Show and Tell: Daedalus-Class from Pacific 201 

If the original Daedalus ever landed, I'd think it would certainly be head-first in the dirt. Your Daedalus looks great.

Worked in submarines for years so this my give some help into some design aspects. Spherical hulls are stronger because gas wants to form a bubble. Either straining a cylindrical hull as it goes deeper or trying to contain the stresses in a cylinder in a vacuum. Deep diving submarines use "pill" construction where you have smaller, more spherical, inner hulls encased in an outer hull. Think corrugated buildings materials. The spherical primary hull would require less structural reinforcement to maintain integrity, and therefore would be cheaper to build with fewer inherent weaknesses. Just throwing that out there.

I think this is the best rendering of the Daedalus class star ship that I've seen. I've looked at the original type design that ended up not being used in TOS, and I always thought the "neck" was too small and in the wrong place. This fixes that problem, and then some. I find this ship aesthetically pleasing, and better reflects early space exploration ships than the "saucer" ships, in my opinion. I relate this design back to "2001, A Space Odessy" as a natural progression from a non warp design to a warp design.

I think your design is a brilliant reworking of the original design. I'd love to see more reworked ships based on your design style. Like the TOS/NASA feel just sells it to me. Plus, massive respect to you for not being afraid of doing something different, and making it work really well. Great work, my friend

I always hated the Daedalus Class. Your design, though, is damn good. I love everything about it.

I love your re-design. Looks really cool

I'm absolutely amazed by all the work that you've put into these models. I particularly love the realism, there's a whole 2001: A Space Odyssey vibe to them. Best of luck to you on your Pacific project!

Well done sir! You have finally made the daedalus-class look great! Perfection!

I love the look of the sphere/cylinder combo. It just makes sense from a materials pov. Those shapes maximize volume/strength with the least amount of materials. They also look more low tech and "present day".

I love Jeffries Daedalus concept. I built my own model of it years ago. Your take on it is Excellent

Just lowering the primary hull to be more in line with the secondary & adding another 'neck' improves the look of the class immensely. Before it looked like it had the same problem as the Nebulon B - if you sneezed hard enough in the ships general direction, it'd snap in two.

I'm a Daedalus fanboy. I can't wait for Pacific 201. But when that project is over, since the new fan film rules limit how much you can do in one story, would it be legal/possible for you to do a future film centered around this gorgeous ship? :)

This is a good looking star ship . I agree with you 100 % it is a better over all ship. Great work btw

Memory serves, the class was different because the NX class was so expensive. So they went a different approach and cheaper. So they could mass produce during the war. We had no idea how many ships the Romulans had, so we were cranking this out as fast as possible.

Your designs blow me away; they're so well thought out.

Great work on this. The modifications made sense and worked very well aesthetically too, I like the quasi-industrial look of the Pacific 201 style ships.

What a beautiful update to the Daedalus! All that extra detail, the shifting of the forward hull-- she does look great from nearly every angle. Great work!

This is not a criticism. The front section is clearly the Death Star.

Just found your film journey. I can't wait to see it.

This honestly looks better then the original design and I'd be honored to call this ship home. I like the more closer to what we could have feel. These designs seem more possible.

Your revised Daedalus makes me think of a Klingon D7, turned upside down and with the "hat" removed. This is a good thing, since it fits TOS pattern of Klingon ships being inversions of Federation ships. The fact that the Apollo 13 CO2 scrubbers were redundant was a good thing. It was the lack of parts commonality which could've killed the crew. BTW, I really like your Daedalus.

Im really loving watching how much time and effort you put into your models! Really great job!

Very cool, this is a refreshing federation ship design. Something that revolutionized my perspective for ship design was building ships in games like space engineers, being able to walk around and have a feel for every room and letting that design my ship from the inside out

According to the Romulan War novels, the Daedalus class was one of the primary serving vessels in the war, being cheaper and quicker to produce than the NX vessels. Sort of like comparing the NX as a high end Italian sports car while the Daedalus was a Ford pickup. They also got destroyed in large numbers as well though they were likely the most common capital ship Starfleet had at the end of the War and were carried over into post War exploration period which is why they ended up leaving behind problems for future ships in places like Iotia.

