The History of the Nebula Class Studio Models

by Alexander Hartmann and Bernd Schneider

Prototype Models3ft ILM Physical ModelCGI Digital Muse ModelAddendum

 

Our article lists all models (miniatures and CGI) of the Nebula class that appeared on screen and identifies modifications to the models.

 

Prototype Models

Two prototype models for the Nebula class were built, using parts from AMT Enterprise-D model kits. Model #2 was labeled as USS Melbourne and damaged for TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds II". It later appeared as an unnamed destroyed ship in DS9: "Emissary". The other model, #1, remained intact. It could be seen in Riker's fake future ready room in TNG: "Future Imperfect". After that, it appeared with modifications as #3 in Maxwell's ready room in TNG: "The Wounded" and in Sisko's ready room on Deep Space 9 in DS9: "'Til Death Do Us Part".

The Nebula prototypes are described in more details in the separate article Proto-Nebula Class Reconstruction.

 

3ft ILM Physical Model

designed by Mike Okuda and Rick Sternbach (initial design by Ed Miarecki), built by Greg Jein

Original appearance as USS Phoenix

Initial appearance of the model. Design features: "AWACS"-style pod, white-blue paint job with duck-egg blue highlights.

The model was cast using molds of the 4ft Galaxy-class saucer and nacelles, together with a custom-made engineering hull, which would correspond to an actual model length of around 2.6ft or 80 centimeters.

The saucer has fewer windows and escape pods than a Galaxy class and no saucer impulse engines. The ship was intended to be a smaller vessel, but time constrains are given as a reason for reusing Galaxy molds instead of creating new ones (e.g., outer rings of escape pod hatches on the saucer were just painted over and not sanded down, recesses that would be cut out for the outer rings of windows are still visible).

• USS Phoenix NCC-65420, TNG: "The Wounded", early 1991

Modifications for USS Sutherland

This is the first studio model modification. The most obvious change is the new triangular pod and single pod pylon. There are possibly other, minor modifications.

All labels were changed to USS Sutherland NCC-72015, possibly with other modifications (e.g., Starfleet arrow and stripes behind bridge).

• USS Sutherland NCC-72015, TNG: "Redemption II", mid-1991

The episode shows the ship with phaser burns to its hull, but no photo of the studio model shows any such damage. This might have been added shortly before filming.

Modifications for USS Bellerophon

All labels were changed to USS Bellerophon NCC-62048. No physical modifications.

• USS Bellerophon NCC-62048, DS9: "Emissary", early 1993

Modifications for USS Prometheus

All labels were changed to USS Prometheus NCC-71201. No physical modifications.

• USS Prometheus NCC-71201, DS9: "Second Sight", late 1993
• USS Lexington, DS9: "Explorers", 1995 (stock footage)
• Unknown, DS9: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume?", 1997 (stock footage)
• USS T'Kumbra, DS9: "Take Me Out to the Holosuite", 1998 (stock footage)

Modifications for USS Farragut

The studio model was modified for a second time. For "Generations", it was repainted at ILM by Larry Tan and John Goodson. Other alterations include: flat saucer surface, addition of RCS thrusters above pylons, other minor changes and added detailing, new paint job (blue-gray with metallic blue highlights).

All labels were changed to USS Farragut NCC-60597, other minor modifications, e.g., no Starfleet arrow and stripes behind bridge any more, pylon registry moved from lower to upper area, top saucer registry moved closer to bridge and forward saucer transporter emitters moved above phaser ring, bringing the overall saucer appearance closer to that of a Galaxy-class vessel. Ventral saucer outer escape pods ring (re-)added (=painted as escape pods). Dark saucer rim.

• USS Farragut NCC-60597, "Star Trek Generations", 1994

Modifications for appearances on DS9

The bottom saucer and pylon registry were changed to USS Leeds NCC-70352, the rest remained as USS Farragut NCC-60597. No physical modifications.

The name USS Leeds was added to the ventral side of the saucer (normally, only the registry would be painted on the saucer's underside). As the ship was only filmed from below, markings on top were not changed. The model remained in this configuration (Farragut top/Leeds bottom) for all further appearances.

