Star Trek Constitution Class Parts Kit

Summary

[Note: This kit is also available on my Google Drive mirror: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XVwuNIwCrZDXynbZHaTAxvDyfI6iQh4q?usp=share_link ]

UPDATE 2023-02-28:

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It’s been almost exactly two years since my last update of this kit. While I think the TOS version of the models have held up pretty well, as people have made more use of the movie era models I’ve noticed more and more issues with those models that have bothered me. What started as a modest attempt to smooth out some low-poly parts has turned into a substantial rebuild of most of the refit Constitution parts to better reflect the original studio model. It’s still not perfect, but these parts are much improved and far better suited to the high-detail resin printers that are increasingly common.

Updates include an entirely new saucer and nacelles, along with significant modifications and mesh improvements to the engineering and neck pieces.

All TMP era ship files have been rebuilt using the new parts. In addition, the kit adds the Moncrief class, a movie era variant of the Ptolemy class transport created by Erik “Jackill” Kristiansen, and featuring a new transport pod inspired by a Neale “Vance” Davidson design.

The previous version of the files are all available at this Google Drive location.

Stay tuned, as these updates will be rolled out to other kits that use these parts in the next few weeks to months.

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UPDATE 2021-02-25:

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This kit was one of the first projects I attempted when trying to learn Blender, and it suffered as a result. I’ve learned a great deal in the two years since, and have now updated it with a newly remastered version. This includes wholly remade saucers on both TOS and TMP versions, a new TMP engineering section, as well as highly modified versions of all other parts. In addition, I’ve added hull details such as shield grids weapons and running lights, and other smaller details I’d left off earlier versions of the ship. I’ve also added support for the TOS pilot version of the Enterprise.

It’s essentially a whole new kit, replacing the older version. If for whatever reason you’re looking for the files in the old kit they can still be found at this Google Drive location.

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Introduction

I like kitbashing Star Trek ships, and have long enjoyed playing with 2d parts kits (like the fine ones from the late Vance and CanisD) to quickly create new ideas for ship designs. However, converting these ideas from 2d to 3d models fit for printing is easier said than done, usually involving cutting up existing models and trying to rearrange them. Getting a printable mesh from the resulting hacked model is often difficult and frustrating.

Previous designs I've posted have been converted from models available elsewhere on the internet, where I’ve converted them and figured out how to generate meshes suitable for printing. I was looking for a project to learn more about creating my own models using Blender, and decided to try recreating my favorite ship, the Constitution class. However, there are many high-quality versions of this ship available, so I decided to focus my efforts on creating parts for this ship, making a 3d toolkit analogous to the 2d part kits long popular in Trek fandom.

Although this kit contains multiple sample ready-to-print ship STL files, it also includes a set of STL part files for both the TOS and Refit versions of the ship. These parts are not meant to be printed by themselves, but instead used to kitbash new ship designs. I’ve also included the Blender source files used to create these parts, as well as Blender files combining these parts used to generate the combined sample ships.

This kit supports the following core starship classes:

Star Trek TOS pilot “The Cage” version of the Constitution class

The primary TOS Constitution class cruiser.

The movie era refit Constitution.

TOS and TMP Saladin class destroyer.

TOS and TMP Ptolemy class tugs and transport containers.

Moncrief class transport

Kitbash Examples

I’ve also included several sample kitbash ships that were quickly thrown together as examples of how to use the parts to make new designs.

Contents of this kit are broken into three zip files:

• ConstitutionV3-ship-stls.zip – Print-ready combined ship STL files.
• ConstitutionV3-parts-stls.zip – Individual STL part files for kitbashing (not meant to be printed by themselves).
• ConstitutionV3-blender-files.zip – The Blender source files used to generate the ship and part STL files.

Since initially publishing this kit, I’ve subsequently released dozens of additional parts kit, intended to be fully compatible with this one. See my Cults3d Profile for a full list.

Project goals

On a personal level my goal was to learn the basics of 3d modelling. The learning curve was high, but I've enjoyed working on this and hope others find the result useful.

