Galaxy Class Project

[GalaxyClassProject]

Hello TrekBBS Community!


Just an introduction to my little long-term project, something I have been involved with and playing with since 2002.

Some may know of me on ‘X’ under ‘GalaxyClassProj’ (I hold the domain name too) which centers around a blog dedicated to the class of starship.

I’ve been modeling parts of the ship with CAD, and 3D packages since a long time ago but with life dropped all of it sometime ago until I became involved with some may know as ‘Stage 9.’ My level of involvement was mostly testing, discussing issues, ideas and lore and offering the odd asset but with ‘what happened’ and the various issues those arose from it (including personal interactions), although I was never bound by the outcome, deleted my discord/handles and dropped Trek modelling for a long time in frustration. Of course today I have different handles and no way of finding old contacts.

However, I was fortunate enough to stay in contact with one of the developers, a developer who has remained independent of other initiatives and projects, who encouraged me to pick up the ‘baton’ and (sadly) start again on my own project and for my own sake keeping mentions of S9 to a minimum. I did mention to the S9 leadership long ago I may do my own thing again in the future along a similar vein and what Daniel is doing with STVGP. If memory serves some wished me well. I of course kept comprehensive logs of those days as evidence. Anyway, about 18 months back this ended up in a popular twitter feed, blog discussing lore and technical matters and the grind to build my own assets benchmarking and testing them alongside previous ones and by other artists and some of those who developed S9, keeping them posted along the way. So it’s been interesting to get some feedback from some of the community. It takes time and I suspect easier to just redraw everything then work out endlessly who did what.

I’ve taken a very different approach which is to let the external 6ft model of NCC 1701 D drive my internal work, which is a combination of 3DS Max 2025, Blender and Unreal 5. This means I am not replicating the sets (plus the Roddenberry Archive have done that so well) but keeping the vibe etc—nips and tucks here and there and honest discussion on what does and doesn’t work and how to make a ship feel more workable with a hint of my own thoughts and creativity but never wondering too far from ‘canon’ (Whatever that is!). I’ve been refreshing very old projects I was involved with others (and sadly lost contact with in some cases) and rebuilding very old assets from the 2000s/2010s. I’ve also been swapping emails with Mr Probert, Mr Whitefire and others discussing various matters and working towards my own models and I guess one could say ‘personal naval technical manual’ with the graphics to match in an aim to be able to walk around in UR engine in the future.

I’m just a hobbyist enjoying what I do, I have zero interest in commercial let alone personal gain/glory. I have a career elsewhere [that does however help inform this but also means I work at my own pace] but I do enjoy interacting with the community.

On a final note, I highlight a lot of other peoples work/art on my feed and they send it to me and I regularly put shout outs for anyone wanting to highlight work relevant to the topic I focus on. I provide all the links to their website recognizing the author/artwork (and always have, check my feed!) or portfolios (if I run out space, check out the ‘alt’ button on ‘X’), so by all means message me or get in contact if you have something Galaxy Class you want to share!

I’ll keep this updated with the progress I make in my own little project.

Peace and Long Life!

 

[Mr. Phraust]

You should be able, when posting, to click on the three dots and select more options.. under there you can embed media like youtube videos.. Well - it worked for me so I assume.

By the way - your work is phenomenal! I'm trying to learn Unreal to get my creations (Star Trek related and other projects) into an explorable interactive environment. Awesome work!

 

[Michael]

Welcome to the Trek BBS, @GalaxyClassProject! Thanks so much for sharing your work with us.

I tired to post videos and images but it wouldn't allow me but please feel free to check out my X.

Using the Media button

you should be able to insert images or videos from a multitude of sources. You can just paste a YouTube URL in there, for example. Or if you want to share an image, just host it on a free image sharing site like imgur.com and paste the URL into your post. Let me know if you need any help with that.

 

[GalaxyClassProject]

Welcome to the Trek BBS, @GalaxyClassProject! Thanks so much for sharing your work with us.

Using the Media button

you should be able to insert images or videos from a multitude of sources. You can just paste a YouTube URL in there, for example. Or if you want to share an image, just host it on a free image sharing site like imgur.com and paste the URL into your post. Let me know if you need any help with that.

Would it work if I keep all my updates to this one thread then? That seems a better idea for anyone trying to follow along.

 

[Michael]

Would it work if I keep all my updates to this one thread then? That seems a better idea for anyone trying to follow along.

Oh, definitely! Most artists around here either have one thread dedicated to all their work or start a new one for each new project, so as to keep them separate. You can basically do whatever makes the most sense to you and your work.

