I was just wondering today after just seeing a little bit of STVI on TV yesterday - what the best bridge is in terms of coolness factor - and I'm going to lump sets in there too.
I'm going to say the E-A/Excelsior NCC-2000. They are very good and very believeable as futuristic places to be. I really loved a lot about the E-A (and the NCC Excelsior) in STVI. They were very crisp and clean and futuristic. I *LOVED* the blankets.
The E-D is of course a sentimental favourite - post season 1. I liked the addition of the side bays in Generations - and I really think they should have left it the E-D for the rest of the movies.
Voyager leaves me cold - I do, though like the Defiant, it's bridge - it's corridors and it's engine room. Even the sickbay is good.
We are talking starships here - because if it included ops and DS9's sets - It's win hands down - but it doesn't.
Andrew
[ September 04, 2006, 05:42 AM: Message edited by: Timo ]
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
LOL Can somebody please change the title to something like: "Favourite Bridge and Set Designs"?? Heheheheh.
Posted by Timo (Member # 245) on :
Thy will be done.
Even though everybody already knows that the coolest bridge they ever did was the one across the Rura Penthe pit.
Timo Saloniemi
Posted by Mark Nguyen (Member # 469) on :
Actually, the coolest bridge ever was in "Bohemian Rhapsody". Who DOESN'T air-guitar when that riff comes through?!
But staying in-franchise, my vote is also for the TUC Excelsior, or the E-D bridge as seen in "Yesterday's Enterprise". The first incarnation of the E-D battle bridge also rates pretty highly. It's all about ergonomics for me, giving the CO the best access to information from his subordinates AND to the main viewer. You'd be surprised how few bridge designs give a CO a decent look out the window.
Mark
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
So, in general terms, dark & moodily-lit are favourite? I'm guessing a general thumbs-down for the sterile whiteness of the Prometheus then.
Another Favourite Bridge: The Bridge of Death, from Holy Grail. Answering the Questions Three makes for a MUCH more secure method of access control than all this "Authorisation Picard Alpha Foxtrot Nine Three Aubergine" nonsense.
Posted by Johnny (Member # 878) on :
If you start my Dad off about The Bridge over the River Kwai, he will not shut up.
I loved the TUC Enterprise and Excelsior bridges too. The colour schemes were quite well done, red for Enterprise, blue for Excelsior and both bridges had a high tech efficient look to them.
The Voyager bridge is probably my least favourite. The officers seem to be scattered all over the shop. I swear the science/engineeering officers would have to shout to be heard from those little nooks on the side of the bridge. It just lacks any intimacy between the characters and it's too bright(and grey).
The revamp for the Equinox bridge was much better.
The FC and Nemesis Ent-E bridge was great. Very moody and futuristic. Dunno what they were thinking in Insurrection with that lighting.
Posted by Lurker Emeritus (Member # 1888) on :
I agree with the ergonomics argument. In that sense, any bridge which places the commander in the centre of a roughly circular layout and high enough for a good view of things wins. However, the TUC Ent and Ex bridges also score highly for being believably functional, looking sufficiently advanced and having a properly militaristic, business-like atmosphere; something the D's lounge certainly never possessed.
As an Englishman, I think the TUC Excelsior wins based on the provision of a place to put one's cup of tea. Now that's the hallmark of an advanced civilisation!
Posted by Timo (Member # 245) on :
The E-E bridges are rather exceptional in that the Captain actually gets to see most people's faces rather than their necks. And said people in turn get to see the Captain's nudge-nudge, wink-winks at crucial moments without spraining their spines.
Frankly, I think the TOS heritage design is the worst possible command center design imaginable, with poor communications between people who need to cooperate closely (say, science officer who provides targeting cues and helmsman who aims the guns); hindrances to mobility yet not enough hindrances to prevent excessive mobility when the ship shakes; a single accessway that is surprisingly poorly protected against intruders and thus mostly acts as a choke point against evacuation attempts; and little or no facilities (private corners, visual aids or even tabletops) for the all-important kibbizing needed for tactical and strategic planning.
And the consoles, while perhaps laid out ergonomically as far as hundred-button monstrosities go, could really use a bit more "hands constantly on key keys" consolidation and a bit less "now which of these 59 red ones did I need to push?" random groping.
I'd take the command centers of Flash Gordon or Captain Nemo over this any day.
Timo Saloniemi
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
quote:Originally posted by Johnny: The FC and Nemesis Ent-E bridge was great. Very moody and futuristic. Dunno what they were thinking in Insurrection with that lighting.
OH I *SO* agree - what was WITH that. FC bridge was FANTASTIC - the Insurrection bridge - a beige party!
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
Also wasn't wrapped on the E-A's bridge in TFF. What was with that carpet? And complete lack of bridge crew.
