Fan-made starships - at bcfiles.com
Phillip Thorne
Bridge Commander," but we can consider their aesthetics separately
from their game stats. Some are mods of canonical classes, others are
"frankenstein fleet" mash-ups, and some have highly unconventional
shapes.
<http://www.bcfiles.com>
The site has ships for all of the powers, but here's a selection of
Starfleet-styled vessels to critique:
LaFayette
Like the Miranda, but with an underslung pod with deflector, and the
dorsal weapons pod is moved forward. The nacelles are clunky.
<http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/LaFayette_Class_Starship;87708>
<http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/87708/4>
Chabot
An upgrade of the Excelsior, with a longer "boat" portion of the
engineering hull, and Sovereign-type nacelles.
<http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/Chabot_Class;66497>
<http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/66497/1>
Premonition
Like the Sovereign (Enterprise-E), but with arc-shaped nacelle pylons
and a dorsal pod above the saucer. The pod has purple-glowing panels
of no obvious function.
<http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/Premonition_Class_USS_Premonition;31597>
<http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/31597/4>
Eminence
Like the Sovereign, but with a second pair of nacelles and an NX-like
notch in the saucer's forward edge.
<http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/Eminence_Class_Enterprise_F;100337>
<http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/100337/2>
Raptor
No dorsal, with the engineering hull at the same level as the saucer.
The nacelle pylons are angled downward so the nacelles (interesting
shape) are below the level of the saucer.
<http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/DJ_Leonidas_Class_USS_Raptor;96921>
<http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/96921/2>
Dignity
Similar to the Raptor, but with some awkward kinks in the engineering
hull, and the pylons are flat so the nacelles are above the saucer.
<http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/Dignity_Class_USS_Jean_Luc_Picard;36660>
<http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/36660/3>
Midway
Another one with the secondary hull fused direct to the saucer. Extra
docking bays -- possibly with a reversed gravity field in the lower
half of the secondary hull, if those markings (on the flat underside
of the undercut) are runways. Interesting doubled nacelles, each with
doubled photon spill vents.
<http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/Midway_Carrier_Pack;41587>
<http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/41587/1>
Spirit
Something like the Intrepid (Voyager), but more aircraft-like,
including a T-tail and canards. Coincidentally, I designed something
with this layout in 1993.
<http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/USS_Spirit_NX79995;96291>
<http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/96291/1>
Arrowhead
Very unconventional, with a chevron-shaped forward hull instead of
saucer. The nacelles are unusually rectangular.
<http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/USS_Arrowhead;97484>
<http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/97484/1>
--
** Phillip Thorne ** peth...@comcast.net **************
* RPI CompSci 1998 *
** underbase.livejournal.com ***************************
Jack Bohn
>They were designed specificially as mods for the game "Star Trek
>Bridge Commander," but we can consider their aesthetics separately
>from their game stats. Some are mods of canonical classes, others are
>"frankenstein fleet" mash-ups, and some have highly unconventional
>shapes.
><http://www.bcfiles.com>
>
>The site has ships for all of the powers, but here's a selection of
>Starfleet-styled vessels to critique:
...and a homepage that seems as organized as my junk drawer, so
thanks for selecting things.
>LaFayette
>Like the Miranda, but with an underslung pod with deflector, and the
>dorsal weapons pod is moved forward. The nacelles are clunky.
><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/LaFayette_Class_Starship;87708>
><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/87708/4>
If not for the planet in the first picture peeking through the
gap, I would have thought the deflector was in a vestigial
secondary hull. In fact, there's seemingly no reason not to have
a permanently crewed space there, why not give it a dorsal
connection to the rest of the ship?
>Chabot
>An upgrade of the Excelsior, with a longer "boat" portion of the
>engineering hull, and Sovereign-type nacelles.
><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/Chabot_Class;66497>
><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/66497/1>
The "boat" looks widened, too. OK.