On a wider level I hope to provide a set of resources for users (particularly those like me who are starting off with limited 3d modelling experience) to quickly piece together a custom starship suitable for printing, while possibly learning some skills along the way. I also hope that other users will create remixes and new parts that add to the set of ship components available to the wider community. The more people move from being simple consumers of resources on Thingiverse, Cults3d, or other sites, to being contributors, the better for all of us.

This will continue to be a work in progress as I evaluate quality issues and improve the part set. I remain a relative newbie to 3d modelling, so feedback and criticism is welcome.

Notes on scaling and working with Blender

Although aimed primarily at supporting miniature scale, all source files and output STL files are natively designed at 1:1000 scale. Although these files have not been extensively tested through printing, they are intended to be resized to match common modelling and miniatures scales.

See the following list for conversion factors for various common miniature and modeling 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. 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 Constitution class. Exceptions to this are objects, like center nacelles, that don't exist on the Constitution.

Combined ship STLs

These files provide sample ships generated using the parts included in this kit. Aside from the three variants of the Constitution class itself, the Saladin, and the Ptolemy, the other sample ships were thrown together in a few minutes as simple proof of concepts. The Constitution class also has variants with no shield-grids and another with lower detail parts that may be easier to print in some circumstances. Ship files are in ConstitutionV3-ship-stls.zip.

File - Description
ship-TMPv3-akula.stl - A quick kitbash version of the simple two-nacelle ship inspired by the video game Starfleet Command. (TMP version.
ship-TMPv3-constitution-class-no-shield-grids.stl - TMP refit Constitution class with no shield grid but all other details included.
ship-TMPv3-constitution-class.stl - TMP refit Constitution class with “inset” shield grid variant.
ship-TMPv3-little-buddy.stl - Quick kitbash illustrating the smaller TMP part variants.
ship-TMPv3-moncrief-with-container.stl - Moncrief class carrying one Vance style container.
ship-TMPv3-moncrief-with-two-containers.stl - Moncrief class carrying two Vance style container.
ship-TMPv3-moncrief.stl - Moncrief class without a container.
ship-TMPv3-ptolemy-starliner.stl - TMP refit Ptolemy class tug carrying a starliner container.
ship-TMPv3-ptolemy-with-container.stl - TMP refit Ptolemy class tug carrying one basic containers.
ship-TMPv3-ptolemy-with-two-container.stl - TMP refit Ptolemy class tug carrying two basic containers.
ship-TMPv3-ptolemy.stl - TMP refit Ptolemy class tug without any containers.
ship-TMPv3-saladin.stl - TMP refit of the Franz Joseph Saladin class destroyer.
Ship-TOSv2-akula.stl - A quick kitbash version of the simple two-nacelle ship inspired by the video game Starfleet Command. (TOS version)
Ship-TOSv2-constitution-cage-era-low-detail.stl - Original pilot version Constitution class with reduced surface details and some parts optimized for reduced detail printing.
Ship-TOSv2-constitution-cage-era.stl - Original pilot version Constitution class.
Ship-TOSv2-constitution-TOS-era-low-detail.stl - Main TOS series Constitution class with reduced surface details and some parts optimized for reduced detail printing.
Ship-TOSv2-constitution-TOS-era-thick.stl - Main TOS series Constitution class with some sections like the neck and pylon thickened for smaller scale prints.
Ship-TOSv2-constitution-TOS-era.stl - Main TOS series Constitution class.
Ship-TOSv2-little-buddy.stl - Quick kitbash illustrating the smaller TOS part variants.
Ship-TOSv2-saladin-with-sensor-dish.stl - Original TOS version of the Franz Joseph Saladin class destroyer with underslung sensor dish.
Ship-TOSv2-saladin-without-sensor-dish.stl - Original TOS version of the Franz Joseph Saladin class destroyer without the sensor dish.
ship-TOSv2TMPv3-kitbash.stl - A quick kitbash example of using both TMP and TOS parts.
Ship-TOSv3-ptolemy-double-pod.stl - TOS Ptolemy class tug carrying two basic containers. New version with larger pods.
Ship-TOSv3-ptolemy-single-pod.stl - TOS Ptolemy class tug carrying one basic containers. New version with larger pods.
Ship-TOSv3-ptolemy-standalone.stl - TOS Ptolemy class tug without any containers.
Ship-TOSv3-ptolemy-starliner.stl - TOS Ptolemy class tug carrying a starliner container. New version with larger pods.
Ship-TOSv2-ptolemy-double-pod.stl - TOS Ptolemy class tug carrying two basic containers. Old version with smaller pods.
Ship-TOSv2-ptolemy-single-pod.stl - TOS Ptolemy class tug carrying one basic containers. Old version with smaller pods.
Ship-TOSv2-ptolemy-standalone.stl - TOS Ptolemy class tug without any containers. Old version with smaller pods.
Ship-TOSv2-ptolemy-starliner.stl - TOS Ptolemy class tug carrying a starliner container.

