Is the bridge at a funny angle?

[jackoverfull]

Very interesting, Shaw, especially the first one.

On a side note, nice to see your site again: I remember being on it some 15 years ago, while toying around with NeXTStep!

 

[Mytran]

here is my 2016 analysis of the original designs for the Enterprise...

Click to enlarge​

Great to see some of your more recent research.
I especially like this one because it shows the how the smaller "cockpit" bridge may have looked, of which there is precious little info available out there!

 

[Maurice]

I was referring to Joe Jennings, not Matt Jefferies. Of course Matt Jefferies would have known of the book. Maurice, your own mea culpa makes it plain that you understood this, yet you still called me out on it. That's disingenuous, and I don't appreciate it.

I thought you meant Jefferies. And disingenuous is one thing I'm not, and I don't appreciate the accusation.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Maybe the TMP refit corrected that.

Actually, TAS did. Fans complained to Roddenberry that having only one escape door from the bridge was unwise, so a wall representing a second elevator was added to the other side of Kirk's chair for TAS, and the space was shown as a second working elevator in TMP.

 

[Mytran]

Actually, TAS did. Fans complained to Roddenberry that having only one escape door from the bridge was unwise, so a wall representing a second elevator was added to the other side of Kirk's chair for TAS, and the space was shown as a second working elevator in TMP.

In TAS the second door was added onto the same side of Kirk's chair (his left) as the first one:

http://www.danhausertrek.com/AnimatedSeries/Bridge.html

The second door in TMP was added to his right (and behind him)

 

[TIN_MAN]

This site has a good look at one of Jefferies concept sketches for the bridge…

https://propstoreauction.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/78/lot/18491/

… note the small side sketch that shows what will become Uhura’s station opposite the main view screen indicating that, even at this early stage, the turbo lift alcove is in the same place we will come to know it to be.

Note also the partial dome in the small sketch to the right, which “might” suggest the smaller scale dome for the early 540 ft. version of the ship?

On the other hand, since this doodle is evidently just a quick side sketch and thus not drawn to any exact scale, it might not be wise to infer too much from it.

 

[Mytran]

This site has a good look at one of Jefferies concept sketches for the bridge…

https://propstoreauction.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/78/lot/18491/

… note the small side sketch that shows what will become Uhura’s station opposite the main view screen indicating that, even at this early stage, the turbo lift alcove is in the same place we will come to know it to be.

Note also the partial dome in the small sketch to the right, which “might” suggest the smaller scale dome for the early 540 ft. version of the ship?

On the other hand, since this doodle is evidently just a quick side sketch and thus not drawn to any exact scale, it might not be wise to infer too much from it.

Looks like a design half way between the slanted consoles in Shaw's worksheets (which would have been more complex to build) and the final, larger layout.

 

[F. King Daniel]

I find these little tidbits about the Enterprise's earlier, smaller scale fascinating.

 

[publiusr]

Actually, TAS did. Fans complained to Roddenberry that having only one escape door from the bridge was unwise, so a wall representing a second elevator was added to the other side of Kirk's chair for TAS, and the space was shown as a second working elevator in TMP.

The TAS bridge is my favorite. There is also an entrance by Spock’s station, where the control panel “ledge” is that he is seen to grip—there was a thread about that here somewhere.

No one ever did a blueprint of the TAS bridge with the ledge...for shame

As far as a smaller bridge, I’d like to see that fleshed out.

At first, I didn’t like to see FASA have different size BoPs, but that went mainstream.

Both Glomars looked just alike too...at a distance. Maybe Enterprise isn’t a name of just one ship, but an outfit assigned a set of craft. Ancient Federation secret.

 

[BK613]

The bridge is, of course, facing port in that image....LOL

 

[Mytran]

The TAS bridge is my favorite. There is also an entrance by Spock’s station, where the control panel “ledge” is that he is seen to grip—there was a thread about that here somewhere.

Well, certainly an implied exit - the Navigational Subsystems console disappeared A LOT throughout the series, that's for sure! It would make sense to have an auxiliary exit from the bridge, even if that required folding away one of the less commonly used consoles to access it.

The presence of such an exit (leading to a ladder) would also better explain how Kirk and Deela were able to access the bridge in Wink Of An Eye since the turbolift system would effectively be useless to them.

 

[jackoverfull]

The presence of such an exit (leading to a ladder) would also better explain how Kirk and Deela were able to access the bridge in Wink Of An Eye since the turbolift system would effectively be useless to them.

apart from stealing a lift from someone else and dying of boredom during the trip!

 

[Sgt_G]

It would make sense to have an auxiliary exit from the bridge, even if that required folding away one of the less commonly used consoles to access it.

Easier to have a trap door in the floor, perhaps between the helm and main view screen.

 

[Mytran]

Easier to have a trap door in the floor, perhaps between the helm and main view screen.

Easier for workplace accidents maybe!

The bonus of having the secondary access off to the side is that regular crew can make routine use of the amenity- and given how often we see the console next to Spock empty, they apparently do!
The turbolift can then be reserved for urgent crew and officer usage.

 

[jackoverfull]

Well, there is a trapdoor like that on the Enterprise-e: picard uses it in First Contact.

 

[Mytran]

Well, there is a trapdoor like that on the Enterprise-e: picard uses it in First Contact.

Yes it seems to be inside the turbolift alcove.
http://movies.trekcore.com/gallery/albums/firstcontacthd/firstcontacthd1592.jpg
This would preclude its use at the same time as the turbolifts were active (practical jokes not withstanding!)

 

[FormerLurker]

The -D had a trapdoor behind one of the science stations at the back of the bridge. It was used in "Catastrophe".

Personally, I like the access panel being to port of the main viewer, where it can just open like a regular door.

 

[publiusr]

The left side of the main viewer had a lot of dead space to it.

 

[Mytran]

The -D had a trapdoor behind one of the science stations at the back of the bridge. It was used in "Catastrophe".

I think you meant Disaster but you are more likely thinking of Brothers when Riker and Worf try to climb back up to the bridge in order to re-take it from Data.

(The scene is in a Jefferies tube with Riker up the ladder, Worf at the bottom)
WORF: The isolinear subprocessor extends three point five metres.
RIKER: I've got a clear path to panel J14 baker. What's that going to do for us?
WORF: J14 baker backs onto science station two, Commander.
RIKER: Have they reinverted the environmental control sequencer?
WORF: Yes, sir. Life support has been re-established.
RIKER: Then you and Casey get up here. Let's get to it.

So, while the hatch was indeed mentioned we sadly never saw it. I wonder where it would have come out? Would they have had Worf crawling out from underneath the console on his hands and knees?

The left side of the main viewer had a lot of dead space to it.

How could you say that? There were crucial indicator lights and even a set of rocker switches!!!
http://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/2x06hd/thedoomsdaymachinehd0049.jpg

 

[jackoverfull]

I think you meant Disaster but you are more likely thinking of Brothers when Riker and Worf try to climb back up to the bridge in order to re-take it from Data.

I think Ro Laren comes out of that in Disaster.