Sulu's Can O' Whupass

[Wingsley]

There are scenes in "Mirror, Mirror" and "Friday's Child" that are mini-dramas, when out pops Sulu's hooded viewer-scope thingy. It seems plain that this little contraption is a means of telling the audience, "Hey, check it out. Sulu's gettin' out his can o' whupass." RED ALERT!


Who designed this contraption?

Why did they wait till the show's second year for it to make its debut? Was it supposed to be there before then?

Why didn't Chekov have one like it for the navigator's station?

 

[Gary7]

It's a tactical scope. Check it out on Memory Alpha, which covers it across several of the Star Trek series.

 

[Doug Otte]

There are scenes in "Mirror, Mirror" and "Friday's Child" that are mini-dramas, when out pops Sulu's hooded viewer-scope thingy. It seems plain that this little contraption is a means of telling the audience, "Hey, check it out. Sulu's gettin' out his can o' whupass." RED ALERT!


Who designed this contraption?

Why did they wait till the show's second year for it to make its debut? Was it supposed to be there before then?

Why didn't Chekov have one like it for the navigator's station?

I don't understand what you mean by "mini-dramas" and "can o' whupass." Well, I understand the meaning of "can o' whupass," but fail to understand how it applies to his viewer.

Doug

 

[Redfern]

I suspect the OP feels when the scope elevates, it's a visual "shorthand" that Sulu is ready to let loose a barrage of phaser bursts and photon torpedoes. Kinda' like the stereotype sequence of a character cracking his knuckles before engaging in fistacuffs.

Sincerely,

Bill

 

[Doug Otte]

I suspect the OP feels when the scope elevates, it's a visual "shorthand" that Sulu is ready to let loose a barrage of phaser bursts and photon torpedoes. Kinda' like the stereotype sequence of a character cracking his knuckles before engaging in fistacuffs.

Sincerely,

Bill

OK. Got it. Thanks.
Doug

 

[Wingsley]

Well, you've got to admit, whenever that thing pops up, it's overly dramatic. It makes noise and everything! (Check out the scene when Scott orders battlestations in the later acts of "Friday's Child".)

 

[Gary7]

I wouldn't necessarily say "overly dramatic". I recall there was one scene where there was an urgency of the moment, and Sulu's tactical scope was raised with the sounds amplified, adding to the effect. But I've seen many instances where it is put to use without much bravado.

 

[Mytran]

Not to mention that it takes forever to come out of the hatch.
Kinda reminds me of that robot hand in the movie "inner space"

 

[Ghostsoldier]

That's actually the predecessor to the Sharp AQUOS Quattron 3D TV he's using.......

*Oh my!*

Rob

 

[BolianAuthor]

That's actually the predecessor to the Sharp AQUOS Quattron 3D TV he's using.......

*Oh my!*

Rob

 

[LOKAI of CHERON]

It makes noise and everything!

I love that noise!

 

[Wingsley]

Did anyone ever publish any schematics of Sulu's scope?

 

[siskokid888]

^You are all probably aware of this, but on the Defiant bridge mock up in the ST-E mirror uni eps, the tactical viewer (and other bridge equipment) was provided and built by the "New Voyages" web series people, and borrowed by ST-E for those episodes.

 

[WendellM]

Did anyone ever publish any schematics of Sulu's scope?

McMaster's Bridge Blueprints included it (just as part of the helm, not in detail on its own). Here are those views combined:

 

[Wingsley]

Does anyone know why Chekov's station didn't have a similar scope?

It just seems a logical question, given that both stations seem to have interchangeable functions (both can fire weapons, both seem able to maneuver the ship, etc.)

 

[Mytran]

Having a scope hatch costs you a LOT of buttons, as shown in this scene from ITITNB:

 

[Nerys Myk]

That pic should be in the next caption contest.