Two Birds with One Review: The Official Starships Collection Issues 66 and 67

After last month's so-so entries, I was hoping that mid-February would bring two ships that would restore the balance of brilliance.

Opening up the bid is the USS Raven featured in Voyager's The Raven as a crumpled derelict and later in the feature-length Dark Frontier during a series of flashbacks to the Hansen family's illl-fated Borg research mission.

During my recent guest spot on IrishTrekkie's channel, I casually mentioned that the Raven was little more than three oblongs stuck together. I admit that was a bit tongue in cheek as the finished model is much more than a series of joined regular shapes.

On first impression it does look pretty blocky but you can immediately recognise the familiar Runabout lines that partly inspired the design for the compact science vessel. Aside from a few darker highlights the whole hull is decked out in a light grey, differentiating her immediately with "pure" Starfleet vessels. She's not that "streamlined" either  with a very angular shape to the overall structure. The panel lines are very clear and while there's not a ton of intricate shapes and colouring, the mechanics of the hull are well-formed and outlined. Another plus here is that the central horizontal join lines between the metal upper and plastic lower sections are a very tight fit and perfectly aligned. Saying that the nose of my Raven does creak a little bit but it's not a dealbreaker like those wonky nacelles last month.

Given that she's just four decks high we get a good level of accuracy in the detail of the  Raven with windows precisely located and the decalling of the hull spot on. There really isn't a lot of decalling here aside from the sides of the command section and the top of the nacelles, both of which carry the registry number. In the case of the command section it also has the SS Raven moniker just behind the entry door however the hull contours do distort it a bit so mine reads as the SS Raen. After the bendy Phoenix it's also nice to have straight warp nacelles which is a direct benefit of having metal struts off the main hull. 

As for the warp nacelles, they bring a spot of colour to the greys of the main hull (and there's a lot of grey). On the pylons we have highlighted red impulse exhaust vents with translucent blue plasma coils but not translucent red bussard collectors (sad face) on the engines. The construction of the two engines are rock solid and - noticably, we have red tracer lights on the bottom of the port nacelle and green on the starboard one - not that you'll have two the same!

The underside is also damn well finished with panel lines but instead of the shades of grey we get on the upper surfaces there is a toned brown marking out a few vents and what I assume are cargo bay doors at the centre of the rear module.

Stand attachment is good and solid too for the Raven, fitting firmly around the warp engine struts to provide a "flying" effect thanks to the rear-end grip and makes this a very presentable little package. She's also exceptionally light so there's no stress on the stand at any point. I was actually surprised at just how "weightless" she was!

OK, the Raven isn't going to win any awards for looks here but it's great to get a good up close look at one of the key ships from Voyager and a really unique Federation design. Whether you call her USS or SS makes no bones with me but could we have had consistency across the whole mag/model? I know these are screen accurate but could that have been done?

Aside from that one insignificant niggle, I really do like this model. Simple, accurate and very well presented. The magazine (issue 66) recounts the flashback sequences of Dark Frontier, the recollections of The Gift and The Raven perfectly and in a clear linear fashion that we might not have appreciated from the sequence of the episodes from Voyager's fourth and fifth seasons.

The ship views do carry some weathering that's not evident on the model but pound for pound the images and the craft are damn near identical. The pics do indicate a teeny bit more definition on some of the hull mechanics but I can live with that given the size and cost to produce the miniatures.

Rick Sternbach's recollections on the design and creation of, initially, the wrecked Raven for The Raven and the later shrinking and "rebuilding" of the ship for the unexpected appearance in Dark Frontier is a fascinating read as all of the concept stuff is within the collection's magazines. (Note that the ship's plaque is nice and ambiguous with the wording of THE Raven rather than SS or USS).

It is confined to just a double-page spread as we have six devoted to the making of the double-length Dark Frontier. I remember getting this on limited edition, numbered VHS back in the day (card box not plastic so no expense spared) and within these pages the behind the scenes info is documented monumentally better than the sub-standard Voyager Companion. For Voyager fans the magazines in that respect are worth their weight in gold and here we actually have details from people who were there and were involved with the frantic workings of this story.

It's a good all round package for the Raven and not a ship I was super-excited for when I found out she was coming. Now I can say that she's more than three oblongs and a return to quality after last month's slight dip. I'm sure some fans will find points to grumble over but in the case of the Raven it's a firm entry into the collection that will sit nicely alongside your Orinoco Runabout or alongside that light-up Borg cube.

Let's now flashback to the 1960's and smooth out those panel lines but keep those grey tones as we welcome along the Klingon D7 Battle Cruiser.

Way back in issue seven we had the K'T'inga Class cruiser from the movies and the later series but, as we did with the Romulans, we've headed back to their origins here and the classic design.

If you're a fan of your panelling you'll be very disappointed as the whole hull is plain, simple and grey with only a few Klingon markings on the pylons and one on the port wing to break up the otherwise unmarked surface. While the magazine cover does have some surface detail and the absence of even windows on the finished model is very obvious. For those fans who recall that this collection is supposed to be screen accurate, the missing windows from the leading edge of the command module and the "ball" section of that same section will grind; a lot. 

