardDcker gives us. I think you'll have plenty of texturing if ya want it...

DestinyCalling · « **Reply #12 on:** October 15, 2003, 01:59:43 pm »

Thanks for the advice Kaenyne but..... It's a normal as would be expected TOS Connie... I dont mean normal as in mudane as it's far better than anything I could muster.....

My money's on Atrahasis for both...... He's got spiky nacelles !!!

Kaenyne · « **Reply #13 on:** October 15, 2003, 02:07:30 pm »

Well hey, at least you have another Connie to fly. We can ask Atrahasis if he's willing to make a "Cage" version. Any new version always good IMO.

One of my hopes is to see all the versions of the Connie in-game from "Ships of the Starfleet Volume One". That's a lot of ships. Some are already here like Atrahasis' great renditions, the Tikopai, etc. but there's a lot left...

Tenchu · « **Reply #14 on:** October 15, 2003, 02:13:13 pm »

Moonraker did a model of the Connie II, its called "Krieger". I have a copy of it and would be willing to send it to you when I get home this evening.

DestinyCalling · « **Reply #15 on:** October 15, 2003, 02:13:37 pm »

True True... I was having a looky see today and apart from the 2 I've already mentioned.. All the base model Connies have been done... Aside from a few refits I guess, which I could probably retex (I can just about manage that)...

Hey, I wonder why nobady has done a Knox Class Frigate... You know, the one with the the shorter CL hull.... Kind of a TMP Surya, as opposed to a TMP Coventry, which I guess the Miranda is...

Just a thought

DestinyCalling · « **Reply #16 on:** October 15, 2003, 02:15:26 pm »

oooh...... Intruiging... Tell you what Tenchu, you can send it over to jon@destinycalling.freeserve.co.uk if you like and I'll have a look....

Cheers....

Kaenyne · « **Reply #17 on:** October 15, 2003, 02:15:55 pm »

Alright! I'm sure Destinycalling will be glad to know that!

I would be delighted and grateful if you'd send one my way...

Thanks for your help!

Bernard Guignard · « **Reply #18 on:** October 15, 2003, 02:42:07 pm »

HI destyny calling
Don't give up just Yet on Mastercom. Theres a rumour flying around the engineering circles of Starfleet the international star trek fan Association Inc that Todd Guenther who did the SOTSF and worked on the tng enterprise Blueprints is interrested in resurrecting the series. Starfleet Prototype wasn't created by mastercom but another group of people who published a great tech manual called Starfleet Dynamics. Rick P81 Knox did a Knox Class frigate along time ago.

Kaenyne · « **Reply #19 on:** October 15, 2003, 02:47:07 pm »

Well, if the rumor is truw that would be very cool. I'd love to see more of those books. And I have "Starfleet Dynamics" as well but never knew they also put together Starfleet Prototype. Ya learn something new everyday...

News:

Topic: RIP Mastercom... Apparently (Read 4785 times) var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true};

DestinyCalling

Kaenyne

DestinyCalling

DestinyCalling

DestinyCalling

Kaenyne

Kaenyne

Captain Ron

Kaenyne

Anthony_Scott

Captain Ron

Kaenyne

DestinyCalling

Kaenyne

Tenchu

DestinyCalling

DestinyCalling

Kaenyne

Bernard Guignard

Kaenyne

Topic: RIP Mastercom... Apparently (Read 4785 times)