The Design of the U.S.S. Relativity

[JoeRalat]

Hello Everyone. I was collecting some production information on the Federation ship’s seen on voyager, but I could not find any on the U.S.S. Relativity. I am guessing that it was design by Rick Sternbach. I am not sure what kind of information I’m looking for.

What was the inspiration for the Relativity? The ship is so different from other starship designs. Has anyone seen any early sketches on the ship? What was called for in the script? Any info on the how many decks..size..? I saw in the episode that a cutaway was made of it, but could not see any details. What was the inspiration for the interior (The bridge and graphics)? That’s just a few questions.

Thanks

 

[Rick Sternbach]

JoeRalat said:
Hello Everyone. I was collecting some production information on the Federation ship’s seen on voyager, but I could not find any on the U.S.S. Relativity. I am guessing that it was design by Rick Sternbach. I am not sure what kind of information I’m looking for.

What was the inspiration for the Relativity? The ship is so different from other starship designs. Has anyone seen any early sketches on the ship? What was called for in the script? Any info on the how many decks..size..? I saw in the episode that a cutaway was made of it, but could not see any details. What was the inspiration for the interior (The bridge and graphics)? That’s just a few questions.

Thanks

The inspiration for the ship was a blended arrowhead sort of shape with a lot of roller coaster curves, upon which were drawn most of the little details that were familiar to older Starfleet ships. Those details were evolved, but one could still see what they were for. The Bussard collector caps were turned and stretched, but they're there. Same with the phaser strips, lifeboats, etc.

Rick
www.spacemodelsystems.com

 

[David Schmidt]

Plus, I think the designer looked at the SR-71 a lot.

 

[ancient]

Well, the ship looked kind of like a mutated manta to me. Which I suppose makes it more time-o-dynamic or something. A non-timeship from the era might look more like the ENT-J from ENT. Assuming that the federation has non-timeships at that point.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I really liked the Wells-class a lot. It has a very organic look that I think is a nice progression from early modular starships (rather than warp nacelles, it seems to have warp fins).

 

[Rick Sternbach]

David Schmidt said:
Plus, I think the designer looked at the SR-71 a lot.

Nope, although I do know the SR-71 pretty well. I try to work with bits and pieces of cool designs, but not mimic the entire shape. Too many designers do that already.

Rick
www.spacemodelsystems.com

 

[JoeRalat]

Sorry for the late reply, but Thank You Mr. Sternbach for the information. Did the Relativity have a shuttlebay. If she did have a shuttlebay, would the "Aeon" type ship be its shuttle?

Again Thanks for the information.

 

[Rick Sternbach]

JoeRalat said:
Sorry for the late reply, but Thank You Mr. Sternbach for the information. Did the Relativity have a shuttlebay. If she did have a shuttlebay, would the "Aeon" type ship be its shuttle?

Again Thanks for the information.

Oh, there are probably some panels that could iris open or somesuch, but since we never saw a bay in action, I didn't spend much time actually pegging it. I would imagine that the Aeon would be one kind of deployed craft from the big ship, yeah.

Rick
www.spacemodelsystems.com

 

[GalaxyX]

The inspiration for the ship was a blended arrowhead sort of shape with a lot of roller coaster curves, upon which were drawn most of the little details that were familiar to older Starfleet ships. Those details were evolved, but one could still see what they were for. The Bussard collector caps were turned and stretched, but they're there. Same with the phaser strips, lifeboats, etc.

Rick, where you in any way inspired by the "Paradigm" type Capital ships from the game "Wing Commander: Privateer"?

That's what the ship most reminded me of.

 

[Rick Sternbach]

GalaxyX said:

The inspiration for the ship was a blended arrowhead sort of shape with a lot of roller coaster curves, upon which were drawn most of the little details that were familiar to older Starfleet ships. Those details were evolved, but one could still see what they were for. The Bussard collector caps were turned and stretched, but they're there. Same with the phaser strips, lifeboats, etc.

Rick, where you in any way inspired by the "Paradigm" type Capital ships from the game "Wing Commander: Privateer"?

That's what the ship most reminded me of.

Nope, don't know that one.

Rick
www.spacemodelsystems.com

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I totally love the Relativity. It is one of my favorite Starfleet designs that has ever appeared in Trek.

Its bridge is a little odd - why is there just a tiny viewscreen off to port? (That big one in the center was just a computer display. Not an actual viewer.) Why is the captain's chair way off in the corner like that? But in general it is an AWESOME ship.

Side note:

Spoiler: TCW

I think Captain Braxton is Future Guy.

 

[Silvercrest]

Babaganoosh said:

Side note:

Spoiler: TCW

I think Captain Braxton is Future Guy.

I've always thought that, too!

 

[HRHTheKING]

Beautiful design.

Looks far more robust than traditional Starfleet vessels with their engines stuck out on fragile looking pylons.