Eclipse Class RELEASED

[DJ Curtis]

I've further worked on the nacelle pylons, and, i think this may be a first, but I've integrated some impulse engines directly below the warp nacelles, and further smoothed the overall connection.  i got rid of the hemispherical base and opted for something symmetrical.  I can't believe how much time I'm spending on this one little part, but for some reason, it really seems to make or break the ship.

*edit* streamlined them even further.  there is now no longer a bump, but rather a smooth transition around the bottom of the pylon.

[Aeries]

AHHH! Those pylons are MUCH better!

[DJ Curtis]

Some refinements to the engines.  there's a bit more of a bend to the top forward section, and i also decreased the length of the nose, while increasing the length of the overall nacelle to compensate.  I also decreased the slant angle at the back to curl in a bit and look overall less drastic.

[Phoenix Bondi]

 :shock: wow just wow

[Shion]

I was worried additional changes to the mesh would detract from it's looks since I liked the first mesh so much.  I was wrong, all the changes are marked improvements to the overall shape of the ship.  I'm also very glad you kept the deflector untouched, as it looks great.  Any chance for some orthographic shots since you redesigned the back end.

As for calling this ship enterprise.  You don't need a consensus from the community to do that.  I was one of the more outspoken people against making the Century an Enterprise.  Now I just think that if this is your vision for the Enterprise-G then don't let anyone sway you from that vision.  Besides you managed to change almost everyone's mind before, so I would expect this will go the same way.

[Aeries]

hmm. An idea, if I may be so bold... perhaps do something similar to what Rengers is doing to the Ancheron's nacelles; model in the interior and use a semi-transparent texture for the [glass?]. Could look really cool. I'm doing it with the Mithra's original nacelles right now, to see how it'll look. :3

[Nighthawk]

sssoooooo......
this is set to be to the Ent-F as the Ambassador was to the Excelsior...... right?
 :?

I mean... don't get me wrong... every new design means a lot of work, but, don't you think you would end up with a flat line instead of a ship by the time you reach Ent-Q?

the Enterprise as itself doesn't have to be eternal. I mean, you don't have to continue the legacy until Ent-Z. it won't hurt if you come up with a new "iconic" ship instead of Enterprise. you have plenty of names out there to build a lineage after them.

EDIT: if something I would change, it would be the "nose". Starfleet design (mostly) was always rounded saucer (or round-ish) and elongated secondary hull. don't make it go much into "triangle-ish" saucer, or you will start a design line towards this branch:
http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/NX_EntepriseG_Study;50147

[MarkyD]

All those little changes have made such a difference DJ, great work mate.

[Eddie]

Very nice design.  I especially like the idea of the impulse engines on the nacelles.  DJ, you do amazing work, and this time around is no different.  Keep up the fantastic work!

[JimmyB76]

DJ, you do amazing work, and this time around is no different.  Keep up the fantastic work!

cheers to that!

[Barihawk]

I was not very impressed with the original design, but I need to agree with markyd. Those changes made all of the difference and this ship is definitely taking on a new form. I like it.

[Adonis]

Some refinements to the engines.  there's a bit more of a bend to the top forward section, and i also decreased the length of the nose, while increasing the length of the overall nacelle to compensate.  I also decreased the slant angle at the back to curl in a bit and look overall less drastic.

I have another idea for the pylon connections to the nacelles, but I think I'll use it for the Desert Rose's redesign I wanna do.

[Shadowknight1]

I haven't spoken up on this til now, but I do have to say that she is pretty, and I agree with Shion.  If this is YOUR vision of the 1701-G, don't let people sway you from that opinion.  As for the "warship" like look, any starship can look that way if you slap the wrong coat of paint on the hull.  Let's wait til he starts texturing before we say it's too battle-ready instead of explorer.

[JimmyB76]

I agree with Shion.  If this is YOUR vision of the 1701-G, don't let people sway you from that opinion. 

absolutely!  couldnt agree more!

[ChronowerX_GT]

Personally, I think it's too beefed up for an Enterprise. Even the Sovvie was still pretty streamlined and had a smooth hull. I'm just not getting that Enterprise feel to it.

IMO, a beefed up design doesn't really have the same beauty as a smoother ship because it's gracefullness goes. I'm thinking that the ship should appear flat, wide and long to get that real streamlined feel to it.

BUT.... it's really hard to tell how a ship will turn out until the textures are on her. Either way, i've liked what you've done so far (but perhaps not as an Enterprise) and I know that it will end up great when you release her.

[FourChan]

It feels Enterprise to me. Though once the textures are laid out then it will be easier to tell what it fits into. Though if you look at other ships they don't have the Enterprise Feel to them, it's just a new design and things need to settle in a bit.

[DJ Curtis]

There's piles of work to go, even to the mesh.  What exists now is still really unrefined in a lot of ways.  I don't think i'll even get to the textures for some time, really.  And I think FourChan is right, that it takes time for the name to settle in.  So as of this post, I'd like to put the "Enterprise Yes or no" conversation to bed.  I don't mind if it springs up down the road, in fact, it really should.  But for now, I'm going to give the ship a class name, and that's what we'll refer to it as for the time being.

I want, in my own mind, to be able to consider the ship on its own merits, rather than those of its name.  That was the original process with the EntF.

I'll post a class name later tonight.

[Darran]

I'm always a big fan of your designs DJ and I love 90% of the one, but the short, forward slung nacelles  seem to give it a hunched, doubled up look, perhaps if you lengthened them and set them back a bit

Edit: poor photoshop but something like this

[FourChan]

I just can't wait to pilot this ship, and I hope someone creates a custom bridge for it and the Enterprise F, cause those ships need something custom. Is this going to separate? Or is it going to include any new torpedos?

[DJ Curtis]

Darran--> From that angle it doesn't look too bad with the long nacelles, but trust me when i say it would throw the design out of balance.  Believe me, the nacelles are already quite long.  Significantly longer than those on the Century, Sovereign, or Galaxy in fact.  I have played with lengthening them, and it simply didn't look that good.

FourChan-->As mentioned, it does indeed separate, and I haven't given much thought to the HP yet.