These ships are absolutely incredible. As a hobby 3D/plastic modeller, the little details and thought put into the entire design aesthetic is just amazing. If the fan film never came out I would still watch these overview videos. Just mesmerizing. Would you ever consider releasing the 3D models for the purposes of 3D printing?

This is so good. Super believable looking too. To me, it looks like it fits right into the lineage, while still retaining its originality in design. You are good dude.

I like the impulse engines on the warp pylons. It reminds me of Voyager. :) And good call on making the ship look more balanced and sturdy. In one Star Trek book series, the Daedalus-class is used during the Romulan war and looks simplistic because they were mass produced for combat and not made to look pretty. Purely functional ships. For the nacelles, you could always have the protective panels, over the buzzard collectors, retractable, while in use. And when the collectors are not in use, they could detract back and protect the equipment. Just an idea.

What a great looking redesign! I love this!

I love this ship. I can see huge ways this can be used and improved.

1:30 Well, not just that. It also suggests that there was technological refinement between the Daedalus and the Constitution. 10:10 From what I understand the “line of sight” rule was made by Matt Jefferies because it was surmised that space-bending technology would emit hazardous radiation (see Captain Pike) and so you wanted to keep those nacelles as far away removed from the crew as possible. The 29th century Starfleet has clearly solved that problem, but the 22nd century clearly hasn’t. 11:11 I personally prefer the idea that pre-Federation the UESPA started with the Mann-class (with massive heat-sinks attached to its nacelles), which would evolve into the Daedalus-class and then finally the Constitution-class. That way you have more of a lineage.

I really really dig your designs and models. Your practical approach gives fantastic results

As a Starfleet ship junkie, I don't usually like "reimaginings" of established designs. But I have to say this is a terrific improvement on the look.

I agree with you about the aesthetic of the Daedalus class - it works because it's not trying to be sexy. It's the anti-Enterprise-E. It's always looked great to me, and this is the best version of it I've seen. Bravo.

I love this design, but full disclosure, the classic Daedalus is in my top five all-time favorite Starfleet ships. Personally I find the classic version more balanced because I prefer the nacelles to be center mass. Ironically, this new version looks like it will topple forward because of how high the nacelles are. Anytime I see a starship I automatically imagine balancing it vertically by the bussards. I know there is no valid reason for that, but it's just the way I think.

Your model work is so well done. It is amazing that they didn't talk to you to work on Discovery. Yeah, I'm gonna go there. For "older tech" that pre-dated TOS, the Discovery, and Shinzeu (sp?) look newer in some ways than TOS. Your designs look more functional. More alive. More real. The Pacific itself is just beautiful. For forward to future models you make.

The classic daedalus evokes the concept of a higher class that lives and works forward, as far away from the engine as possible for their safety, while steerage is expendable. This modified one makes me think of a crew that works forward and sleeps aft. The entire ship is needed, so it has easy access from fore to aft for work parties to move through.

I don't know how I missed this video, everything you put out is top notch.

I love this version of Daedalus class. I wish there was a series with this ship.

your an absolute beast, I'm currently looking at all your designs this is the third one and its all gold, you need to be the new quality control for all things trek, keep up the good work

I like this it feels like a grounded technology from sometime both in a possible future, and in transition to star trek.

Congratulations! That is the 1st sensibly built star trek design I've seen. I love the fact that the deflector Shield is on the very front. It never made sense that it came from the secondary hull on the Enterprise. And since this era of Star Trek would be more shuttlecraft oriented as opposed to transporters, the secondary hull makes sense as a hanger/cargo area. As this area of the ship would be the most prone to having accidents happen, It makes sense that it is separated from the main hull. And of course I totally love the 2001 discovery vibe. Fantastic job.

I think if I were to live on any starfleet ship, it'd be the Daedalus class. Something about living in a sphere just seems so cozy and homely.

The aesthetics of the ships are absolutely beautiful. More realistic (to me anyway) then any starship post Phoenix. I would love to see more ships like this

Best one yet. Deflector array for the win. And just not awkward.