I can appreciate that this has to be smooth-finished to reflect the original TV prop but this one does seem overly simplified and the added highlights of the impulse engine and the radiator gridding on the upper module seen in the magazine just emphasise that even more. She is a beauty and her precise lines are stunningly realised but you do look at her and think that something is missing - and it gets annoying the more you stare. It's as though the D7 isn't quite finished if you will (and as we've noted, she actually isn't). Additionally the leading edges of the wings on mine are a bit jagged - not hugely but enough that I caught my finger a couple of times on the less than die-straight surface.

Structurally the main body (except the central, lower section) is formed in metal with the neck and command module and the two nacelles made from plastic. The warp engines have very little raised detail on their surface, the shuttle/hangar unit is also smooth and featureless while the underside of the ship proper has absolutely zero detail - and I'm not exaggerating. There's nothing. Only on the underbelly of the command module do you have the dip to indicate the torpedo launcher but it really is one of the most minimalist ships to have made the list.

As with the Raven the stand is rear-clipped around the hangar pod and therefore to the heavier section of the craft, allowing her to be displayed in the "flying" position - and she looks all the better for it.

I still prefer the basic D7 to the stubby little Antares we received recently but for The Original Series the highlight is still the magnificent Bird-of-Prey without question. Standing her next to the highly detailed Raven from the previous issue the transition of design over 30 years is dramatically evident in just about every way and that's one of the wonderful points of this series. You get to see the development, the changes and the different visions as technology evolves and is capable of producing more intricate designs.

Klingon fans will have to have this one because it's iconic and the first in the line. The D7 is a piece of Star Trek history and however plain she may be it's still a cracking vessel to have in your line up. For all my cynicism over the finish, it represents the time, the imminent demise of the series and a prop constructed on a budget so tight that a model company had to pay for all the leg work.

As for the paperwork, issue 67 offers a brief tour through the appearance of the D7 in both the original and remastered versions of Star Trek, namely the episodes Errand of Mercy, The Trouble with Tribbles, Elaan of Troyius, The Day of the Dove and The Enterprise Incident where it featured in its Romulan guise. The magazine nicely points out some of the window and venting detail that's omitted from the model on the cover as well as copiously inside so you'll be referring to the miniature fairly often as you spot another bit that's not there.

The inclusion of Matt Jefferies' design story here is mandatory and leaving that out would have been darn near criminal if you ask me. His sketches are wonderful to examine and trace the origins of the cruiser and Eaglemoss are gracious enough to provide four full pages of text and pictures to narrate the process. It's followed up with an unexpected four page divergence into the real world origins of the Klingon language from its original gutturals spoken in the first few minutes of The Motion Picture to its evolution at the hands of Mark Okrand and through the later Star Trek series and the Klingon Language Institute. While not specifically focused on the ships it maintains the Klingon balance of the issue and is a nice "have" within the series. You have to wonder what other little asides will find their way into these publications as we get nearer to the 110 we have been told will happen (and what about beyond that?!).

So to conclude for February's releases, a good injection of improvement here for me over January's two entries to the series. Both the Raven and the D7 look great, feel great and tick all the right boxes even if there are a few bits which make you wince a bit. Something about these two more simplistic realisations has worked for me. The chunkiness of the Raven is very unusual for a Federation ship especially when you look to things like the Sovereign Class or even Voyager. As for the Klingon D7, she may not be totally what you might want but she's still a cut above a lot of other ships we've had. Am I a bit disappointed with her? Yes, a little but it's only because of those windows.

March will bring issues 68 and 69 with the Federation Attack Fighter and what has seen to be a garishly coloured Breen warship, both of which have featured in Deep Space Nine.

For note you can now also get your hands on the dedication plaques for the USS Enterprise NCC-1701, USS Voyager and USS Defiant from the Eaglemoss shop online.

How does the D7 fair for you? Is the Raven more than a chunky set of blocks?!

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Sorry Ensign, Your First Assignment is...

The other week I talked about which ships in the history of Star Trek were the finest created, crewed and flown. All well and good, but as a newly commissioned officer would there be a ship or class you just wouldn't want to get sent to?

USS Saratoga

Unfortunately there appear to be a couple of very strong candidates for the title of "Starship I Would Not Want to Be Aboard" (long but adequate). 

First up - the Miranda Class. First seen in The Wrath of Khan initially commanded by Captain Terrell before being commandeered by a certain Khan Noonien Singh so that he could have a spot of vengeance on Admiral James T Kirk. Pretty much one of the legendary ships of the franchise because of the film, why does it get the first entry here?

Well, let's look at the facts - you're sending out survey ships to unexplored regions of space and what do you send? lightly armed science vessels especially here in relation to a top secret project! Absolute genius. While it might reinforce the Federation's desire to expand its scientific and exploratory missions through less "threatening" craft than the "battle cruiser" style of the Constitution Class (so described in The Search for Spock by the Klingons). It does stand up well in battle against the larger Enterprise but eventually it does end up blasted apart and its molecules included in the formation of the Genesis Planet.

