Why does everyone love the original TOS Enterprise so much?

[Sionnach Glic]

I've seen one similar to that floating around the internet, "You can run, but you'll just die tired".

[LaughingCheese]

The Connie isn't that pleasant from an aesthetic point of view, but that's how it should be. Form follows function. The Connie was designed to be practical.

Doesn't the Sovereign class pretty much destroy that argument?

[Sionnach Glic]

The Sov is a nice blend of form and function. It has a good design, while still keeping a nice sleek form.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

I just googled "Constitution class".

Don't you already have a large repository of Connie pics?

Is there such a thing as too many COnnie pics?

[Graham Kennedy]

Sovvy is gorgeous to be sure, but it disappoints me in a couple of ways, though.

For one, it's too small. I know, there's no rule saying Enterprises have to get bigger every time. But dammit, they should! Every Enterprise should be bigger, faster, more powerful, and just all around more kick ass than the last one. The Sov should have been scaled to have 30-50% more volume than the E-D, in my humble opinion.

For another, some aspects of the design nag at me. The quantum torpedo launcher has to be really small to fit where it is... and in fact most of the torpedo tubes have to be really small, especially on the refitted version where they have stuck all sorts of extras on. Small torp tubes bother me, because if they take up so little internal volume then why not fit dozens, even hundreds? I tend to like weapons that are sized in proportion to the ship.

Confusion about separation capability. It's said that the ship was designed with separation as a possibility... but there's only two impulse engines, so apparently the separated ship would have warp only on the engineering hull, and impulse only on the saucer. I don't like that.

[Sionnach Glic]

The Sov can seperate? Since when?

[Graham Kennedy]

It's unclear. Apparently the guy who designed it did so with a separation capability "in mind" in case they ever wanted to do it. But there's nothing in the movies to indicate that it is possible.

[LaughingCheese]

It's unclear. Apparently the guy who designed it did so with a separation capability "in mind" in case they ever wanted to do it. But there's nothing in the movies to indicate that it is possible.

Indeed he did, according to this article.

I think Paramount should just indicate somehow that most Federation starships (exceptions possibly being the Nebula, Miranda, and NX, and a few others).

It would make sense that the ships with an obvious primary/secondary structural configuration should be able to separate (i.e., those ships with the primary hull as the 'saucer module'; Connie, Excelsior, Galaxy, Sov).

[stitch626]

Well the original Connie could separate, the problem would come when they wanted to reconnect.
As for the Sov, that bothers me. Imagine how weird the engineering hull would look.

[Tsukiyumi]

...Imagine how weird the engineering hull would look.

Like an ice cream scoop with nacelles, I imagine.

[stitch626]

Yummy. Though probly taste gross.
Hmmm, antimatter ice cream...

[Mark]

For the record, I don't know WHY I'm a fan of saucer seperation or MVAM, but damnit, I am. I LOVE seeing a ship break apart and do these awesome things. But what I can't stand is when you seperate the ship and it become WEAKER than if you kept it connected. What the hell is the point of that? If a saucer seperated and was able to function completely seperately (even for a limited time) it would open up all sorts of new possiblites in several different dimensions.

[LaughingCheese]

Well the original Connie could separate, the problem would come when they wanted to reconnect.
As for the Sov, that bothers me. Imagine how weird the engineering hull would look.

No need to imagine:


EDIT: OK, that should do it. Not sure how to use flickr though, maybe there's a better way to link it?

Lovely IMO.

[Mark]

Interesting sign.

[LaughingCheese]

Interesting sign.

Sign? What do you mean?

EDIT: OH, I see. Hmm...

THERE! Finally.