Constitution Refit - Airlocks

[longdavey]

Hi first post here,

Did anyone notice in some scenes(TSFS comes to mind) the enterprise does not have an airlock on the starboard side torpedo bay?

I guess this is an omission from the close up model of the secondary hull/dorsal section.

Any comments or thoughts?
John.

 

[Timo]

Ah, this one?

http://movies.trekcore.com/gallery/albums/tsfshd/tsfshd1012.jpg

This is actually likely to be the only time the close-up partial model was fully seen from the starboard side, in either of the two movies to feature that model. The corresponding scene from ST2 where the Reliant is finally defeated is framed more tightly and omits the airlock area:

http://movies.trekcore.com/gallery/albums/twokhd/twokhd0923.jpg

Yup, seems they built the model without that detail. The interesting question is, why does that side have so much other detail back there? And apparently the answer is, it doesn't: everything aft of the area framed in ST2 is filled in with a matte painting in ST3. And a rather carelessly done/shot/postprocessed matte painting at that, as we see weird grey surfaces where we should be seeing the portside pylon and engine and stars. Plus, the saucer is apparently also just painted in, without much detail.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[longdavey]

Hi Timo,
That's the scene indeed! I never noticed how rubbish it looked until I looked at the picture you posted

I think TSFS is due an FX update like what they did with TMP directors edition.

 

[Tomalak]

Well I never spotted that before! I think it works fine in the movie, it hardly sticks out like a sore thumb. Sure, it's noticeable when you pour over HD screencaps, but that's rather like taking a magnifying glass to a painting and seeing the brush strokes.

 

[Mytran]

Actually it fits in rather well with the set, too - the airlock doors were only present on the port side.

 

[Search4]

Well, this is one I can help with!

First the model was used in three movies, not two (the torpedo shot in Undiscovered Country).

Here's the side in question, without the docking port...

The other wide was "fixed" for Undiscovered Country, by the way. Sadly.

 

[Mytran]

I just realised - no portholes on that side either.
All the fun stuff must be going on port-ways!

 

[Timo]

Actually it fits in rather well with the set, too - the airlock doors were only present on the port side.

Yup - it's the full model that is "faulty" in this respect! (And lamentably rather visibly so.)

Although apparently there is something on the starboard side that allows one to move to other parts of the ship, as many characters are seen leaving the set via that corner. Can't be turbolifts or ladderways up, by the shape of things, but could be such means of travel down.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[GNDN]

Damn!! I'm sorry I clicked through on this thread. Interesting as it is, I can't unsee the deficiencies of the shot from TSFS. Honestly have to say that I'd never noticed the shortcomings of the model since my eye was focused on the torpedo tube (as intended, I'm sure) but now like learning the secret to a magic trick, I'll always see the dirty work!

Just watched this review and that shot is repeated several times. I couldn't help but notice the lack of airlock and questionable compositing of the aft of the ship. Can't bear to review the blu-ray. Hopefully I can get swept up in the momentum of the story next time I watch and not dwell. Oh well.

 

[Timo]

We could argue that Scotty and his somewhat underage little helpers decided the airlock and portholes in that part of the ship had suffered too much damage, and they applied most of the ship's portable hull-sealing plates on that area to seal them off. And then something blew three decks down, and they had to patch that hole with improvised material, giving a much uglier result.

Alas, there are some shots where the area is visible in the larger model (most damningly in the standoff between Kirk and Kruge's respective ships)...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[feld]

Alas, there are some shots where the area is visible in the larger model (most damningly in the standoff between Kirk and Kruge's respective ships)...

<sigh>
Yeah...we could get around the instances in TUC as individual differences within the class. Believe offical sources list USS Yorktown as having lost her name to become Enterprise-A. Since Starfleet apparently decided to install a TNG style warp core vice a linear intermix shaft in Yorktown then I personally could have overlooked one airlock.

But sadly, the lock appears and disappears within the same film.

Ahhh...shucks...it also is definitively established as being there in Trek 2. If only it would go away I might be able to complete a decent retcon on the photorp bays in the refit. Alas.

v/r
feld