I modelled the this version of the Spathi ship when I thought the ship
design was a jumping jack. Eventually someone pointed out to me that it
was not canon. I still think it looks more like THE Spathi ship than the
StarControl 3 version.
Then it also occurred to me that the design also resembled a methane
molecule, something Spathi seem to have a good supply of when you ask
for minerals when you meet them in space.
But looking through most of the official artwork, and not attributing
the oddness of the design to perspective distortion, I have decided that
the canonic design is like a tire-iron with an ovipositor protruding
from its hub.