2ft E-D model

[swaaye]

I would generally agree accept for the notion of the four footer being 'the plan all along.' I think the decision to build the four-footer was something that was not originally planned.

Well what I meant was that the 4 foot model came out of a need for a miniature that was easier to shoot in more elaborate ways. They probably would have made it from the start if they had forseen the difficulties they apparently had with the big-but-amazing 6 foot beast.

The lumpy detail was apparently done make it easier to set up lighting that brought out hull detail. The 6 foot model obviously has very shallow surface detail and they felt that it was too hard to bring out that detail when filming. Went a bit over the top with the patchwork though.

 

[CaptainStoner]

I would generally agree accept for the notion of the four footer being 'the plan all along.' I think the decision to build the four-footer was something that was not originally planned.

Well what I meant was that the 4 foot model came out of a need for a miniature that was easier to shoot in more elaborate ways. They probably would have made it from the start if they had forseen the difficulties they apparently had with the big-but-amazing 6 foot beast.

The lumpy detail was apparently done make it easier to set up lighting that brought out hull detail. The 6 foot model obviously has very shallow surface detail and they felt that it was too hard to bring out that detail when filming. Went a bit over the top with the patchwork though.

True, and also standard TV resolution was a factor as I recall -
For my 2 cents, I wish there had been a couple of variant angles on the standard ship sequences we have in nearly every episode. There's one shot of the 4-foot used as a bookend for commercial breaks that is particularly overused ~

 

[TheSeeker]

I've honestly never noticed the 'greebles' before. By the way, have a look here at John Eaves blog for photos in the crate post-Generations. The greebles stand out A LOT. I honestly think I prefer the more subtle 'Generations' paint job, since the original got color-corrected anyway.

I seem to remember reading somewhere, possibly from Rick Sternbach or Mike Okuda in the Trek Art forum, that the E-D filming model was painted with such strong colours because the harsh lighting it was filmed under washed out a lot of the colour.

It came up in a discussion on painting a model kit and whether it should be painted to the exact specifications as the filming model. His take on it was that you should paint it as it looked on the television screen and not be a slave to the original colours it was painted in.

A little off topic but I thought I'd share.

 

[Praetor]

Interesting. I was recalling where I thought I'd read that Probert specified the blue/green paintjob with the intent of recreating the TOS ship's somewhat bluish hue, only to have it color-corrected out.

Perhaps a combination of both is the truth then? Probert didn't know they would wash out in the harsh lights?

 

[TheSeeker]

Maybe we should pose the question in the Trek Art forum addressed to all three guys!

 

[Tomalak]

I don't think the E-D has ever looked better than in this iconic early publicity shot.

How cool is that?

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

I had a magazine with that pic in it around the time the pilot aired. My buddy, a Trek fan (who had no cable) read the novelization of the pilot episode. He liked the story and characters, and knew the ship resembled the old E, but he couldn't picture it. I brought that photo to school and showed it to him. He stared at it for a good long while, in silence and utter admiration.

 

[Praetor]

That's one of my favorite images of the D.

 

[kitsune]

I don't think the E-D has ever looked better than in this iconic early publicity shot.

How cool is that?

Ack, the planet and ship are lit from different sides! It looks jarring to me.

 

[FalTorPan]

The lumpy detail was apparently done make it easier to set up lighting that brought out hull detail. The 6 foot model obviously has very shallow surface detail and they felt that it was too hard to bring out that detail when filming. Went a bit over the top with the patchwork though.

True, and also standard TV resolution was a factor as I recall

In my never so humble opinion, the six-footer had sufficient details: the windows, lifeboat hatches, docking ports, and similar features. Aside from those features, the ship looked smooth because it was smooth.

The Enterprise-D's theoretical length is over 2100 feet. The six-foot filming miniature's approximate scale is 1:350. A plate merely 1/64 of an inch in thickness on the miniature scales up to a plate that's over five inches thick.

The four-footer's approximate scale is 1:525. A 1/64" plate on that miniature becomes over 8" thick on the upscaled ship.

Why would an organic design like the Enterprise, with its sweeping, graceful lines, be spotted with several-inch-thick detailed panels with no obvious function? This is the Enterprise, not the Millennium Falcon.

 

[BolianAuthor]

This has always been my personal favorite shot of the 1701-D.

 

[FalTorPan]

That shot of the six-footer highlights another reason why I prefer the six-footer to the four-footer. The large window bay just above the underside "NCC-1701-D" -- described as fixed-focus navigational deflectors in the TNG Tech Manual, but windows per Mr. Probert -- has windows of identical size, spaced evenly across the bay. The four-footer's windows have a wide gap between the innermost two windows, giving the bay a "buck-toothed" appearance.

 

[swaaye]

I've been doing a lot of scanning lately and that post by BolianAdmiral of the TNG card with the 2ft model reminded me that I had those cards too. Haven't looked at these cards in probably >10 years.

I let my 'ol scanner rip at 1200dpi for these. Saved them in lossless PNG for you guys. I'm not entirely sure which model that is on the first card (4 footer?)....



Oh and check these 6 footer photos out from the Christies auction.
http://www.mutara.net/Christies/EnterpriseD.html

 

[BolianAuthor]

Wow... thank you for those big scans! And thanks for the auction pic link!

 

[TheSeeker]

I've been doing a lot of scanning lately and that post by BolianAdmiral of the TNG card with the 2ft model reminded me that I had those cards too. Haven't looked at these cards in probably >10 years.

I let my 'ol scanner rip at 1200dpi for these. Saved them in lossless PNG for you guys. I'm not entirely sure which model that is on the first card (4 footer?)....



Oh and check these 6 footer photos out from the Christies auction.
http://www.mutara.net/Christies/EnterpriseD.html

Just for the record, I am green with envy for whoever bought the 6-footer.

 

[kitsune]

Oh and check these 6 footer photos out from the Christies auction.
http://www.mutara.net/Christies/EnterpriseD.html

Just for the record, I am green with envy for whoever bought the 6-footer.

Take solace in the fact that it was in absolutely horrible condition. I think I'd probably scrap it.

The Lakota was in bad shape as well; its nacelles were drooping badly.

 

[FalTorPan]

I'm not entirely sure which model that is on the first card (4 footer?)....

The model in the upper photo is the four-footer. You can tell by the bloated contour of the neck, as well as the shape of the deflector area.

 

[miraclefan]

Wow all these early pictures sure bring back a lot of memories for me.

 

[TheSeeker]

Oh and check these 6 footer photos out from the Christies auction.
http://www.mutara.net/Christies/EnterpriseD.html

Just for the record, I am green with envy for whoever bought the 6-footer.

Take solace in the fact that it was in absolutely horrible condition. I think I'd probably scrap it.

The Lakota was in bad shape as well; its nacelles were drooping badly.

It didn't look too bad in the pictures.

 

[swaaye]

If I remember correctly from the TNG DVD extras, the 6 footer was found in some restaurant. The prop master lady (don't know name) and Michael Okuda identified it. The restaurant had somehow gotten it to display. It was covered in oil, dirt, etc.

I wish the guy had taken an overall shot of that 6 ft model though.