Apparently the storage unit was owned by a Burton Holmes and bought at auction. Gary Kerr says it's the real deal.
Missing 32" Enterprise finally found...
- Thread starter Dar70
- Start date
Yup. From the photos it most certainly looks like it.
I don't know why but this thing being found made my day....lol. Either I don't have enough happiness in my life or I don't have proper priorities anymore ...
I think it's real. And on the wild chance this model is a forgery, the maker should be shot for aging his creation to such a tragic extent. He should have made it in like-new condition and said "I found it in a glass display case, under a blanket in a cool, dry storage room!" That would be the decent way to defraud people.
But it's the real, original model.
By now, the seller has to realize he's got a priceless bit of Hollywood memorabilia in his possession. Visions of $$$ have to be dancing in his head. This one's probably heading for the legal system. Too much money on the table for it not to. If it was me, I'd contact the Roddenberry family and return it to them (perhaps for a finders fee 
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@Dar70 I mentioned it here without seeing this thread. https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/missing-3ft-enterprise-found.315457/#post-14653497
It just occurred to me: Whatever the final disposition of the model turns out to be, be it on display next to her big sister or locked away in Daddy Warbucks' private sci-fi vault or even if Rod Roddenberry gives it to Gene's grandson to play with as revenge for all the time people have blamed Rod for destroying the model as a child, one of the things I really want out of this is THE STORY. What happened? Who did what? Who knew? I WANT NAMES.
Haha. Yeah. I mentioned it in my 1701 thread in Gen Trek. Without reading my own thread realizing someone brought it up there already. Lol But I thought a thread in the forum for the show where it all began was in order....
It was a movie prop, though, wasn't it?
No, it was a filming miniature for the TV pilots and series, though it was originally intended only as a study model for the larger miniature. https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Constitution_class_model_(original)#Three-foot_model
Awwww. *sniff*
So sad to see it in such disrepair. Could it be restored? It should be on display with the 11 footer.
I wonder if there could ever be a market for a model kit version of the 33 incher. I prefer the shape of the 11 footer, but the shape of the 33 incher’s saucer is funky.
I wonder if there could ever be a market for a model kit version of the 33 incher. I prefer the shape of the 11 footer, but the shape of the 33 incher’s saucer is funky.
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By now, the seller has to realize he's got a priceless bit of Hollywood memorabilia in his possession. Visions of $$$ have to be dancing in his head. This one's probably heading for the legal system. Too much money on the table for it not to. If it was me, I'd contact the Roddenberry family and return it to them (perhaps for a finders fee
Gotta say, broke as I am, had this happened to me, I would have just given it to Rod Roddenberry. "Here ya go, this is yours I think." I wouldn't feel right about selling it back to the people who own it. I also wouldn't collect rewards for finding people's dogs either.
Who was it that said that possession was 9/10's of the law?
Rod might at least convince the holder to do a scan of the thing...so a new version could be replicated.
As to it's provenance--if you look at the early Phase II Enterprise...you see a smaller model in the background that looks to be the 33 inch model...which has one nacelle drooping a bit more than the other....as in the ebay ad.
Looks legit.
If scans are available, perhaps a production-type lower saucer dome can be put in its place digitally. Then a print.
I think Shaw had to lengthen the 1/350 Round2 model a tad.
The upper saucer is flattened as well...making the Bridge-B/C deck an island...a good look.
Rod might at least convince the holder to do a scan of the thing...so a new version could be replicated.
As to it's provenance--if you look at the early Phase II Enterprise...you see a smaller model in the background that looks to be the 33 inch model...which has one nacelle drooping a bit more than the other....as in the ebay ad.
Looks legit.
If scans are available, perhaps a production-type lower saucer dome can be put in its place digitally. Then a print.
I think Shaw had to lengthen the 1/350 Round2 model a tad.
The upper saucer is flattened as well...making the Bridge-B/C deck an island...a good look.
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Apparently the Scots, originally:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Possession_is_nine-tenths_of_the_law
The principle is that the holder of property is presumed to be its owner unless it can be proven to belong to someone else. In this case, analysis of the miniature should be able to prove whether it's the original.
I know it is easy for me to say, and I get it that - if she is the Real Deal - a case could be made for her to warp to the Roddenberry family.
However, if she is indeed real, she should go straight to the Smithsonian.
Too iconic and important not to...or maybe to Beta Agni II, under Kivas Fajo's care?
However, if she is indeed real, she should go straight to the Smithsonian.
Too iconic and important not to...or maybe to Beta Agni II, under Kivas Fajo's care?
Receiving or possessing stolen property is criminalized by all states and the federal government. The facts will reveal themselves in time, but the questions to be answered will be whether this is the genuine property that went missing in 1977 and what were the circumstances under which it went missing? If it is the genuine article and there was some violation of the terms stated by the lender, then the person who received it is in possession of stolen property. If he or she knows or has reason to know the property was stolen or illegally obtained, and intends to deprive the rightful owner of possession of the property, then he or she could be charged.
So it isn’t a simple matter of someone just stashing it away now. There is a possible crime of some monetary significance that will no doubt be resolved by some means.
So it isn’t a simple matter of someone just stashing it away now. There is a possible crime of some monetary significance that will no doubt be resolved by some means.
Another reason to just make sure it gets back to the proper owner.
Is there any statute of limitations involved? 1977 was 46 years ago.
Also, were there any "terms" stated in the casual loan of the model to an fx house? I think it was probably unstated and open-ended. And what verbal terms could you prove at this point?
According to Majel speaking at one time, Gene could not even remember who he loaned it out to, and he forgot to ever ask for it back. There is a thing in law called laches, which includes the idea that if you take too long to enforce your right in some matter, you can lose that right.
Maybe that stuff applies, maybe not. I have no idea. But it hardly seems plain and obvious at first glance.
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