Lurker Emeritus: I guess you'd really like Kruge's BOP from ST:III then - if you like central and highly seated captains? Posted by Treknophile (Member # 1869) on :
Have to go with NCC-1701-A TUC bridge. Functional and neat. But then, that's my favorite starship too.
Posted by Lurker Emeritus (Member # 1888) on :
quote:Originally posted by AndrewR: Lurker Emeritus: I guess you'd really like Kruge's BOP from ST:III then - if you like central and highly seated captains?
Oh absolutely! Never underestimate the discipline value of a well placed spit wad hitting the back of an underlings neck when he has displeased you!
Posted by Timo (Member # 245) on :
So [i]that[/] was the reason Klingons changed their hairstyle after the TFS era!
Timo Saloniemi
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
quote:Originally posted by Timo: Thy will be done.
Even though everybody already knows that the coolest bridge they ever did was the one across the Rura Penthe pit.
Timo Saloniemi
Phht- the coolest bridge was the one that killed Kirk! My hero, in fact (the bridge, not Kirk).
I loved the Enterprise C dual-level design, but I'd have used it for the Romulan Warbird- the Warbird's captain (commander?) would have the second elevation along with tactical and helm- all other officers would be on the lower levels, supervised by the second in command. There would be a two-storey IMAX style viewscreen.
Can you tell I was disapointed in the actual warbird bridge layout? Boo!
I love the Defiant's bridge- perfect for a close-kit crew like Sisko's. I really dig the FC and Nemesis bridges- they're big and high tech looking, and they have a lot going on, but it's the Flagship! it SHOULD have a lot gping on, for pete's sake! It's a wonder no one ever fell asleep in the waiting room that was the D's bridge.
Posted by Johnny (Member # 878) on :
They did fall asleep in the D's bridge. They had to change the seats at the Conn and Ops stations after season 1 because the actors would fall asleep in them while waiting for shots to be filmed.
Posted by Mark Nguyen (Member # 469) on :
My big gripe with the Sovereign bridge was teh utter waste of space it was, ergonomically-speaking.
Everyone's squished into the sides, and most iportantly there's a fill third of the area at teh front of the bridge that is completely unused. Unless Picard thought he could play a small soccer or minigolf tourney on the bridge every once in a while, there's no real reason to have all that space empty.
Of course, the REAL reason for the waste of space is so that the production crew could move all their cameras and lights and sound equipment around the front end, which would be the location for most of thhe shots, without having to move too much of the set itself out of the way. Still, though, if you think about it, the captain or forward station could be much closer to the front of the bridge to get a beter view.
Mind you, if they weren't so far away, maybe more people would have gotten sucked out in Nemesis. Eesh...
Mark
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
Blown out.
Posted by Johnny (Member # 878) on :
Looks like Picard lost his personal loo along with his helmsman. That's a pity.
Posted by WizArtist II (Member # 1425) on :
Apparently, only the Captain needs porcelain. Everyone else, its 4 decks down.
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
I don't have a problem with the amount of space - after all, there was a similar amount on the D - but rather the fact that the layout of consoles effectively divides the bridge in half. In order to get to that forward bit, you need to thread your way between all those stations. OK, it's actually quite a wide space, it's not like by "thread" I mean "turn sideways and inch your way through" but the psychological effect will be there.
Posted by Mark Nguyen (Member # 469) on :
That part I'm actually okay with. Who actually needs to get to the forward bit? Only the Con/Ops people, and anyone needing to get to the CO in the ready room. There's also the airlock, but this would rarely be used. Both lifts enter aft of the bridge, so everyone can cross behind the CO chair or directly to their station right away.
I'm a big proponent of the notion that the main viewscreen should provide an unobstructed view for the CO and his staff, and helm; and not more than one or two people should need to cross in front of the viewer as a minimum distance to get to any of the other stations. Trek's canon bridges generally abide to this (with notable exceptions being the Defiant and Sutherland bridges). Most fan bridge designs ignore this rule, and so in a crunch you can concievably have lots of people running in front of the Captain as he's pontificating to the bad guys.
Mark
Posted by Timo (Member # 245) on :
quote:There's also the airlock, but this would rarely be used.
Uh, I don't think so.
I mean, yes, that set was built next to the bridge set. But AFAIK we don't see any airlock door in the bridge scenes of the actual movie. We do see that the model has no matching exterior fixtures. And we also know Picard would have no particular reason to use a "bridge airlock" since his goal was on the lower parts of the ship, and since the Borg had stopped their advance at Deck 11 and were not besieging our heroes just behind the bridge doors.
I'm also a bit unconvinced that there would be airlocks next to the TOS movie bridges, either. It is possible that those bridges are actually farther down than the top (sensor) dome would suggest, incidentally explaining the otherwise Rubegoldbergish arrangement where a turbolift is needed for taking Spock from the dorsal airlock to the bridge.