VERY cool looking. LOVE to the Daedalus class. I always liked the spherical primary hull look better than the saucer shaped primary hull. This ship looks like it really means business viewed from the bow on. It looks more "muscular" viewed bow on to me.

I enjoy all of EC Henry videos

I really like your interpretation of the Daedalus Class. Nicely done.

Love the in universe thinking behind everything.

I love this update. Well done! 🖖

looks really nice. I always presumed that Daedalus class being used as medical ship. Ship design can't be mistaken with any other Starfleet vessel so it serves like a clear designation. Similar to medical navy ships that are all white with red Cross.

I think this is what a "Flight II" of this class would look like, more or less. Certainly they would lower the sphere section down like that, and probably add that second connecting segment also. The equipment hatches externally on the hull remind me of the Lt. Leary universe, where ship crews keep parts and tools which don't need specific atmospheric conditions in stowage lockers mounted in the hull, immediately accessible to EVA work details. That always made sense to me, and it makes sense here also. I don't care how futuristic your space ship is, you WILL routinely have to send work crew out to do things in vacuum on the hull, and it makes sense they not have to haul everything in and out of the airlocks all of the time.

Fascinating! Well done!

I could imagine a saucer section and neck connected to that hull it's honestly my favorite part

Really well done. Keep 'em coming.

Functional can still look cool. From a physics stand point this design works better than the original. This looks cool. Looks like a good multirole/science ship. As a physicist I give it high marks.

Your Deadalus brings to mind the Discovery from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Very cool.

I see the discovery one in that neck! It's beutiful, seriously I love your version of this ship

I like the torpedo bays where they are. It kind of pays homage to the Franz Joseph designs where the torpedo launchers were in the superstructure just beneath the bridge as well. You are a master of design!

The idea of a Federation version of the Discovery One from 2001: A Space Odyssey is just so cool to me.

Personally I think that given the Daedalus class was made during the romulan war, and it's super simple and compact design. I feel it was starfleet's (at the time United earth) attempt at getting a lot of ships out quickly. But I could definitely see them being used to test ships systems after the war.

Happy to see other production footage from the movie. I am guessing this movie is progressing well.

this is excellent! like you said, totally saves the design!

I love this design!

This is just beautiful. Great design! I hope the next big Hollywood space navy story has a diverse fleet represented: Navies have old, new, big, little, etc. During Kirk's TOS days, we should've seen a few Daedalus type ships around, either littoral duties, or smaller fleet's space warships. Same with the Constitution during TNG times. But Hollywood budgets sometimes don't allow for lots of variety. Your design helps fill in the missing history of this classic pre-Kirk design.

great ship! your work is superb as always.

I really like this. Well done!

I would totally want to pay for a model, even a 3D printed miniature, of any of the ships from this project. Now THAT would be a cool model to keep on my desk or fumble around with. The Daedalus Class has always been one of my favorite designs, and this redesign, I think, just looks great.

I thought I liked the daedalus class before, but you make it look practical and better.

Brilliantly designed. A small yet practically looking ship, I'd love to see this in action, so to speak, in a TV series sort of way. Small and cramped but charmingly clunky.

Pitch perfect Daedalus interpretation Hits all the right pre Tos, post nx01 notes. One comment re impulse fusion reactors. Per the Tng tech manual, antimatter can be made by the fusion reactors (in additionto stored reserves), with the Bussards collecting deuterium matter as they go. So eliminating the impulse fusion reactors makes you 100% dependent on periodic refueling to top up antimatter

Also a practical consideration for a small, tiny bridge is that if someone should get injured and fall from their chair, they'd be blocking anyone from moving around them or for any doctor/nurse from applying any medical help. Having a tiny space to work in makes human traffic difficult and would not allow for someone to take over an injured crewmember's station.

Is that ship the warp drive version of the Discovery in 2001: A space Odyssey?

Love the design, it should have it own show.

Loving your work sir

Your concepts are awesome

Great take on the Daedalus class.

I never liked the aesthetics of the deadalus and could never understnad what people saw in that ship. However, your interpretation looks so much better.

