"Federation Loknar Class in Starline 2500 scale" Topic

One of my other favourite FASA 'Trek designs – the Andorian-made Loknar class!

Elegant in its simplicity, without being merely a saucer with a couple of cylinders stuck on, the Loknar is a nice solution to the task of designing a ship for the TOS era that combines speed with toughness. No skinny pylons or necks, thank you!

Changes I have made:

At last, you can see the Loknar has a rear-facing torpedo tube! I put it aft of the bridge module, with three tubes at the front. I figure all four tubes share the same magazine.

No deflector grid, as the 'real' TOS Enterprise model had only the faintest hint of one. This became more apparent on the movie refit.

Also at last, the Loknar has a deflector dish. I pushed it into the underside of the saucer, with a partial 'tunnel' for the beam, thus keeping the dish tight to the hull. I always thought deflector dishes stuck to the bottom of a main saucer looked throughly like something out of the Jetsons… :P

But, my favourite change? On this miniature, the nacelles are integrated with their pylons, so they can't drop off quicker than an Orion slave girl's unmentionables! I designed them so they connect to the hull at their widest point, providing the greatest strength. No more emergency repairs to the engines before a game. (I hope!)

Should have the print for this, and other ships, back from Shapeways late-ish October… fingers crossed…

More ships to come!

Again, lovely work, immediately identifiable but with your own flair. Great work on integrating the deflector dish in particular.

-Will

Love it!

Damon.

For myself I'll stick with the FASA minis which I have quite a bit of them.

Also I have a friend how has improved on several FASA minis for example he has made a mold where the Loknar's engines and pylon's are one piece and he also has made a Chandley as one piece so you don't have to glue anything together.

Thanks for the comments, folks.

Glad you like the deflector solution, Will; I originally had a rather complex assembly of cylinders and boxes that made the poor ship look like it needed to see a Rhinoplasty specialist. O_o

More to come soon, as the Ark Royal is approaching the fine detailing stage. (Finally managed to get those Tellarite stembolts to fit…) :)

That's a nice looking ship. How long will the model be in SL2500 scale?

Oops, another question…. what software are you using?

EB – She's 59mm overall, because I've scaled her down a bit from the published dimensions that are sometimes seen, to keep her about the right size for a Frigate, rather than a Cruiser primary hull with a bit on the back.

As for software, I'm building the models in Art of Illusion; it's a free program, with tools and a feel that I'm comfortable with – the interface isn't that different from the 2D design software I'm more familiar with, so, I like it. :)

I pre-flight a file in Blender before uploading to Shapeways. So far, no failures, but I have not pressed 'go' on a print yet – just putting together enough orders to justify shipping to Australia.

This is really just a pet project, to fill out my own fleets and give me some practice in 3D programs, rather than sell miniatures. Still, we shall see. If enough folk beat a path to my door, I might relent. :)

If you do decide to let others buy it, any chance it'd also be in the Starline 2400 scale? (1/3788)

Wouldn't having the rear torpedo tube on the underside make a bit more sense? The torpedo doesn't have to clear nacelles and pylons before before guiding on the target. Also that removes that whole blindspot of underneath and behind where any opponent ship would love to position itself.

I do like the look of the ship. The thicker pylons look good/realistic.

BW – I begin to hear the thunder of feet outside my gate… :)

I'm hoping the fairly small size (59mm) will be small enough to allow players to field her in both scales. What do you think?

JS – I put these pics here so fellow gamers can ask about my design choices and make suggestions, so many thanks for your observations!

I always assume that torpedoes, being faster-than-light weapons, need a good long run-up before they start swerving about the place. But a rear-firing torpedo from this design would only need to travel about 100 metres before it has enough clearance to swing to port or starboard, and that's peanuts in space combat.

Also, being a frigate-sized vessel, I worked to the idea that there has to be some compromises to squeeze all those weapons into such a small hull. Loknars punch well above their weight! Thus, the decision to fit only one torpedo magazine, feeding all four tubes. A design flaw? Perhaps, but I like how that adds to the fictional background of the class.

I mounted a rear-facing phaser turret just under the impulse deck, and the two forward underside phasers have enough clearance to fire directly aft, so that potential weak spot is pretty well covered.

Klingon D-18 destroyer is coming along… I might have that finished before the Ark Royal at this rate. Pics soon!

