Size of the S.S. Aurora?

[Rick Sternbach]

Does anyone have contact with Rick Sternbach or Doug Drexler on this? Maybe they could shed some light on the subject.

Not a clue, sorry. - Rick

 

[BK613]

Out of curiosity, anyone know what was the money situation on the TOS-R at the point this ep was done? Because, IMO, this CG model reads cheap and amateurish and counts for me as one of TOS-R's fails.

In retrospect, now that TNG-R is almost done and any VFX changes they did there were almost 100% matched to the original footage, I think that TOS-R should have done the same thing. I.e., they should have made the Aurora a Tholian vessel with Federation nacelles, just like the original model. That's what we originally saw, and that's what should have been recreated as closely as possible to the original footage.

I think that at the time of TOS-R, the remastering team had more of a "Star Wars Special Edition" thing going on, but by TNG they realized that fans preferred what was originally there. Or maybe I'm just speaking for myself; I don't know. I know I've flip-flopped about this before, like wanting to see new CGI ship designs replacing all that Excelsior stock footage in TNG. But TNG is what it is, and changing stuff just for the sake of changing it (like the Aurora) doesn't sit well with me anymore.

Agree. Although, the new Aurora could be considered the spiritual successor to the old, in that they took one of their existing designs, modified it in a quick and superficial fashion, and threw it up on the screen.

 

[T'Girl]

Although I wonder whether (NC)C-57D herself could somehow be worked into the continuity as well...

The C-57D could have a verison of the Vulcan ring warp drive, that's why it was circular, the inhabited part of the ship was in the hollow of the ring.

 

[Timo]

Yup. And if this is a non-Starfleet crew, the use of different jargon is warranted: "blasters" for early phasers or late plasma guns, and "hyperdrive" for Cochrane's warp. The deceleration stations are the odd tech out, but perhaps IDF systems on cheapo mercenary vessels like this were very localized? (And we have to assume that the ship had poor sensors, falsely reporting the loss of Altair IV even though the planet survived the scuttling of the alien machinery...)

In general, it would be fun to see more non-Starfleet action in Trek. Say, ST:VAN is a great novel series in exploring a different flavor of Starfleet, but falls short of being a complete departure the way "Lower Decks" fell short of actually showing non-officers - leaving me wanting for more. And the Space Hippie Kleinbus is a wonderful addition to the TOS universe, even if using her as a replacement for original effects may be a bit sacrilegious.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Dukhat]

Although I wonder whether (NC)C-57D herself could somehow be worked into the continuity as well...

The C-57-D exists in the ST universe. Its name was shown on a list of ships visiting DS9

 

[scotpens]

. . . (And we have to assume that the ship had poor sensors, falsely reporting the loss of Altair IV even though the planet survived the scuttling of the alien machinery...)

Altair IV was destroyed at the end of Forbidden Planet. What are you referring to?

 

[Timo]

Well, if we want to steal elements from one continuity to another, we better make sure the continuities are compatible. A planet going missing is acceptable, as long as it returns in time for the celebrations in "Amok Time"...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[BK613]

Well, if we want to steal elements from one continuity to another, we better make sure the continuities are compatible. A planet going missing is acceptable, as long as it returns in time for the celebrations in "Amok Time"...

Timo Saloniemi

Altair VI is what is mentioned in Amok Time, not Altair IV.

 

[Timo]

Ah, true - Altair IV is mainly a recurring Okudagram reference. Although it does get one dialogue mention, in DS9 "Prophet Motive".

Supposedly, Altair IV was extant during "Amok Time" as well, though, since the pacifying of Altair VI was said to send repercussions through the "entire system", thus supposedly to other inhabited planets within the Altair system...

Star systems with multiple inhabited planets aren't that rare in either TOS or TNG. The existence of private space vessels thus seems well founded, and it's a bit curious that so few were seen. It could be argued that in TOS, such vessels were not capable of crossing great distances, but Carter Winston's little craft from TAS sort of disproves that explanation.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[BK613]

^^ One of the legacies of the Krell civilization could be a star system laden with habitable planets, all lacking a Great Machine and therefore, safe to use for those that came after.

 

[Maurice]

Out of curiosity, anyone know what was the money situation on the TOS-R at the point this ep was done? Because, IMO, this CG model reads cheap and amateurish and counts for me as one of TOS-R's fails.

Along with the awwwwful Klingon Battlecruiser model.

 

[Dukhat]

Out of curiosity, anyone know what was the money situation on the TOS-R at the point this ep was done? Because, IMO, this CG model reads cheap and amateurish and counts for me as one of TOS-R's fails.

Along with the awwwwful Klingon Battlecruiser model.

I don't think there was ever a problem with money; rather, there was a problem with time. TOS-R, like everything else in the Trek universe, was extremely rushed and on a tight schedule. In some cases, the CGI models weren't even finished when they were shown on screen (i.e. the Gorn ship). The reuse of the Aurora CGI on no less than three occasions instead of creating three different designs was also indicative of this rushed schedule.