>Premonition
>Like the Sovereign (Enterprise-E), but with arc-shaped nacelle pylons
>and a dorsal pod above the saucer. The pod has purple-glowing panels
>of no obvious function.
><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/Premonition_Class_USS_Premonition;31597>
><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/31597/4>
No real overhead shot, leaving me with the question: "Does it
look like a chicken?"
>Eminence
>Like the Sovereign, but with a second pair of nacelles and an NX-like
>notch in the saucer's forward edge.
><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/Eminence_Class_Enterprise_F;100337>
><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/100337/2>
A second pair of *smaller* nacelles. Interesting...
>Raptor
>No dorsal, with the engineering hull at the same level as the saucer.
>The nacelle pylons are angled downward so the nacelles (interesting
>shape) are below the level of the saucer.
><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/DJ_Leonidas_Class_USS_Raptor;96921>
><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/96921/2>
Are they Jem'Hadar/ENT Romulan nacelles, recolored?
>Dignity
>Similar to the Raptor, but with some awkward kinks in the engineering
>hull, and the pylons are flat so the nacelles are above the saucer.
><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/Dignity_Class_USS_Jean_Luc_Picard;36660>
><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/36660/3>
The overhead shot reminds me of one of the future ships from the
TNG Tech Manual, the text says inspired by the Enterprise-J.
Convergent evolution?
>Midway
>Another one with the secondary hull fused direct to the saucer. Extra
>docking bays -- possibly with a reversed gravity field in the lower
>half of the secondary hull, if those markings (on the flat underside
>of the undercut) are runways. Interesting doubled nacelles, each with
>doubled photon spill vents.
><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/Midway_Carrier_Pack;41587>
><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/41587/1>
So far I like this one's looks the best. I suspect the markings
on the underside are just markings.
>Spirit
>Something like the Intrepid (Voyager), but more aircraft-like,
>including a T-tail and canards. Coincidentally, I designed something
>with this layout in 1993.
><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/USS_Spirit_NX79995;96291>
><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/96291/1>
>Arrowhead
>Very unconventional, with a chevron-shaped forward hull instead of
>saucer. The nacelles are unusually rectangular.
><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/USS_Arrowhead;97484>
><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/97484/1>
These two a bit too strange, I think.
--
-Jack
Phillip Thorne
>>They were designed specificially as mods for the game "Star Trek
>>Bridge Commander," but we can consider their aesthetics separately
>>The site has ships for all of the powers, but here's a selection of
>>Starfleet-styled vessels to critique:
On Mon, 02 Nov 2009, Jack Bohn <jack...@bright.net> wrote:
>...and a homepage that seems as organized as my junk drawer, so
>thanks for selecting things.
You're welcome.
>>Premonition
>>Like the Sovereign (Enterprise-E), but with arc-shaped nacelle pylons
>>and a dorsal pod above the saucer. The pod has purple-glowing panels
>>of no obvious function.
>><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/Premonition_Class_USS_Premonition;31597>
>><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/31597/4>
>
>No real overhead shot, leaving me with the question: "Does it
>look like a chicken?"
The individual artists don't show much thought in which angles they
pick to promote their designs. A standard five-way orthogonal (most
3D packages have any easy way to do that, right?) would be helpful.
>>Raptor
>>No dorsal, with the engineering hull at the same level as the saucer.
>>The nacelle pylons are angled downward so the nacelles (interesting
>>shape) are below the level of the saucer.
>><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/DJ_Leonidas_Class_USS_Raptor;96921>
>><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/96921/2>
>
>Are they Jem'Hadar/ENT Romulan nacelles, recolored?
... They're definitely not ENT Romulan nacelles; those were more
crescent- or sickle-shaped.
Checking the DS9 Tech Manual... I can't be sure, due to the 2D
renderings and crazy coloration (Jem'Hadar ships are *grey*, dangit,
not violet/lavendar/mint/pink!), but not quite. The proportions are
different, and the JH nacelles are blunter at the front. But maybe
the Raptor's nacelles were borrowed from a game model, where the JH
*do* have those proportions.