How are you doing with this ship? Any progress?

We had a problem in production, and after thickening the saucer a bit and making the cut out a bit shallower (along with moving the 'window' on top a few degrees, it is slated for reprinting now…

Sorry for the delays.

'Drew

No need to apologize. Better to get these right. The Arrow class is superb and is painting up really nicely. I'm really looking forward to getting quite a few of these ships.

What 'Drew said! :)

Really, 'Drew has been very brave and patient taking on my designs; these are the first 'proper' digital sculpts I've attempted (the Loknar was the very first, in fact,) and 'Drew's guided me through the process without losing his cool, even when I've screwed up – like making the Loknar too thin.

'Drew's determined to get these right. Any faults with these starships can be laid at my feet!

- Martin

Any chance we will see this coming out from Studio Bergstrom's Woomera Shipyards as well? I prefer metal minis to Shapeways resin!

You had me confused there, A.M., but then I realised this topic doesn't specify that ALL my designs to date are slated for production by Studio Bergstrom under the Woomera Shipyard label! :)

So, that makes the range so far…

Federation Designs

Arrow class FRS (Scout) AVAILABLE NOW
Loknar class Frigate
Ark Royal class Space Control Ship (Carrier)
Taurus class Dreadnaught
Coventry class Med Cruiser
Anton class Med Cruiser
Starwasp fighter

Klingon Starships
D-10 class Hvy Cruiser
L-13 class Battleship
D-18 class Destroyer
L-18 class Corvette AVAILABLE NOW
L-9 class Frigate
Daqtagh fighter

I hope that clarifies things.

- Martin

Only 13 designs? Martin, you are slowing down! I thought you would have a few more in progress!!

Only kidding. You and Drew are doing great work on this.

Who said we didn't…?

Be nice, Colin, or no K-23's for you! :D

- Martin, the Space soup Nazi

Never was too fussed about the K23s. A little too blocky.

Now if you teased me with a Daedalus Class or a USS Bonaventure that would be different.

Martin, I've bought everything Woomera has and my wallet is waiting eagerly for more!

Thank you, Evan! There's considerably larger offerings in the works at the moment… I'm as eager to see them as you! :)

Colin – the original K-23 is indeed, as you say, 'blocky'. But I hope you'll like the re-design I'm working on, with its more Klingon-y curves.

Don't know about a Daedalus, but I would like to do a range of Earth / Romulan War designs at some point in the future. You never know…

MacrossMartin
One of my other favourite FASA 'Trek designs – the Andorian-made Loknar class!

AGREED! I always loved this ship.
It & the Miranda/Reliant were the inspirations when I converted some TF Games 'elite' series Feds.
(sigh) granted due to the 'very' small size & -lack- of skill, I simply 'ran' the nacelles up & off the main saucer section. All in all, I was pleased & it made for a good 'light cruiser'.

Looking fwd to seeing 'your' Anton, also a favorite, like the 'Andor'? torp. cruiser. Any thoughts on doing that one?

Captain Gideon
Also I have a friend.. has made a Chandley as one piece so you don't have to glue anything together.

I wish that had been around when I got mine.
Unusual look for ST but I liked it. Putting it together was another story. In short I Never bought a 2nd.

Many times I have considered going to Shapeways. 1/7000 I think would be a Great gaming scale & they have a good selection.
However, every time I see "slight grainy feel" in the description, it makes me unsure.
Just dont want a bunch of ships that, every time I'd pick them up, I'd think: "this needs to be sanded down".

PTG – Yes, I recall sculpting rear sections and new pylons onto a Micromachine Connie saucer to make Loknars. Think I managed to make two before I gave up!!

As my confidence and skill in digital sculpting improves (only been doing this about 10 months now), I hope to step up and tackle some Movie-era FASA designs. The Andor may well be among them, we'll have to wait and see.

As for Shapeways – I would avoid the 'White Standard Flexible' stuff like the plague; That material's the primary culprit for the 'grainy' reports you're hearing.

Generally, you get good results from the Frosted Detail materials. I print my 1/400 Gundam mecha weapons and accessories in Frosted Extreme Detail, and the surface is equal to anything you'd find cast in resin. Be aware, however, that these materials are VERY brittle. You can cut and sand them, but thin pylons, gun barrels, etc, are very unforgiving of heavy-handedness.

- Martin