and she's done! A physical model accurate (~75-85%) design of the original Daedalus-class (first seen in ST: DS9).
I did my best to try and make this as close to the real model as possible, but there are still some significant difficulties. I hope to come back to this model in the future and make a more accurate version, but I'll be busy for the next while.
I really appreciate the help given by Michael Okuda, which really showed me how much my model lacked in accuracy. I also plan to post this model for free at some point; this post will be updated when I do.
(More images under the cut. If you need or want more angles, please reach out to me. No AI was used in the creation of this model).
Front Orthographic
2. Starboard Side Orthographic
3. Rear Orthographic
4. Port Side Orthographic
5. Dorsal Orthographic
6. Ventral Orthographic
Overall, here are my final thoughts on my effort:
It was fun to apply materials and some parts from my TOS Enterprise model under my undereducated assumption that the Daedalus class was from a similar time period in canon; I was incorrect. This vessel was designed to be an exploratory vessel about 100 years prior to our Enterprise, which would make the same coloration and markings doubtful.
I really wanted to use only the physical model used and shown in DS9, and that was difficult due to a lack of sufficient accessible material online.
Now that we have Star Trek: Enterprise to add more canon to that time period, this Daedalus really doesn't have a true home in Star Trek. I'd like to imagine that they've been relegated to utility roles, being constantly upgraded to test new systems before they're shuffled onto larger vessels.
As for my errors in the model, there are several. The primary hull "the ball" is ever-so-slightly squished down to match an inaccurate schematic I was initially using. Before I realized my error, I had already done too much work to fix it. The bottom of the ball is also trimmed too high, as I discovered with Mr. Okuda's help. Effectively, the ball needs to be entirely remade.
Unconfirmed, but I feel the nacelles may also be too girthy; that's a later problem. The sensor dish housing may also be too small and improperly offset. Nacelles accidentally tapered towards rear; afaik they shouldn't be.
Future efforts will, aside from making a more accurate model, include adding lights to the windows, buzzard collectors, and engines, as intended for the TOS Enterprise. I also want to unify the nameplates to USS Daedalus and her registry of NCC-129.
I kinda did this project somewhat out of spite that I couldn't find an accurate model of the ship online, but, even months later, I have yet to contribute a worthy option. Opinion: I feel that modelers get too worked up on adding details to this ship (same with the TOS Enterprise), but I feel that these vessels have a unique visual style all of their own. A style that does not need, in my thoughts, more detail and greebles added.
Also, my topology isn't the best, but it could sure be a lot worse.
mr. Okuda was very kind to assist me with this model, and I've recently gotten back to working on it. So many little details that I missed without his help.
the USS Horizon and USS Essex are on the SAME physical model, and so I've chosen to represent that in this one.
really, im just decaling and texturing now. minor adjustments to some parts.
ill make a separate model that is more (definitive?) of the Daedalus class (with appropriate lighting, effects, and TOS-style details).
i plan on publishing this model (for free ofc) so the internet finally has an accurate (~95%) daedalus-class model (no disrespect to other models ive found)
(more photos under cut)
in all reality, if i wanted to make this model more accurate, I'd redo some major parts; the "cog" at the rear of the secondary hull (and the primary hull "cogs") would need to be greatly flattened to be accurate. at the time, i felt it was more in-line with the established TOS design style (i took the part from my Enterprise model and reused it).
also, the ball is ever-so-slightly squished down, which is a result of inaccurate schematics i found online.
also also, for some reason, i ever-so-slightly tapered the nacelles, which i really shouldn't have done if i wanted it to be accurate; but, at the time, i felt it was consistent with the TOS design style (the TOS Enterprise has somewhat tapered nacelles)
beyond that, i did a LOT of eyeballing on minor details and scaling, so my personal judgement may have resulted in a flawed outcome.
i'm starting a new job in a couple weeks, so my deadline is pretty close; i may not get to tweak all of the inaccuracies before the next year is taken from me.
if you've read all of this, have a fun wallpaper :]
i gotta be so real rn; the only thing stopping data from becoming a Star Trek nightmare cryptid is his own sense of morality and the show's rating. brother could surgically remove the cerebellum from a victim in less than the time it'd take worf to drink his prune juice.
day 6: the suffering continues, and work is progressing slowly;
made buzzard collectors and antennae model-accurate, fixed some more raised lines on the 2nd hull, fixed some color specularity, rounded the 2nd hull dish mount, and added some decals.
side-note: i fully intend to put this on a 3d model sharing website for free because I want to help future modelers / artists have a better reference for this ship.
"Bad news bears on the Daedalus project in blender. PC died. Rubber smell. Hopefully just a new psu. Hopefully not the hdd running nfs carbon when it shut down."
Today:
new psu -> didn't start
removed one ram stick -> starts, but no boot
reseat both ram sticks -> still no boot
finally realize I need to plug in my SSD -> PC back to normal again
HDD and SSD are safe. genuine miracle. getting a backup pc now
genuinely thought my cpu melted for a bit. actual full-on mourning for a solid two hours about.
2087
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