Timo Saloniemi
Posted by Mark Nguyen (Member # 469) on :
I'm fairly certain it's mentioned somewhere that the door to the airlock actually SAYS "airlock" on it. Plus of course, it was the intent of the set. Not saying that it DIDN'T lead downstairs to a better-situated room, but I'm pretty sure that it was distinctly meant to be.
My frustration surrounding trying to cram the whole bridge set under the E-E bridge dome is well known. We KNOW there's a conference lounge directly behind the bridge per "First Contact", but even THOSE windows don't match the model. And of course, the dome and underlying superstructure is too narrow to fit such a wide bridge with Picard's ready room hanging out into space.
One of my other huge beefs with bridge designs is how some don't allow secondary access of any kind other than the turbolifts. The E-D had great access: two primary turbos, an emergency lift, and presumably a ramp down to deck 2 on the way to the conference lounge. The lounge itself had access to the bridge, deck 2, and to its own lift door.
On the E-E, there was only the two lift doors. the conference lounge aft had two doors to the bridge (which makes even less sense, since the doors are barely ten feet apart!), and no apparent secondary access. There were no apparent other doors to the bridge, either, except for potentially one on the way to the erstwhile airlock. Still, the E-D bridge just made so much more sense, despite its arguable lack of style to many.
Mark
Posted by WizArtist II (Member # 1425) on :
Well, considering how often Federation starships get boarded, I'd want my bridge to be virtually inaccessible except for a couple of control points that could be readily defended and not placed behind me either. And yes, I do typically sit facing the door.
Posted by Peregrinus (Member # 504) on :
My fave is actually still the complete layout of the Danube. And I happen to LIKE the TFF bridge.
--Jonah
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
quote:Originally posted by WizArtist II: Apparently, only the Captain needs porcelain. Everyone else, its 4 decks down.
Incentive to seek promotion.
I agree that the Soverign's bridge is silly bcause it in no way matches the studio model- but that's nothing new: the TUC EXcelsior bridge could never fit into that tiny bump on that ship's saucer- they made it 50% smaller when refitting it!
The Galaxy's bridhe is pretty bad, but when you consider the overall area to work with, you could make a fantastic interior if you wanted to (and hopefully, other Galaxy class starships do!).
Posted by Timo (Member # 245) on :
I'd still argue against the airlock being next to the bridge on the E-E, just because.
If we assumed the door to the left of the viewscreen wasn't the same one that is behind Lily when Picard and pals suit up, we could make it an alternate access route to the bridge and solve that problem...
Incidentally, the fancy cylindrar end walls of the airlock, with the diagonally opening doors, made me think of a silly idea. What if that room rotates? That is, after the inner doors are closed, the airlock turns 180 degrees to allow the heroes to exit with their feet facing the hull of the ship, even though they emerge on the underside of the saucer.
Then again, the spacewalk VFX makes it look as if our trio came from the direction of the saucer edge, that is, they had rounded that edge on their way to the underside.
As for the Excelsior bridge, I'd again say it's one deck farther down than people generally assume. In the Constitution case at least, the assumption that the bridge is just four decks above the widest saucer deck and not five would be beneficial in a dozen other ways, too. Such as giving a broader Deck 3 for all the supposed cabins and rec rooms and corridors there, or matching the "Intruder on Deck 4" schematic from ST:TMP, or the Alert Status diagram from ST2, and so forth.
And not so incidentally, it would also allow the TOS bridge to face dead ahead...
In the case of the E-E bridge, "sinking down by one level" would be an excellent way to allow for the Ready Room and even give it windows. It still wouldn't solve the Observation Deck problem, though.
Timo Saloniemi
Posted by Treknophile (Member # 1869) on :
You guys have a problem making the bridges fit the ship contours? Try doing it for dozens of starships. Somebody pass me the subspace shoehorn...
Actiually, in most cases it's not as hard as it looks. I've got a fully-qualified CGI artist (Tim Palgut). He can take the bridge I create from the soundstage plans and construct a solid. He then constructs a model of the bridge module's outer contours from the shooting model at 1:1 metric scale - using the official 'canon' posted size for the ship. We adjust position incrementally until we get a fit. Then we get an aspirin.
Its the only way to design...
Posted by Mucus (Member # 24) on :
Side-question: What are you/Tim Palgut working on exactly?
Posted by Treknophile (Member # 1869) on :
Some of you guys were involved in the genesis. Thank you.
Posted by Treknophile (Member # 1869) on :
Side-question: Why am I a junior member? I got locked out of my old spelling (Treknophyle), and had to create this avatar to get back online...
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Question + Answer
(Which is to say, it is by post count.)
Posted by Chris (Member # 71) on :
Dave, I can send you your password providing your email address is vaild. Send me a PM.
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