system: You are Richard Hudson, a caller on a 1990s BBS posting in the Dr Who/Brit Scif message echo. Write like a real BBS user of the era — plain, direct, in your own voice, no modern polish.

user: You are replying to James Dixon about "Sternbach Speaks".

They wrote:
KQ>   As some of you may or may not know, Rick Sternbach has been posting
KQ>messages in UseNet's rec.arts.startrek.tech newsgroup (among others) for
KQ>several months now.  The following is his response to one of James
KQ>Dixon's rants about him (specifically, that Rick didn't draw the 1701-D
KQ>Blueprints which bear his name), posted several months earlier in
KQ>another newsgroup, which I brought to Mr. Sternbach's attention in order
KQ>to get the truth. I thought some of you might find it of interest.
KQ>P.S. I have been given permission by Mr. Sternbach to cross-post his
KQ>messages to FIDOnet.  So, unless the Mods have any objections, I will
KQ>begin cross-posting said messages, probably on a weekly basis.  Anyhow,
KQ>on with the show:
KQ>-----
KQ>Subject:      Re: Designing the E-D
KQ>From:         rsternbach@earthlink.net (Rick Sternbach)
KQ>Date:         1997/01/20
KQ>Newsgroups:   rec.arts.startrek.tech
KQ>In article <32df59d3.14773232@news>, DataCable@hotmail.com (Data Cable)
KQ>>    BTW, speaking of the BP's... the following "review" of the set was
KQ>> posted several months ago in r.a.st.fandom, by an individual who
KQ>> regularly tears into you guys (ESPECIALLY Mike Okuda) for perceeved
KQ>> errors, discontinuities and alleged personal affronts toward "fandom."
KQ>> I was wondering if you'd like to respond to the claims made therein:
KQ>> -----
KQ>> Subject:      Star trek blueprints
KQ>> From:         dixon@flashtech.com
KQ>> Date:         1996/07/30
KQ>> Newsgroups:   rec.arts.startrek.fandom
KQ>>
KQ>> I>I saw them boxed at several stores, does anyone know what is in it
KQ>> I>exactly?  Besides blueprints of ent-d, please describe the contents!
KQ>>
KQ>> The most Treknical of mainstream mass-marketed Trek items in a Long
KQ>> time... They're a box of 13 sheets, 22" x 34" blue on white blueprints
KQ>> showing every deck of the ship and all exterior views...
KQ>>
KQ>> This marks the third Enterprise to be completely blueprinted... Over
KQ>> 20 years ago the original ship (actually the Constitution class
KQ>> Enterprise in her Achernar heavy cruiser configuration) was thoroughly
KQ>> blueprinted by Franz Joseph--The man who started It all... More
KQ>> recently, just a few years ago, Strategic Design released complete
KQ>> deck plans for 1701-A...
KQ>>
KQ>> I found the 1701-D blueprints to be better than I expected, mainly
KQ>> because (despite what it says on the cover of the box and most
KQ>> everywhere else), Rick Sternback DID NOT DRAW THESE!
KQ>>
KQ>> These blueprints, specifically the Deck Plans--most of the sheets, the
KQ>> research behind them, the continuity with past Treknical works and so
KQ>> on--were drawn by Todd Guenther, the Treknical genius who's spent the
KQ>> past decade as the driving force of Treknical Fandom... Guenther is
KQ>> the guy responsible for and/or directly involved in such works as the
KQ>> Federation Reference Series, Ships of the Star Fleet, Heavy Cruiser
KQ>> Evolution Blueprints, Aurora class blueprints, Ingram class
KQ>> blueprints, and tons more...
KQ>>
KQ>> But Rick Sternbach takes credit for all this simply because he's the
KQ>> "official" tech illustrator and designer for TNG/DS9/V... In
KQ>> retrospect, I kind of wonder how much Okuda and Sternbach were Really
KQ>> responsible for the TNG Tech Manual, Encyclopedia, and other
KQ>> publications...
KQ>> ---
KQ>>  X OLXWin 1.00a X
KQ>> NCC-1701:Constitution->Bonhomme Richard->Achernar->Enterprise
KQ>> -----
KQ>>
KQ>>    This person also wrote a longer review in FidoNet, which was
KQ>> overall complimentary, but contained complaints about everything from
KQ>> the packaging (which was done so they could charge $24, so he claims),
KQ>> to the fact that Gunthier was only given "one tiny paragraph" in the
KQ>> round-table-discussion booklet, whereas Okuda's part was "huge."
KQ>>
KQ>>    For that matter, he's also written a document entitled "What's
KQ>> Wrong With the Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual," which
KQ>> consists mostly of complaints about conflicts with "tech fandom"
KQ>> publications, but also contains some real zingers...  i.e., the 42
KQ>> deck count and "dolphin navigators" are some of Mike Okuda's
KQ>> "Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy" jokes, for one.  I realize you're a
KQ>> busy person, but if you'd care to take a look at it, it's available at
KQ>> http://www.buffnet.net:80/~dswtrek/scifi.htm
KQ>> or I could E-Mail you a copy, if you'd like.  I've been trying to
KQ>> write a response to the claims and allegations he makes against you
KQ>> guys, but the research material available to me is limited, so any
KQ>> info you'd care to offer would be most appreciated.
KQ>>
KQ>>    Wow, sorry for the major post, my apologies for taking up so much
KQ>> of your valuable time.
KQ>Well, it's truly sad to see someone ranting about other people's work with
KQ>such a microcephalic amount of knowledge backing up those rants.  Todd
KQ>Guenther, whose meticulous work on SHIPS OF THE STAR FLEET was the reason
KQ>I asked him to join me on this project, was involved mainly with Decks
KQ>1-12. He drew the pencil layouts (and in doing so set the tone of the
KQ>layouts for the rest of the vehicle), Jean Rogers inked them, and I added
KQ>the rub-down rooms and other Mac-generated hardware. Time constraints
KQ>drove the division of work; I worked up Decks 13-42, many of which had
KQ>minimal or repeatable equipment, leaving Todd to concentrate on the cooler
KQ>layouts. I didn't draw all of the plans, but I used up a ton of
KQ>rapidograph cartidges on the ones I *did* draw. The work was a team
KQ>effort. The fact that my name only is on the cover was driven by Pocket
KQ>Books, who was gracious enough to let me sing the praises of my teammates
KQ>in the accompanying booklet.  I know that Todd, Jean, and Dan Gauthier
KQ>(who did the exterior orthos) would not take it wrong when I say that had
KQ>the project not been done, their work would not have enjoyed the exposure
KQ>of the vast Trek audience; I am not taking sole credit for getting their
KQ>art out into the market. I would gladly ask them to join me on future
KQ>projects, one of which is already being considered by Pocket.
KQ>The net is full of complainers who type before they think, desparately in
KQ>need of spellcheckers. We'll simply continue providing interesting
KQ>material where we can, and conduct intelligent conversations with those
KQ>who have interesting observations about our work and the Trek scenario in
KQ>general.
KQ>Rick
KQ>-----
KQ>   Oh well...
KQ>... WARP:  What A Ridiculous Proposal
KQ>--- PPoint 1.96
KQ> * Origin: Data Cable's Decimal Point (1:260/375.7)

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