Restored 1960s VFX of the Enterprise

[blssdwlf]

So the versions are considered to be the same thing, evolved and developed overtime in universe?

Depends on who you ask In-universe there was no mention of these different filming versions as being the Enterprise evolved over time. Throughout the series, the different versions (with the exception of the version with the rectangles on the back of the nacelles) were intermingled in the same episode. I once thought of them as different versions but now see them all as the Enterprise changing configurations throughout an episode like a sailing ship would change rigging.

 

[Richard S. Ta]

I once thought of them as different versions but now see them all as the Enterprise changing configurations throughout an episode like a sailing ship would change rigging.

Neat. That works for me!

 

[Poltargyst]

Depends on who you ask In-universe there was no mention of these different filming versions as being the Enterprise evolved over time. Throughout the series, the different versions (with the exception of the version with the rectangles on the back of the nacelles) were intermingled in the same episode. I once thought of them as different versions but now see them all as the Enterprise changing configurations throughout an episode like a sailing ship would change rigging.

Right. The globes and the aerials are retractable.

 

[Warped9]

The creators’ intent was obvious and makes more sense than over-complicated rationalizing..

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

I think in going back to recreate clean shots of the originals as well as some new ones where feasible it would be best to adhere to how the ship was filmed back in the day.

That would be an interesting experiment.

So you won’t see the Enterprise swooping around like a fighter jet because they wouldn’t have been able to film it that way back then.

It would also rob the miniature of the feeling of being a large, powerful ship. One of the worst decisions I've ever witnessed was one of early the fan films from Star Trek: New Voyages with its CG 1701 performing like something out of Star Wars. Ridiculous.

Lighting matters as well. They built a new miniature for a DS9 episode and the way they filmed it it didn’t look anything like TOS footage.

True. Great episode overall, but the miniatures were lit in a very different way from the TOS approach:

 

[Lord Garth]

I think it's human nature for creators to want to put their own spin on things. That's why they're creatives in the first place. That's the best thing about them and the worst thing about them. The temptation to do more and to make it "better" is too great.

I feel like the original footage should be upscaled, cleaned up, and let that be the end of it. I think the original model work should be shown as was. Historically speaking, people should be able to see the 1960s version as was shot. Not a recreation of the 1960s footage, no matter how well done.

Once someone starts tweaking, someone further down the line will want to do a better tweaking, and it becomes a slippery slope. Eventually we'll get to the point where someone will want to remaster TOS again, do another TOS-R, and it still won't be quite right.

As a videographer, editor, and (very) independent filmmaker, I prefer to be able to see the evolution of television (and film) production over time. Each of these productions is a representation of the time and circumstances they were made in.

IMO, the approach they took to upgrade TNG was the approach they should've taken to upgrade TOS.

 

[blssdwlf]

I think it's human nature for creators to want to put their own spin on things. That's why they're creatives in the first place. That's the best thing about them and the worst thing about them. The temptation to do more and to make it "better" is too great.

I feel like the original footage should be upscaled, cleaned up, and let that be the end of it. I think the original model work should be shown as was. Historically speaking, people should be able to see the 1960s version as was shot. Not a recreation of the 1960s footage, no matter how well done.

Once someone starts tweaking, someone further down the line will want to do a better tweaking, and it becomes a slippery slope. Eventually we'll get to the point where someone will want to remaster TOS again, do another TOS-R, and it still won't be quite right.

As a videographer, editor, and (very) independent filmmaker, I prefer to be able to see the evolution of television (and film) production over time. Each of these productions is a representation of the time and circumstances they were made in.

IMO, the approach they took to upgrade TNG was the approach they should've taken to upgrade TOS.

I agree with this. Keeping the original footage as-is with only minor clean-up and/or upscaling would be the best approach as it would require the least amount of interpretation of creators' intent and preserves TOS' Enterprise character.

 

[publiusr]

I seem to remember a photograph of the aft of the 11 footer that didn't even have the rectangles. It would explain the early nacelle caps being bare.

 

[Mytran]

I seem to remember a photograph of the aft of the 11 footer that didn't even have the rectangles. It would explain the early nacelle caps being bare.

Possibly the 11-footer which was used for The Cage, as only the 3-footer had the rectangles I think.

 

[blssdwlf]

I seem to remember a photograph of the aft of the 11 footer that didn't even have the rectangles. It would explain the early nacelle caps being bare.

I seem to remember seeing a bts video or picture of one that had not been painted yet. It doesn't appear that a completely bare aft nacelle version was aired when reviewing Tallguy's excellent Enterprise Catalog.

 

[urbandefault]

I seem to remember a photograph of the aft of the 11 footer that didn't even have the rectangles. It would explain the early nacelle caps being bare.

Possibly the 11-footer which was used for The Cage, as only the 3-footer had the rectangles I think.

The 11 foot model at Anderson Co. on 1-23-65. No grilles, globes, or rectangles.

 

[Mytran]

The 11 foot model at Anderson Co. on 1-23-65. No grilles, globes, or rectangles.

So, shortly after The Cage but several months before WNMHGB?

 

[ZapBrannigan]

So, shortly after The Cage but several months before WNMHGB?

Yeah. The slate says Star Trek #2, which means it's a shot for WNMHGB, I would guess it went unused because, next thing you know, Roddenberry ordered a grille to be painted on the end caps.

Also of note, the 11-footer is hanging from wires. That's an early thing only, afaik.

 

[publiusr]

There is another shot of just the model.

The most used shot is often of Enterprise "flying away" at the close of many episodes.

My guess is that was shot right after the addition of the vents---but with the wires...as no base obscures the secondary hull underbelly.

Now...what might have inspired the look of the vents.....any photos of hair dryer nozzles of the era?

Today there are slanted leaf-blowers---I bet some consumer product of the period served as inspiration.

 

[Warped9]

The problem with the vents, and why I’ve never cared for them, is they evoke the idea of rocket exhausts—the very thing Roddenberry told Jefferies he did not want to see in the design.

The nacelle ends seen in “The Cage” and the series production version avoid that.

Another thing I don’t care for on the 2nd pilot version is the rectangular light/window on the bridge dome. The main viewscreen on the bridge is not an actual window, but that rectangular light suggests otherwise. It’s unnecessarily confusing (to the average viewer) so best to be rid of it as they did with the 1st pilot and series production versions.

 

[Henoch]

Another thing I don’t care for on the 2nd pilot version is the rectangular light/window on the bridge dome. The main viewscreen on the bridge is not an actual window, but that rectangular light suggests otherwise.

I assume the top edge of the large "window" for WNMHGB became the cut line that lowered the bridge dome for the regular series.

 

[Ronald Held]

Vents in WNMHGB indicated some damage to the warp nacelles?

 

[Mytran]

I assume the top edge of the large "window" for WNMHGB became the cut line that lowered the bridge dome for the regular series.

It does seem to be about half way up the dome...

 

[blssdwlf]

It does seem to be about half way up the dome...

Yeah, it looks like that is where it got cut. But they must have painted over the rectangle for "The Cage" before it was cut in half. I just treat it as a sensor window.

Vents in WNMHGB indicated some damage to the warp nacelles?

None that we're aware of. The vents on the rear caps made appearances in 60+ episodes, plus all 3 seasons' titles.

 

[Mytran]

Yeah, it looks like that is where it got cut. But they must have painted over the rectangle for "The Cage" before it was cut in half. I just treat it as a sensor window.

I don't think it was added until WNMHGB, as the ship for The Cage had no lighting