Happy 45th Birthday Big E!

[Shaw]

December 29, 1964 (Tuesday): The 11 foot model (built by Richard Datin, Mel Keys and Vern Sion at Volmer Jensen's Production Models Shop on Providencia Avenue in Burbank, California) was delivered to the Howard A. Anderson studio. This version is unpowered and the windows are painted on the surface of the model... and even then the model was designed to be shot from the right side only. Construction of the model started three weeks earlier (on December 8, 1964) after final approval of the changes made to the 33 inch model (which was delivered to Roddenberry at Culver City on December 14, 1964 for use as an effects model in The Cage).

 

[sbk1234]

I'm just happy that the Big-E is older than I am! Happy birthday, you beautiful lady. You've aged well.

 

[Kelso]

That's cool. Do you know when it was modified to what we think of as the classic version and who did the actual modifications?

 

[Redfern]

Seeing those (admittedly really cool) photos, I have this bizarre (and tragically comical) mental image of the guys having to suddenly scatter as some drunken fool tries to park and ends up smashing the miniature.

Sincerely,

Bill

 

[Kemaiku]

Happy Birthday

 

[Starhawk]

Happy birthday! You just keep getting better with age.

 

[Starlock]

Happy Birthday!

(Egads... I am a mere 7 Months Older...)

 

[Shaw]

That's cool. Do you know when it was modified to what we think of as the classic version and who did the actual modifications?

The first set of modifications (which added lighting to the primary hull, dorsal and secondary hull) was done in August of 1965. The final major modifications (to how she would generally look for the rest of the series) was done in April of 1966.

I believe that Richard Datin was contracted for both modifications. I've seen a direct reference to Datin doing the second pilot changes, and I assume Datin did the production changes too as he still has the original wooden domes from the warp engines (which were replaced during the production modifications).

Seeing those (admittedly really cool) photos, I have this bizarre (and tragically comical) mental image of the guys having to suddenly scatter as some drunken fool tries to park and ends up smashing the miniature.

A similar thought crossed my mind as well.

I'm not sure why they decided to assemble her part way into the street... other than the fact that it seems late in the day and that might have been the only way to take photos in direct sun light.