• USS Leeds NCC-70352, DS9 Intro, Season 4-7, 1995
• Unknown, DS9: "The Visitor", 1995
• Unknown, VOY: "Non Sequitur", 1995
• Unknown, "Star Trek First Contact", 1996
• Unknown, DS9: "Sacrifice of Angels", late 1997
• Unknown, DS9: "Profit and Lace", 1998

DS9's fourth season introduced a new title sequence featuring the Leeds docked at the station. The season premiered in October 1994, with DS9's "The Visitor" airing late October and VOY's "Non Sequitur" in late September, suggesting that all three appearances were filmed at the same time.

DS9's "Sacrifice of Angels" is an oddity as the footage of the Nebula was added to an existing stock footage shot of the station. It is the only time this particular version of the footage was ever used. It may have been previously unused material, as the studio model had been retired after "First Contact".

In the late 1990s, CBS begun displaying the model as part of the "Star Trek The Exhibition" tour until 2011, still in its Farragut/Leeds configuration.

 

CGI Digital Muse Model

built by Robert Bonchune

Appearances in DS9 and VOY

The ship was kitbashed from existing CG Galaxy parts, leading to a changed secondary hull that is much closer in appearance to that of a Galaxy. Also, the ship has additional rows of lifeboats and windows on its saucer and a different saucer shape (with a slim saucer rim), again due to the reuse of an unaltered Galaxy-class saucer, which was in turn based on the 6ft Enterprise-D model. The saucer has two impulse exhausts, but the additional thrusters above the pylons are gone. Hull markings are different (most notably Starfleet arrows and stripes on the ventral nacelles and secondary hull). No saucer ring.

After "Waltz", labels were changed to the Bonchune. For its DS9 appearance in season 7, the model apparently remained unlabeled on its saucer, but retained the pylon label (which most likely still read NCC-70915). For Voyager's finale, the ship's main name/registry on its saucer was restored to Bonchune.

• USS Honshu NCC-60205, DS9: "Waltz", early 1998
• USS Bonchune NCC-70915, VOY: "Message in a Bottle", early 1998
• Unknown, DS9: "The Changing Face of Evil", 1999
• Unknown, DS9: "What You Leave Behind", 1999 (stock footage)
• USS Bonchune NCC-70915, VOY: "Endgame", 2001

Note The Nebula-class CGI model may also appear in DS9: "The Reckoning" und VOY: "Relativity" but we could not confirm that.

 

Addendum

In addition to the BoBW prototype variants, we have seen 4 hero variants: Phoenix, Sutherland, Farragut and Honshu. If the pod is a modular component and interchangeable, Phoenix and Sutherland could be considered the same variant as there are no differences between them besides the pod. Farragut has a different paint scheme, different detailing and hull markings. Honshu (CGI) marks the most radical departure with a completely different saucer and secondary hull design, similar to the Enterprise-B variant of the Excelsior class.

There is no apparent pattern to the variant/registry, but we may assume that these differences are either intentional sub-classes or due to different production facilities.

Name	Registry	Variant	Episode
USS Bellerophon	NCC-62048	Phoenix/Sutherland
USS Bonchune	NCC-70915	Honshu
USS Farragut	NCC-60597	Farragut
USS Honshu	NCC-60205	Honshu
USS Leeds	NCC-70352	Farragut
USS Lexington	?	Phoenix/Sutherland
USS Phoenix	NCC-65420	Phoenix/Sutherland (different mission pod)
USS Prometheus	NCC-71201	Phoenix/Sutherland
USS Sutherland	NCC-72015	Phoenix/Sutherland
USS T'Kumbra	?	Phoenix/Sutherland
?	?	Farragut	DS9 4x03: "The Visitor"
?	?	Sutherland	DS9 5x16: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume?"
?	?	Farragut	DS9 6x06: "Sacrifice of Angels"
?	?	Honshu	DS9 6x11: "Waltz"
?	?	Farragut	DS9 6x23: "Profit and Lace"
?	?	Honshu	DS9 7x20: "The Changing Face of Evil"
?	?	Honshu	DS9 7x25: "What You Leave Behind"
?	?	Farragut	VOY 2x05: "Non Sequitur"
?	?	Farragut	"Star Trek: First Contact"

 

See Also

Nebula Class Observations - a close look at four variants of the design

Proto-Nebula Class Reconstruction

Starfleet Ship Classes L-Z

 

Credits

Some screen caps from TrekCore.

 

Back to Starship Articles index