Miranda class: Star Trek starship parts kit expansion #1

[The project can also be found on my Google Drive mirror ]

This is the first expansion parts kit meant to complement my Star Trek Constitution Class Parts Kit, adding parts to support the Miranda class and its major canon variants. All parts are meant to be cross-compatible between parts kits.

Update 2023-03-12: Following on the heels of my recent update to the Constitution class kit, I’ve made a pass on the Miranda, resulting in an almost completely remastered set of files. In addition to the enhanced Saucer and Nacelle details inherited from the Constitution, this revision includes substantially improved hull details intended to better match the original studio filming model. A note that the higher mesh density of these new files results in much larger file sizes. If you’re still interested in the previous version of this kit, it can be found at this location.

Update 2021-03-13: Added support for the original Reliant concept design.

Update 2021-03-10: I created the original version of this kit hot off the release of my Constitution class kit, which was my first major 3d modelling project. As a result of my inexperience this kit suffered from a number of issues. While I still don’t claim to be an expert, I’ve learned a lot in the almost 2 years since then. After remastering the Constitution kit, I’m now releasing a corresponding update to the Miranda kit. This includes improved details and closer accuracy to filming models, mesh quality cleanup and improvements, and support for additional ship variants. This is a major update and basically all of the parts have been rebuilt. If you’re looking for the old version, it’s been archived at the old Google drive location.

Contents of this kit are broken into three zip files:

• MirandaV2-blender-files.zip - The Blender source files used to generate all
  STL files.

• MirandaV2-parts-stls.zip - All individual part STL files.

• MirandaV2-ship-stls.zip - All combined ship STL files.

This kit supports most screen-canon variants of the Miranda class, as well as several fanon ships and a couple quick kitbashes I came up with as examples.

Supported ships

Screen-canon ships:

Miranda class

First seen as the USS Reliant in Star Trek II.

FASA game stats

Lantree variant

First seen in the TNG episode Unnatural Selection.

Soyuz class

First seen in the TNG episode Cause and Effect.

FASA game stats

Saratoga variant

First seen in the DS9 pilot.

Antares variant

First seen in the DS9 episode Favor the Bold.

Reliant concept

In the initial art design for the Reliant in Star Trek 2, the ship was meant to have an inverted layout, with the nacelles on the top and weapons pods mounted below. This sketch got approved upside down, resulting in the Miranda we know today.

Fanon ships:

Knox class light frigate

Originally from Calon Riel & Mastercom Data Center’s (Todd Guenther & co.) Ships of the Star Fleet. Also see the detailed Strategic Design (David Schmidt) plans.

FASA game stats

Also included in this kit is a command module with integrated Torpedo tubes, with a Knox variant demonstrating this option.

Brownwood class assault transport / tug

Originally from Jackill’s (Eric Kristiansen) Starfleet Reference Manual: Ships of the Fleet Volume 1

FASA game stats

Hensley class heavy transport / tug

Originally from Jackill’s (Eric Kristiansen) Starfleet Reference Manual: Ships of the Fleet Volume 1

Random example kitbashes:

Goofy double rollbar with repositioned nacelles

Example of combining parts with the Constitution class kit

Notes on scaling and working with Blender

My target scale for all source files and output STL files is 1:1000. Although these files have not been extensively tested through printing, they are intended to be resized to match common modelling and miniatures scales.

• Target scale - Scale STL files to: - Notes
• 1/3900 - 0.25641026 (25.6%) - FASA miniature scale
• 1/3788 - 0.26399155 (26.4%) - ADB Starline 2400 scale
• 1/3125 - 0.32 (32%) - ADB Starline 2500 scale
• 1/2500 - 0.4 (40%) - The Trek modelers "Golden scale"
• 1/1600 - 0.625 (62.5%) - TOS 3-Ship Set scale
• 1/1400 - 0.714285714 (71.4%) - Common resin model scale
• 1/650 - 1.538461538 (153.8%) - Modelling scale
• 1/537 - 1.862197393 (186.2%) - Common scale for TMP models
• 1/350 - 2.857142857 (285.7%) - Large scale

Note: This kit was built using Blender 3.1.

