Excelsior Class Side Illustrations

Around 20 years ago, I noticed that there were no decent side views of the Starship Excelsior online in the same style as the ST: Encyclopedia, it really bugged me as comparison images always looked odd with a ship in a different style. So I created a side view for the website Ex Astris Scientia. Over the years my side view has permeated most starship graphics and has become ubiquitous with the Excelsior online.

The drawing however, even though a vector image, was only saved out as a mid res image (super high res for 20 years ago!). With all the reference material that has appeared over the decades, I felt it was appropriate to update my graphic.

Originally built in 1984 as a 7ft model for ST: The Search for Spock, it was later used in ST: The Voyage Home and ST: The Final Frontier for various space dock scenes. In 1987 the model was used in Star Trek: The Next Generation and labeled as USS Hood for the episode Encounter at Farpoint. In 1988 the saucer was relabeled to USS Repulse and more stock shots were taken. These same unedited shots were reused to portray other ships throughout the series.

In 1991, the model was refurbished for use in Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country as the USS Excelsior, it had the bridge dome replaced and the rear hanger area and impulse crystals were updated to be more detailed, it was later altered in 1993 for the premiere of Deep Space Nine (USS Melbourne).

In 1994, the model was overhauled with new additions to portray the USS Enterprise-B. This was done to help make the ship stand out from all the Excelsiors we'd seen before. The rim around the engineering hull had damage added in away so that the core model would not be effected. (A CGI model of the ship was also made). In 1996, the model was relabeled to the USS Lakota and used 1 last time in DS9: Paradise Lost.

in 1997, a new 3ft model was made by Greg Jein, as the 7ft model was deemed to difficult to revert back to represent the USS Excelsior for the Voyager Episode Flashback. The most notable change was that the engines now had a blue glow. This model was later used in Deep Space Nine to portray the USS Malinche and the USS Frederickson, it was then retired as the show lent on CGI models due to all the ship battles. The CGI model was a digitalization of the 3ft model.