Archive through February 12, 2020
Star Fleet Universe Discussion Board: Shapeways Project: Ships for Shapeways Approval:
0-ARCHIVE: SHIPS ALREADY RELEASED:
2020:
Mar 6: Federation CX:
Archive through February 12, 2020
OH a Kizinti X Tech ship! Like the Different engines alot!
On a weird side note, did the Carnivions ever get a X ship?
There doesn't seem to be much leeway to enlarge the engines on the PCX relative to the standard PC, but might there be some other means of marking them out as distinct?
I suppose it could be easier to make the engines look different on Neo-Tholian X-ships, or at least the ones on their secondary hulls.
IMO, the strakes on the Tholian look appropriately placed given their location to systems.
The strakes on the Kzinti above the drone pylons should be moved back and placed on the faces between the warp pylons.
The strakes on the Fed secondary hull look ridiculous and the ones on the top of the saucer are going to interfere with the firing arcs. As it seems inevitable the Fed will be mutilated with the strakes, keeping the two below the saucer and on the bottom of the secondary hull (again imo) is the least odious choice.
The Kzinti does not have strakes on the bottom (yet). We also have to keep spots clear for casual gunboats, which the Kzinti usually hang underneath.
Tholian has too many strakes, someone mentioned wing root strakes and I wanted to see what that looked like. A number of Tholians mount their disuptors there, so it was problematic from the start.
Some of my old Tholian engine bling ideas were rendered moot by the ST Remaster, but there's still a few things to try once I get some free time.
Quote:By AW Cookson (Awcookson) on Monday, February 10, 2020 - 11:40 pm
The strakes on the Fed ... on the top of the saucer are going to interfere with the firing arcs.
Please elaborate.
This was brought up, up-thread. As previously discussed, the side phasers are LS and RS. The strakes are located inboard of the phasers and in no way restricts that arc.
I stand corrected. I mis-remembered thinking of the D7 expanded arcs.
As the dorsal primary hull strakes are vertical though, not at an angle which as you noted Will would make them neigh impossible to manufacture, then if they must stay I would suggest at least make the shorter as was done with the Kzinti strakes.
SteveZ
As said above, could the strakes be moved closer to the warp engines, which is where I imagined they might be till I saw the line art SVC posted. I know that's in the MSSB, but to be fair, the CX art isn't accurate to the proposed CX.
I see the art similar to the CA displays on the TV ship engineering station, as an thumbnail/indicator, not an accurate schematic of the ship.
Like the advanced engines on the Kzinti. Is there some way to slightly add to the command window greeble, indicating a change similar to how Will has modified the CX teardrop underneath the Bridge? I know that won't work for all Empires, but I'd like to see something on the Kzinti. 
I want to say the Tholian looks just like just another variant, not sure what you might do. I see why the TV Remaster might limit you. Was going to suggest adding a small wedge at the top of the rear facing of the wings for strakes. Like this...
/\7
...where the sloped symbols are the wing top, and the seven is the wedge, if you see what I mean? Plus, is there any way the cooling grid pattern might be altered to indicate more advanced engines. Also maybe add slightly to the actual engines greeble?
I'd like to see what the CX would look like with strakes like the Kzinti and Tholian.
Szamboni, that has to be the best re-use of the old 2200-series Kzinti SCS engine style I've seen to date.
I just got my first look at the draft X-ship designs. The strakes on the Kzinti and Tholian ships look good. I have to agree with a few others that the Fed strakes seem to be a bit too high in comparison, but like the positioning on version 2. I believe I need to buy a couple of NeoThol NBBs. The strakes should be easy enough to mimic and I have a very silly idea.
Ref: Tholian PCX
I suppose the engines 'panels' could be expanded to grow or fatten a bit outside away from each fin.
I don't know if the Tholian PCX cooling grids could have the cross hatching changed from a 'x' pattern to a '+' pattern, if you see what I mean. Or what about a hex grid?
The Tholian concepts will get their own thread eventually. We need to deal with strakes first (and the CX).
Ok doke. Any chance then to see the CX with strakes like on the Kzinti and Tholian ships?
We had a snow day today. I think Will sent Steve art, but Steve isn't in to post it.
Will, thanks for the line up! Steve Z thanks for the alternates.
I think everyone was thinking strakes at the height of the Kz/Thol example. The difference in shape, profile (and warp signature) for these should be enough of a distinction.
The line art is ok for counters but the 3D flare these awesome artists bring really set them apart.
Definitely second what Lawrence says about our sculptors/designers!
(What is the proper term? )
"What is the proper term?"
3D modelers.
"What is the proper term?"
'Sculptors' is still correct, even if we work with rather unusual tools compared to conventional sculpture.
I honestly cannot tell much if any difference but if this version of the CX works for everybody let's move things forward.
Oh, yeah, I can tell the difference, and it's a lot better this way.
Garth L. Getgen
What purpose do the strakes serve?
Those 'short strakes' look a lot better!!
Quote:What purpose do the strakes serve?
In-game or out-of-game?
Out-of-game it is so that the miniature screams, "This is an X-ship," across the room. This was explained above a couple of different times.
In-game, I doubt anything has been made up yet. It's just technobabble. Just assume it has something to do with cooling or radiation dispersal or venting or something like that. Whatever is required has to project outside the hull proper. The strakes are large because what you actually see is heavy reinforcing to protect the actual projections with in the strakes.
Or something like that.
I love the short strakes!
Definite improvement with these lower strakes.
Just wish they could be as low as the Kzinti/Tholian ones SteveZ did (no disrespect, Will). They would still be distinctive, as the saucer ones would break up the shield grid, and would be noticeable if all painted differently, like the intercoolers on the top end of standard Federation nacelles.