USS Lantree

Also it's a horrible design with all the essential systems on show all over the place - warp reactor is out at the back seemingly undefended and there's that huge shopping trolley handle replete with photon torpedo launcher sitting proud of the hull. I would suspect a terrible ship to wage a firefight from as defensibly it would be a nightmare. But that's not the end of it. The Miranda Class itself seems to be dogged with tragically bad luck. Take in point the USS Lantree, USS Brattain and the USS Saratoga.

OK, so this indicates that there are a lot of these in service especially in The Next Generation universe and therefore must have been reliable, they tend to pop up in the worst situations.  The Lantree was blown up following an outbreak of an aging disease in Unnatural Selection and the Brattain's crew all go insane when trapped in the Tyken's Rift featured in Night Terrors. Whatever way you dress them up, things just seem to happen to the Miranda Class. Even worse, if it's called the Saratoga I would suggest staying well away. Not only was it disabled by an alien probe in The Voyage Home but Ben Sisko lost his wife on a newer version of the same ship at the battle of Wolf 359 as seen in Emissary. 

USS Majestic

Numerous ships of this class are seen in the battle sequences throughout the latter seasons of Deep Space Nine and their size would no doubt be an advantage against the larger Dominion vessels. As we can also see through their various appearances there are many changes to the basic structure showing them as fairly adaptable - alteration/removal of the rollbar, addition of sensor pods and even substantial changes which led to a new class as seen as the USS Bozeman and the Soyuz Class. Still, it's original formation and purpose don't help its case as a ship to avoid. and some exterior changes as well as the internal differences that would occur during each ship's lifetime wouldn't make me want to take the chance of being posted to one of them. 

This also makes me think that Starfleet should consider sending more heavily armed ships into such previously unexplored reaches or use more suitable vessels for experimental missions - or you could ignore all of that and send one of the Oberth Class.

USS Grissom

What Starfleet was thinking when they allowed this design into service is beyond comprehension. Now I don't have beef with the concept here. Science vessels would be essential to the whole seeking out new life and new civilisations goal of the Federation although they don't seem to be expected to have to look after themselves. At first glance it's a small, sleek science vessel useful for pottering about the universe but it's got to the dogged with the worst luck and design ever. 

Surely it could've done with some better shields, some more weapons and half a chance? Then there's the design. For starters, how do you get from the primary hull to the secondary hull apart from using the transporter or climbing down ladders in the warp nacelle pylons? Granted it's not very big, it would still give you a good workout a few times a day. 

USS Tsiolkovsky

These are great little ships but in uncharted territory you'd be absolutely stuffed and not stand a chance - case in point being The Search for Spock (above). I'm still not convinced of the logic of sending a tiny little science vessel to the most publicised and quarantined planet in the galaxy.

Nor are they suitable or powerful enough to go up against the Borg but still Starfleet managed to get at least one as part of the 40 ship armada at Wolf 359 as featured in Emissary.Of course it looks good that you're not going in heavily armed but these guys really are cannon fodder when it comes to facing an unstoppable cube.

But that's not what makes them a risk on your life insurance. As with the Miranda Class they made it into the 24th Century however even from the start of The Next Generation they're in trouble. The Tsiolkovsky gets the blunt end of an asteroid in The Naked Now after the crew of the Enterprise contract the Psi 200 virus from the ship. Surely these craft would be outfitted with more specialist science equipment than a Galaxy Class just in case something gets brought on board? 

SS Vico

The SS Vico and the USS Yosemite also encountered some seriously bad luck as featured in Hero Worship and Realm of Fear respectively. Both ended up adrift following mysterious circumstances. If I was on the Enterprise by this point you'd be concerned if one turned up as to what might happen. In fact surely when Admiral Pressman comes on board in The Pegasus, Picard's first question should have been "What class of ship are we dealing with here?" which would have promptly been followed either by a facepalm of galactic proportions or an about turn and back to base. It does go to show that these ships were seen as something of a test bed, probably due to their original scientific purpose.

USS Cochrane approaches DS9

There is however one redeeming gem of the Oberth Class - make sure you got posted to the USS Cochrane. While every Miranda Class ship we meet ends up worse off, the Cochrane gets four mentions at various points in The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine with two of those being physical onscreen appearances. That's good going but proves the exception to the rule!

So the lesson is pretty much reinforced - and science vessels in general aren't a good thing to be on in the Star Trek universe full stop. For further examples I would direct you towards (firstly) Voyager and the USS Raven that carried the Hansen family into the clutches of the Borg. Probably a good thing to get into command, engineering or security if you ask me and avoid the lure of a career in the sciences. Have I even managed to squeeze in a mention that families were also included on missions on all three of these classes of ship at some point  (Timothy in Hero Worship) and had them on board during the Borg attack at Wolf 359 (Jake Sisko)?

While we can say that the reason these ships show up so often is for budgetary reasons and the ease of reusing miniatures, I'm hoping that you can see my point here! After a while surely someone would comment about their safety record?!

So would you say that these are the two most fated classes of ship in Star Trek or are there some that have an even worse story to tell? Is it the Raven or something else?