Great new TMP pics!

[Maurice]

Seriously, all I'm saying is there are no big revelations here. I've not seen these particular photos, but they don't add any new information other than a more square on view of the backdrop and the engineering set as unfinished.

Speaking of that, I think some people misinterpret the photo looking down the core, because the shot is clearly from above the set (probably from the catwalks), not from withinin the set (as per Kirk's POV downshot in the film). If you count the number of ring sets, the set contained 5 (including the one at the "ceiling" above Kirk as be gets into the lift), which is exactly the same as in the "from the rafters" shot. it looks like the painting has been started in that photo, but it's far from done.

 

[Mytran]

A small corner of it was reused for TSFS in Excelsior's engine room. After that the Enterprise self destructed so there wasn't any way to use it in TVH! The set was then modified for use in TNG so there was no way to use the original design in future movies

 

[Robert Comsol]

Speaking of that, I think some people misinterpret the photo looking down the core, because the shot is clearly from above the set (probably from the catwalks), not from withinin the set (as per Kirk's POV downshot in the film). ... It looks like the painting has been started in that photo, but it's far from done.

It's not the one from the final film, for reasons I mentioned in post # 17.

If that's not good enough, may I please direct your attention to the upper engine core tube element. The center of the tube element is level with the upper catwalk we see in the Resella image.

Compare this to the actual studio set where we can clearly see that the upper engine core tube element is above the engine room main level.

Further, notice the top cylindrical segment in the Resella image. These segments always come in two, but here it's only one.

For the forced perspective extension in the final film we somewhat excluded that it was a matte painting, but with this particular Resella image I'm having doubts.
Notice the outlines (pencil?) on the outer tube elements in the Resella image. None of the shots of the actual and physical studio set ever featured those.

Bob

P.S.

In case the Resella image is a static painting, I could imagine that the original idea was to have Kirk look down at something - cut to - static Resella painting - cut back to - live action footage. Maybe it just didn't convey the illusion that got realized with the fake perspective floor canvas painting in the final film.

Isn't there something mentioned in the publications regarding the engine set construction and filming that could help us evaluate and appreciate the unusual Resella painting?

 

[Christopher]

A small corner of it was reused for TSFS in Excelsior's engine room. After that the Enterprise self destructed so there wasn't any way to use it in TVH!

Well, hypothetically, they could've used it for the engine room of a different ship again. But from a budgetary standpoint, it would've been an unnecessary expense because they were able to convey the information about other Starfleet ships losing power by using only the bridge set. After TMP's cost overruns, the subsequent movies were shot on tight budgets, and the engine room set, with its elaborate practical lighting in the intermix chamber and the careful camera angles needed to sell the forced-perspective illusion, must've been a complicated and expensive set to film on.

And of course the refitted TNG configuration of the engine room set was used in TFF and TUC -- and in the latter case they did a really bad job of hiding the TNG-style design.

 

[FatherRob]

As I recall, didn't the core 'tube' get modified and reused for Voyager's warp core?

 

[F. King Daniel]

And of course the refitted TNG configuration of the engine room set was used in TFF and TUC -- and in the latter case they did a really bad job of hiding the TNG-style design.

Engineering in STV: TFF was just the Jefferies Tube set with some consoles and an angled glowing pipe in the background.

I like how they implied that the horizontal intermix chamber was just off camera.

 

[Robert Comsol]

How comes? I had the impression that both the brig and the bottom part of this "turbo shaft" were connected by this Jefferies Tube somewhere near the very bottom or keel of the ship (which would also explain to some extent the misalignment of the forced perspective backdrop / tube extension painting).

The horizontal engine core feeding the warp engines would probably be much higher up.

Bob

 

[Ryann866]

I won't speak for Maurice, but count me among the crowd on these pics; thanks Mytran! The early engineering, corridor, and rec deck backdrop photos were the highlights for me.

Re: The corridors -- I'm still waiting to see photos of the pre-TMP Phase II corridors. The one labeled "New Movie Version 1978" must be very shortly after the new corridors were assembled around the original Phase II walls (which as I understand remained behind the TMP/TNG walls until they were demolished).

Re: Rec deck backdrop -- The only other photo I've seen of the backdrop was from a low, side angle (tried but couldn't find it in my collection; anyone have it handy?). Interesting that the nacelle has the red striping that was removed during the Trumbull mods (and prominent on the Mike Minor preproduction art). Had Wise not decided to obscure the backdrop with extras during the briefing scene, Trumbull would have had to retain the stripes to match the live-action rec deck footage.

It's interesting that these photos are not from the Paramount archives but rather from a staffer's personal collection (reference shots, etc.). Maybe that's where we're going to get most of our previously unseen behind-the-scenes material going forward.

I think the third engine room photo is a snapshot of the actual scenic backing that was placed on the floor of the engine room set. Either that, or it could be a preliminary sketch or mockup of what the forced perspective painting would look like.

As far as the Phase II corridors -- you can make out the flat wall of the original corridor behind the lower section of angular bulkhead beams in the 4th photo ( of the unfinished corridor, where the floor level lights would eventually be installed):

Also in this shot of the TNG transporter room being converted into the Voyager set you can see the backside of the original Phase II corridor wall at the left of the image.

It's just old wood, sure, but you can see how they would have been flat walls very similar to TOS corridors. When Phase II became TMP, then built those "A" frame bulkheads inside the Phase II walls and attached the aluminum panels to them, rather than scrap the existing corridor sets and start over. Those sets stayed pretty much intact until Voyager.

Any shots of the construction of TMP engine room always thrill me. It's one of my favorite Trek sets.

 

[Borjis]

Any shots of the construction of TMP engine room always thrill me. It's one of my favorite Trek sets.

hells yes

 

[F. King Daniel]

How comes? I had the impression that both the brig and the bottom part of this "turbo shaft" were connected by this Jefferies Tube somewhere near the very bottom or keel of the ship (which would also explain to some extent the misalignment of the forced perspective backdrop / tube extension painting).

The horizontal engine core feeding the warp engines would probably be much higher up.

Bob

Who says corridors like that are only at the bottom of the ship? We saw similar pipe-filled service corridors at the top of the USS Defiant's Jefferies Tube in "In a Mirror, Darkly". I think they're throughout the engineering hull.

 

[Robert Comsol]

I did not suggest that Jefferies Tubes are only at the bottom of the ship (obviously), but you suggested that the Jefferies Tube we saw in ST V:TFF was near the warp engine room.

In this case, our protagonists got out of their brig cell - and then descended to the bottom of the engineering hull only to ascent again all the way up to the saucer?

Since a brewery plant fits inside the nuTrek Enterprise I think this turbo shaft from ST V might fit inside her, too, but I don't think there is any way to rationalize this turbo shaft inside the Enterprise-A unless it's at least at the very bottom of the ship.

Bob