IMO this is the best version of the Daedalus Class I've seen, and has basically replaced the "official" version in my mind. You turned the stupidest-looking starfleet ship into something really plausible and awesome looking!

This is an awesome design. I really like the "real" feeling, with the equipment visible and based on realistic designs. Concerning the torpedoes: well it is totally clear why they are not near the equator. The deflector would interfere with the targeting system... :P

This design is actually very good. I like the realism.

I must have watched this video a dozen times by now. I hope to see another episode (or Trekyards?) with the fully textured model.

The cylindrical shapes always give me that Skylab, feel.

Love your thinking on bussard collectors. Heard you mention it once on Trekyards as well and I clapped. I've never been a huge fan of bussard collectors on starfleet ships in general, just because it's impossible to imagine these little things actually collecting enough interstellar gas (avg of 1 hydrogen atom per cubic cm) to be useful (okay maybe they actually reach out far & wide with an EM field or something), but visually the ones from TNG-on look especially like "we need a big red glowy thing that looks 'futuristic' because it is big and red and glowy." I loved it when it went away on the Constitution Refit.

Love your version!

The Intrepid class and her derivatives have the main impulse engines powered directly by the warp core but have backup fusion reactors. They also don't have to rely on the subspace coils in the engine to reverse thrust as they have forward facing exhaust. Odds are if a Star Fleet vessel has impulse on the pylons, it is tapping the warp plasma for primary propulsion.

The spherical forward hull just scream “give me a composite phaser weapon in my dish”.

This video was a pleasure to watch, sir. Awesome work. One subscriber more. I hope one day ships like this will be build.

Amazing ship!!!

Damn, I didn’t think it was possible to make this ship look decent… YOU ACTUALLY DID IT!!

I was thinking, if you move the drop hatch to the rear end, it would be closer to the shuttle bay, and would make the Pacific's shuttle bay an evolution of the design. The reason for the offset main and engineering hull is so that the deflector was fitted in the front of the engineering hull. Also in the book "The lives of Dax" there is reference to explosive bolts in the neck corridor to separate the ship - an early idea to the Constitution class. So in a way, this ship does provide the leap frog from NX class to Constitution class more than it first leads on. Of course there was no NX class when this ship was first designed, so it was easier to see the progression to the Constitution class, but then we didn't really know what proceeded it.

I love this version.

Your design is so impressive! I guess you're probably right about the torpedo tubes, otherwise, super=duper!

I would like to comment on some things you said. There were some very good reasons ships look like they do. It was very well thought out. For instance it was designed to look good just as you would design a home to look good. That far into the future they would have shed the need to design a ship with odd shapes just to hide conduits or other mechanical bits. That's why there are no Star Wars style pipes and other "practical" shapes on the exterior of the ships. The ships were light colored because they were science vessels and not war ships. There is also a reason they have the cutout under the secondary hull. In fact the Enterprise and other Starfleet ships were a mashup of past, present and future ships of exploration. For instance, the secondary hull looks like an old sailing vessel of the 1700's. The shuttle bay would be where the Captains quarters would be. The cutout under the shuttle bay is where the rutter would be. The nacelles looked like two Gemini rockets of the 1960's. That was their incorporation of the present. The saucer section was what science fiction of the time thought a future spaceship would be. The Day the Earth Stood Still and Forbidden Planet are examples. I find a lot of this history is lost on present day ship design in movies. But thank you for sticking to "Roddenberry Rules" of starship design. The Nacelles have 50% or more line of site to each other. The Enterprise is beautiful today because they wanted to show how beautiful the future can be.

Your take on the Daedalus is cool.

Your designs are amazing! I subscribed!

Nice work. I like this design as it solves the problems I had with the original rejected design. I've never lived the orange or red engine caps of the Star Trek universe. So you're shielded intakes work for me.

Its great. And it serves its purpose well, as a sphere is more durable than a saucer, at the minimal cost of ships shadow when battling. Its weakpoints are also reinforced. Overall i like it, as its simple, having the nice borg touch while still looking classic Great work, keep it up :D

I'd love to see this much love for the Olympic

Love it. Thank you!

This ship is really awesome looking. I like the awkward one too.