Nebula-class Starship

Taking a break from the usual episode reviews to dive head-first into a geeky look at one of my favorite starships of Trek: the Nebula class starship!

There has been some question about the origin of the CGI Nebula class starship USS Honshu in the comments of my review of the Deep Space Nine episode "Waltz."  This post will recount the history of the Nebula class in Star Trek, both as a physical studio model and CGI model.

The Nebula class starship has made many appearances in Star Trek.  In its various forms, this interesting design has appeared in twenty-three episodes of the various Trek series as well as two feature films.  The first appearance of the ship was as a deep-background ship during the graveyard scene depicting the aftermath of the Battle of Wolf 359 in the episode "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II" (TNG).  This version was never meant to be seen up close, and actually featured two very small warp nacelles where the pod would later be positioned.  This model is seen in the episode "Future Imperfect" (TNG), displayed on a table.

Nebula class display model in "Future Imperfect" (TNG)

The producers decided that they liked the design and featured it as the USS Phoenix in the episode "The Wounded" (TNG).  A new, high quality studio model was constructed, but included some changes from the original.  The upper warp nacelles were replaced with a pod which resembled an AWACS pod seen on modern military aircraft.

USS Phoenix NCC-65420 ("The Wounded" - TNG)

The next appearance of the Nebula class was as the USS Sutherland in the TNG season five premiere, "Redemption, Part II."  The upper "AWACS" pod was once again replaced, this time with a roughly triangular pod housing a torpedo launcher.

USS Sutherland NCC-72015 ("Redemption, Part II" - TNG)

This same model in this configuration appeared frequently over the years, mostly in Deep Space Nine.  The ships that this model represents are:

USS Bellerophon NCC-62048 ("Emissary" - DS9)

USS Prometheus NCC-71201 ("Second Sight" - DS9)
USS Lexington NCC-61832 (Stock footage - "Explorers" - DS9)
Unnamed Nebula class (Stock footage - "Dr. Bashir, I Presume?" - DS9)
USS T'Kumbra (Stock footage - "Take Me Out to the Holosuite" - DS9)

Unnamed Nebula class ("Non Sequitur" - VGR)

For the film Star Trek: Generations, the same model was used, but it was given a new, highly detailed paint job to make the transition to the big screen.

USS Farragut NCC-60597 (Star Trek: Generations)

This model, with its updated livery, appears in EVERY Deep Space Nine episode from seasons four through seven.  Don't believe me?  Well, you should, because the model was retouched as the USS Leeds and is seen docked at DS9 in the opening credits sequence of every episode starting with "Way of the Warrior."

USS Leeds NCC-70352 (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine opening credits)

This updated model can also be seen in the Deep Space Nine episode "The Visitor" and in the film Star Trek: First Contact.

Unnamed Nebula class from "The Visitor" (DS9)

Unnamed Nebula class from Star Trek: First Contact

Finally, with the transition from physical models to CGI, a computer model of the Nebula class starship was created.  Designed by Rob Bonchune, the new CGI model used parts from the Galaxy class USS Enterprise-D rather than referencing the Nebula class model.  Thus, some details such as the main deflector dish and secondary hull shape are much more reminiscint of the Galaxy class starship.  Every subsequent appearance of the Nebula class starship was the Bonchune-constructed model, starting with the cleverly named USS Bonchune in the Voyager episode "Message in a Bottle."

USS Bonchune NCC-70915 ("Message in a Bottle" - VGR)

USS Honshu NCC-60205 ("Waltz" - DS9)

Unnamed Nebula class ("The Changing Face of Evil" - DS9)

Unnamed Nebula class ("What You Leave Behind" - DS9)

Unnamed Nebula class (lower right) ("Endgame" - VGR)

Here are a number of orthographic views of the actual CGI model of the Nebula class starship designed by Rob Bonchune (thanks to The Drex Files).  As you can see, the design of the model is much more in line with the Galaxy class than with the previous Nebula class model:

The Nebula class starship, a true workhorse of Starfleet, has made many appearances throughout the 24th century incarnations of Star Trek.  Many talented people are behind its design and presentation on the big and small screens.  While my love of Trek is mostly due to the positive view and optimism with regards to the future, sometimes taking a look at the tech behind it is a world of nerdy fun!

References:

The DrexFiles: Nebula Class (http://drexfiles.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/nebula-class/)

Ex Astris Scientia: Nebula Class Observations (http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/articles/nebula.htm)

Ex Astris Scientia: Proto-Nebula Class Reconstruction (http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/articles/proto-nebula.htm)

Ex Astris Scientia: Starship Gallery: Nebula Class (http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/scans/nebula1.htm)

Memory Alpha: Nebula Class (http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Nebula_class)

Memory Alpha: USS Bellerophon NCC-62048 (http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/USS_Bellerophon_(NCC-62048))

Memory Alpha: USS Bonchune (http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/USS_Bonchune)

Memory Alpha: USS Farragut NCC-60597 (http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/USS_Farragut_(NCC-60597))

Memory Alpha: USS Honshu (http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/USS_Honshu)

Memory Alpha: USS Leeds (http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/USS_Leeds)

Memory Alpha: USS Lexington (Nebula Class) (http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/USS_Lexington_(Nebula_class))

Memory Alpha: USS Phoenix (http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/USS_Phoenix)

Memory Alpha: USS Prometheus NCC-71201 (http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/USS_Prometheus_(NCC-71201))

Memory Alpha: USS Sutherland (http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/USS_Sutherland)

Memory Alpha: USS T'Kumbra (http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/USS_T'Kumbra)