Blender is free, which to be honest was the primary factor in my decision to learn it. There are many fine video and text tutorials available online if you're interested in learning more. See the Blender fundamentals tutorials playlist to get started.

You can use File -> Import -> Stl (.stl) and File -> Export -> Stl (.stl) to load or save STL files in blender.

Post-processing STL output

Although all of the STL files included have been tested as valid watertight meshes, joining the parts together and exporting new STL files can introduce small errors that may cause issues with slicing programs. I recommend any STL files you create are checked using a program like Netfabb Basic free edition. Doing a simple "Close All Holes" repair has fixed all of the issues I've run into so far. If you do run into issues with mesh quality, please let me know.

Parts list

The following lists provide a summary of each of the included parts which can be found in MirandaV3-parts-stls.zip. For the majority of items, the mesh origin has been set so that when you import these objects into your 3d editor of choice, they are positioned as they would be on the Miranda class.

• Part - Description
• MirandaV3-antares-deflectors.stl - Additional deflector units used in the Antares type.
• MirandaV3-antares-sensor-module.stl - Large sensor module used in the Antares type.
• MirandaV3-command-module-standard.stl - Standard command decks, including bridge module.
• MirandaV3-command-module-torpedo.stl - Alternate command decks with integrated torpedo launchers.
• MirandaV3-concept-inverted-nacelles.stl - Nacelles used in the Reliant concept.
• MirandaV3-concept-inverted-pylons.stl - Nacelle pylons used in the Reliant concept.
• MirandaV3-concept-torpedo-modules.stl - Torpedo modules used in the Reliant concept.
• MirandaV3-hull-short.stl - Shortened saucer and hull.
• MirandaV3-hull-standard.stl - Normal saucer and hull section used in the Reliant and most variants.
• MirandaV3-knox-megaphasers.stl - Megaphasers used in the Knox class.
• MirandaV3-knox-nacelles.stl - Nacelles used in the Knox class.
• MirandaV3-knox-pylons-with-struts.stl - Pylons used in the Knox class.
• MirandaV3-lower-sensor-dome.stl - Senser dome at the bottom of the saucer on most variants.
• MirandaV3-nacelles-standard.stl - Nacelles used on most variants.
• MirandaV3-pylons-megaphasers.stl - Megaphasers in standard Miranda configuration.
• MirandaV3-pylons-only.stl - Pylons connecting main hull to nacelles. Does not include rollbar or struts connecting to megaphasers.
• MirandaV3-pylons-with-rollbar.stl - Pylons connecting main hull to nacelles, including top rollbar.
• MirandaV3-pylons-with-top-struts.stl - Pylons connecting main hull to nacelles. Does not include rollbar but does include struts.
• MirandaV3-saratoga-sensor-modules.stl - Side modules used by the Saratoga type.
• MirandaV3-soyuz-bottom-dome.stl - Bottom part of saucer used in Soyuz class.
• MirandaV3-soyuz-bottom-module.stl - Bottom module used in Soyuz class.
• MirandaV3-soyuz-command-module.stl - Bridge and command decks used in Soyuz class.
• MirandaV3-soyuz-rear-hull-extension.stl - Rear hull extension used in Soyuz class.
• MirandaV3-soyuz-side-modules.stl - Side module used in Soyuz class.
• MirandaV3-soyuz-top-module.stl - Top module used in Soyuz class.
• MirandaV3-struts-only.stl - Struts connecting hull to megaphasers.
• MirandaV3-torpedo-module.stl - Standard rollbar mounted torpedo module.
• MirandaV3-transport-cargo-FJ-style.stl - Franz Joseph style transport containers.
• MirandaV3-transport-dock.stl - Neck and mounting dock for transport containers. Used by Brownwood and Hensley classes.
• MirandaV3-transport-cargo-vance-style.stl - Vance style transport containers.