 

[Rekkert]

Uhhh... while I love your enthusiasm and concept of what you're doing, couldn't help but notice the "updates" you're posting on Twitter are all assets ripped from Stage 9, including my ops station and Type 7 shuttle. And don't try to deny it as I can identify them. Your "2007 exterior model" also looks suspiciously like the Alex Klemm mesh we used, down to some specific inaccuracies. Care to explain?

 

[GalaxyClassProject]

I was previously involved with S9.

I have rebuilt assets entirely from scratch comparing it to S9 only using other assets for anaylsis to see what does and does not fit to and compared to my assets. As I am progressing through this I am building and have built new assets from scratch which are not yours to specifically avoid any accusation of reusing them and having them entirely my own.

In regards to 2007, that is entirely my own from back then.

 

[GalaxyClassProject]

I am also getting rather tired of this approach you and co seem to have that no one can touch the Galaxy Class or build new assets of the same thing which inevitably are going to be alike. End of the day, it was there fault they screwed up the situation with CBS, not the rest of us. If any of us want to use old assets we had, use assets that acknowledge the owner or build our own then we will.

 

[GalaxyClassProject]

I have also specifically stated this in my posts.

 

[Rekkert]

1: You never mentioned Stage 9 until I did, either here, on your blog, or on Twitter; so you "specifically stating this" is categorically wrong.

2: I spoke with several of the devs before posting, many of us still work together on the Roddenberry Archive. You've been harassing several and no one knows who you are, so no, you didn't work on Stage 9. If that's incorrect, then feel free to point me to your nickname on the still publicly available credits.

3: No, assets aren't "inevitably going to be alike", which is something you'd know if you'd actually have modeling experience. There are many tells that make assets different, even when accurately reproducing the same thing.

4: I don't even have to say this, but of course I have no issue with people doing more Galaxy Class stuff, as my active participation on other threads in this same forum makes clear.

 

[GalaxyClassProject]

I have not been 'harassing' anyone and I have stated this. The person I speak to is TimmyJack who has know all about this, who I am, and from the beginning and we specifically discussed limiting the S9 references for obvious reasons.

 

[Arvis Taljik]

Uhhh... while I love your enthusiasm and concept of what you're doing, couldn't help but notice the "updates" you're posting on Twitter are all assets ripped from Stage 9, including my ops station and Type 7 shuttle. And don't try to deny it as I can identify them. Your "2007 exterior model" also looks suspiciously like the Alex Klemm mesh we used, down to some specific inaccuracies. Care to explain?

I, and this is just me speaking personally, rather understood the project is studying existing assets to analyze the plausible correlation between the interior and exterior of the Galaxy class through the use of these assets and analysis of screen captures and videos of the the actual television episodes.

Also, nowhere has GCP ever stated that they created any of the interior meshes or the model of the Galaxy class when looking through their X posts... I simply was operating under the presumption that they left any references or names off because of the past backlash S9 received from Paramount/CBS and didn't want to get swept under the same umbrella as them (and rightfully so).

 

[GalaxyClassProject]

I, and this is just me speaking personally, rather understood the project is studying existing assets to analyze the plausible correlation between the interior and exterior of the Galaxy class through the use of these assets and analysis of screen captures and videos of the the actual television episodes.

Also, nowhere has GCP ever stated that they created any of the interior meshes or the model of the Galaxy class when looking through their X posts... I simply was operating under the presumption that they left any references or names off because of the past backlash S9 received from Paramount/CBS and didn't want to get swept under the same umbrella as them (and rightfully so).

I was specifically advised as someone once involved, by one of the former dev's, not to make the S9 connection when I studied what they had done as I built my own assets and levels. I have kept a former dev up to date throughout the whole process. I doubt Mr Rekkert would want me to start posting private conversations and former things from the old S9 Server and speaking some home truths which will prove the connection, it would also be unfair to those who have been nothing but supportive to post those conversations without their consent.

The reality is my old 2007 model and new assets being built for my OWN project. I completely reject the accusation of harassing.

 

[Michael]

I’ve been monitoring this conversation and will have to ask you all to drop the issue. As a general rule we don’t allow importing “drama” from other sites to the Trek BBS. No one here can really make an informed judgment on this matter and we don’t really consider it our place to do so.

Still, a couple of notes:

@GalaxyClassProject, when you post art to the Fan Art forum, it always has to be done with the obligation to clearly indicate if it contains elements by other artists and that these are properly credited. If you don’t want to specifically name the Stage 9 project, you can still mention the original creator of an element if they are known to you. Or at the absolute least make sure to mention that the work you’re posting contains elements made by someone else. Not doing this won’t fly here and should an instance of you failing to do so be brought to my attention there will be consequences.

