Of course, the basic design was to become successful 372 years later as the saucer section of the starship Enterprise. The steam engines being replaced by an impulse engine thus eliminating the smokestacks. Maneuvering thrusters allow turning the ship without a loss in speed. The big guns replaced with photon torpedo bays and phasers in lieu of small arms fire. Any energy weapon striking the hull off its center would have the brunt of its impact deflected away by deflector shields. The design was made modular to provide docking with warp drive engines and the plan finally comes together.
