With TOS-R we got two shuttle names previously unseen in the old version: ‘daVinci’ and ‘Picasso’. Since both shuttles are from type F and nothing new so far, I would like to divert the attention to the labelling: The first one is labelled SB 11-1201/2 and the second one SB4-0314/2. Corresponding pictures are available at Memory Alpha, e.g.
I will first analyse the labelling for a shuttle assigned to a starship of the TOS timeframe:
NCC-1701/2
NCC stands for the Starfleet branch of the Federation of Planets 1701 is the distict number of the starship /2 indicates the second shuttle (sequential number)
Now the analysis for the starbase-shuttles:
SB4-0314/2
SB stands for starbase 4 is the distinct number of the starbase 0314 ? /2 indicates the second shuttle (sequential number)
According to the already established labelling convention for starships, the Picasso’s registry number should be SB-4/2: The second shuttle of starbase 4.
The question is now: what does this 0314 respectively 1201 stands for (please note the leading zero in 0314)?
Since this number was initially established in TOS-R, my hope is that e.g. Mr. Okuda can clarify this?
Posted by o2 (Member # 907) on :
Ok, anybody?
Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
Maybe they're the designations of the hangar bays that the shuttle is supposed to park in?
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
Could be the total number of that type of shuttle made thus far- an easier referene system than naming them all, and densly populated systems owuld have thousands of shuttles and small craft.
Or it could be Mike and Denise Okuda's total fanboy body count buried in out the desert- Mike just says "Hey, want to see where they filmed that fight between kirk and the Gorn?" and it's all duct take and powertools from there.
Posted by o2 (Member # 907) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jason Abbadon: Could be the total number of that type of shuttle made thus far- an easier referene system than naming them all, and densly populated systems owuld have thousands of shuttles and small craft.
I'm pretty sure that each shuttle has a unique serial number - somewere. But first, those two starbase shuttles have their own names and second, we don't find that serial number on the outside of shuttles that have been assigned to a starship, e.g. to the Enterprise.
Posted by Pensive's Wetness (Member # 1203) on :
I used to wonder about all those circle thingies on Valkyries, well 1st generation Valkyries... then, I guess, someone translated one of the recent macross periodicals (pushed out after the success of 2008's Macross Frontier) a reference that those circles, besides from being the mounting points for the GPS-1A battle armor and the FAST pack armor, that they are 1st generation venier ports (only that they were usually too lazy to animate that aspect back in '82 (when I was still Elementary school in Cleveland)).
Then I wondered about those circle thingies on the forearms and on top the engine nacelles of said 1st generation Valkyries. I always assumed they, too, were veriers or some sort (not usable with the GPS-1A battle armor or the FAST packs, of course) but my person experiences in my time in the navy, working around mech’s working on jet motors, and talking to them about all things Overtechnology, I’m no longer certain of things...
What were we talking about? o.O
Posted by The Ginger Beacon (Member # 1585) on :
Don't forgert NCC-K7!
Erm, SB11-1201⁄1? Well the first bit (SB11 = Starbase 11) and the last (⁄1 = Shuttle 1) is covered in the script.
The 1201 could either be like a car numberplate for the planet or local area of space that the shuttle operates in. Or it could be something like "Starbase 11 - Hanger 1201 ⁄ Shuttle 1". In which case the leading 0 in SB4-0314⁄2 could be either a beurocratic thing where all hangers are 4 digits, or related to the (admittedly retconned) reson the Kelvin is numbered with a leading 0. This is completly in-universe, after the facts and bullshitting to make the facts fit the gaps.
As for the NCC-K7 (not seen clearly on screen but in the hanger of the Ku7 model made for the DS9 ep) it would be more satisfactory for it to be NCC-K7⁄1 but I think we can ignore it as an injoke.
Posted by o2 (Member # 907) on :
The shuttle NCC-K7 is bearly visible in this bay, not mentioning the registry. It was done by the model builders, most probably without contacting the producers of the show about it. So I tend to neglect this. Besides, SB-K7/1 would have made more sence in my opinium.
But back again to the shuttles from TOS-R: I'm pretty sure that the registry numbers of the shuttles were routed through the office of Mr. Okuda, since both were featured very very prominently on the screen (and was he not even the special effect supervisor of the show?). Hey, this guy gave us even a name and registry for the USS Yorkshire! So its hard to believe for me that both shuttle-registries were made without his knowledge. Following this assumption, I'm just wondering what his intention was with those two odd numbers?
So, is there any chance that someone contact Mr. Okuda and ask him about this topic? Unfortuately, I don't have his email-adress...