This is the USS Hotspur, named for one of Horatio Hornblower's first commands. She is a post-Star Trek TOS/pre-TMP era vessel. She would be just smaller than the original Constitution class. I incorporated elements into the ship that ''fill the gap'', so to speak, between those lost era days. She has attributes of Kirk's first Enterprise (1701), Enterprise-A (in the squared off nacelle fronts), and some hints of Excelsior as well in overall shape. I also liked the way the nacelles in the ships of Abram's Star Trek movie came to a rounded taper in the rear so I included a bit of that as well.

The model is around 15 inches in length. She is made entirely of wood with saltine box cardboard cut out and painted for greebling. Many of the decals on her were designed by using Powerpoint and printed on regular office paper. They were then cut out and applied with stick glue. It works surprisingly well and cleans up nicely.

I included visible ''lifeboats'' (the orange squares) on the hull of this ship similar to those not seen until TNG ships came along. It never made sense to me as to why earlier era vessels didnt have these. I thought better of it at first but then decided it would give some more detailed highlights and color to the model. I also decided ''what the heck? My universe, my ship!''

Engineering Hull

Front

Left

Left Low

Left

Rear

Right Rear

Saucer

Top