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I thought you guys might enjoy seeing the excellent modeling work being done by Jason Lee (aka Vektor on TrekBBS) on my design for the perimeter action ship Kiaga first mentioned in my intro to Todd Guenther's Ships of the Star Fleet, Volume II. Here is my concept:
Kiaga was mentioned as a "Pike-era" precursor to the TWOK-era Akyazi from Ships of the Star Fleet, Volume II. Kiaga is the first of its "perimeter action ship" type, built to meet the demands of a war between the Federation and the Klingons that supposedly took place in Garth's time -- ~2250.
Despite what some might think, the design wasn't at all influenced by Akira, at least not in any way I can imagine. Akyazi predates that design by quite a bit, and Akyazi was what I was aiming at and trying to create a logical precursor for. It had to have that logical, "everything has a purpose" appearance, while having a menacing, stealthy look, like Akyazi. To that end, I was inspired first by Akyazi, second by Jason'sTOS-eraVanguard, and finally by Masao'sAvenger. These were ship designs that excelled in the way I wanted Kiaga to excel -- sensible and slick.
Functionally, I looked to a "California dash duster" for inspiration, because I was looking for a way to invert the classic "saucer connected-to-a-secondary-hull" look without regressing to the proto-Enterprise first built by Matt Jefferies. You know, the one that flipped over and led to the eventual design. I was thinking smaller than a heavy cruiser, and upside down. I saw that duster and it hit me-- make the bridge and dorsal and secondary hull one continuous, fluid shape, distinguished as to function by the detailing.
Once I had the basic form, I looked to several cars from the 1940s for hints on detailing. I wanted a different, bolder kind of art deco influence on the design, to hint that by the time of TMP, this kind of design influence had been refined and toned down quite a bit.
Then I looked to designer Luigi Colani for hints on how to enhance its organic, dangerous look. Sort of Star Fleet's answer to the menacing, manta/cobra look of the D-7.
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Oh my. Vektor always does outstanding work.
I always wondered what the Kiaga looked like ever since I first read mention of it. I think you've successfully designed a ship that is very functional yet fits in with the other ships of the era. The nacelle arrangement reminds me a lot of the Detroyat. Those baffles on the bussard collectors are an interesting idea...
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