Regal Class

[Locke]

I don't think it's that far-fetched to have a non-Starfleet diplomatic vessel.  The Vulcans still have their own diplomatic ships so why not anyone else?  This ship makes an excellent post-Romulus destruction era ship.  The Romulans are scattered and rebuilding, so it makes sense that somewhere down the line Spock's Reunification movement, even in his absence, can sway some distraught Romulans into "coming home" to Vulcan.  This ship is the end result of years of Federation/Romulan peace.

I definitely like the Ventral aztecing.  Might I suggest SDC-1000 for "Starfleet Diplomatic Corps" or perhaps FDC-1000 for "Federation Diplomatic Corps"?  Then, you can keep the traditional stripes down the Hull and Nacelles, but paint them Blue instead of Red?  Then if you wanted to you could outline the Blue in Gold, reminiscent of Air Force One.  Although, that's been done before lol, (Battlestar Galactica). 

Just ideas I'm tossing out there.

Yeah, this is exactly what I was going for.  I like "Federation Diplomatic Corps" instead of Starfleet.  Too much bad blood with the Romulans and Cardassians.  A civilian ship, crewed by both Starfleet AND civilians, is exactly what I wanted to convey.

That's the reason I placed "Alpha" as the name of the ship.  This one would be assigned to the Alpha Quadrant, another to Beta and so on.  So only four of the ships, total.

the blue looks ok to me, but i thought you were meaning the normal red stripe would be blue to match the emblem of the UFP.

I will be doing this, since I like the idea anyway.  But I wanted some blue or darker color hues so I could separate it more from the main military fleet.

oops misunderstanding i should have said base texture my bad, sorry about that,

I see.  Yeah, I noticed that as well.  Unfortunately, I'm using a pre-made texture system on that, and I can't get the look of that without some very time-consuming "hand-painting".  I don't think it will be that noticeable for the game, although it might need to be retextured if I end up porting it into another game (like Excalibur).

[hobbs]

That's the reason I placed "Alpha" as the name of the ship.  This one would be assigned to the Alpha Quadrant, another to Beta and so on.  So only four of the ships, total.

I will be doing this, since I like the idea anyway.  But I wanted some blue or darker color hues so I could separate it more from the main military fleet.

so it could be "Quadrant Class"

i like the idea of different colouring for the FDC 1000. so how about making it white like ncc1701A (waits for slap from everyone, sorry cant help it i like the old colours) 

[yanlou]

i understand what you mean about time consuming, it still looks really good, and i do like the rom style plating on the ventral side of the saucer, it fits really well

[Locke]

I texture-baked the escape pods onto the hull, which removed a large number of polys from the model.  Right now it stands at 7579.  I'll probably end up with 4x2048 textures total, and I'll scale some 1024 and 512 textures as well.

Making those windows was fairly complex!  I used Markyd's method, but I added a couple of steps of my own.  If anyone wants to know, I can show my process.  It takes a bit longer than the original . . .

I'm trying to figure out where best to put the registry.  I like the first one, but I don't know what to put between the escape pods on the upper surface if I leave it there.  The second version takes care of that, but looks a bit strange.

Next up: detail texturing and more windows!

[hobbs]

i think it looks ok to move towards the escape pods but if you not happy with it there  what about putting an umbilical/docking connection point there instead.

so that when docked at a starbase it allows use of the station/ship turbolift system.

or a cargo door?

just throwing ideas at you lol

  looking good (wish i had thought of FDC damn it!)

[Captain_D]

Great progress on this,, looking very nice. Fed symbol is perfect.

I would meet in the middle of the two pics, between the first and second possitions, and place it there.

Second one looks cluttered somehow.

,,,,,, what about putting an umbilical/docking connection point there instead.

so that when docked at a starbase it allows use of the station/ship turbolift system.

or a cargo door?

just throwing ideas at you lol,,,,,,

Agree with hobbs on that, some cool ideas there.

