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Type 5 "Galileo" Shuttlecraft Studio Model Replica

T

TheTrekBack

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Red Shirt
Hey guys,

hope you are doing well around the globe. Since more than 2 years I am working from home office. Great opportunity actually to start some Star Trek projects I can finally share with you.

And here is one of them: a relatively large-scale replica of the Type 5 Shuttlecraft “Galileo” from The Final Frontier (aka everyone’s favourites Trek movie). The model is around 35cm long (Starfleet is using the metric system, right?) and made of plastic, wood and putty – no 3D-Printer was used. Base of this build was a CD-holder shaped as Type 6 Shuttle from TNG, which wasn’t the best choice actually since the Playmates Shuttle is much more accurate… but anyway. I am especially proud of the nacelles who are handcrafted and I am still happy they turned out so well. The model is fully lighted like in the movie and the bottom light sequence was programmed on an Arduino circuit board inside.

TREK_V_GALILEO_SHUTTLE_SIDE by Alan Smithee, auf Flickr

TREK_V_GALILEO_SHUTTLE_TOP by Alan Smithee, auf Flickr

TREK_V_GALILEO_SHUTTLE_FRONT by Alan Smithee, auf Flickr

TREK_V_GALILEO_SHUTTLE_BACK by Alan Smithee, auf Flickr

Further this model is designed to work as rig-able studio model as the original with rigging connectors at front, rear, top, bottom and both sides via the removable doors.

TREK_V_GALILEO_SHUTTLE by Alan Smithee, auf Flickr

Why? Well… despite the excellent effects work of the original the idea grew in my mind to recreate some shots combining digital imaging and a physical model. I know there are a couple of VFX remastered out but I think digital effects do not fit the overall aesthetic of this period… also just love the old technics with physical models and how organic the look. Even today, when done properly… just think about the model shots from Generations. So, in the pic below, you can see a test composition of an animated digital matte painting with a slight camera pan, moving trees, waterfall and clouds (does anyone has a high-resolution image of the original Yosemite Valley painting by accident?) and blue-screen footage of the model.

YOSEMITE_TAKEOFF by Alan Smithee, auf Flickr

While this already looks good for a prove of concept how everything blends together I was not able to produce fast and steady enough movements since my motorised slider is just not capable enough^^. My wife would just kill me if I spend some K for a motion control unit that can do these things. But I am confident that at least the slow Nimbus III approach shot can be realized. So expect moving images in the future.


Greetings to everyone! PS… yeah - bear with me, I am not a native English speaker.
 
publiusr said:
Haslab
Click to expand...

Not sure what the model scale would be but as said it is around 35cm long. Figures are around 10cm high isn't? ...so it's not in scale and would require a much larger model ;) In general the size proportions are almost same as the Playmates Magellan Type 6 Shuttle (it's a little bit smaller), extended by the middle part with the doors, which was removed from the original model to convert it from the Type 5 Shuttle from the movie to TNG's Type 6 Shuttle (so I kind of reversed this). The Playmates Shuttle was designed for a figure but as a toy this wasn't in proper scale neither. BTW: I also converted a Playmates Type 6 Shuttle to a screen accurate Voyager style Type 6 Shuttle ;) Will Post this soon.

But anyway if a company would want to build something like this in series they would of course rather create a digital 3d model for a master mould, which is not that difficult because the shape is relatively simpel.
 
DUUUUUUUUUDE. Talk about making a splash with an entrance like this! And tell us the truth: you’re really a burglar who swiped the original studio model, and you’re just covering your tracks now :devil: … because the only other possible explanation is that you have built a truly studio-quality shooting miniature. :ack:

FROM SCRATCH. :wtf:

Incredible!!!

Oh… and BTW, your English is just fine. Your pictures are already worth a thousand words anyway. :techman:
 
Professor Moriarty said:
And tell us the truth: you’re really a burglar who swiped the original studio model, and you’re just covering your tracks now :devil: … because the only other possible explanation is that you have built a truly studio-quality shooting miniature. :ack:

FROM SCRATCH. :wtf:
Click to expand...

