Flare Sci-Fi Forums: how was the Nebula born?

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Posted by johnboy on :

I always knew that the Nebula was built based on study models Ed Miarecki created. At the same time, he also created the New Orleans model (Kyushu at Wolf 359).

Were the models created specifically for BTOW part II?
Or were they created before that and happened to be lying around when Mike Okuda needed starships for that sequence?

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Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

I'm pretty sure those ships were created for TBoBW. Or, if not specifically for it, at least at that time. I don't think they were just "lying around" and someone stuck them in.

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Posted by Timo (Member # 245) on :

The very fact that they are low-res kitbashes would indicate that they were built for "BoBW2" specifically. Where else could one use kitbashes except in scenes that feature damaged ships at a distance?

I can think of only one other application for kitbashes: the Nebula *might* have been built as tabletop decoration. But the first episode that used such decoration was "Future Imperfect" that came well after "BoBW". Before that, tabletops had been decorated by TOS or movie era Enterprises and random models of Apollo modules etc., plus the study model for the Constellation class in Picard's ready room. Remember that at that time, there weren't Galaxy class scale model kits to be bashed.

When did the E-D model kit come out, actually? What would have been the earliest episode that could theoretically have featured a Nebula study model or other Galaxy kitbash?

Timo Saloniemi

Posted by Starship Freak (Member # 293) on :

A model of an Apollo-module? What? Any pics?

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Posted by Timo (Member # 245) on :

There's an Apollo CSM stack on Wesley's dorm table in "First Duty", I believe. And there may have been an Apollo model in one of the lounge scenes in early TNG, before Ten-Forward was built (perhaps "Justice"?). I'm not 100% sure about the episodes, though.

Timo Saloniemi

Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :

I think the Nebula was actually designed and built for the episode "The Wounded" TNG. This is the first time we ever saw it. The Nebbie we saw in "Emissary" DS9 would've been filmed after "The Wounded" and I don't think there was any Nebbie wreckage seen in the Wolf 359 Graveyard.

I have to point out my usual caviot when discussing the Nebula Class though: Although, as far as Star TREK goes, the Nebula was designed using Galaxy Class parts, as far as StarFLEET goes, the Galaxy Class was built using parts similar to the already existing Nebula Class. Actually, it's very likely that the two ships were designed at the same time and using many of the same components but the Nebbies went into production several years before the Galaxies.

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[This message has been edited by Aban Rune (edited March 23, 2000).]

Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :

quote:
and I don't think there was any Nebbie wreckage seen in the Wolf 359 Graveyard.

There *was* a Nebula prototype model in W359, built by Miarecki. Here you go (watch out: IT'S BUT-UGLY!):
Top view schematic
Side view
W359 scene

Pictures from Copernicus Fleet Yards

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Posted by johnboy on :

TO answer the earlier question about the Enterprise D 1/1400 scale model: that was released in early March 1988. The three ship set, which featured the 1/2500 scale Enterprise D came out about six months later.
(I'm a modeling nut, and it was BIG news that we finally had new Star Trek kits, they were the first new patterns in about nine years since Star Trek: TMP came out)

So.... Typically, the modeling companies do test runs on their molds.... and those test runs can occur months before a kit is released to the public. I remember seeing a picture in a magazine showing Rich Sternbach's office, and he had a built up prototype Enterprise D model on his desk. I always assumed that the shot was taken in early 1988 and that ERTL sent him a test run. (I had a friend who got a Yamaguchi model that way.)

The upshot: theoretically we could have seen table top display models of the Enterprise D (and derivitives) by the end of the first season. However, I don't recall ever seeing any that early.

As for the schematic of the Nebula study model, I've seen that schematic before, and it doesn't match the model shown on Ed Miarecki's web site. That model has the 1/2500 scale warp nacells (complete with bussard scoops) sitting above the centerline of the saucer section. Which makes sense, since the nebula we see in the graveyard sequence shows those "mini nacells" sticking above the saucer.

..... oh GOd, I am getting way too anal about this.
This forum seems like a good home for me.

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The NCC registries are obviously NOT chronological. Get over it!

Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :

Ed Miarecki built TWO Nebula Prototypes: The one with tiny nacelles you see on his site *and* the ugly-as-hell thing with tiny cut-off nacelles.

Posted by Starbuck (Member # 153) on :

Prakesh: Do you have an address for that site?

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Posted by Masao (Member # 232) on :

Too anal? Never! We reside in the "assh*le of treknology"

Sorry.

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Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

Okay...

Miarecki built two "nearly identical" Nebulae atthe time of TBoBW. One was beat up and used in the graveyard scene; the other was kept around and used as a desktop model later. These ships had a normal Galaxy secondary hull, so it stuck out behind the saucer pretty far. They also had tiny nacelles on top, instead of a pod.

Later, for "The Wounded", a photographable model of the Nebula was built, redesigned into pretty much its current form, but w/ a different pod on top, and two struts holding it up (like the ones that held the mini-nacelles on the original).

After this, the struts were replaced by a single, thick strut, and the pod became the triangular one we have today. This is how every Nebula has appeared since "The Wounded".

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Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :

Guess what, the URL is:www.edmiarecki.com!

Well this is where I got the Nebula info:Click

Posted by Markus on :

Yes, TSN is right. The BoBW graveyard Nebula and the desktop model from Ed Miarecki's website are almost identical in design. They both have the small nacelles on top.

The ugly thing with cut-off nacelles does not exist. The schematics only show a possible reconstruction of the BoBW Nebula based on the Scene 1 screen grab. They illustrate what the ship might look like if the features near the secondary hull are the small nacelles. This may be an optical illusion, either the model was shot with a wide angle lens, or the "nacelles" are part of another ship or piece of debris behind the secondary hull. The actual model used in BoBW didn't have anything back there.

Oh, there is one other Nebula model, though I would rather ignore it: the CGI one made for Voyager's "Message in a Bottle". That one's full of problems. There's too much reuse of Galaxy components, so the windows, deflector, secondary hull shape, and overall size are all wrong. The Nebula is very different from just being a rearranged Galaxy.

[This message has been edited by Markus (edited March 24, 2000).]

Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :

quote:
Actually, this *is* supposed to be the ship in the wreckage, while the
other one, with other locations of the small nacelles was preserved and
served in Riker's and in Sisko's office. Okuda confirmed that there were
actually two models. Maybe they were both named "Melbourne". -Bernd, 22-03-2000,e-mail.

This was a reply to a question I asked about that but ugly cut-off naceller.

OK, so there are at least two confirmed study models:

AND

Nr 1 was used in the scene:

[This message has been edited by Prakesh (edited March 25, 2000).]

Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :

so according to that 'model' you can have nacelles with no bussard collectors... hmmm.

Andrew

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Posted by Mikey T (Member # 144) on :

Maybe they were blown off?

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Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :

Wasn't Ed's model built like that originally though? I assume that you only really need the bussards on the main nacelles??

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"Who wouldn't be the one you love
Who wouldn't stand inside your love." - Stand Inside Your Love, The Smashing Pumpkins

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

Well, of course you can have nacelles w/o Bussards. Remember the Excelsior? The Bussards just collect hydrogen from space. The reason they're put on the fronts of the nacelles is so the warp field can help direct the hydrogen into the collectors (I think). The nacelles themselves, however, don't work any differently w/ or w/o Bussards on the fronts.

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Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :

Yeah, TSN *BUT* it looks as if they've built a galaxy nacelle and just not put on the bussards... or detached them - if that's possible. Its not like the Exxy where she was built with no bussards deliberately - i.e. a design feature.

Ohhhh maybe thats what those 'squares' are on the 'neck' of excelsior class ships are - bussard collectors.

Andrew

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"Who wouldn't be the one you love
Who wouldn't stand inside your love." - Stand Inside Your Love, The Smashing Pumpkins

Posted by Spike (Member # 322) on :

What name is on the plaque of the four-nacelled Nebula?

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Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :

I guess it's the USS Melbourne. Both the study models were named Melbourne, because that's what the ship in BoBW was called. I'm not sure what the connection with USS Phoenix is, tough. Bernd knows that, i think.