47 Blueprints p3 (rec.arts.startrek.tech reading list)
Description
This article is from the Star Trek Tech FAQ, by Joshua Bell inexorabletash@hotmail.com with numerous contributions by others.
47 Blueprints p3 (rec.arts.startrek.tech reading list)
Galaxy Class Cruiser Interior & Exterior Drawings
11 x 17 (11 pg.), scale unstated -- $9.95
This is nothing more than outright copies of work appearing in Rick
Sternbach's and Michael Okuda's NEXT GENERATION TECHNICAL MANUAL. Now,
I'm all for bending copyrights to some artistic purpose, whether it be
rearrangements of canon starship modules or (when it was out of print,
at least) reproducing designs from the STARFLEET TECHNICAL MANUAL in
an otherwise original fanzine tech publication like "Starship Design."
But this is theft outright, which I'm ashamed to have paid money for.
Rather than giving heat to semi-canonical designers, Viacom ought to
be taking on this kind of trash. It's also common to see convention
dealers selling xerox copies of fan blueprints, often combining the
work of several people, typically without attribution. I haven't seen
such things offered through the mail - but if you're buying in person,
look for the maker's mark. If you don't see one, ask for the dealer's
business card. There's some kind of legal action possible here, maybe,
given time and effort - and as for Viacom's lock on franchise stuff,
the biggest violator of all, Todd Guenther, won with his
professionally-distributed SHIPS OF THE STAR FLEET books the honor of
involvement with Rick Sternbach's NEXT GENERATION BLUEPRINTS. If that
doesn't beat a "cease and desist" letter like a poke in the eye with a
sharp stick, I'm an Aldebaren shellmouth.
Galileo Shuttlecraft Plans
L. Allen Everhart, Starcraft Productions, 1981 - 18 x 24 (2 pg), scale
2 in. = 1 meter -- $3.00
An impressive effort at documenting the original series shuttlecraft,
far superior to that shown in the STARFLEET TECHNICAL MANUAL (whose
artist had access to the "full scale" soundstage prop, as I suspect
Everhart did not). The plans feature fore, aft, left exterior and left
interior ("hatch walls" both, in other words) views with a pleasing
amount of detail, capturing even the door button just to the "porch's"
left (though if Everhart correctly labeled it "PUSH" it goes illegible
on my set). The chairs seem a bit inaccurate, and Everhart's
established size does not reflect that of the televised interior set -
but he does show the nacelle pylons' inside bracing, and was far
before his time in positing the shuttle as a warp-capable vessel, a
canon-established fact (the nacelles left a trail of antimatter in
"Metamorphosis") then overlooked by professionally-produced "tech"
literature (e.g. FASA's). Everhart's least well-presented set, sold in
an end-opening envelope whose exterior profile can barely be seen -
but if you see these for sale, grab 'em. They're worth a look.
Glenn Class Fleet Survey Vessel U.S.S. Grissom
L. Allen Everhart, Starcraft Reproductions, 1985 -- 18 x 24 (4 pg),
scale 1.75 in. = 20 meters -- $5.95
Everhart's oddest product, in that the first page's overhead view and
the second's interior profile show the trajectory and point of impact
of the torpedo which destroyed the first-ever shown of the vessels
since canonically dubbed the Oberth class. Nomenclature and
idiosyncrasy aside, these plans are a delight to see. Top, fore, aft,
side and bottom views (with sections removed for full views of the
primary) are rendered in a variety of line weights, reflecting
structural elements and hull gridwork. A nice series of "behind the
scenes" photo cards were available about that time; these presumably
gave Everhart the reference needed to produce this well-crafted set.
The envelope bears a triangular logo for the "Star Fleet Corps of
Engineers," a feature of Lawrence Miller's Regula 1 prints (which
see), also.
K Class Space Station General Plans
Kenneth Altman and Geoffrey Mandel, 1976 - 17.5 x 22 (4 pg), scale 1.5
in. = 20 meters -- $3.00
A virtual one-man blueprint industry, Geoffrey Mandel produced a
number of "General Plans" sets from the mid-'70s on, as well as a
dozen or more volumes of his "Starfleet Handbook" fanzine (he did some
"Space: 1999" work as well, and had Eagle blueprints in Starlog
magazine). A workmanlike draftsman of the "Franz Joseph" school,
Mandel lacked the bent for canonical accuracy. His K Class blues are a
perfect case in point, being based not on K-7 as shown in "The Trouble
With Tribbles," but on the sharply angled (and mercifully
un-re-released) AMT model kit. The last page features an interesting
centerline cutaway, but save for this, there is nothing here to
interest any but the most maniacal completist. Of late, Mandel
produced signage (wall labels) for the short-lived series "Space:
Above and Beyond." His "Trek" blues include nearly every original
series and animated vessel, as well as a version of the aforementioned
"Motion Picture" poster refit, but none are reflective of canon. He
was graced with semi-professional distribution of his STARFLEET
MEDICAL REFERENCE, a likewise exhaustive but otherwise unimpressive
effort, and achieved full professional standing with his work on
Bantam's STAR TREK MAPS (whose ship plans were also inaccurate). The
Handbooks were distributed under the "Interstellar Associates"
masthead, and are also of little merit.
Klingon Blueprints
Michael McMaster.
I mislaid my set of these original series plans years back (I'd gladly
trade my spare Bridge set for a copy), but recall them as a multi
(10?) page set of "Franz Joseph" scale drawings, complete to every
deck. I recall some fan comment (perhaps alluded to by McMaster) of
the high levels of engine radiation suffered by the secondary hull
crew, which danger the "command pod" left its occupants immune.
Merchantman (Federation Class J, Type 3)
L. Allen Everhart, 1986 - 17.5 x 22.5 (5 pg), scale approx. 2 5/8 in.
= 20 ft. -- $6.95
Side, top, bottom, fore & aft views, a centerline cutaway and plans of
the upper and lower of four decks (quarters and engine room/hold
respectively, those between being duplicates of the latter), these
plans present an impressively detailed study of the little ship that
got blown away in "The Search for Spock" (to which incident Everhart
makes allusion). Are the surface details accurate? My inclination is
to say "who cares?" - but given the Battlestar comment (see Assorted
Ships, above), I'd bet my first edition of THE MAKING OF "STAR TREK"
on it.
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