Amph [NERRRD] Observations, rhetorical questions, comments & 55 Years of Star Trek (General Thread)

The drug metaphor came out strongly, but I think the topical means (the video game) at the time doesn't hold up well. It's not too far off from basing a concept on the outdated idea that D&D is satanic and increases your children's chances of suicide if they play it. It may have made more sense at the time, but now people have a greater understanding on a subject and are far more rationale about it.

 

Random youtube surfing led to an Enterprise-A video search that came back around to this awesome thing from a couple years ago, a 6 ft custom model of the Enterprise-A- the detail is insane.

Construction pics:


More finished shots/video:


One of those and one of the E and I'd be good.

 

It's why I said one if those AND one of the E, but I'd settle for just the A. I agree- it's an incredible design.

The E has a great dagger feel that I love, so it sometimes rivals the A as my favorite, but the plausibility the A feels like usually wins out.

The D has nice lines and evokes a different, organic feel from all the others. Meanwhile the C is still trying to shake off the ugly stick from the Excelsior class .

 

Even as a kid, it was hard for me to look back at the TOS Enterprise design fondly (not the FX quality, mind you, the actual design). It's a little too frail-looking with the thin stick-like nacelle struts, extended dish and such. And the pinwheel nacelle caps never thrilled me much.I feel like I could break it easily.

The TOS Enterprise was a reflection on 50's & 60's sci-fi: it's basically a flying saucer (with a smoother surface all around to convey that lineage, while the nacelle caps also evoke old UFO/flying saucer stuff)), two rockets and a radar dish stuck onto an original hull.

That said, it takes those primitive concepts and created something iconic.I just think it feels like it's missing something. The Refit addressed all of my concerns (sturdier/sexier nacelle struts, enclosed/reenforced dish, radiator nacelles reflecting more recent space program technology, less smooth surface detailing, modified curves/lines of the saucer section make it feel less flying saucer-like and more submersible-like while maintaining the same basic shape, etc).

However, IMO (I know others will disagree) one of the more impressive things Enterprise managed to achieve with it's Mirror Universe 2-parter was that, when pitting a TOS Constitution-class against ENT-era ships, a TOS Constitution actually felt big, advanced and powerful for the first time in a way TOS never managed to achieve (now, admittedly, that's partly a result of the FX and filming techniques of the era- though even the TOS Remastered effects didn't really change anything in that regard as it comes down to more how the ship was used in the series versus the subsequent ones).

It's grown on me a tad over the years to where I can appreciate it more, but I can't fall in love with it.

As for the Enterprise-B... while it does have some slight improvements in the secondary hull area over the original Excelsior-class, I kinda just always felt it was kinda ugly. The flat, right angle nacelle struts in particular with the overall impression that it was a bloated version of the Enterprise that has been eating too much while getting too little exercise.

When i look at it, I kinda see this:

Enterprise A


Excelsior:


Enterprise-A:


Excelsior:


Enterprise-A:


Excelsior:




I kid- it's not that bad, but it depends on the camera angle (since the camera can add 10 tons...). I do like the Exclesior-class's saucer when viewed from the angle in that pic. But the topside ain't so pretty.

 

I would assume that it took them some time to be able to replicate some of the technology- there's bound to be components they simply could not replicate and replace in that era.

Add to that that one would assume the Empress would not be in a rush to diminish her tactical advantage and keeping her ship the lone Constitution to prevent rivals from forming. She'd make sure the Defiant got some mileage on her before making any replacements or sister ships.

 

Nothing pops up on a search on Memory Alpha, or in it's list of Federation ships.