[FarShot]

I like this ship.  Out of all the recent ships, this one doesn't seem to be striving for a hot rod look.  It's like it's saying "I've got class, but there's no need to flaunt it."  Kinda like a Rolls Royce cruising down a street, nothing more, nothing less. ;)

[Locke]

All of the thoughts here are good!  I like how ya'll are responding to this design.  Originally, I thought that it would fade out since it wasn't a warship or cruiser.

I like Hobbs's suggestion of the cargo door.  Something like two tapered wedges sculpted around the edge?  I'm away from my computer for the next couple of days, so I can't do any modifications, but when I get back I think that will be where I go with this.

[Nihilus]

You know, it doesn't look like she has a big shuttle bay in the back.  Considering her diplomatic duties, it seems should have a grand shuttle bay for Dignitary shuttles.  They would also most likely have big receptions for the arriving dignitaries as well.  Or course you could always assume they use the Transporters more, but it seems like some species would like to arrive in a nice fancy shuttle to show how important they are.

[Lurok91]

 I like how ya'll are responding to this design.  Originally, I thought that it would fade out since it wasn't a warship or cruiser.

That's what makes it different and interesting.  Cookie for pushing the envelope 

[yanlou]

 i think the registry looks gd on the second pic, will you be adding grid lines to the saucer, like voyageresque lines

[Locke]

i think the registry looks gd on the second pic, will you be adding grid lines to the saucer, like voyageresque lines

If you look closely, there are already some faint lines, and I don't know if I'll be brightening them.  But since you mention it, I'll see what I can work on.

You know, it doesn't look like she has a big shuttle bay in the back.  Considering her diplomatic duties, it seems should have a grand shuttle bay for Dignitary shuttles.  They would also most likely have big receptions for the arriving dignitaries as well.  Or course you could always assume they use the Transporters more, but it seems like some species would like to arrive in a nice fancy shuttle to show how important they are.

The shuttlebay at the rear of the ship is actually HUGE!  The size of the ship is misleading.  This thing is well over 800 meters, which puts it (sizewise) between the Sovereign and the Excalibur.  That being said, the bay at the back is not the only one: there is another right behind the reception room.  That's why that blank spot is there: a large shuttle (I already have one in mind ;)) fits just below the decking and rises out of the top, to ferry diplomatic personnel to and from the ship.  That way, they arrive and are immediately brought to that room.  Sort of an "initiation" into the diplomacy of the Federation.

That's what makes it different and interesting.  Cookie for pushing the envelope 

Thank you, sir!

[Locke]

Here are a couple of new renders.  As you can see by the first two shots, that shuttlebay is fairly large.  Or at least, it's around the same size as the one at the rear of the Sovereign.  I know the Sov has another one at the base of the primary hull, but I don't feel it's necessary to have such a huge hangar structure on a diplomatic cruiser.  Just some room for a few shuttles and perhaps a runabout, which should fit with plenty of room.  I intend the shuttlebay at the rear to extend nearly back to the middle of the nacelle pylons, which should accommodate 5 or 6 Type XI's, numerous smaller shuttles, and at least two Danube class runabouts.  I'm even thinking of including a Korolev diplomatic shuttle (like in the second pic) as a standard compliment of the shuttles.  The third shot shows an executive shuttle seen in some of the movies.  You can see by the size of the bay that it can hold (probably) a runabout if need be.  NOTE: This is NOT the shuttle that will be housed here eventually.  That one is still under construction . . . ;)

[Captain_D]

Looking great, nice work so far.

[Locke]

What do ya'll think?  Too many windows?

[Dalek]

Looks absolutely spot on.

[Nihilus]

Looking good 

[hobbs]

agreed

spot on 

cookie


though i'd remove the windows below the phaser strip

[deadthunder2_0]

they look a lil too big, but nice job

[Nihilus]

I don't think the windows look too big.  As a diplomatic ship, it makes sense to have grand windows for the guests.  Just imagine what their rooms look like.  Just picture the most luxurious hotel now and upgrade it with 24th century technology lol.

EDIT: Have you considered adding blue and gold stripes around the hull at all?  I can think of two places that might look good with them.  At least they look good in my head lol.