Donny's Refit Enterprise Interiors (Version 2.0)

[Tallguy]

Unless it was a change made for the training ship, like using a Klingon bridge for a torpedo deck.

Spock: This brings us to our torpedo launching system. This is a fascinating and, to humans apparently amusing, set of events...

(Scott averts his eyes and looks embarrassed.)

 

[Donny]

but it never made sense to to have the ring—which is designed for a docking collar—as the inside of two hatches.

I agree, but we're kind of stuck with it thanks to TWOK.

I actually think that, while it might not make much sense, it's more aesthetically pleasing for the two hatches of an airlock be the same shape/design. So I like the double circular hatch idea.


Also, the Enterprise cutaway poster also supports the fact that an airlock used two circular hatches. So this was the thinking at the time of TMP of how an airlock would be designed, at least by David Kimble (this also supports the layout of the primary docking facilities seen in MSGTTE, which conflict with deleted scenes of that room. More on that topic when I get to modeling that specific set).

See bottom left, the double circular hatch airlock:



Unfortunately, due to the fact that the cargo bay is a tight squeeze into the hull, the engineering docking port seems to not feature a theoretical airlock:

 

[137th Gebirg]

I love that poster. Used to stare at it for hours and examine every detail. Amazing piece of artwork.

 

[David cgc]

I actually think that, while it might not make much sense, it's more aesthetically pleasing for the two hatches of an airlock be the same shape/design.

I suppose it could be a standardization or economy of scale thing, since they're both pressure doors. Could be something about the circular ones make them better suited for the inner side of the airlock than the presumably-also-airtight corridor-cutting doors like the one to engineering. They open faster or are more resilient to frequent changes in pressure or something.

 

[Donny]

Didn't have a lot of time tonight so I just focused on modeling the doors on the upper and middle decks that flank each side of large cargo bay doors. The mattes don't give us any indication of what these doors looked like, since they were portrayed as open. So I've just gone with the same type of pressure door we see in the main docking bay facility set from TMP (this door later ended up as part of the torpedo bay set, opposite the wall with the circular airlock doors). The doorways of the cargo bay set are almost the same exact size and shape as the docking facility doors in question (the cargo bay doors are just about six inches wider), so I figured it was a logical choice to carry over this design, albeit with colors that match the scheme of the cargo bay.


Here's the door I was referring to, from TMP:


Next up I'll be modeling the turboshaft tube, before finally getting to the floor decals and then the rollaway deck.

 

[Maurice]

Also, the Enterprise cutaway poster also supports the fact that an airlock used two circular hatches. So this was the thinking at the time of TMP of how an airlock would be designed, at least by David Kimble (this also supports the layout of the primary docking facilities seen in MSGTTE, which conflict with deleted scenes of that room. More on that topic when I get to modeling that specific set).

I suspect this is where Lora got the idea, given that the airlock was not a permanent set and she probably worked off the scene in the film and this poster without having seen the deleted bit with Bones.

I'm increasingly of the mind that at one point they intended the characters to exit via the lift that brings them out on top of the saucer and only changed that late in or after principle photography, as I believe the spacewalk stuff was shot after all the rest of the cast was released.

Unfortunately, due to the fact that the cargo bay is a tight squeeze into the hull, the engineering docking port seems to not feature a theoretical airlock:

I'm pretty sure that's why Andy decided to add that "pocket door" to solve the problem for Lora.

[...] The doorways of the cargo bay set are almost the same exact size and shape as the docking facility doors in question (the cargo bay doors are just about six inches wider), so I figured it was a logical choice to carry over this design, albeit with colors that match the scheme of the cargo bay.

Good choice!

 

[Tallguy]

I love that poster. Used to stare at it for hours and examine every detail. Amazing piece of artwork.

When people talk about were they tipped from casual viewer to full on looney-toons fan boy, that poster was my gateway drug.

 

[ashleytinger]

Sort of off topic, but I think this would be the place to ask, does anyone have any reference photos of what the TMP Enterprise exterior would have looked like with the planned racing/pinstriping they were going to do on the model beyond the painted backdrop of the crew lounge?

 

[Donny]

Sort of off topic, but I think this would be the place to ask, does anyone have any reference photos of what the TMP Enterprise exterior would have looked like with the planned racing/pinstriping they were going to do on the model beyond the painted backdrop of the crew lounge?

The painting of the Refit adorning the VHS boxset from the 90s and MSGTTE had the pinstriping. Forgive me, I couldn't find the image online so I just snapped this photo from my copy of Scott's Guide:

You can see pinstriping on the sensor dome, around the RCS thrusters, surrounding the torpedo launcher, connecting the lower phaser pads, and on the nacelles.

And then there's this photo, which is of the Enterprise before the new bridge module:

Note the pin-striping on the "spine" of the engineering hull, and the striping around the saucer rim

And I found this photo online, pointing out some details I hadn't noticed before (couldn't find one without the Photobucket watermark):

And before anyone asks, yes, I want to add this pinstriping to my model. Perhaps for a sister ship of the Enterprise?

 

[Workbee]

Yeah, it might be best if said suit-locker was accessed in between two airlock door ring, but it never made sense to to have the ring—which is designed for a docking collar—as the inside of two hatches.

I think the entry Andy suggested was maybe him not remembering the airlock hatch as shown in this shot and that you could see the wall there. I guess you could have that room (if you want it) accessible via a hatch on the cargo bay in the wall somewhere forward of the airlock ramp.

I wonder if he was thinking of the shot when Spock arrives at the bridge docking port. It seemed to me that the two sets were the same with minor alterations (the docking ring was pulled forward more in the bridge version). That was filmed from a different perspective so we didn’t see the other wall in that shot.

 

[Spaceship Jo]

Sort of off topic, but I think this would be the place to ask, does anyone have any reference photos of what the TMP Enterprise exterior would have looked like with the planned racing/pinstriping they were going to do on the model beyond the painted backdrop of the crew lounge?

ETA: Wow, Donny supplied some answers while I was typing the below!

I don't have what you seek, but I seek it as well.

(Even further off topic, in a similar vein, I also want more reference of the D with added pinstriping for Generations that they removed, and the D made up as the E before they packed it away...)

But mainly the unutilized TMP pinstriping!

 

[Donny]

I wonder if he was thinking of the shot when Spock arrives at the bridge docking port. It seemed to me that the two sets were the same with minor alterations (the docking ring was pulled forward more in the bridge version). That was filmed from a different perspective so we didn’t see the other wall in that shot.

I don't think so. The only thing those sets have in common is the circular docking ring doorway and that shade of grey-green. Almost everything else is different. The diagonal wall panels are similar but it's quite obvious that they're new pieces, as the one behind the security guard is curved and the cargo bay walls are even painted with a darker tone around the insets. Also, the book "The Making of STTMP" lists that these sets were even on different soundstages.



Sorry that I can't share Andy's notes yet (still waiting to hear back from a third party if it's ok that I share), but it's very obvious he was referring to the cargo bay docking port set, as he specifically called out that wall's diagonal fashion.

 

[137th Gebirg]

In looking at the second photo, I'm now curious why there's a rounded wall behind the security guy that roughly resembles the diameter of a turbolift shaft. The wall on the right, nearest the camera, matches what the outside of the rear area of the bridge should look like, but the far wall looks heavily truncated, like there should be a space behind there. A turbolift doesn't make sense, as there would technically be two others to the left, that attach to the bridge. The configuration of this area has always mystified me. Weird...

 

[Donny]

In looking at the second photo, I'm now curious why there's a rounded wall behind the security guy that roughly resembles the diameter of a turbolift shaft. The wall on the right, nearest the camera, matches what the outside of the rear area of the bridge should look like, but the far wall looks heavily truncated, like there should be a space behind there. A turbolift doesn't make sense, as there would technically be two others to the left, that attach to the bridge. The configuration of this area has always mystified me. Weird...

Mr. Scott's Guide places the bridge head/bathroom there behind that curved wall. Dunno if this was supported by official documents or what.

This reminds me I still need to model this set!

