USS Horizon, Lotus-class - What will it look like?

[Jeff T]

So how will the USS Horizon actually look in terms of its closest resemblance to a current class ship?  

[Edit by Evshell] I split this off into a different discussion and put it into Ship RP OOC since it is more a discussion about the upcoming ship than about my modelling.

[Yes, I figured this out... and your decision makes sense. Thank you! JT]

[Kheren]

Look up at the site banner... there it is

[Jeff T]

Look up at the site banner... there it is

Um... Okay... but it's a bit difficult to see it clearly/distinctly from this lower rear angle. 

[Evshell]

It's essentially a Galaxy-class saucer with the neck and nacelles of an Odyssey, but there will be little tweaks and improvements here and there. Before we can say what it will truly look like, I need to take a look at all the specs and establish what it would need to look like to functionally accomplish all it will be able to do, not just for aesthetics.

But, by combining the Odyssey and Galaxy in whatever way Kheren was able to do it for the image above, we can be given a basic starting template. It is not the best view because he was limited in the choice of images, but it is a great representation for that reason as well!

[Jeff T]

Understood and thanks Evshell. That information/description is quite helpful.

I'm looking forward to seeing how your renders combine these features into our unique new upcoming Lotus-class Flagship.  

[Kheren]

It is much like Evshell describes, except that the saucer is slightly thicker and definitely rounder than a Galaxy's (more like an Ambassador class), there is a large sensor dome underneath it (like the Connie used to have) and the nacelles are much longer and bigger than on recent designs, longer in fact than the secondary hull, to reflect the transwarp tech look as seen on the Excelsior.

The secondary hull also has a smaller "belly" and a longer aft to accomodate the integrated escort class starship encased in it underneath.

Here is the basic design on which Caltern, the original designer, based our Lotus class.

[Sorripto]

I think the key is keeping just the right mix of old and new.  I personally liked the Enterprise F design, but I thought it looked more advanced then it should have been timeline wise.

[Redding]

Hay, that's a nice looking ship you got going there, and it looks like your going with the 'two ships in one' idea. Glad to see I contributed something to this project *smiles* I envy you guys some times.. but then I remember how awesome I can be on my own and get over it.

[Kheren]

Indeed you did, O Awesome One

I have on file all the comments and suggestions you made and the discussions with Caltern and I'm integrating them within the ship specs text I am working on (in the style of the ACTD Advanced Starship Design Bureau many are familiar with). This representation is what Caltern used as a template for the next Lotus Fleet flagship. The final result might look a little bit different but this is what we are aiming for.

As for the suggestion of an Odyssey class, it had been already proposed by one of the current captains and is indeed liked by several, so don't be surprised if one of our future RP ships might in all probability be one of that class when and if a new captain will be named and eventually decide to adopt it.

As Evshell, our RP Director, stated, we take into account the preferences of the captain and the type of mission-adventures he/she will undertake before choosing the kind of ship that will be launched, instead of the other way around as was the former way to do things. We do however heavily favor 25th century designs instead of the older ones we are used to see everywhere else (even the Prometheus is over 40 years old! But, btw, the Nova class in canon is a design that did come up at the turn of the century!) either from good sources like STO or, as we see here, original concepts. This not only reflects better the setting of our RP, but further contribute to it's originality and, thus, it's appeal.

I am currently involved with the French RP site Star Trek Delta 1 where they use this approach with the prototypes of the Insignia class, the Ascension class and the (one of the oh so many named) Excalibur class. The pride and enthusiasm over there is deeply felt; and certainly. it contributed for the site having over fifty applications to play in the first week of operation!

Further details will be disclosed by the RP dept after the Fleet Action as we move towards the RP ships next season.

Stay tuned! The best is yet to come!

[Athos]

This is an old thread, but I came across this picture and I thought that it sort-of looked like what Kheren has in mind for the Lotus.  What do you think?

*Hmmm...that picture didn't post very well... I'll send a PM