OK, over at Trek BBS, the subject of shuttlecraft and warp speed came up. While discussing the issue, someone mentioned an issue of "Enterprise Incidents" (#19) with pics of some Andrew Probert sketches from ST:TMP. Anyhow, I'm curious to know if there has ever been a full interview w/Probert on the issue of these components that are included in the sketch, as seen here: Probert Sketches
Shane, did you ever seen any additional info on this? I know you mentioned that 30+ pages had to be taken from MSG, so am hoping you have insight on this issue. I'm thinking of attempting to scratchbuild some of these components - specifically a combo of the impulse and warp nacelle add-on's - for a Thomas Models "ST:TMP" shuttlecraft in 1/537 scale. Would like more info beyond what is seen in the above link, as well as what appears in the 3rd volume of Jackill's "StarFleet Reference" series, as seen here.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!
Posted by TheWoozle (Member # 929) on :
DOn't overlook THIS STUFF at Model Citizen
Posted by Griffworks (Member # 1014) on :
Right. I'm well aware of Roger's excellent site. I have most of those pics and articles saved to my Hd. However, I'm more interested in conjectural stuff, at the moment.
Thanks, tho!
Posted by thelastguardian (Member # 1017) on :
As far as I know, these concepts never went any further than Andy's sketches. I assume he showed them to others working on TMP, and they may have discussed them informally to some extent, but nothing I saw while working on MSG indicated that the concept(s) had gone any further.
The Surak-type warpshuttle looks cool and I've always been fond of it, but I never was very happy with its design being used for a smaller, planetfall shuttle. For one thing, the docking ring hatch in back depends upon a docking port in order to open -- the doors are pulled out of the travel pod/shuttle and into the wall of the vessel with which it has docked. Andy said he thought the crew, after landing on a planet, might be able to open the hatch 'partway,' enough to get in or out, but I really don't like that concept. Having the hatch elements hanging out in midair makes little sense, and it is clear from their design that any such attempt to open them would have to be a manual one. Awkward, to say the least.
The planetfall variant of the shuttle never appeared in TMP, despite the fact that in one unused version of the cargo/hangar matte painting it had been included (this painting can be seen on page 93 of MSG). I suspect it intentionally was not used, perhaps because of the hatch problem -- beats me.
The side hatch seen in the drawing done for MSG was added by myself, as both a compromise and a tip of the hat to the Galileo design of TOS.
Shane
Posted by MrNeutron (Member # 524) on :
As to Andy Probert and these sketches, I've never seen this. I've suggested to Andy that I sit down with him and we do a sort of "ulimate interview" and go through all his Trek drawings and I'll ask him about everything. The biggest problem with doing that is getting together (we no longer live near one another). I should be talking to him tomorrow and I'll ask.
As to the docking ring on that size shuttle, there's no reason to assume the hatch has to be the same as for the Vulcan shuttle. There could easily be doors further into the ring that could retract into the hull walls.
Posted by Griffworks (Member # 1014) on :
quote:Originally posted by thelastguardian: As far as I know, these concepts never went any further than Andy's sketches. I assume he showed them to others working on TMP, and they may have discussed them informally to some extent, but nothing I saw while working on MSG indicated that the concept(s) had gone any further.
The Surak-type warpshuttle looks cool and I've always been fond of it, but I never was very happy with its design being used for a smaller, planetfall shuttle. For one thing, the docking ring hatch in back depends upon a docking port in order to open -- the doors are pulled out of the travel pod/shuttle and into the wall of the vessel with which it has docked. Andy said he thought the crew, after landing on a planet, might be able to open the hatch 'partway,' enough to get in or out, but I really don't like that concept. Having the hatch elements hanging out in midair makes little sense, and it is clear from their design that any such attempt to open them would have to be a manual one. Awkward, to say the least.
Oh, I don't know. I think you could have some sort of micro-motor's in the bulkhead with a "roller assembly" that would allow the doors to open a bit. However, as you say, they wouldn't open up terribly far unless there was some sort of "anti-gravity plate" to keep them from sliding out the openings.
