The size of the Nova class

The Nova class was a type of Federation starship designed for short-term planetary research missions. It was placed in service starting in the late 24th century.

To calculate the size I first had a look at the MSD (Master Situation Display).

Nova class side view by Starship Collection

According to this MSD the ship has 8 decks and a intermediate deck on the edge of the saucer section. There are 4 decks - the intermediate deck - and another 4 decks.

• 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.

The height of the decks on the MSD is different (which isn't plausible). Therefore, the MSD doesn't quite fit the external appearance of the spaceship. But if you give the intermediate deck a little more space (normal deck high), it fits better with the rows of windows.

schematic by Starship Collection

With a deck height of 3m, this results in a total length of 172m for the Nova class.

The Nova class variant (USS Rhode Island under command of Captain Harry Kim) is a litte bit longer because of the different Deflector area at the front.

schematic by Starship Collection

With a deck height of 3m, this results in a total length of 175.2m.

Design problems:

• As with other Starfleet ships, there is a difference in height at the shuttle bay. I solved this with a half deck, also to be able to correctly include the construction of the rear observation lounge as a deck.
• With the original MSD, it seems not plausible why there is an intermediate deck after 4 decks that is extremely flat.
• Rick Sternbach on the planned size: "I drew the blueprints at 1"=30', and the ship is 24.25" long, so the real thing would be 727.5 feet or 221.74 meters". [drexfiles.wordpress.com] -> A length of 225m can only be achieved if a deck height of 4 m is assumed.

Nova Class - USS Equinox - The Decals

I bought JT-Graphics Decals for the Nova class. These are not for beginners! They are very thin and can tear quickly if you are not experienced enough to apply decals.

When I had already applied some of the decals for the Nova class, I noticed that the decals for the sensor arrangement behind the bridge do not fit into the recess. So I filled it up.

First I always apply a thin layer of matt varnish and then I put the wet decal on it. Then I slide the decal into its final position and pat everything dry. After drying, I apply a thin layer of matt varnish over the decals. This seals everything and protects the decals from UV radiation (fading and yellowing).

Nova Class - USS Equinox - The Aero Shuttle

The Aero Shuttle of the USS Equinox is not correct on the model kit. That's why I built the second layer with plastic.

The Aero Shuttle is sprayed in Vallejo Aero Color: Dark Grey Blue 71054 (30%) + Dark Aluminium 77703 (70%).

Nova Class - USS Equinox - Coloration Part 2

The Illusion of Illumination

Because the USS Equinox of Starcraft is a solid resin model, I wanted to give her the appearance of lighting. All lighting is sprayed with airbrush technique.

• Bussard Collectors of the Warp nacelles:
  Vallejo Model Air Scarlet Red 71003 (50%) + Yellow 71002 (50%)
  followed by White 71001 (30%) + MIG Matt Varnish 089
• the Warp Field Grid and Deflector:
  White 71001 (80%) + Blue 71004 (20%)

The Deflector Dish is hand painted with Vallejo Model Color Leather Brown 70871 and Red Leather 70818.

For the illumination of the vessel name and registration number I have made a mask in an acute-angled triangular shape. It was important to put the mask not directly on the ship. To hold the mask slightly above the model (during spraying) gives the lighting effect blurred edges.
Sprayed in Vallejo White 71001 (20%) + MIG Matt Varnish 089 (80%).

Nova Class - USS Equinox - Coloration Part 1

The hull color of USS Equinox is a "middle grey" with a touch of brown.

 

screenshots by trekcore.com
(VOY - "Equinox I")

 

 

 

 

For this base color I used Vallejo Model Air:

Barley Grey 71051 (60%) + USAF Light Grey 71121 (30%) + Middle Stone 71031 (10%).

On this color I first airbrushed speckles in Barley Grey 71051 and than in USAF Light Grey 71121 with this airbrush effect because the USS Voyager has a similar effect. The CGI model of the USS Equinox has only one base color.

Now it was time for the hand painted parts.

The dark grey areas are a mix of Vallejo Model color: German Grey 70995 (25%) + USA Olive Drab 70889 (25%) + Glaze Medium (50%). The lighter grey parts are Neutral Grey 70992.
The Plasma injector grid behind the Bussard collector were painted in Ger. Ornage Ochre 70824.

The dome of the bridge is a strong lightened Vallejo Model Color Imtermediate Green 70891 (with White). The illuminated area around the bridge was painted with a mix of the color from the dome + 50% MIG Matt Varnish MIG-089.

The RCS Thrusters and the Phaser strips are painted in Leather Brown 70871. The details on it are painted in Ger. Cam. Black Brown 70822.

Nova Class - USS Equinox

The Ship was based on the USS Defiant Pathfinder design. The Pathfinder was part of the background story in the DS9 Technical Manual Sternbach devised to describe the design history of what was to become the Defiant Class.
At the end it was used for the USS Equinox NCC-72381 in the Star Trek Voyager episode "Equinox".

 

Sternbach's early Defiant (Star Trek: The Magazine Volume 1 Issue 14)
and the final Nova Class Blueprint

I bought the Nova Class resin model kit in 1/1400. It's only one part - the whole ship is 16,1cm long. I want to use JT Graphics USS Equinox Decals.
Therefore it was necessary to sand some areas like:

• upper Sendor Bays
• bottom Sensor Bays
• RCS Engines

I filled some lines (which doesn't exist) and the upper Deflector for the Decal replacement.

Furthermore, I have revised the structure of the pylons bottom side and corrected the position of the lower Phaser strip.

My USS Equinox should look like in the episode. That's why I added the battle damages.