Topic: New concept...possible battlecruiser for feds

[Raven Night]

Here is one concept I started on a long time ago, and I decided to pick it back up to add some details and clean it up. I saw this ship as a cross between a Miranda, Defiant and an Akira. It would be smaller than an Akira, with a Defiant-like bridge and nacelles, Akira-like pontoons and deflector and the Miranda rollbar. She still needs alot of work of course, but the basic overall shape is done.

What I did different with this one is the position of the bridge. Normally, I set bridges in the forward position, giving them a more agressive posture. This ship, however, had a pronounced deflector bulge and limited space to place it in, so the position of a forward bridge looked odd, and I decided to move it to a more traditional centered position.

Let me know what you think.

[ModelsPlease]

I absolutely love it. This design flows, I want this puppy for sure 

[intermech]

I like the desgin, something to fly alongside the Anomie class. How do you feel about enlarging the role bar? I know its current size fits the scale correctly, but there is something bothering me about that intricate rollbar next to those large/smooth warp engines.

[Starforce2]

the roll bar looks a bit delicate sorta like sticking a miranda bar on a galaxy saucer kind of feel.

[ModelsPlease]

Beef up the rollbar a little but don't move it. It's perfect where it is.

[Raven Night]

Do I need to beef it up width wise along the spar, making the spar thicker, or make it wider front to back?

I'm glad you guys like it. It took some tweaking to get the right look without making this an Akira clone.

[Dizzy]

I like it too, but it needs a saucer. I cant help it! Im a TMP junkie!

[Centurus]

It's got a saucer, just a TNG saucer.  :-p 

And not too keen on the overall design, but that's just me.  She is nicely built, with great detail in the mesh.  I would say beef the rollbar where she's connected to the rest of the ship.

The one mesh piece I am in love with is that weapons pod you've got there.  Mighty nice.

[Adonis]

My only gripe is the leading edge of the rollbar struts. Move it back a little, that it doesn't ruin the fore curvature of the nacelles

[Rod ONeal]

I like it too, but it needs a saucer. I cant help it! Im a TMP junkie!

I agree.

My only gripe is the leading edge of the rollbar struts. Move it back a little, that it doesn't ruin the fore curvature of the nacelles

I think that the base of the rollbar should be pulled in on the back, as well, to improve the flow.

[ModelsPlease]

It's got a saucer, just a TNG saucer.  :-p

 

Well spoken. Hey Dizzy if ya want TMP I'm ready to work on those projects with ya.

[Shadowfleet]

I like it as is! AWESOME JOB! Do the engine nacelles angle down slightly - I can't tell from this angle.

Please release her soon!!!

[Chris Johnson]

For a post-FC-era battlecruiser, she looks alright.  Tom Paris would be proud of the rollbar especially, if y'know what I mean. 

[Raven Night]

Yes, I pushed the spar connect forward on the nacelle so I could mount dual cannons there....I will mesh up the cannons and see what you guys think, if it still doesnt work I can move it back and maybe put the cannons in the nose instead....but the triangle pods port and starboard are bristling with weapons, so more cannons in the nose is a bit of overkill.

No answer on how to beef up the rollbar? I can make it beefier at the connect to the nacelle, should I thinken it overall, or widen it fore and aft?

[AlchemistiD]

 

I'm gonna pass out now.

[Centurus]

Raven, I suggested beefing up the rollbar's connection to the rest of the ship.  Maybe you could thicken the rollbar all around, and add possible joints or ports where she would logically be connected to the rest of the ship, and possibly detached as well.  That's the best way I can describe what I have to say.

[wrathofachilles]

sweet, I generally hate federation ships but this is fantasdtic.

[Raven Night]

Ok, Ill show you some shots of the work sofar. I have sharpened the nose a bit, giving it a more aggressive posture, but I can round it back out pretty easilly if preferred. I also have alot of work and detail to add, but I thought you guys need to be able to see the other views.

I increased the width of the rollbar, but have not created the engine pylon mounts yet. There will be connects on the engines for the pylon bases. The deflector housing underneath is Akira-esq, but I wanted to make it shape out a little differently, most notably its length. The deflector itself is also much larger and more centered...this ship is smaller than an Akira after all.

Let me know what you think sofar...I was considering increasing the size of the weapons pod.

Now here is a test....other than the obvious rollbar, can you pick out the Miranda class details?

[ModelsPlease]

OUTSTANDING !!!!!!!!!!!! I'm really like thing design.

[Centurus]

She's coming along quite nicely.  The rollbar has definately improved.  Overall design I'm still not attracted to, and now I know why.  Just seems a bit too long to me, but that's just my opinion.  Regardless, the details you've put into this ship are very sweet, and this mesh is built well. 

Keep up the good work.

[Raven Night]

One mistake I made was the size of the bridge module. I have corrrected the size of the module, and I made a picture showing this ship with a Defiant and an Akira for comparison. Let me know if you think this looks like a good size for this vessel.

[Starforce2]

Ok now perhaps the delicate nature of the pylons for the launchers make sense...I was expecting something larger than an akira beauce you called it a battlecruiser.

[Raven Night]

Ok, the naming contentions for my ships, as far as role class, are kind of loose, but here are some general rules.