Parts

These individual part files are not meant to be printed by themselves. Instead, the intent is for you to combine them in the 3d modelling tool of your choice in order to kitbash new ship designs, which you can then output as a new ship STL file intended for printing.

Some parts will have multiple versions supporting different features and quality levels. All parts files can be downloaded from ConstitutionV3-parts-stls.zip.

Part - Description
TMPv3-bridge.stl - Standalone TMP bridge module.
TMPv3-command-decks.stl - Standalone TMP bridge and top few decks
TMPv3-engineering-hull-low-detail.stl - TMP secondary hull with fewer details and no shield grid.
TMPv3-engineering-hull-shield-grid-inset.stl - TMP secondary hull with the shield grid.
TMPv3-impulse.stl - TMP impulse unit.
TMPv3-lower-sensor-dome.stl - Saucer lower sensor dome
TMPv3-nacelle-center.stl - Center TMP warp nacelle.
TMPv3-nacelle-pylon-base-flair-center.stl - Center “flair” piece at the connection between nacelle pylon and secondary hull.
TMPv3-Nacelle-pylon-base-flair-port.stl - Port “flair” piece at the connection between nacelle pylon and secondary hull.
TMPv3-Nacelle-pylon-base-flair-starboard.stl - Starboard “flair” piece at the connection between nacelle pylon and secondary hull.
TMPv3-nacelle-pylon-interface-center.stl - Small cylinder at connecting between pylon and warp nacelle.
TMPv3-nacelle-pylon-interface-port.stl - Small cylinder at connecting between pylon and warp nacelle.
TMPv3-nacelle-pylon-interface-starboard.stl - Small cylinder at connecting between pylon and warp nacelle.
TMPv3-nacelle-pylon-center.stl - Center TMP nacelle pylon.
TMPv3-nacelle-pylon-port.stl - Port TMP nacelle pylon.
TMPv3-nacelle-pylon-starboard.stl - Starboard TMP nacelle pylon.
TMPv3-nacelle-port.stl - Port TMP warp nacelle.
TMPv3-nacelle-short-center.stl - Short variant center TMP warp nacelle.
TMPv3-nacelle-short-port.stl - Short variant port TMP warp nacelle.
TMPv3-nacelle-short-starboard.stl - Short variant starboard TMP warp nacelle.
TMPv3-nacelle-starboard.stl - Starboard TMP warp nacelle.
TMPv3-neck-low-detail.stl - TMP neck without shield grid.
TMPv3-neck-shield-grid-inset.stl - TMP neck with shield grid.
TMPv3-neck-transport-tug.stl - TMP neck with attached transport container dock.
TMPv3-saucer-deflector.stl - Integrated saucer deflector.
TMPv3-saucer-front-cutout-no-shield-grid.stl - Saucer with front cutout and integrated torpedo module. No shield grid.
TMPv3-saucer-front-cutout-shield-grid-inset.stl - Saucer with front cutout and integrated torpedo module. With shield grid.
TMPv3-saucer-front-rear-cutout-no-shield-grid.stl - Saucer with rear and front cutout and integrated torpedo module. No shield grid.
TMPv3-saucer-front-rear-cutout-shield-grid-inset.stl - Saucer with rear and front cutout and integrated torpedo module. With shield grid.
TMPv3-saucer-medium-low-details.stl - Medium-size TMP saucer with no shield grid and limited other details. Includes bridge and sensor.
TMPv3-saucer-medium-no-shield-grid.stl - Medium-size TMP saucer with no shield grid but all other details. Includes bridge and sensor.
TMPv3-saucer-medium-shield-grid-inset.stl - Medium-size TMP saucer with shield grid. Includes bridge and sensor.
TMPv3-saucer-small-low-detail.stl - Small-size TMP saucer with no shield grid and limited other details. Includes bridge and sensor.
TMPv3-saucer-small-no-shield-grid.stl - Small-size TMP saucer with no shield grid but all other details. Includes bridge and sensor.
TMPv3-saucer-small-shield-grid-inset.stl - Small-size TMP saucer with shield grid. Includes bridge and sensor.
TMPv3-saucer-standard-low-details.stl - Standard large TMP saucer with no shield grid and limited other details.
