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I have to concur with Ryan on all points. I felt the new show remained consistent, and that they adequately created props to look like they are futuristic for us, but old for TNG. All in all, I loved the new show.
One gripe: The Klingon Homeworld is only 4 days away from Earth????
quote:Originally posted by MIB: I also invision the Enterprise to look more metallic and high-tech rather than it looking like a plastic model hung up on strings.
Ironic, since the original Enterprise model was neither plastic nor hung on strings.
It was mostly painted wood, and held on a stand for filming not unlike later starships. Furthermore, the actual model is far more detailed than people realize from watching the show. In my opinion, the original Enterprise looked more like this or this (with proper lighting, of course) than this. Note that all three images are of the same model, though in the first two it had been restored by Ed Miarecki for the Smithsonian exhibit.
quote:Originally posted by Sol System: I am somewhat partial to the "Trials and Tribble-ations" version, though. What a pretty ship.
Yeah, that was nice. Actually, I'd like to see someone with 3D modeling skills take an accurate Constitution mesh and apply a movie-style Aztec pattern, leaving the hull markings, main section lines, and windows alone. No structural changes of any kind, just the hull. If I could see any evaluate it, that might ultimately be my preferred version of the original Enterprise... then again, it might not.
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It would be cool to see CGIs of the evolution from TOS to TMP 1701 (partially) shown by the 'in between ships' in Ships of the Star Fleet.. the >Bon Homme Richard-class -- shows the difference between the Cage enterprise (nacelle spires, tall bridge, big deflector) and the TOs enterprise (which had nacelle globes on the back & a smaller deflector) >Achernar-class (the version with all the grids on the hull like the Smithsonian revision), >Endeavour-class.. same as TOS revised Const., but with non-cylindrical warp nacelles >Constitution(II)-class (basically the Phase II Enterprise.. same saucer with grid, but with torpedo tubes, docking ports and very primitive versions of the TMP nacelles) >Tikopai-class (now with the TMP saucer, TOS engineering hull with TMP detailing, but in-between versions of the engines and struts)
Of course, if any of those vessels were to be canon, they would be Constitution-class (variant) but its really interesting to see the evolution. If they ever do a special edition of 'The Ultimate computer' it would be nice if each of the four constitutions present had different features like those described to discern them in the chaos.
the new show was cool too...
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quote:Originally posted by CaptainMike: >Achernar-class (the version with all the grids on the hull like the Smithsonian revision)
The Smithsonian "revision" didn't add anything, it just made the already existing lines more noticeable; they were there from the beginning, but before the renovation they were just pencilled lines.
The Achernar is Franz Joseph's highly innaccurate version of the Constitution from his Tech Manual with a larger, curvy secondary hull, reshaped nacelles, and a much more rounded "teardrop" assembly under the bridge.
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you got it right about the bridge dome thing.. but the grid marks are a little more controversial.. Original model maker Richard C. Datin said in the July 1996 issue of Cinefantastique that, "The original model was smooth and didn't show any lines or marks, except for the lettering and numbers." The pencil lines were theorized to have been added by those who restored the original model when it toured various locales during the 1970s. This is also when the nacelle domes were lost or destroyed and replaced with simple 'blinkies.' Photos of the model from 1974 show no grids or markings, but in pictures taken by Jeff Brown in 1977 at the "Life in the Universe" exhibition at the Smithsonian, grid lines are evident. They appear to have been drawn on the upper saucer section with a pencil, but when they were added to the model (and by whom) is unclear. The grids were maintained as painting details in the 84 and again in the massive repainting Ed Miarecki did in 91, which leaves the Enterprise in its current (IMO overpainted) condition. So its definitely a revision, since the grid lines were not added until several years after the model was filmed, and never appeared on screen. see The IDIC Page- Enterprise model history
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built to exactly one-half the scale of the original model by Greg Jein. And masterfully so too.. it proves that if they went back to do TOS effect scenes wit new models it could be done gracefully.
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quote:Originally posted by CaptainMike: So its definitely a revision, since the grid lines were not added until several years after the model was filmed, and never appeared on screen.
In any case, I definitely prefer the grid in place, and fairly strong. While Jeffries wanted the hull to be mostly smooth, every other starship has had something to break it up. The grid-lined version looks more consistent, and much more realistic, to my eyes.
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Actually, the Trials & Tribbleations Enterprise had very slight grid lines in the pattern established in the revision, so they are filmed canon. I dont mind them either.. But i DO mind the grid lines as they appear on the Miarecki repainting in the Smithsonian are grotesque. He applied so much shadow (since the lines arent structural details but painted on, they need definition) but the ship looks burnt and rusted because of the heavily applied color. THAT is a violation of the original look of the ship
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But the Enterprise wasnt supposed to look beat up during TOS.. it had been around the block a few times, but was still Starfleet's finest. The Miarecki repainting shows it if it had not been refit, or had been trapped in the Delta Quadrant for seven years or something, but is completely unrelated to the ship we saw in TOS.. It looks fine in 'Trials & Tribbleations without all the ugly shit on the hull!
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