Well, let's address these complaints. The normal map itself is actually very subtle.
First off, you can't use the Venator as an example, it's a totally different ship which uses an entirely different style of panelling so I'm disregarding that.
Secondly, in the original films you're looking at a hand made model 3 feet long shot on 1970s film stock, which isn't exactly the sharpest of mediums to shoot in, so you're going to blur out a lot of detail, which I don't feel like doing.
Thirdly, the lines themselves on the actual filming model are very prominent (See
Here)
Fourthly, I'm using a high edge enhancement filter for the renders, as to show off the detail present in the map. It gives a very very sharp result. Using a different filter it's much closer to what you probably remember from the films. Remember this is a WIP, and so renders of it are going to try and accentuate the work done.
Here is another render, using a different anti-aliasing filter (Cook-Variable with a strength of 2.5, for anyone who knows what that means)
Compared to the original filter (Catmull-rom for those who know what that means too)
Exact same map, just different filters
