quote:Originally posted by Timo: I'll go with that one... Thirty meters isn't any more "plausible" or "supported" than twelve. Still, I'd like something a bit larger than half a runabout, even if the models were built like that. A shot of Cal Hudson behind the windshield? Where and when, exactly? Was he built into the model (like Kira into the Defiant shuttlepod), or composited there afterwards, or what?
It is a composited shot of Cal and friend in the front viewport of the courier, however, the composite is of Cal in the TNG Shuttlepod set as that was the basis for the Maquis model. The window was enlarged, and the side windows were covered up with Okudagrams. So it's 12m or so for the length of that courier.
They did the same thing when they retrofitted The larger Maquis ship for "Caretaker". The interior set with Chakotay and B'Elanna was the runabout set and the exterior of the Maquis model was altered accordingly (including the Runabout double windows) so the size of that ship can also be directly determined. The Ju'Day Class is 33.7m long.
posted
Now, if I'm not mistaken, I created an analysis of the Peregrine and the Type-15 way back in August 2002... but my idea was shot down.
IIRC, my conclusion there was that the Peregrine was about 15 meters long. If we go with the enlarged window, that could even be increased a little bit.
-------------------- “Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha
Registered: Nov 2000
| IP: Logged
posted
If the interceptor-thing is 15 meters long and carries a crew of two shoulder-to-shoulder, then it makes even less sense to call her a "courier" than it did when she was 30+ meters long.
Sure, a courier could be a tiny craft designed to carry coded isolinear chips in a fist-sized neutronium safe. But it would be much more satisfactory to assign the courier designation to a vessel that could plausibly carry bulkier priority shipments, VIP passengers and the like.
The lower size range would be the craft flown by Lieutenant Ro in "Preemptive Strike" - with a roomy multicompartment cabin redressed from the TNG "alien shuttle" set. In fact, this design would be a perfect choice for the Peregrine class, since she looks as if she could be flown solo, could land on class M planets, and is a known Maquis vehicle that looks like ex-Starfleet hardware (by virtue of looking like the Ju'day, which has Starfleetish interiors).
Of course, Bernd is going to have a fit if I insist that she's smaller than the Ju'day class despite sharing most of the hull shape. Still, the window-matching trick would support this two-size theory, even though the VFX is so ambiguous that no size difference can be inferred from there.
-------------------- Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. -Aeschylus, Agamemnon
Registered: Aug 2002
| IP: Logged
posted
To toss my 2 cents, IMHO Akira does have at least 14 torpedo launchers.
There was a Akira pic in Starship Spotter and following launchers were visible:
2 pairs on the saucer - 4
5 in back on weapons pod - 9
Also in FC Akira presented 4 more launchers in weapons pod, facing forward, and one single multi-fire launcher on the underside of the saucer, in front of deflector dish.
So, that's 14. And I think it's not a big stretch of imagination to assume that there's backward facing launcher in the saucer as well, which gives us 'requied' 15 launchers
What I think is that those clustered lauchers are in fact single-fire only, as witnessed in FC.
If we were to remove those clustered launchers Akira would be left with only two multi-fire launchers - a perfectly normal configuration for the ship of that era.
Is it possible that Akira was reffited to provide greater firepower as 'cheap' as possible?
Regarding carrier functions... I don't know where those presumed fighters exit ship. That area between catamarans? Nope. Although some plans show huge doors to shuttlebay in that area there's no sign of that in actual model. Those three 'windows' in front of saucer? That's more possible, but there's one tiny problem - literally - Those 'windows' doesn't appear to be tall enough for those mini-Peregrine fighters. (at least to me)
-------------------- "Do I remember about my amnesia?"
Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
posted
When have we seen the butt end of the primary hull, except in various non-aired artwork? Even "Message in a Bottle" kept this part of the ship obscured.
The original plans for the ship clearly called for two huge doors, and every other aspect of those plans apparently was meticuously put into the model.
The forward blue things are admittedly a bit small to be doors (unlike the similar things on Steamrunner and Saber class ships), and could rather be deflectors or something. OTOH, if you fold the wings of one of those fighter-thingies and assume the 15m length, then the blue squares *could* be Galactica-style launch tubes, too. Perhaps even specialized launchers for scrambling your fighters at warp (I don't think we've ever witnessed a shuttle launch from a warping ship?).
posted
Yes, I know that there are two big shuttlebay doors at the butt end of saucer. But, you know, 'thru-deck carrier' name implies some kind of door at the other end, too
If those fighter have indeed foldable wings, then I agree with you, Timo.
Regarding shuttle launch at warp... Well, we know that various ships can separate at warp and launch torpedos at warp speeds, so fighter scrambling at warp shouldn't be difficult.
Hm... I wonder... what if there are TWO variants of Akira? Cruiser AND carrier?
Because, you know, as demonstrated during Pacific War cruiser/carrier combos weren't exactly efficent during combat situations That's pure speculation, of course.
-------------------- "Do I remember about my amnesia?"
Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
posted
Okay, the runabouts barely are able to fit through those small openings that the middle... whatever that is in the middle of the shuttlebay deck. The 15m one looks like it has a better time manuvering within the shuttlebay than the runabout. Then again, let's shove in also the variable sizes of the Delta Flyer and the Aeroshuttle and the Type 9, Type 8, Type 20, and Insurrection shuttle for an interesting view.
Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged
posted
Now that looks cool! Notice how the smaller courier cockpit is about the same scale as the Type-15 Shuttlepods strewn about, rather than the size of the large one.
I still can't fudge my numbers enough to make it 15m...I still only get about 12.1m. I'm assuming that the CGI diagram of the Maquis ship from the magazine is correctly proportioned and that the Shuttlepod is the size claimed by the published construction blueprints.
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic
