Could a Life Size Enterprise Ship Model Be Built?

[Joshua Howard]

After reading the STEX thread, I got to thinking about this; a fantasy which is obviously far fetched, but which I have fun thinking about from time to time.

I imagine the prospect of a life-size U.S.S. Enterprise model, built upon dock-like scaffolding; something not unlike the scene in the Star Trek XI trailer when Young Kirk is looking at the ship under construction from the vantage point of his motorcycle.

What if the next Bill Gates were a die hard Star Trek fan willing to turn such an idea into a multi-million dollar pet project? The standard quarters aboard the ship could house a functional office complex, while the common areas would be open to staff and tourism.

It sounds like a bigger than life idea; but I can't see it costing anywhere near the sum necessary to erect a super-tall in a downtown area. In hypothesis, it could eventually become profitable - and for the Star Trek fan - it would be like Mecca.

I personally can't imagine anything more inspirational than a boardable 1:1 scale 1701 with twinkling lights and glowing nacelles; it sure would beat Six Flags!

So, back to the question; if a nerdy trekking billionaire decided to draft the project, could it happen? If not, why not? If it did, what would the most important feature be?

 

[FalTorPan]

A mental ward for all the people who thought constructing such a thing would be economically viable.

 

[Kaziarl]

A mental ward for all the people who thought constructing such a thing would be economically viable.

I get the impression that the OP understood that it wouldn't be economically viable considering he said it would probably take someone with bill gates' wallet. It would likely take much more from that, but I think the question here is from a construction standpoint what would be the obstacles.

Probably the biggest one would be supporting the Saucer Section. Granted, you could have it held up with pillar or something, but it certainly wouldn't look quite as grand.

In addiction to the Saucer, you would likely have the same problem with the Nacelles.

In fact, you might have better luck the Reliant or something along those lines.

 

[Hneftafl]

Y'know, they're building some pretty outlandish structures in Dubai these days. Insanely high skyscrapers, buildings with floors that rotate independently...

Maybe one of those filthy-rich oil sheiks is a trekkie and would consider build a 1:1 scale model Enterprise as an office building!

 

[Triskelion]

You know if it were my money I wouldn't build a lifesize replica. That's too analog. I would use FX to give people the very same experience at a fraction of the cost. Tromp l'oeil outside a building could make it look like, say, the ship being constructed in Iowa (as in the 2009 movie). Then you just take a construction elevator in, the rest is done with creative interiors - the only real costly effect there would be what you see out the windows. The interior could be arranged just about any way you please and still give the impression you're in the Enterprise.

And what's going on in there anyway? Movies, arcades, restaurants, shops? You'd need some kind of commercial draw.

Or how about this: you enter a real-looking spaceport, and take transporters to orbit, all done with computer graphics. Actually the transporter room leads to an interior built to look like the ship in space.

 

[Kaziarl]

You know if it were my money I wouldn't build a lifesize replica. That's too analog. I would use FX to give people the very same experience at a fraction of the cost. Tromp l'oeil outside a building could make it look like, say, the ship being constructed in Iowa (as in the 2009 movie). Then you just take a construction elevator in, the rest is done with creative interiors - the only real costly effect there would be what you see out the windows. The interior could be arranged just about any way you please and still give the impression you're in the Enterprise.

And what's going on in there anyway? Movies, arcades, restaurants, shops? You'd need some kind of commercial draw.

Or how about this: you enter a real-looking spaceport, and take transporters to orbit, all done with computer graphics. Actually the transporter room leads to an interior built to look like the ship in space.

Now that sounds cool, the space port idea I mean. As for commercial draw... It would be iffy, but maybe an amuzement park? Or let all the fan-film groups use it (for a modest fee, and by modest I actually mean something reasonable since most of the groups rely solely on donation.)

 

[The Comedian]

Years and years ago, someone proposed building a life-sized USS Enterprise casino in Vegas (which is the only way this idea remotely makes sense) - it fell through, but I could actually see THAT happening.

 

[apenpaap]

Maybe they should start doing the NX-01: it's twice as small and it's saucer section requires much less support. It'd still cost a billion euros or something like that though.

 

[Kaziarl]

Maybe they should start doing the NX-01: it's twice as small and it's saucer section requires much less support. It'd still cost a billion euros or something like that though.

I could see that, or the Miranda Class.

 

[Vonstadt]

Be a neat Hotel/casino

 

[CoveTom]

The biggest problem I see with any such attempt would be choosing which Enterprise to build the model of, and the legions of fans who would boycott any business which went in an Enterprise that was contrary to their pick...

 

[RobertScorpio]

A mental ward for all the people who thought constructing such a thing would be economically viable.

I get the impression that the OP understood that it wouldn't be economically viable considering he said it would probably take someone with bill gates' wallet. It would likely take much more from that, but I think the question here is from a construction standpoint what would be the obstacles.

Probably the biggest one would be supporting the Saucer Section. Granted, you could have it held up with pillar or something, but it certainly wouldn't look quite as grand.

In addiction to the Saucer, you would likely have the same problem with the Nacelles.

In fact, you might have better luck the Reliant or something along those lines.

What you do is this...you build the damn thing INSIDE of the docking yard from TMP (so it can be 'supported'. But it is constructed as a hotel...the more expensive the rooms the closer you get to the bridge...the bridge is the penthouse for the wealthy of course...

Rob

 

[Yug]

Be a neat Hotel/casino

Vegas could do it, especially if the secondary hull was built underground (at least partially). With a casino, shopping areas and resturants. The hanger deck could be a theatre, opening the doors up to reveal a giant IMAX screen. The above ground saucer could be the hotel with the rooms looking like crew quarters with a bridge themed spinning restraunt depicting space battles while you eat. The nacelles could house a zoo and aquarium that kids could use toy tricorders to study and learn about exotic animals.... that's the Vegas way.

 

[SilentP]

I'd suggest using the Enterprise-D for a hotel/casino, considering how hotel like people said it looked already, would be very authentic then

 

[Crewman47]

Just had a quick thought myself, and although I like the idea of being able to tour an actual life size starship, wouldn't designing and building a holodeck be less expensive. Even if you couldn't get the holograms to be as sophisticated as Federation holodecks, you could still the general feeling of actually being there.

 

[Yug]

Just had a quick thought myself, and although I like the idea of being able to tour an actual life size starship, wouldn't designing and building a holodeck be less expensive.

Trust me, the Government already has one... and we're all livin' in it....