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Planet of the Titans study models

Maurice

Maurice

Snagglepussed
Admiral
I posted this in another thread, but thought some of you here might find this interesting as well.

Propworks is currently doing an auction that features a Planet of the Titans item: one of the study models built of Ken Adam's take on the Enterprise. These are the most diverse set of photos I've seen of this model, so I'm sharing them.

The text from the auction is as follows
Description

Study model made from wood and plastic, painted white, with hand-applied tape and ink details. There is some evidence of repairs where the nacelle pylons meet the secondary hull. Measures 15" long and 8" wide.

Notes

Starship Enterprise study model from 1976 made by or under the supervision of Star Wars illustrator Ralph McQuarrie and production designer Ken Adam for the proposed 1976 movie, Star Trek: Planet of the Titans. This piece was ultimately filmed as a background visual effects model in the "graveyard scene" in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II" and featured on page 56 of "The Art of Star Trek". A unique piece of nearly-forgotten Star Trek history. [Yes, I know some people don't think it actually appeared in BOBW II.]

Catalog Text

Starship Enterprise study model from 1976 made by or under the supervision of Star Wars illustrator Ralph McQuarrie and production designer Ken Adam for the proposed 1976 movie, Star Trek: Planet of the Titans. This piece was ultimately filmed as a background visual
effects model in the "graveyard scene" in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II" and featured on page 56 of "The Art of Star Trek." A unique piece of nearly-forgotten Star Trek history. made from wood and plastic, painted white, with hand-applied tape and ink details. There is some evidence of repairs where the nacelle pylons meet the secondary hull. Measures 15" long and 8" wide.
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photostream

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I actually like some of the lines of this design. The saucer is too chubby, though.
 
i wish i could this to my Trek Collection

and i agree this design has lots of nice lines :) :techman:
 
Wow those are cool!
While I don't think this design works as a "hero E" it works great as used, as a background filler ship. Cool find there.
 
^^Either way, it's nice to see these designs get some actual screen time. It'd be a real shame if they had been destroyed, and/or fell into obscurity?
 
Do you think this flat design had any influence on the Enterprise-D? I know some think it did, I wonder if there is any actual information to that effect.

While it's an interesting design, I am glad that it did not become an Enterprise refit. Way too different from the original.
 
Andrew Probert could answer that question authoritatively. I doubt that this was his inspiration, but who knows.

Really, aside from the nacelle pylons sloping slightly forward there's no resemblance.
 
The flattened secondary hull along with the pylons going straight upwards.

Obviously a much smaller saucer.

More the idea of the shape than an exact match.
 
Dennis said:
Andrew Probert could answer that question authoritatively. I doubt that this was his inspiration, but who knows.

Really, aside from the nacelle pylons sloping slightly forward there's no resemblance.
Click to expand...

It looks more like the original Enterprise in basic configuration than the E-D. The E-D had graceful lines, not sharp edges.

RAMA
 
Ar-Pharazon said:
The flattened secondary hull along with the pylons going straight upwards.

Obviously a much smaller saucer.

More the idea of the shape than an exact match.
Click to expand...

I mentioned the pylons. A "flattened hull?" Yeah, a triangular hull with sharp lines and angles, as opposed to an ovoid hull with flowing "organic" lines.

A "much smaller saucer?" Yeah, instead of a much, much enlarged saucer compared to the rest of the vessel as Probert chose, this version reduces and deemphasizes the saucer.

So, it's "more the idea of the shape than an exact match" by moving in the opposite direction from the TOS ship that the TNG ship does in most respects. Brilliant "influencing." :guffaw:
 
Ar-Pharazon said:
The flattened secondary hull along with the pylons going straight upwards.

Obviously a much smaller saucer.

More the idea of the shape than an exact match.
Click to expand...

Someone would have to be blind to not see that there are some similar basic lines that look like the E-D. But who knows if it was an influence or a coincidence.
 
Dennis said:
Ar-Pharazon said:
The flattened secondary hull along with the pylons going straight upwards.

Obviously a much smaller saucer.

More the idea of the shape than an exact match.
Click to expand...

I mentioned the pylons. A "flattened hull?" Yeah, a triangular hull with sharp lines and angles, as opposed to an ovoid hull with flowing "organic" lines.

A "much smaller saucer?" Yeah, instead of a much, much enlarged saucer compared to the rest of the vessel as Probert chose, this version reduces and deemphasizes the saucer.

So, it's "more the idea of the shape than an exact match" by moving in the opposite direction from the TOS ship that the TNG ship does in most respects. Brilliant "influencing." :guffaw:
Click to expand...

Hey, better than the "24th century design for the 22nd century ship" thing. :cool:

At least my theory is linear (in the right direction).
 
Warped9 said:
I can never look at this design and not see the initial concept for the 1701D.
Click to expand...

I got copies of much of the Ken Adams/ Ralph McQuarrie work in the early 80s from Mr. Probert via Paul Newitt. When the 1701-D design was released several years later, I saw the resemblance. You have to account for the fact that these were study models and rough in form, and that they might well have been softened somewhat if they had been developed further. I also assumed the bigger saucer on the 1701-D was a functional adaptation to the longer (I think originally stated to be twenty year?) mission of the TNG ship. I did just that when I came up with the Ariel carrier design and then specifically mentioned my "softened" version as a harbinger of later designs as a nod to the 1701-D in the publications where it appeared.
 
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I'd speculate (in universe, of course) that the delta hull design is one of several basic configurations that starfleet likes to reuse from time to time, along with the basic connie, the akira, reliant, and a few other designs? apparently, each config. is deemed ideal for specific roles/missions within the overall fleet?
 
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