 

[Workbee]

I don't think so. The only thing those sets have in common is the circular docking ring doorway and that shade of grey-green. Almost everything else is different. The diagonal wall panels are similar but it's quite obvious that they're new pieces, as the one behind the security guard is curved and the cargo bay walls are even painted with a darker tone around the insets. Also, the book "The Making of STTMP" lists that these sets were even on different soundstages.

Wow - there are a lot more differences than I remember. I wonder if they were able to reuse many of the pieces From the other set. Seems like a lot of trouble to go through to make two completely different sets that looked so similar to each other and were only onscreen for a few seconds. At least the other airlock set was scripeted to appear twice before the memory walk sequence was replaced.

 

[Donny]

Wow - there are a lot more differences than I remember. I wonder if they were able to reuse many of the pieces From the other set. Seems like a lot of trouble to go through to make two completely different sets that looked so similar to each other and were only onscreen for a few seconds. At least the other airlock set was scripeted to appear twice before the memory walk sequence was replaced.

The Making of STTMP book also lists that the bridge docking port set that Spock Arrives in only costs $6000 and was the second cheapest set in the movie, behind Ilia's quarters which was a $3000 redress and reduction of Kirk's quarters.

EDIT: Sorry I should just share a photo of the book's listing of set costs.

The real shame is the hundreds of thousands of dollars the entire memory wall set cost but was ultimately cut from the film (which, from what I read, was a GOOD thing given the lackluster results from filming those scenes)

Also interesting is that the Rec Deck was quite a bit more expensive than the Bridge. I know the rec deck was large, but it didn't seem overly complex. The bridge was much more intricate, detailed, and mechanically involved. Hmm.

I also don't know how Phase II costs are worked in. Perhaps the $205,000 they spent on the bridge was only the amount spent to get the existing Phase II bridge up to it's TMP standard.

 

[Tallguy]

Mr. Scott's Guide places the bridge head/bathroom there behind that curved wall. Dunno if this was supported by official documents or what.

This reminds me I still need to model this set!

Interesting that she includes a downward step that clearly isn't there. And I never noticed that the wall to the right of the airlock mirrors the outside of the ship. Cool.

I always hated the notion that you had to get in the lift which would then presumably just spin so you could get the to bridge.

Also, when Spock walks off to go to the bridge, what does poor Chekov do? Just shoot the breeze with that security fellow?

 

[Donny]

Also, when Spock walks off to go to the bridge, what does poor Chekov do? Just shoot the breeze with that security fellow?

Bathroom break, obviously.

Interesting that she includes a downward step that clearly isn't there.

I'm not sure, but this may have been because on the exterior model, the docking port is a about a foot and a half above the "deckline", and then of course the hatchway itself has about a six-inch step up cut out from the bottom of it.

 

[Jedman67]

I have no recollection of half those scenes. Screencaps or even links to the screencaps discussing which sets were different from which would really help me visualize this better.

 

[Workbee]

The Making of STTMP book also lists that the bridge docking port set that Spock Arrives in only costs $6000 and was the second cheapest set in the movie, behind Ilia's quarters which was a $3000 redress and reduction of Kirk's quarters.

EDIT: Sorry I should just share a photo of the book's listing of set costs.

The real shame is the hundreds of thousands of dollars the entire memory wall set cost but was ultimately cut from the film (which, from what I read, was a GOOD thing given the lackluster results from filming those scenes)

Also interesting is that the Rec Deck was quite a bit more expensive than the Bridge. I know the rec deck was large, but it didn't seem overly complex. The bridge was much more intricate, detailed, and mechanically involved. Hmm.

I also don't know how Phase II costs are worked in. Perhaps the $205,000 they spent on the bridge was only the amount spent to get the existing Phase II bridge up to it's TMP standard.

Interesting! Both the office complex and Spock’s arrival dock were filmed in stage 17. There doesn’t seem to be an explicit reference to the cargo docking port - it need not (and probably wasn’t) part of the cargo bay set.

I wonder if parts of the orbital office set we’re cannibalized for these docking port sets.