Combined ship STLs

These files provide sample ships generated using the parts included in this kit, and can be found in the file MirandaV3-ship-stls.zip. Aside from the two variants of the Constitution class itself, these other sample ships were thrown together in a few minutes as simple proof of concepts.

• File - Description
• ship-miranda.stl - Standard Miranda class, with rollbar, megaphasers and torpedo pod.
• ship-antares.stl - Miranda variant with megaphasers, additional deflector nubs, and a large sensor pod.
• ship-brownwood-standalone.stl - Miranda class modified to carry transport containers, without attached containers.
• ship-brownwood-with-fj-containers.stl - Brownwood class including a set of containers based off of the pods found in the Franz Joseph Starfleet Technical Manual.
• ship-brownwood-with-vance-containers.stl - Brownwood class including a set of containers based off of the pods based on the Vance design.
• ship-hensley-standalone.stl - Short hulled ship designed to carry transport containers, without attached containers.
• ship-hensley-with-fj-containers.stl - Hensley class including a set of containers based off of the pods found in the Franz Joseph Starfleet Technical Manual.
• ship-hensley-with-vance-containers.stl - Hensley class including a set of containers based off of the pods based on the Vance design.
• ship-kitbash-constitution-parts.stl - A sample kitbash including Constitution class parts.
• ship-kitbash-double-rollbars.stl - A sample kitbash design showing a modified nacelle placement and two rollbars.
• ship-knox.stl - Short hull variant.
• ship-knox-torpedo-variant.stl - Short hull variant with alternate torpedo command module.
• ship-lantree.stl - Miranda class variant with rollbar removed.
• ship-reliant-concept.stl - A variant based on the original design for the Reliant from Star Trek II, with the Nacelles inverted and two torpedo pods replacing the Megaphasers at the end of the pylons..
• ship-saratoga.stl - Miranda class variant with rollbar removed and port and starboard sensor pods added.
• ship-soyuz.stl - Miranda class variant with alternate top and bottom saucer details, an additional aft hull extension, and multiple pods.
• ship-soyuz-thick.stl - A variant of the Soyuz model with the delicate parts thickened to help printing at small scales.
• -

Blender files

The Blender source files used to generate these STL files are included in the file Mirandav3-blender-files.zip.

• File - Description
• MirandaV3-Parts-source.blend - Source file for all variant designs in this kit.
• MirandaV3-Parts.blend - Contains clean parts files all variants.
• MirandaV3-Parts_Antares.blend - File containing parts file used to generate the combined Antares type STL file.
• MirandaV3-Parts_Brownwood.blend - File containing parts file used to generate the combined Brownwood class STL files.
• MirandaV3-Parts_Hensley.blend - File containing parts file used to generate the combined Hensley class STL files.
• MirandaV3-Parts_Kitbash-Constitution-parts-mashup.blend - File containing parts file used to generate the combined Miranda-Constitution kitbash STL file.
• MirandaV3-Parts_Kitbash-double-rollbar.blend - File containing parts file used to generate the combined double rollbar kitbash STL file.
• MirandaV3-Parts_Knox.blend - File containing parts file used to generate the combined Knox class STL file.
• MirandaV3-Parts_Miranda.blend - File containing parts file used to generate the combined Miranda class STL file.
• MirandaV3-Parts_Reliant-Concept.blend - File containing parts file used to generate the combined Reliant concept class STL file.
• MirandaV3-Parts_Saratoga.blend - Source file for parts specific to the Saratoga variant (Lantree is also generated from this file by just hiding the Saratoga specific components).
• MirandaV3-Parts_Soyuz.blend - File containing parts file used to generate the combined Soyuz class STL file.

License

I'm releasing this under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license. You're free to distribute and modify these files (even for commercial use), provided you attribute the creator (me) and distribute your contributions under the same license.