TMPv3-saucer-standard-no-shield-grid.stl - Standard large TMP saucer with no shield grid but all other details.
TMPv3-saucer-standard-shield-grid-inset.stl - Standard large TMP saucer with shield grid.
TMPv3-torpedo-command-decks.stl - Replacement for bridge and command decks with version integrating torpedo modules.
TMPv3-torpedo-module-saladin-variant.stl - TMP torpedo module meant to work more flexibly with without blending into the engineering hull.
TMPv3-torpedo-module.stl - Standard TMP Constitution torpedo module designed to integrate with the standard neck and secondary hull.
TMPv3-transport-cargo-FJ-style.stl - Basic transport container. (compatible with both versions of the Ptolemy).
TMPv3-transport-cargo-vance-style.stl - Deflector and sensor dish that can be integrated into the TMP saucers.
TMPv3-transport-starliner-FJ-style.stl - TMP version of the Starliner container (compatible with both versions of the Ptolemy and the Montcrief).
TOSv2-bridge.stl - TOS bridge module
TOSv2-cage-version-impulse-engine.stl - Pilot version impulse unit.
TOSv2-cage-version-nacelle-center.stl - Pilot version center warp nacelle.
TOSv2-cage-version-nacelle-port.stl - Pilot version port warp nacelle.
TOSv2-cage-version-nacelle-starboard.stl - Pilot version starboard warp nacelle.
TOSv2-cage-version-saucer-low-detail.stl - Pilot version saucer with reduced details.
TOSv2-cage-version-saucer.stl - Pilot version saucer with full details.
TOSv2-cage-version-sensor-dish.stl - Pilot version sensor dish.
TOSv2-command-decks-plain.stl - Standalone TOS bridge and top few decks, without torpedo tubes.
TOSv2-command-decks-with-torpedo-tubes.stl - Standalone TOS bridge and top few decks, with torpedo tubes.
TOSv2-engineering-hull-low-detail.stl - TOS engineering hull.
TOSv2-engineering-hull.stl - TOS engineering hull with reduced details.
TOSv2-Impulse-engine.stl - TOS impulse unit.
TOSv2-nacelle-center-small.stl - Short variant TOS center nacelle.
TOSv2-nacelle-center.stl - TOS center nacelle.
TOSv2-nacelle-port-small.stl - Short variant TOS port nacelle.
TOSv2-nacelle-port.stl - TOS port nacelle.
TOSv2-nacelle-pylon-center.stl - Center TOS nacelle pylon.
TOSv2-nacelle-pylon-port.stl - Port TOS nacelle pylon.
TOSv2-nacelle-pylon-starboard.stl - Starboard TOS nacelle pylon.
TOSv2-nacelle-starboard-small.stl - Short variant TOS starboard nacelle.
TOSv2-nacelle-starboard.stl - TOS starboard nacelle.
TOSv2-neck.stl - TOS neck.
TOSv2-saucer-low-detail.stl - Standard large TOS saucer with reduced details.
TOSv2-saucer-no-weapons.stl - Standard large TOS saucer with no weapons but all other details.
TOSv2-saucer-small-low-detail.stl - Small TOS saucer with reduced details.
TOSv2-saucer-small-no-weapons.stl - Standard large TOS saucer with weapons and full details.
TOSv2-saucer-small.stl - Small TOS saucer with reduced details.
TOSv2-saucer.stl - Small TOS saucer with full details.
TOSv2-sensor-dish-low-detail.stl - Lower detail TOS sensor dish.
TOSv2-sensor-dish-saucer-mounted.stl - Underslung saucer TOS sensor dish.
TOSv2-sensor-dish.stl - Standard TOS sensor dish.
TOSv3-neck-transport-tug.stl - New TOS neck with Integrated docking port.
TOSv3-transport-container-double.stl - Double-stacked transport container.
TOSv3-transport-container.stl - Basic transport container.
TOSv3-transport-starliner.stl - TOS version of the Starliner container.
TOSv2-neck-transport-tug.stl - Previous version of the neck with integrated dock.
TOSv2-transport-container-double.stl - Older, smaller containers.
TOSv2-transport-container.stl - Older, smaller containers.
TOSv2-transport-starliner.stl - Older, smaller containers.

