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Donny’s Late TOS Movie Era Interiors

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.
 
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.
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.
 
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 :D[/QUOTE]
 
The closest you see it is a glimpse under Valeris's hand when she's flipping all the switches in Spacedock.

View attachment 24116

It looks to me like there's a slot in the top of it, though in HD (this is the old blu-ray, not the new release, so beware of DNR) it's clear it isn't aligned like a keyhole. And I never noticed the mushroom-knob shape of it, I always figured it looked like this or this from the glimpse and the bit in the text commentary about the ignition, but I don't know if "motorcycle ignition" is something I picked up somewhere specific to this set, or if I had an idea what the part could look like from somewhere else and put two and two together.
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.
 
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."
 
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.
 
No not the same model, just general information on it.

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.
 
Those track balls? A big headache.
YUmdCOB.jpg
 
The helm is now complete. What a beast of details to figure out!



https://flic.kr/p/2mtnJvD
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.

https://flic.kr/p/2mtnJvD
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 ;)

https://flic.kr/p/2mtnJvD
A captain's eye view:
 
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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... :adore:

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.
 
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