Also, there appears to be a TMP-style "impulse deflection crystal"
forward of the pylons, for no reason (since the impulse engines are
where a Galaxy would have them, paired, on the trailing edge of the
saucer). Maybe it's a skylight.
Ever since TNG, the Bussard collectors (red) have been migrating from
the front onto the sides of the nacelle. The ones here don't seem
well-positioned IMHO.
>>Dignity
>>Similar to the Raptor, but with some awkward kinks in the engineering
>>hull, and the pylons are flat so the nacelles are above the saucer.
>><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/Dignity_Class_USS_Jean_Luc_Picard;36660>
>><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/36660/3>
>
>The overhead shot reminds me of one of the future ships from the
>TNG Tech Manual, the text says inspired by the Enterprise-J.
>Convergent evolution?
If so, it was by the artists working on ENT. I think there's an
specific Ent-J design elsewhere on the site.
>>Midway
>>Another one with the secondary hull fused direct to the saucer. Extra
>>docking bays [...] Interesting doubled nacelles, each with
>>doubled photon spill vents.
>><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/Midway_Carrier_Pack;41587>
>><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/41587/1>
>
>So far I like this one's looks the best.
I agree. It has the same "rearrangement of familiar elements, but
with novel aspects" that the Reliant did vis-a-vis the TMP Ent. It
looks good from multiple angles. The hull only partially blocks the
line of sight between the nacelles.
The cylindrical upper surface of the secondary (extended? blended?)
hull looks a bit plain to me, though. Oh! Those are additional
numbered bay doors. And the impulse engines... where are they? Must
be the quad red rectangles on both sides of the saucer, where the Ent
has the rec room windows. Hmm, no impulse deflection crystals. (Not
that anything needs deflecting, but...)
>>Spirit
>>Something like the Intrepid (Voyager), but more aircraft-like,
>>including a T-tail and canards.
>>Arrowhead
>>Very unconventional, with a chevron-shaped forward hull instead of
>>saucer. The nacelles are unusually rectangular.
>These two a bit too strange, I think.
Agreed. They have Starfleet texmaps, but none of the other design
hallmarks.
Jack Bohn
>On Mon, 02 Nov 2009, Jack Bohn <jack...@bright.net> wrote:
>
>>>Premonition
>>><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/Premonition_Class_USS_Premonition;31597>
>>><http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/31597/4>
>>
>>No real overhead shot, leaving me with the question: "Does it
>>look like a chicken?"
>
>The individual artists don't show much thought in which angles they
>pick to promote their designs. A standard five-way orthogonal (most
>3D packages have any easy way to do that, right?) would be helpful.
Taldren gave away their .mod viewing program for the Starfleet
Command ship files. Alas, Bridge Commander seems to use a
different file with the .py identifier.
On a tangent, Mark Rademaker, who has done new ships for the
Ships of the Line calendar has one in the new one (review coming
soon!) that -if not canon- is part of a larger playground; the
Aventine from ST-Destiny series of novels. Yes, the angle he's
chosen shows there are nacelles, and a hull, but can't tell much
more about the layout.
--
-Jack
CaptJosh
<snip>
> Premonition
> Like the Sovereign (Enterprise-E), but with arc-shaped nacelle pylons
> and a dorsal pod above the saucer. The pod has purple-glowing panels
> of no obvious function.
> <http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/Premonition_Class_USS_Premonition;31597>
> <http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/screenshots/File/31597/4>
The pod above the saucer is the temporal drive core of the Premonition.
It's what allowed it to go back in time to save the Federation from the
Borg and then again go back in time and save the Picard and his crew
from the Borg in the game Star Trek: Armada
--
CaptJosh
There are only 10 kinds of people in the world:
those who understand binary and those who don't.