posted
It's surprising there are a lot of tidbits on the these ships we didn't know before.
As for the Lakota, it's probably another variant on the Excelsior class. It was being refitted before it's attack on the Defiant.
So let's see, we have 4 variants on the Excelsior. 1) ST3, ST4 appearance. Was it in ST5? 2) ST6 appearance and most likely the variant we see in TNG (twin impulse deflection crystals, different bridge, and shuttlebay section) 3) E-B 4) Lakota, E-B design with extra phaser banks and possibly a different paint scheme. And I think the impulse deflection crystals are a different color. Weren't they blue on the E-B?
Also I think those two protrusions on the neck may be phaser cannons and apparantly the E-B has escape pods according to the MSD, though no pods or hatches can be seen on the saucer of the model.
------------------ 7 alarm clock: "Do not touch me." Dilbert: "Then how do I turn you off?" 7: "Believe me, I am plenty turned off."
[This message has been edited by PopMaze (edited February 08, 2000).]
posted
well, they sure got the shield-fx right this time! Nice picture, D. 'Twas nice to hear that they had been succesful in upgrading the L. with quantum-torpedos, but they should've showed it in the battle-ep's. All we saw of the excelsiors was low-impulse cannon-fodder. Though I still have'nt seen WYLB, I hope I get surprised.
posted
Actually, the shields are off centered. It barely wraps around the Defiant's starboard nacelle, while there's plenty room around port. But that's just nitpicking.
------------------ 7 alarm clock: "Do not touch me." Dilbert: "Then how do I turn you off?" 7: "Believe me, I am plenty turned off."
posted
Nimrod: On second thought, the upper launcher does appear to be identical to the lower, and to the original Constitution launcher. I'm all for believing in four forward torp tubes now!
And who aid Starfleet doesn't believe in mechanized ground combat? The Constellation comes complete with two gigantic combat droids on the ventral surface!
PopMaze: The TNG Excelsiors actually were of the single-crystal variety, mostly (the stock footage having been filmed using the ST3 version of the ship). DS9 ships in turn are exclusively of the twin-crystal version (either filmed on the model built for "Flashback" or rendered as CGI).
Timo Saloniemi
[This message has been edited by Timo (edited February 08, 2000).]
posted
Timo, yes I understand the model used for TNG was the single crystal type, but in terms of the Trek universe, they were probably the twin crystal type because the events of TNG happen after ST6, in which the Excelsior appears as a twin crystal version. I doubt Starfleet would build another single crystal Excelsior when the twin type had better success.
Though because we never see the upper saucer of the Excelsiors in TNG, we can never be sure of which type it is.
------------------ 7 alarm clock: "Do not touch me." Dilbert: "Then how do I turn you off?" 7: "Believe me, I am plenty turned off."
posted
Okay, so to recap about the Connie - we have, as far as armamaent is concerned: 6 twin phaser banks, and 5 single banks around the dorsal saucer top, plus definately four forward tubes, and what MIGHT be 3 "megaphaser" cannons of some type on the ventral saucer side. Does anyone have any ideas about aft-facing weapons? Maybe 4 more tubes and 2-to-4 single phaser banks on the aft end (my theory anyway). Also, are there and more singles on the ventral saucer not clearly visible in the shots? I'm guessing all of you know about as much as I do, but any opinions would be welcomed. I'm planning on superdetailing the 1/650 Constellation Vac-Form model kit with all this new information. Thanks, Grapeape
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posted
Based on Mike Trice's pictures, most of them already linked here, I believe there are no ventral single emitters on the ship. The cannonlike protrusion in the ventral hull could also be a "deflector spire" of the type seen in many fanfic ships of the TOS movie era, usually attached to the saucer bottom vertex.
As for aft weaponry, there are some pictures of the stern in "Peak Performance" but all the screencaps I have seen are of too poor a quality to make observations. They seem to indicate a smooth, flat wall, however.
Traditionally, Starfleet ships have had extremely weak rear armament overall. Perhaps their engine configurations somehow necessitate this? It is unlikely there would be aft torpedo tubes (unless they are behind protective hatches, which doesn't seem to be typical of post-TOS vessels). There could be some phaser turrets there, though. I'm still wondering if the Mirandas have two single aft turrets below the impulse nozzles, as implied by some photos...
And PopMaze: I'd be happy to accept two parallel versions of the Excelsiors, equal in impulse performance despite different number of impulse crystals. There might be some tradeoffs between one big crystal and two small ones, but those only make life so much more interesting...
posted
More on Constellation rear armament: Apparently, there is none. The mounting point of the model is located between the impulse engines and nacelle pylons, and the socket for the mounting pole takes up all of the aft hull where weapons might have been. See here.
OTOH, there may be additional phaser emitters in the horizontal parts of the nacelles, if the small knobs in this picture can be interpreted as such - the paint scheme isn't obvious from the pictures, so I don't know if the typical yellow-brown was applied here.
Apparently, a featureless flat wall covers the hole in "Peak Performance". Like so many other Starfleet ships, the Connie simply has to make a tight turn or a rapid acceleration if the enemy gets into her six-o'clock.
Timo Saloniemi
[This message has been edited by Timo (edited February 09, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by Timo (edited February 09, 2000).]
posted
As far as the Miranda-class is concerned, yes they DO definately have two single aft-firing emmiters, located right under the impulse deck. Given their yellow-brown color they are quite visible in a picture of the original studio model I have. This is why, given the fact that the Connie seems to be a much more heavily armed type of ship from the same time period, I would support aft-firing single phaser banks in some location(s).
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posted
One might say that different ships fight differently, and some do not need aft weaponry because of... What? Their agility? The Connie certainly doesn't seem to be capable of out-turning a Miranda. Their speed? A Connie might be intended to outrun any weapons fired at it from rear, while a Miranda might not be allowed to flee if it was intended to perform escort duty or something. Their shields, perhaps? A Miranda might not be able to withstand fire long enough to turn, while a Connie might. Or perhaps Mirandas are tasked with warp-speed minelaying (or rear-guarding a convoy), requiring aft tubes, while Connies are not.
I guess one could just say it's a trade-off - in Connies, the engine assemblies block the whole aft hull so that no weapons can be internally fitted, and at that time, surface-mounted phaser strips were not yet available. That excuse doesn't hold for the lack of aft phasers in Sovereigns, but they have aft torps to compensate...
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