So there I am pouring over numerous screenshots, trying to figure out the structure of the metal supports for the bridge handrail... and then something struck me. Are they actually clear perspex sheets sandwiched between metal struts?? I've always assumed they were metal, but now I'm doubting it. @Donny I'd be interested to get your thoughts on this too, as I think you made yours metal? Anyway, here's the latest progress
Indeed, there was plexiglass sandwiched in between the two steel frames. These remained this way until TFF, to my knowledge. My renders do have the plexiglass between them.
For a moment I thought you may have found something Donny missed, but looking through his images again, I see that he did indeed make those parts of a transparent material. Not just on his latest version either, his earlier version has it that way as well.
Aha! Mystery solved then! It's amazing what tiny details you start to see when you begin deconstructing scenes frame by frame. This capture had me second guessing myself again because this strut looks like it's metal. I'm guessing there may not have been consistent opacity between the sheets, because the one behind it does look transparent. Or it was capturing the light at an odd angle... Either way, I shall make them all transparent
Looks good! If I may make a suggestion, the rails should point inward at an angle a tad bit more towards the center. Yours appear to go almost straight up. I’ll dig up a good reference image for you in the morning.
Great progress Dan! Wow, I focused so much of my reference stuff on the TFF/TUC bridge set, that I never noticed those panels were transparent in the first 4 movies. Here's a good shot of the rail cross-section from the TFF set. The panel was obviously painted over to an opaque color, but the shape should be identical.
That's a good photo to ask a question I was wondering. If the soffit on the TFF bridge left over from the TMP bridge?
I believe so. I recently read that the soffit, the door alcove, the floors, rails, and helm were the only structures that survived the “freak weather accident” that has anecdotally destroyed the bridge and prompted the redesign for TFF. The soffit seems to have been changed in the next movie, however, to an angled form rather than a curved.
Here ya go, @DanGovier. A straight-on profile of the rail stanchions. The center "plexiglass" piece has obviously been altered for it's Enterprise-B appearance here, but these are the same stanchions used in the Kirk movies. These had additional brackets inserted into them to secure the new front railing we see on the TUC Enterprise-A and B. You can see these in Generations here: http://movies.trekcore.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=55401&fullsize=1
Thanks @Donny, that's amazing! It never ceases to amaze me how you manage to find these prop photos. I'm now scrolling through 232 pages of finished Trek auctions on Propworx
My eyes are always peeled Those Propworx and Christie's Auction books have a lot of gems in them. Also, for props, Yourprops.com is a great resource, but beware: there are a lot of inaccurate replicas floating around there. Always check against canon screencaps!