@Rekkert is a well-respected, long-time poster on the Trek BBS, so I’m very much inclined to trust his word in this matter. Even though, as I said, I won’t pass any definitive judgment on the issue since I am not really able to verify any of that easily (nor do I consider it to be my job). I have to say, though, it’s not a particularly good look that you immediately went ahead and restricted your Twitter/X account and also deleted the link to that account in your profile here. Also, even vaguely hinting at posting private conversations and some such is an absolute no-go. Do any of that (or even just so much as threaten it) and your time here will be limited.

Bottom line is, you’re welcome to post your Trek fan art to this forum. But when you do, do so within the guidelines I have outlined in this post and in the forum-specific rules/FAQs.

 

[GalaxyClassProject]

I appreciate the response and time of the moderator.

However I will state all that I have said here is factually true irrelevant of the inference or accusation. Mr Rekkert is incorrect on many points and I am sure many appreciate my right to respond which was confined by the various external factors and issues I had to navigate which the moderator touches on that are from outside and should not be bought here. Also if people had bothered to check the 'alot' or footnotes or original post I had explained all of this or acknowledged when the author was me or another. I’ve also checked your comments against the dev's we know and I can say that others will support me here if needs be against malicious statements.

Sadly I can’t provide further evidence without crossing those lines or rules here when it comes to conversations, nearly a decades history, or proof of asset ownership, in part, or full, or otherwise. Needless to say I have the evidence and those should know better, as I have shown and provided that only those on an internal circle could access certain things.

I appreciate Rekkert finally acknowledging he has used older works than his, like mine, for inspiration or otherwise. In my view, you've become the very think you never said you would. Notable you picked on me even though I spoke to other dev's, am I threat to you or is it you won't respect people have to unplug the mixed sets where multiple authors have contributed and things had be be redrawn from fresh? I suspect you didn’t mix with us lower down but there were errors all over S9 which frustrated me when I fed them back offered to fix, so as I pointed out to the original owner id end up doing my own thing.

Let's not forget it was the poor management of S9 that yourself and others, including the use of other people and then the poor management of the CBS situation that nearly screwed over the entire fan community in the first place for you and others (specifically those of us behind scenes, or the testers/lore contruibors you conveniently ignored or failed to acknowledge), including starship sim, to then swan off and do other stuff including the RA while the rest of us were told 'we were not to risk doing anything'. Damn check of it, no not happening. Do you want me to start posting all the evidence to this? Thank god there were some sensible people involved in that who have been nothing but kind since.

I’m more than happy to discuss this off Trek BBS and provide all the evidence but also I don’t see what I should when I’ve been honest from the start.

I consider the matter closed and my final world will be those who want the truth or to engage know how to get hold of me, discord, X, email, etc.

 

[GalaxyClassProject]

I’ve been monitoring this conversation and will have to ask you all to drop the issue. As a general rule we don’t allow importing “drama” from other sites to the Trek BBS. No one here can really make an informed judgment on this matter and we don’t really consider it our place to do so.

Still, a couple of notes:

@GalaxyClassProject, when you post art to the Fan Art forum, it always has to be done with the obligation to clearly indicate if it contains elements by other artists and that these are properly credited. If you don’t want to specifically name the Stage 9 project, you can still mention the original creator of an element if they are known to you. Or at the absolute least make sure to mention that the work you’re posting contains elements made by someone else. Not doing this won’t fly here and should an instance of you failing to do so be brought to my attention there will be consequences.

@Rekkert is a well-respected, long-time poster on the Trek BBS, so I’m very much inclined to trust his word in this matter. Even though, as I said, I won’t pass any definitive judgment on the issue since I am not really able to verify any of that easily (nor do I consider it to be my job). I have to say, though, it’s not a particularly good look that you immediately went ahead and restricted your Twitter/X account and also deleted the link to that account in your profile here. Also, even vaguely hinting at posting private conversations and some such is an absolute no-go. Do any of that (or even just so much as threaten it) and your time here will be limited.

Bottom line is, you’re welcome to post your Trek fan art to this forum. But when you do, do so within the guidelines I have outlined in this post and in the forum-specific rules/FAQs.

Please close thread.

 

[Michael]

Re-opening the thread, as has been agreed with @GalaxyClassProject.

A reminder @everyone: Any sort of allegations regarding things happening outside of the Trek BBS are not to be brought publicly in this forum. It is standing board policy to not bring in disagreements from elsewhere to the board. Let’s try to keep the peace.

And also, once more, it is obligatory for anyone posting their art here, that if it should contain any elements created by someone else, that someone else has to be credited diligently. Or at the very least it should be noted in a manner obvious to anyone looking at it that it contains stuff by someone else.

That is all. Please carry on.