"DS9 Tech Manual" Kitbashes
I was quite keen to buy this book when I heard about its release. I was especially keen to find out more about the Defiant. Although the text on DS9 itself is quite good, the starship info is flawed in multiple areas. I would rather not discuss the Defiant section or its deck charts - it is too painful for me. Thankfully a lot of the errors in the DS9TM are corrected in the Starship Spotter, but not all. Rather than dwell on the DS9TM's errors, this page focuses on the starship kitbash designs that are featured in the back of the book. Most of these designs also appeared in various episodes of DS9.
In the past I've complained about how bad this section of the book is but, now that photos of the studio kitbashes have been revealed, things don't seem so bad. Apologies goes out to Doug Drexler for past complaints on his depictions. Still, the listed dimensions are mismatched to the diagrams and are inaccurate anyway.
Intrepid/Constitution-variant
This ship would seem to be a representation of the USS Voyager prototype design that was abandoned but it's actually a kitbash of Intrepid saucer, Miranda nacelles, Danube pylons, and a backwards F14 fighter plane. The finished model was labeled USS Elkins NCC-74121 and may have been utilised in the background of a DS9 episode (possibly "A Time to Stand"), but it's never been identified.
Excelsior-variant
This is a representation of the USS Centaur NCC-42043 that can be seen attacking Sisko's ship in "A Time to Stand". The Centaur has an Excelsior saucer and nacelles but it also has a Miranda rollbar that connects the nacelles to the saucer. It also has a Miranda bridge covering the usual Excelsior bridge.
Excelsior/Constitution-variant
This is a representation of the USS Curry that appears in the opening scene of "A Time to Stand". The depiction in the Manual is inaccurate but it's clearly meant to be the same ship. Actually, the depiction is quite accurate to photos of the presumed studio miniature that's labeled Raging Queen NCC-42284. Maybe there was a second but different model built, or maybe the one model was modified either before or after filming.
Excelsior-variant
This design is yet to be identified in an episode. Photos of the studio kitbash suggest that the DS9TM depiction is upside down.
Constitution-variant
This design is also yet to be identified in an episode, although photos of the model exist.
Intrepid-variant
This is a representation of the USS Yeager NCC-65674. The studio miniature was built as a kitbash from the Monogram Voyager and Maquis ship kits. The ship can be identified near the station in various DS9 episodes.
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