Mystery TNG filming model for sale on ebay

[Admiral Archer]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/276104507481

Anyone got any behind the scenes information on this? It's reputedly a screen used model. I would be very interested to know the backstory behind it.

 

[Firebird]

I think I remember seeing that as a piece of background set decoration in a Ready Room on one of the Berman-era shows.

 

[Finn]

Uh...the link shows it was apparently never shown on screen, just made and apparently left somewhere in storage. They probably made all kinds of props that ended up not being made, just like scenes cut from the final product.

 

[somebuddyX]

Is it one of the ships production built around Season 6 of DS9 that's a contemporary of the Buckner/Centaur, Raging Queen, Curry, etc? It's a bit bronzed up though... I thought maybe one of the ships from Nemesis that was built but never got seen, but I don't imagine them being kitbashes.

 

[Finn]

I think someone found it when clearing out storage or whatever, and they weren't sure exactly what it was meant to be used for (specific episode, etc), only that they could verify it was created by the prop guys behind the TNG era shows. You can see the part of the certification where they said either DS9 or TNG, in the screenshot I posted earlier.


And there's a chance it's bogus. I've heard about those letters being fake.

 

[Tosk]

The balls on the certificate to say 'used during the production' at the top, but then to clarify in the small print that it wasn't actually used after all.

"Well, you see...we used it to hold down some papers down in the office, so technically..."

 

[Christopher]

I would imagine that the set decorators kitbashed a bunch of model ships to be used as background dressing in various quarters, and not all of them ended up getting used. It makes sense that they would've built extras in case an on-set model got broken and needed a quick replacement, and buying model kits and sticking them together wouldn't cost much and might've been fun. So there could be a bunch of these that were made as production models but never made it onscreen.

 

[Qonundrum]

I think I remember seeing that as a piece of background set decoration in a Ready Room on one of the Berman-era shows.

It's definitely not the Stargazer; its nacelles were laid horizontally, not vertically. The pylon arrangement differs as well. Nor is it Sisko's Saratoga...

Considering that the main 1701-D model was damaged early on in filming (lower saucer, starboard side, with long scuff marks), it'd make sense they'd have some redundancy when possible. It's easy to see why they had a 2' model for filming, then moving to the 4' one as the 6' was said to be cumbersome to film with and it's definitely a beastie.

If there were multiple versions of this new design model needed for filming, it's amazing that not even one ended up on screen in that intact form. There probably was a battle scene featuring a lot of ships and it was a background model. Maybe one was, and this prop was a standby just in case (good info, thank you @Christopher ).

Would have been cool if it was in TBOBW as a ship disabled by the Borg.

 

[Christopher]

There probably was a battle scene featuring a lot of ships and it was a background model. Maybe one was, and this prop was a standby just in case (good info, thank you @Christopher ).

The information on the auction site is that it was a set dressing, meant to be an actual tabletop model in some character's quarters, not a filming miniature for visual effects. That's why it's painted bronze.

 

[Ragitsu]

The balls on the certificate to say 'used during the production' at the top, but then to clarify in the small print that it wasn't actually used after all.

"Well, you see...we used it to hold down some papers down in the office, so technically..."

There are instances when belief outweighs reality.

 

[Forbin]

Damn, I was gonna kitbash something like that. I guess there ain't many bashing ideas left.

 

[Orac]

The Certificate of Authenticity uses comic sans? Buy it now!

 

[Dukhat]

This model has been sold at various auctions; I think the last one to have it was Propworx. It’s a legit prop. It definitely wasn’t used in TNG because the Reliant model kit wasn’t available until around the 4th season of Deep Space Nine. So it was meant to be used as set dressing in someone’s quarters on DS9.

I also have to say that as a connoisseur of Trek filming models/props, it annoys me when I see a model or prop from the show selling on eBay. Because the seller bought it at a Trek auction with the intent to just resell it rather than keeping it for themselves.

 

[Search4]

This model has been sold at various auctions; I think the last one to have it was Propworx. It’s a legit prop. It definitely wasn’t used in TNG because the Reliant model kit wasn’t available until around the 4th season of Deep Space Nine. So it was meant to be used as set dressing in someone’s quarters on DS9.

I also have to say that as a connoisseur of Trek filming models/props, it annoys me when I see a model or prop from the show selling on eBay. Because the seller bought it at a Trek auction with the intent to just resell it rather than keeping it for themselves.

Agree with this assessment. Set dressing of some type. May well have been used but none of the auctioneers would do that research for a low priced prop. The “It’s a Wrap” COA looks authentic to me (you do have to see the original rather than a pic) and they definitely had direct access to production assets.

 

[Tosk]

It definitely wasn’t used in TNG because the Reliant model kit wasn’t available until around the 4th season of Deep Space Nine. So it was meant to be used as set dressing in someone’s quarters on DS9.

I agree that it can't have been made with TNG in mind, but is there anything that indicates it was definitely meant for DS9 rather than VOY? There were multiple episodes where we see rooms in the AQ that it could have conceivably been intended for. (If indeed it was made with a specific use in mind at all.)

 

[Christopher]

I agree that it can't have been made with TNG in mind, but is there anything that indicates it was definitely meant for DS9 rather than VOY? There were multiple episodes where we see rooms in the AQ that it could have conceivably been intended for. (If indeed it was made with a specific use in mind at all.)

Hard to be definite, but if you're going by "episodes set in the Alpha Quadrant" as your standard, that makes DS9 far more probable than VGR for obvious reasons. Although I don't see why they couldn't have had starship models in crew quarters on Voyager (the ship).

Also, for what it's worth, the certificate says it was "set dressing for either Star Trek: The Next Generation or Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," without mentioning VGR as a possibility.

 

[Tosk]

Also, for what it's worth, the certificate says it was "set dressing for either Star Trek: The Next Generation or Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," without mentioning VGR as a possibility.

One of the three does. But with the TNG element already ruled out as a possibility, it calls into question the accuracy of it, and of the other certificate that only says TNG.

Hard to be definite, but if you're going by "episodes set in the Alpha Quadrant" as your standard, that makes DS9 far more probable than VGR for obvious reasons. Although I don't see why they couldn't have had starship models in crew quarters on Voyager (the ship).

I mentioned "eps set in the AQ" to potentially head off any claims that there'd be no need for VOY to get new set dressing models.

I'm not saying I know anything, I'm just curious and questioning what I took to be an assumption.

 

[Christopher]

I mentioned "eps set in the AQ" to potentially head off any claims that there'd be no need for VOY to get new set dressing models.

Well, there were around 140-150 people in Voyager's crew, so there was always the possibility of visiting a new character's quarters for the first time. And since the whole "replicator rations" deal was pretty much abandoned by season 3 or so (presumably they fixed the power-grid issues), there would've been nothing to preclude redecorating quarters we'd already seen. If Tom Paris could replicate a TV set, anyone could replicate a new ship model.