Also, Eric Kristiansen/Jackill sort of addresses the issue of the docking port by making the assembly on his Manasu class dockport larger to account for size differences.
quote:The planetfall variant of the shuttle never appeared in TMP, despite the fact that in one unused version of the cargo/hangar matte painting it had been included (this painting can be seen on page 93 of MSG). I suspect it intentionally was not used, perhaps because of the hatch problem -- beats me.
The side hatch seen in the drawing done for MSG was added by myself, as both a compromise and a tip of the hat to the Galileo design of TOS.
Shane
I think that the addition of the side hatch makes perfect sense, too. Especially in case of an emergency. What would happen if you've only got one door in and out of a shuttle and it's blocked...? That was the only thing I had a problem with on the TOS Galileo and TNG design that re-uses the ST:V shuttlecraft components. We don't see any sort of emergency exit.
quote:Originally posted by MrNeutron: As to Andy Probert and these sketches, I've never seen this. I've suggested to Andy that I sit down with him and we do a sort of "ulimate interview" and go through all his Trek drawings and I'll ask him about everything. The biggest problem with doing that is getting together (we no longer live near one another). I should be talking to him tomorrow and I'll ask.
As to the docking ring on that size shuttle, there's no reason to assume the hatch has to be the same as for the Vulcan shuttle. There could easily be doors further into the ring that could retract into the hull walls.
Curious to know who you are, "MrNeutron". Are you an author we've heard of in the past? You aren't Greg Tyler, by any chance?
Regardless, I think it would be pretty kewel if you could get an interview w/Mr. Probert. I think he should share his thoughts on a lot of the "never seen" items he's done over the years. I'm particularly interested in any TOS Movie era stuff he would care to share with fandom.
Posted by The Mighty Monkey of Mim (Member # 646) on :
He's Maurice Molyneaux, if I'm not very much mistaken...
...Profiles are a wonderful thing... Posted by TheWoozle (Member # 929) on :
The question remains....
Just what is it that Molyneaux?
Posted by MrNeutron (Member # 524) on :
quote:Originally posted by Griffworks: Curious to know who you are, "MrNeutron". Are you an author we've heard of in the past? You aren't Greg Tyler, by any chance?
No, I'm not Greg Tyler. I did a ot of magazine writing back in the day, but mostly in computer and videogame publications. The only Star Trek related stuff of mine in print are a piece in Best of Trek #13, and an interview I did with Ronald D. Moore for the official ST:TNG magazine. I went to Paramount to do that interview, and got a personal tour of the TNG art dept. by Mike Okuda. I would have gotten a set tour, but it was a week before they started shooting the 4th season, and the soundstages were locked. Ah well.
I did work on a DS9 video game, and begged and borrowed stuff from the TNG art dept to help (I used to have all the set plans and diagrams of the station)...thanks Rick!
Finally, I met Andy Probert after I contacted him (via Rick S.) about possibly doing design work for a sci-fi game. We became friends and are still in touch on a pretty regular basis.
So there you go.
Posted by thelastguardian (Member # 1017) on :
quote:Originally posted by MrNeutron: As to the docking ring on that size shuttle, there's no reason to assume the hatch has to be the same as for the Vulcan shuttle. There could easily be doors further into the ring that could retract into the hull walls.
Wouldn't have to be the same, but the intent at the time was that it was. This is reflected in the matte painting, as well as in Andy's conversations with me.
Besides, if you're going to go that route, why did they not simply design a system where the hatches of ALL such vehicles (those that use that docking ring) retract into their own hulls?
Shane
Posted by Griffworks (Member # 1014) on :
quote:Originally posted by The Mighty Monkey of Mim: He's Maurice Molyneaux, if I'm not very much mistaken...
...Profiles are a wonderful thing...
Certainly they're wonderful. I got a pic, no name and a link to a website that, at least at the time, wouldn't come up for me.....
Anyhow, thanks for the background info, Mr. Molyneaux. I appreciate it. Was just curious, as I said. Always interesting to hear how folks get to meet "big names" - and you're pretty much a "big name" yourself.
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