Starfleet Command Insignia

[WRStone]

In one of those weird, serendipidous moments, I happened across this little gem:

After reviewing HD screencaps at TrekCore, I agree: the Starfleet Command insignia was, in fact an ordinary filigree flower bead:

They sell for a buck. That and a little paint, and my next costume will have a Starfleet Command insignia.

Dakota Smith

 

[Warped9]

Well it's easy to see how it could pass for a stylized starburst or something of the like, particularly when you really don't see it that clearly onscreen (especially vintage CRT televisions).

 

[FalTorPan]

William Ware Theiss, you are missed!

 

[Metryq]

And McCoy did surgery with salt shakers, while Luke defended the galaxy with a camera flash unit.

 

[Sir Rhosis]

^^^Not being as big a Wars fan as I am a Trek fan, this reference escapes me. Elaborate please.

Sir Rhosis

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Good find, DakotaSmith!

 

[Albertese]

^^^Not being as big a Wars fan as I am a Trek fan, this reference escapes me. Elaborate please.

Sir Rhosis

I forget what they're called, but certain old-timey cameras used to make use of cylindrical flash units about one foot long and a couple inches in diameter. At least three of these units turn up in the Star Wars films with surprisingly few modifications. One is Luke's lightsaber, another is either either Ben Kenobi's or Vader's (I forget which) and the third shows up as some instrument on the dashboard of Luke's X-Wing.

--Alex

 

[scotpens]

. . . and the TOS Klingon belt buckles were painted cardboard and plastic bubble wrap.

 

[Captain Nebula]

^^^Not being as big a Wars fan as I am a Trek fan, this reference escapes me. Elaborate please.

Sir Rhosis

I forget what they're called, but certain old-timey cameras used to make use of cylindrical flash units about one foot long and a couple inches in diameter.

Graflex flash handle.

They added a solar panel from an old calculator and pieces of windshield wipers to complete the look of Luke's lightsaber.

 

[Emperor Norton]

It should also be mentioned that all the TOS medals shown onscreen were earrings and women's jewelry, and that becomes clear if you really look at it. I, however, prefer to retreat into my world of whimsey, reject that, and totally accept that they are honorable citations from the Starfleet.

 

[Sir Rhosis]

^^^Me too.

 

[Sector 7]

It should also be mentioned that all the TOS medals shown onscreen were earrings and women's jewelry, and that becomes clear if you really look at it. I, however, prefer to retreat into my world of whimsey, reject that, and totally accept that they are honorable citations from the Starfleet.

Works for me.

 

[BoredShipCapt'n]

^^^Not being as big a Wars fan as I am a Trek fan, this reference escapes me. Elaborate please.

Sir Rhosis

I forget what they're called, but certain old-timey cameras used to make use of cylindrical flash units about one foot long and a couple inches in diameter.

Graflex flash handle.

They added a solar panel from an old calculator and pieces of windshield wipers to complete the look of Luke's lightsaber.

Fascinating, Captain.

And the Death Star's prime weapon controls were an old TV studio panel, with the T-shaped fader control activating the beam.

 

[Redfern]

And elements upon Vader's belt were segments of translucent garden hose. Honest, you can see the reenforcing "webbing" which I think was the point as it had visual interest. I read that somewhere and kinda' "laughed it off". Then I saw a life-sized "standee" in a store and looked at the belt. Sure enough, it certainly looked like a small half section of garden hose even if it wasn't actually that.

Sincerely,

Bill

 

[Metryq]

It should also be mentioned that all the TOS medals shown onscreen were earrings and women's jewelry

During "Court Martial" we learn that one of Kirk's decorations is "Starfleet Citation for Conspicuous Gallantry." What exactly does that mean? Did Kirk pause while running across a battlefield to pose for the cameras?

And the Death Star's prime weapon controls were an old TV studio panel, with the T-shaped fader control activating the beam.

So Alderaan was, uh, wiped out? I wonder if that could be seen as a commentary on television...

 

[Robert Comsol]

Originally, starship personnel (in contrast to starbase personnel) had the Enterprise's insignia.

Then, all Commodores and Admirals and Starbase personnel wore that "flower" insignia.

But then, it also became the insignia of the USS Lexington (that's the only starship we've seen that has this insignia).

Notice Commodore Wesley's high command chair (neither Exeter or Defiant had this chair), looks like the Lexington might be Starfleet's flagship (in the mirror universe, ISS Enterprise apparently is the flagship there)

Bob

 

[Keith1701]

Good find, DakotaSmith!

I agree too.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Originally, starship personnel (in contrast to starbase personnel) had the Enterprise's insignia.

Ugh. There's also a secretary wearing the Enterprise arrowhead at Starbase 11 in The Menagerie, Part I [http://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/1x11hd/themenageriepart1hd021.jpg, at row 7, column 3 of http://tos.trekcore.com/hd/thumbnails.php?album=12&page=1]. I just close my eyes and pretend these don't exist, or chalk them up as costume errors.

Then, all Commodores and Admirals and Starbase personnel wore that "flower" insignia.

But then, it also became the insignia of the USS Lexington (that's the only starship we've seen that has this insignia).

But, isn't Wesley the only officer whose insignia we get a good look at on the Lexington? I always thought that he wore the flower because he was normally assigned to starbase/space station, but he was in command of the battle fleet in wargames against the M5. If that was the case, then we never see the Lexington insignia. Now the question would then become, where was the captain of the Lexington, and that I have no answer for.

Notice Commodore Wesley's high command chair (neither Exeter or Defiant had this chair), looks like the Lexington might be Starfleet's flagship (in the mirror universe, ISS Enterprise apparently is the flagship there)

Bob

Well, the high-back could just be a normal variant, too, with no special significance, couldn't it?

 

[Nerys Myk]

My rationalization for non-Enterprise personnel wearing the delta is it's a fleet emblem, not a ship emblem.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

My rationalization for non-Enterprise personnel wearing the delta is it's a fleet emblem, not a ship emblem.

That works, plus it meshes with adopting the arrowhead as the emblem of all of Starfleet better, I think.