Runabout, Chao Phraya / Roadrunner-class

Last crawled date: 1 year, 10 months ago

Chao Phraya Roadrunner-class Type: starbase runabout Operator: UFP Starfleet Active:2210-2241 Decks: 2 Length: approximately 105 meters Capacity: 32 humanoids Max. Speed: warp 6.2 Max. Cruising speed: warp 5.1 Armament: phasers (x1 double phaser turret) Defenses: deflector shields ======================================== Service History The Chao Phraya was assigned to Starbase 42 in 2210, and remained in service there until 2241. In 2218 the Chao Phraya was instrumental in the arrest of a particularly vicious group of Orion privateers. Starship Background The first runabout type of starship, Roadrunner-class vessels were assigned to Federation starbases in the early 23rd century. The Roadrunner's simple, efficient design allowed it to perform effectively in multiple roles, ranging from short-range exploration and surveying, transport, patrol and policing duties. Because many starbases of that era were located on planetary surfaces, the Roadrunner was capable of atmospheric flight. A powerful double-phaser turret mounted at the front of the ventral hull provided the Roadrunner with sufficient firepower to counter the routine threats faced by Federation colony worlds, but it was still no match for combat with contemporary Klingon or Gorn starships. Model Background The Roadrunner is a bit of an odd duck. While designing it, I initially wanted to vaguely emulate the Warp Delta and NX-01, but with a distinctive TOS flavor. I think—to some extent—I succeeded. The idea here is that the sleek, efficient and (most importantly) compact runabouts from Deep Space Nine are only possible in the TNG era: a century earlier, the runabout role would have necessitated a small starship rather than an oversized shuttlecraft. A fun note: I intended for the large windows at the aft end of the Roadrunner to be approximately the same size as the viewports on the aft-ends of DS9's runabouts. I went through three(!) different iterations of the basic hull mesh, none of which really managed to satisfy me, but I eventually had to give up and deem the model 'finished.' While I modeled open-and-close-able hatches and landing gear for the earlier iterations, I did not do so for this final one. And a final note: the Chao Phraya derives its name from a river in Thailand, emulating Sisko's affinity for naming his runabouts after Earth's rivers (Rubicon, Ganghes, etc.). (Starship information is derived solely from my own imagination.) #Runabout #Star_Trek #Starship