Klingon K'Tinga Class - The Warp Nacelles

Unfortunately, only one Warp nacelle was designed for the kit and the other mirrored. However, there are significant differences in the design of both nacelles.

top: inside right

below: outside left

top: outside right

below: inside left

The rods are included in the kit, but I sanded them down and replaced them, otherwise the gaps would have been filled. Given the size of the model, I didn't find it adequate.

Klingon K'Tinga Class - The Hangar Deck

The deficit of the kit became clear with the hangar deck. Based on my details, which correspond to the studio model of the K'Tinga class, you can clearly see the symmetrical design of the parts.

One side of the hangar deck was designed for the kit and the other was only mirrored. But that's not something you can't replace as a ambitious model maker.

Klingon K'Tinga Class - The Impulse Engine

To detail the impulse engine of the K'Tinga class was not very complex. Only a few parts were missing here.

I could only find this one photo that shows what the area above the engines looks like.

K'Tinga-class Studio Model (reference photo by John Eaves)

Klingon K'Tinga Class - The Main Body

Only small details need to be added to the front of the main body. This includes an area exactly in the lower center and the removal of the small "pyramid" on the right side.

On the top I added small details in front of the Disruptor towers. I also added small plates that are asymmetrically placed on both sides. This is a small deficit of this model kit. All parts that appear on both sides are mirror-symmetrical. Regardless of the differently worked parts of the studio model.

While studying the reference photos of the original model, I noticed that the angle of the "radiator grill" needs to be changed (white marking).

 I also added small details at the lower front corners.

Klingon K'Tinga Class - The Antenna

The supplied antenna at the bottom of the neck to the main body was too roughly designed for me. I built them from the reference photos.

For the correct distance, the antenna sits on two small plastic pieces. The gluing points for these spacers can even be found in the photos of the studio model.

At the bottom there were cavities that I filled with model filler.

Klingon K'Tinga Class - The Neck

After the details of the head section were finished, I took a closer look at the neck.

The small plate on the bottom can only be seen in The Motion Picture. During the later upgrade to the Qo'noS One, it probably fell off and was no longer replaced.

The narrow rods at the top of the neck section are no longer in place on the Qo'noS One. For the K'Tinga I added it with spring steel wire.

At the rear neck (to the main body) was missing a wide strip on either side. I added it with plastic.

I have also adjusted the two small detail areas to the studio model. The now white parts were previously whole blocks. Now, like the original, there is a gap so that you can see inside.

Klingon K'Tinga Class - The Head

The K'Tinga-class battle cruiser was a primary class of warship in service with the Klingon Imperial Fleet in the late 23rd century and with the Klingon Defense Force in the mid-to-late 24th century (Qo'noS One-configuration).

The design of the Klingon K'Tinga-class, premiering in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, was based on the D7-class, created by Matt Jefferies for Star Trek: The Original Series, which was itself based on the manta ray in both shape and color.

design sketch by Matt Jefferies

I bought a while ago the Klingon K'Tinga class plastic model kit in 1/350. It's a very accurate and large kit - the whole ship is 61cm long when assembled.
Almost all surface details of the studio model are implemented on the miniature.

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In order to make the spaceship as accurate as possible, I have collected some reference pictures of the studio model.
K'Tinga Class Studio Model - reference photos - part 1
K'Tinga Class Studio Model - reference photos - part 2

The photos of the Qo'noS One helped me in particular to detail the head.
Qo'noS One - K'Tinga Class Studio Model - reference photos

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Basically, it is just a few small details that are missing from the model.

But some are so distinctive that they shouldn't be missing. 

I replaced the rod with one made of spring steel wire.

That the two plates on the underside of the head are missing is quite striking. However, on the K'Tinga class they have the same color as the hull. Therefore, the makers probably didn't notice it. On the Qo'noS One they have a different color.

Unfortunately, the details on the corrugated strip from the bulb to the head were also missing. However, this is difficult to see on the reference photos. The pictures of the Qo'noS One helped me a lot.

K'Tinga Class Studio Model - reference photos - part 2

The picture with Andrew Probert and the picture with Suzana Swansea show the model in the earliest condition I know. It can be seen well on the still existing Disruptor towers at the front edges of the underside of the main body. In the final version these are replaced by more complex illuminated parts.

From these photos you can also close well on the color scheme: The keynote of the green are gradations of Gunship Green. The keynote of the grey are gradations of Dark Seagreen with a touch of Gunship Green.

Here you get to the COLOR CORRECTED PHOTOS.

K'Tinga Class Studio Model - reference photos - part 1

As a better reference for the painting of the Klingon K'Tinga class model in 1/350 I color corrected the photos from Michael Middleton. The Production Designer, John Eaves, shared high res versions of these images. This is the K’Tinga configuration in a prefinished production phase for Star Trek The Motion Picture. All the "old" photos had the same color temperature problem. Therefore, I have made the color correction.

Here you get to the COLOR CORRECTED PHOTOS.

Is a Klingon K'Tinga Class 214m long?

The official size of a Klingon K'Tinga Class is 214m. The length of this ship was determinated for the first Star Trek movie "The Motion Picture" in accordance with the bridge set.

 

design scetch and bridge layout by Andrew Probert (memory-alpha.org)

 

To calculate the size of the bridge I used the original blueprints and based my calculations on the diameter of the opening for the elevator. This opening measures 2.64m (8'-8").

 

 

• The premise for all my deck calculations: a deck is 2.5m + 0.5m for EPS cables, power cables, ... = 3m height for a deck.
• My calculations follow a purely mathematical approach. I do not compare bridge modules or disk heights with each other. I always pull in decks based on the rows of windows and then calculate a physically plausible room height.

So we got this result for the decks in this ship:

 

schematic by Strategic Design

design problems:

1. The bridge blueprint above doesn't match with the size of the structures. The bridge would then be a bit too long and the round area where the elevator is located wouldn't fit into the tower structure. The size of the bridge leaves no room for an outer shell (wall thickness).
2. A Klingon who is at the top of the tower can't look out the windows because these windows are at the level of the abdominal muscles. 
3. We have on deck 4 two rows of windows but only one deck.
4. The second row of windows on deck 4 are in height of the feet. 
5. The row of windows on deck 7 are also in height of the feet.
   
6. The lounge at the end of the "neck part" is cut by decks 5 and 6 because it lies exactly halfway.
7. The "neck-head contact point" would only be 1.5 decks high. This seems very unstable and like a built-in vulnerable weak point.

 

screenshot by trekcore.com (Star Trek I)

We wouldn't have this problems if we use a length of 349.54m. 

All windows are always correctly positioned at this size. The lounge at the end of the "neck part" has a plausible position.

 

schematic by Strategic Design

 

In Star Trek VI "The Undiscovered Country" the Qo'noS One looks bigger than 214m. The Enterprise-A is 305m long and flies in the background. The vessels fly at the same angle. As Chekov says in the scene before the Enterprise is very near of Qo'noS One.

 

screenshot by trekcore.com (Star Trek VI)

 

 

Even in Deep Space Nine the K'Tinga classes are not shown only 214m. Then they would only be as long as a Vor'cHa class warp nacelle. In "The Way of the Warrior" they fly in the background and are significantly longer than a warp nacelle. And in "Call to Arms" you can also see them in the background and between other Starfleet ships.

 

screenshot by trekcore.com
(DS9: "The Way of the Warrior")

 

screenshot by trekcore.com
(DS9: "Call to Arms")