Did Mike say whether it was a found object key, versus something done by the art dept or metal shop? I'm wondering if that whole object isn't the key, rather than a cylinder with the keyhole in it.
Kirk does order "Stop Energizers" (instead of the old fashioned "stop engines"). So I suppose that's the logical control for carrying out that order.
He went on to describe the key as best he could. Said it was small like a padlock key, but the art department had soldered some sort of greeble onto it. That's all he could remember. But yes, he described the key fitting into the metal cylinder.
^ I bet Chekov programmed some sick beats with that one. As always, your work is so haptic and beautiful to look at, @Donny!
The silver thing is a Universal ignition switch. Not sure what that silver knob thingy is for, so I decided to slap "Emergency Override" above it, since it's been reported that many operators had trouble finding the override on past iterations of Starfleet helm consoles. "Where's the override? THE OVERRIDE?" it was reported was often said frantically when looking for it in the heat of battle I surmise it also may double as antique dashboard cigarette lighter [/QUOTE]
When I look at that left-hand image it appears (to me) that the widest part of the top is hexagonal and it's making wonder if this knobby thing is a barrel from a cam lock like you find on lockers and desk drawers. Something like this. Only with a standard key.
Are you saying it's that specific model of ignition switch? Because the shape doesn't appear to match. The one in the film appears to have three tiers at the top, a thiner base with another tier connecting it to the console.
A quick Google image search shows all kinds of universal ignition switches with different shapes. But a lot of those results are going to feed into websites that are selling stuff available today, so they might or might not reflect what was available back in 1991.
If it is a universal ignition switch, you definitely need one with a longer threaded barrel than what @JoeRalat suggested. Have to allow for the thickness of the panel the switch is mounted on. And I still think the wide part of the top is a thin hex nut.
I wonder how easy it would be to steer the ship with that keypad? I know I've used my numeric keypad to steer ships in "Star Trek: Bridge Commander."
Don't forget, Donny still needs to add the silver trackball. I'm sure the numeric keypad is fine for entering coordinates.
We saw trackball-like devices on the pilot and co-pilot's stations on the TNG Type 7 shuttles. We never really found out what those were for either, but if I had to venture a guess, I'd say it was some sort of instrument that let you adjust pitch, roll, and yaw all at once.
The helm is now complete. What a beast of details to figure out! I spoke to Mike Okuda yesterday and he informed me that the spheres on the console were two concentric clear styrene half-domes, one smaller and fitting inside the other. He said he "most likely" used 1/4" and 1/8" silver mylar tape to form a cross pattern on the inner dome, with some black and white on the lower edge of the outer dome. I took my best stab at it, not really ever getting a good look at them in the film, and I think the results look well enough. Another thing I was always curious about was what kind of graphics were in the center panel's 6 cut-outs. This morning I sent a message to ask him. And while waiting for a response, I had an "aha!" moment and figured they were most likely small versions of the circular displays seen elswhere on the bridge. He later got in touch with me and confirmed that was indeed what was there. He then commented that the glass discs sitting on top of them should have more highlight and haze, so I therefore made them very shiny. He also commented that those grey panels had more weathering and a spattery paint finish, and that the helm console control surfaces were more glossy, so I again changed things to suit. It's a real treat having Mike Okuda give my work a once-over, but it's also terrifying knowing what he might say that might require more work on my end A captain's eye view:
This is absolutely amazing. You've done a remarkable job on this, it really feels like I'm there on the bridge. And the TUC bridge is one of, if not my absolute favorite, so to see you do it justice... And if he's reading this thread, a big thank you to Mike Okuda for finally clearing up some of the long-standing mysteries of the fine details of this bridge.