Many thanks Mister Moriarty ;) But as said it wasn't entirely from scratch. I cutted the "The Next Generation Shuttlecraft Magellan CD Holder" from 1997 into two pieces and construced the longer Type 5 Shuttle with a wooden frame inside. So most difficult parts of the nose and rear section were there. For reference I used dozens of photos from the movie's production and most important from the famous 40 years auction. Needless to say I tried to make it as authentic as possible... so it just looks right. Some details have been lost though but originally they had models in different sizes with different details, too.

A shooting miniature would be bigger usually but this size looks very good on a big screen already if you don't get too close.
 
I try to slice my thumbs off every time I wield an X-Acto knife, which is why all my Star Trek modeling is digital. Anyone who can build a three-dimensional model as gorgeous as this one is allowed to use whatever starting point they want—it’s still impressive as hell.
 
You will laugh - I use X-Acto 11... as recommended by the one and only Doug Drexler. It's indeed really sharp :D Checked your site of course and your digital work isn't less impressive. The afford and passion people put in their projects here is stunning.
 
TheTrekBack said:
You will laugh - I use X-Acto 11... as recommended by the one and only Doug Drexler. It's indeed really sharp :D
Click to expand...
True story: Like Diane Chambers on Cheers, I switched majors about eight times in college, and the first one I started with was a year and a half stab at architecture. And I literally mean stab: at about 3 AM one night in my studio, I was trying to slice through a slab of thick Styrofoam posterboard and was cutting with the X-Acto knife coming towards me. Well, I hit a hard spot in the board and I tried to power through it. The knife slipped and popped right out of the board, and I stabbed myself on the inboard side of my right thigh, mere millimeters away from the little Professor Moriartys.

Let’s just say that incident started me rethinking a career in architecture.
 
Oh and PS, I showed the photos of your model to my friend who literally has a room full of Star Trek memorabilia (you think I’m a big fan of the show? I’m a piker compared to him — anyone who has a dedicated Star Trek room is automatically a Trekkie superfan in my book). He was super impressed and could not believe how exquisite your replica turned out.
 
Superbly done!

Although I have reservations about the aft hatch I’ve always liked that design as a reasonable evolution from the familiar TOS Class F design.
 
"Live by the X-Acto, bleed by the X-Acto."
I've request crossed X-Acto knives on my headstone.

My wounds are too numerous to catalog, but the most awakening one was when I dropped the knife, and reflexively clamped my legs closed to catch it. My right thigh jammed the blade into my left thigh. Missed the femoral artery (whew), but it wasn't comfortable.

On another occasion, I'd flipped my vinyl drawing board cover over to use the unblemished side - we used the board to cut and mount signs at work, so it had lots of slices and digs in it. I was smoothing the vinyl down with my hand when I discovered there was a broken-off #11 blade tip that had been stuck in the mat, which was now sticking up OUT of the mat, and it sliced right across my palm. That was actually the second time I'd done something like that, the first time needing stitches on my thumb. I've also dropped the knife into my foot once or twice. The safety dept loved me.
 
Forbin said:
"Live by the X-Acto, bleed by the X-Acto."
I've request crossed X-Acto knives on my headstone.

My wounds are too numerous to catalog, but the most awakening one was when I dropped the knife, and reflexively clamped my legs closed to catch it. My right thigh jammed the blade into my left thigh. Missed the femoral artery (whew), but it wasn't comfortable.

On another occasion, I'd flipped my vinyl drawing board cover over to use the unblemished side - we used the board to cut and mount signs at work, so it had lots of slices and digs in it. I was smoothing the vinyl down with my hand when I discovered there was a broken-off #11 blade tip that had been stuck in the mat, which was now sticking up OUT of the mat, and it sliced right across my palm. That was actually the second time I'd done something like that, the first time needing stitches on my thumb. I've also dropped the knife into my foot once or twice. The safety dept loved me.
Click to expand...
Health insurance must love you.
 
Forbin said:
My wounds are too numerous to catalog, but the most awakening one was when I dropped the knife, and reflexively clamped my legs closed to catch it. My right thigh jammed the blade into my left thigh. Missed the femoral artery (whew), but it wasn't comfortable
Click to expand...
Oh, that could have been so much worse, other than hitting a major artery!!!
 
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