i actually really like that reference of the heron, kinda even has the general shape of the ship in some ways, sorta.
mind you all the times i've made "code names" for ships they end up getting changed at the end when all is said and done for what ever reason. i still always call the "Squid" the speedster just cause thats what the file name was. so there is still room for the ships name to change once its out(and knowing the fact that 2 out of 3 of my current ships are fish related. . it'll probably still be a fish. . though thats more just a running gag then anything ). though, most of my code names for ships where just pretty much the file name i gave when i started (small_warship = goldfish)
with that said, one more visual design hurdle has to get out of the way and then its just a mad dash to the finish line in regards to modeling/texturing/etc.