Blender files

There are two types of Blender source files used to generate the kit. “Source” files contain the original Blender objects that are used to generate individual part STL files. The “Parts” files show are used to arranged these STL part files into ships, which are then output to the Ship STL files. Both types of files are included in the file ConstitutionV3-blender-files.zip.

File - Description
TMPv3-ship-akula-class-parts.blend - Parts file for the TMP Akula class.
TMPv3-ship-contitution-source-parts.blend - Parts file for the TMP Constitution class, and source file for all Constitution parts except nacelles, pylons and saucer.
TMPv3-ship-little-buddy-class-parts.blend - Parts file for the TMP little buddy class.
TMPv3-ship-ptolemy-class-parts.blend - Parts file for the TMP Ptolemy and Moncrief class with transports and their pods.
TMPv3-ship-saladin-class-parts.blend - Parts file for the TMP Saladin class.
TMPv3-Source-Nacelle-Pylon.blend - Blender source file for TMP Nacelle pylons connecting warp nacelle to engineering hull.
TMPv3-Source-Nacelle.blend - Blender source file for the TMP nacelles.
TMPv3-Source-Saucer-Front-cutout-variant.blend - Source file for variant saucer with notch containing torpedo tubes at the front.
TMPv3-Source-Saucer-Front-Rear-cutout-variant.blend - Source file for variant saucer with notch containing torpedo tubes at the front and rear wedge cut as well..
TMPv3-Source-Saucer.blend - Blender source for the TMP saucer and medium/small sized variants.
TOSv2-ship-akula-class.blend - Parts file for the TOS Akula class.
TOSv2-ship-constitution-class-parts.blend - Parts file for the TOS Constitution class.
TOSv2-ship-little-buddy-class-parts.blend - Parts file for the TOS little buddy class.
TOSv3-ship-ptolemy-class-parts.blend - Parts file for the TOS Ptolemy class with containers.
TOSv2-ship-saladin-class-parts.blend - Parts file for the TOS Saladin class.
TOSv2-Source-Nacelle.blend - Blender source file for the TOS nacelles.
TOSv2-Source-Parts.blend - Blender source for all other TOS parts not in other source files.
TOSv2-Source-Saucer.blend - Blender source for the TOS saucer and variants.
TOSv3TMPV2-ship-kitbash.blend - Parts file for the TOS-TMP kitbash example.

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 and distribute your contributions under the same license.