(Each image is approximately 100K - 130K in size)

Enterprise Hangar Deck

(Each image is approximately 100K - 130K in size)

Enterprise Scale Discussion Charts

(Each image is approximately 100K - 130K in size)

Fleet Supply Transport FST Perseus

(Each image is approximately 100K - 130K in size)

FST Perseus Hangar Deck

(Each image is approximately 100K - 130K in size)

About these Renderings

These are renderings made in an architectural design software called "Microstation" by Bentley. Microstation does not produce "photo realistic" renderings but we think they are attractive none the less so they are posted here for your enjoyment (and are of a suitable size to be used as wallpaper for a computer screen). The models were built (and in some cases designed) by the Vaults web master, Phil Broad early in 2003. This project started innocently enough as a method of answering questions about the true size of the Enterprise and how the interior sets seen in the TV series might fit inside the actual ship, if it were real. Phil takes it from here:

A fellow named Mark Gagen had contacted me about determining the true scale of the 11 foot filming miniature and this lead to an interesting exchange of email regarding many aspects of the ships size and how or if things would actually fit inside it.

I began my study with copies of the drawings prepared by Gary Kerr, which were based on his measurements of the original 11 foot long filming miniature. At first this constituted a 2D set of computer tracings of his drawings which were then compared with the drawings from the Star Trek Writers Guide (STWG). As my discussion with Mark progressed I became aware that 2D drawings were not sufficient to answer certain questions very well so I decided to build the 3D model for volumetric studies. From that point it was all down hill...

Soon I found myself wanting to add more and more detail until it became clear that I just wasn't going to be happy until the model contained every detail that my research could provide. It took two months of spare time work to complete the Enterprise. Nearly everything on it had to be rebuilt 10 times or more. This was primarily due to my lack of experience with Microstation 3D modeling but also due to the complexities of the design. It is deceptively simple looking but once you get into it, you discover that it is far from simple. The background images in these renderings are mostly Space Shuttle photos of the Earth, found on the Internet. The dark space background with the elliptical shaped sources of light was originally created for use with my CG model of the ship from "Planet of the Apes" (1965). The most difficult thing about making these renderings is trying to match the lighting on the model to that of the background. I'll leave it to the viewer to decide how successful I was in that.

FST Perseus

About half way through the Enterprise model I got sidetracked with a particular detail of the Hangar Deck. I felt that this ship needed a "hard dock" port where supplies could be moved on or off the ship manually from something larger than a Shuttlecraft or where it could dock directly to a space station. The only place that this made sense to me was in the Hangar Deck itself and the alcoves on either side suggested an answer. For me the answer was to place docking hatches in these alcoves, one oversized for cargo and one smaller for personnel. This would allow the ship to be docked to a supply vessel or transport and also a station at the same time or two transports at once for rapid resupply. No "cargo transporters" were ever shown in the show or even mentioned. It is reasonable to assume, based on what was seen in the various episodes, that the basic transporter system we did see was a huge drain on the ships electrical generating systems and that an even larger version of it just could not be accommodated. Besides, there might be cases in time of war when the Transporter might be knocked out and the ship need to be supplied under emergency conditions.

That line of reasoning lead me to wonder what type of ship might dock at these hatches. This is when I realized that such a large class of ship would also require a Fleet Tender to handle crew, cargo and repair equipment transfer. This might be an existing vessel but I felt that such a huge undertaking as the building of a whole new series of Cruiser class ships would also include purpose-built support ships. After all, these are the space equivalent of Naval Capitol ships which would therefore command the newest and most advanced in support equipment, keeping them ready at all times. So the Fleet Supply Transport (FST) was created. This ship is basically a glorified tug for hauling cargo pods, passengers or heavy repair equipment up to and including replacement Warp Drive nacelles. The FST is also quipped with two Hangar decks, each capable of accommodating one Fleet Standard Shuttlecraft (FSS). The FST is armed with one main Phaser bank which gives it a highly potent method of protecting itself while operating in a combat zone. The FSTs have also been known to operate as clandestine probes but these missions have been kept highly classified and exist only as rumors...

I attempted to design this new ship in the style of the other Matt Jeffries designs. I did not want it to stand out as being radically different so it does not reflect my ideas about real spacecraft design but rather tries to mimic the 1965 thinking seen in the TV series. The FST features a smaller power output version of the Constitution Class warp drive above and below the cargo pod docking area and impulse engines on either side. The Bridge is a smaller version of the Constitution Class Bridge and the Perseus reflects an earlier refit with sensor covers clearly visible on the outside of it. Like the Enterprise Primary Hull, the FST is designed to be marginally controllable in the event of an emergency planetary landing and therefore has a somewhat aerodynamic shape. In such an event, the warp nacelles would be jettisoned leaving the fin-like pylons behind and the impulse engines to provide the necessary propulsion. Any towed payload would also be jettisoned, those passengers present would be temporarily accommodate the FST.

There are quite a variety of Pods available for the FST, all-cargo, cargo/passenger combi, all passenger, and special mission pods which are used when the ship is being operated for something other than fleet supply. These might include a combat weapons pod, deep space communications/tracking package or specialized scientific research facility. I've shown it with a "combi" cargo/passenger pod and a special grapple for towing Constitution Class Warp Drive nacelles.

Enterprise Accuracy

The Enterprise seen above is true to the original miniature in most respects but I did make a few minor changes. Firstly, the windows have been rationalized to a deck plan based on the STWG inboard profile drawing. The change is slight, mostly appearing on the Engineering Hull where they have been moved up or down to match the interior deck height. Mark and I came to the conclusion that the 11 foot model was 1/96th scale (1/8th inch to the foot) but had originally been built as a 1/48th scale (1/4 inch to the foot) miniature. At 1/48th scale there would have been exactly "one deck per bulge" in the saucer section which is born out by the images seen from the pilot episode. One row of windows is seen on each "bulge" and the Bridge blister is the same height as the bulges below it. Apparently it was decided that the ship was too small so they simply lowered the Bridge blister and doubled the windows seen on each bulge. At 1/96th scale the final inboard profile drawing then makes perfect sense, the decks work out to be at 8, 10 and 18 feet in height with enough room for a 2-foot crawl space in-between (see diagrams).

The Hangar deck must be reduced to fit into the available space and this occupied a great deal of my time when building the model. I did not want it to look too different from the STWG section view but there was far less space to put it in. My compromise includes a ceiling arch which is elliptical in section instead of semicircular. And there is just no way that "a fleet of modern jets" will fit into it as mentioned in the Writers Guide...

No plan exists of the forward bulkhead in the Hangar Deck so I was left to imagine one. I placed a standard double-panel door in the center which represents the mode of entry seen in the series. It is at the end of a corridor on the other side of the bulkhead which passes between the port and starboard cargo holds. These holds are reached via the large blue doors which retract upwards into the overhead. When a FST is docked, cargo may be rolled through the large docking hatch, through the Hangar Deck Operations area and into the cargo holds. The STWG inboard profile shows this deck to have an 18 foot high ceiling which is perfectly in line for its being the location of a cargo hold. I also designed operators consoles for the control booths and fitted the appropriate "Burke" furniture in the observation galleries.