Peaceful vessels (called fleet vessels, or Starfleet vessels)

NCC Designation

Shuttle: 20 meters or below (some exceptions based on mission profile)
Scout: 50 meters or below (again, some exceptions based on mission)
Frigate: 51 to 150 meters
Cruiser: 150 to 400 meters (includes light, medium, heavy designations)
Explorer: 401 or above

Warships (called threat vessels, or 3rd fleet vessels)

NX designation

Pod: 20 meters or below
Fighter: 30 meters or below
Scout: 75 meters or below
Corvette: 75 to 150 meters
Escort cruiser: 150 to 200 meters
Heavy cruiser: 200 to 250 meters
Battlecruiser: 250 to 400 meters
Battleship: 400 to 700 meters
Dreadnought: 700 meters and above

As you can see, no warship carries a frigate or light cruiser designation, but basically a corvette is equal to a frigate, and an escort cruiser is equal to a light cruiser. The mainstay of the fleet is battlecruisers, as most ships in the third fleet fall into this size catagory.

[ModelsPlease]

Akira  - approx. 440m
Intrepid -  344m

And this looks smaller then an Intrepid class  I'm guessing around a Length: 250m (CA) 

[Raven Night]

Akira  - approx. 440m
Intrepid -  344m

And this looks smaller then an Intrepid class  I'm guessing around a Length: 250m (CA) 

Actually I was shooting for a size around the Intrepid, to put it smaller than the Akira, but still a formidable vessel. I couldnt make it too big, otherwise the nacelle configuration would be rediculous. I felt that I could get away with the Defiant like cowl over the engines by explaining it is an emission reduction design, but there is a limit to it's feasability based on size...go too big and it starts to look silly compared to the nacelles of other vessels, so they would have to be shrunk....again, looking even more silly. I think this is the right balance, therefore the upper limit based on the engine design.

Now, in a dream world where I could put any ship in the 3rd fleet I desired, canon or not, I would bring in the Saber, Defiant, Intrepid, Prometheus, Nova (combat varient), Akira (of course) and the Sovereign (modified), all as warships. My contention would be that all of them were designed to combat the Borg, and all were modified for fleet use.....but have combat roots. ESPECIALLY the Akira.

Now, you might ask...why the Sov and the Intrepid, of all ships. Well, look at the designs of both...no neck, robust engineering sections, pronounced or graduated saucer sections that mount directly to the hull, hearty nacelles, etc. I contend that the "no neck" design we derived to give the hull strength and staying power, give the ships a lower strike profile, and reduce weak points on the hull. Both ships can take quite a beating (we have seen examples of this) and still function.....yes, I know, there are not many Intrepid fans out there, but the idea is sound...the design is combat oriented in my opinion.

This is what I base my designs on...I want them to flow, but still be tough. No neck, and in some cases no saucer at all (no need....third fleet ships do not carry family on board)...this creates a flat overall theme to my designs however. I am trying to break out of that mold (like with thei Anubis) but my graduated designs still need work.

At any rate, information overload. I just wanted to let you guys know why I came to this scale as the one I wanted for this ship.

[Fedman NCC-3758]

                   

[Raven Night]

I'm glad you like it, im working on adding details at the moment. Ill post final mesh pics soon, then maybe try my hand at my first fed textures.

Here's the question, though....with a few small changes for the 3rd Fleet (Starfleet Marine Corps), I could go with the standard battleship grey scheme, or the Defiant blues scheme...which do you think would be better?

[Fedman NCC-3758]

Light grey.

[ModelsPlease]

Standard battleship grey scheme

[Greenvalv]

Grey, but make it look as if it was designed with the same idea behind the defiant.... smaller but more powerful....

[ModelsPlease]

Grey, but make it look as if it was designed with the same idea behind the defiant.... smaller but more powerful....

Hey bro it's much bigger then defiant...........

[Greenvalv]

I meant smaller than the Akira and more powerful, like the Defiant is smaller than a frigate but more powerful.

[ModelsPlease]

I meant smaller than the Akira and more powerful, like the Defiant is smaller than a frigate but more powerful.

  oops my bad

[markyd]

What a great design... original... you did a top job on the build too 

[Raven Night]

Thanks...It is going to be a while before I get to this one, I'm having a tough time with the Falcon textures...mainly how I want them to come together. I'm using the Sov as a guide, but I dont want it to look like a Sov clone. Not sure what I want to do with this one, but I will probably do the same, perhaps with a few Defiant-like cues.

[Toast]

Dude !!  that ship is kickin man very nice 

[Raven Night]

Raven if your intrested im willing to give it a go if you could map it how you want as i know you BCers like detailed mapping and i will give her a shot

Actually, I would like to texture it....I'm trying to create a set of "Raven only" models, ones that I can lay claim to as I sink my teeth into the modeling genre. Besides, I desperately need the practice....my textures generally suck, even worse for feds. The more I do, the more I learn.

I would, however, like a redo on a few of my concepts, if you would like me to post a few of them. To see if you are interested in giving them a whirl.

[Raven Night]

Raven if your intrested im willing to give it a go if you could map it how you want as i know you BCers like detailed mapping and i will give her a shot

Actually, I would like to texture it....I'm trying to create a set of "Raven only" models, ones that I can lay claim to as I sink my teeth into the modeling genre. Besides, I desperately need the practice....my textures generally suck, even worse for feds. The more I do, the more I learn.

I would, however, like a redo on a few of my concepts, if you would like me to post a few of them. To see if you are interested in giving them a whirl.

Dont get me wrong...the offer is appreciated and I don't want to let the air out of it. If you really like this one and have your heart set on texturing it, I can let it go to you. I'm sure you would do a stelllar job on it.

fantastic and sounds like a plan.