The 11 Footer E flaws, shoddy construction or by design?

[Captain Robert April]

And in '64, Datin & Co. didn't have access to a vacuformer big enough to comfortably handle a 60" diameter object. The one they did have was juuuuuuuuuuuust a tad small, but close enough for production purposes.

Besides, can you imagine how frakking heavy that model would've been with a five-foot diameter WOODEN saucer?

 

[TIN_MAN]

Wasn't the angle on the edge of the saucer originally less "sharp" in the construction plans? Would the size of the vacuformer have any bearing on why the angle of same was changed during construction of the model, and was it the upper, or lower edge that was changed (thereby possibly changing the O/A diameter)?

In any event, this might be another example where Matt's original design intent had to capitulate to model building construction limitations of the time, and therefore the finished model might not represent what the Ideal fictional ship would/should have looked like? Just food for thought, carry on.

 

[Ghrakh]

Now, will somebody please flog Ed Miarecki 50 lashes with a wet noodle for that horrible over-weathering job he did on the latest “restoration” of the old girl.

well, I agree the paint job (particularly on the saucer underside) is heavy-handed, but perhaps this was to help hide the model distortions?

 

[scotpens]

. . . Besides, can you imagine how frakking heavy that model would've been with a five-foot diameter WOODEN saucer?

As the source I cited states, the saucer had an internal framework of wooden ribs. For some reason, I had been under the impression that the outer skin of the saucer was thin wood veneer, not vacuformed plastic. Considering that the model as built weighed 220 pounds (before the lighting effects were added), a SOLID wood saucer would indeed have made it a heavy sonofabitch.

 

[Forbin]

Now, will somebody please flog Ed Miarecki 50 lashes with a wet noodle for that horrible over-weathering job he did on the latest “restoration” of the old girl.

well, I agree the paint job (particularly on the saucer underside) is heavy-handed, but perhaps this was to help hide the model distortions?

Why would one need to hide a distortion of only 1/2" over a distance of 60", and how would a crappy paint job hide that?

Aside from making people want to look away quicker.

 

[Captain Robert April]

I think Ed just didn't think things through when he went with his "this is probably what it really looked like" approach. In the age of computerized motion control, where you'd do multiple passes with the camera for one flyby shot, yeah, the detailing probably would've been that overdone. But in an age where you only had one pass, no, when all was said and done, the model looked pretty much "in person" like it did on camera. Grid lines were lightly penciled, not heavily airbrushed.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Aside from making people want to look away quicker.

In the many dozens of times I've visited the model, I've never experienced any desire to "look away quick" - and it looks much, much better and more faithful to the original after Ed's restoration than it did at any point prior to that while on display at the NASM.

He overdid the weathering. Everyone who's talking about other posters have "sticks up their asses" is free to get over that, any decade now...

 

[Ghrakh]

Why would one need to hide a distortion of only 1/2" over a distance of 60", and how would a crappy paint job hide that?

Why are you asking me? I didn't say it was crappy, but that it was heavy-handed (meaning exaggerated) imo.

Aside from making people want to look away quicker.

It's a bit of a journey to get to it, so I doubt people who make the effort will just turn around and leave.

In the many dozens of times I've visited the model, I've never experienced any desire to "look away quick" - and it looks much, much better and more faithful to the original after Ed's restoration than it did at any point prior to that while on display at the NASM.

I've seen it a couple of times and others who were there didn't seem to notice, or care. They were pretty much gawking at it.

My only nit is with the busy display case and setting... all the reflected lights, merchandise, etc. are distracting, but at least it's on display and well preserved...

 

[Unicron]

Whatever is stuck in your ass, get a pair of plyers and call a friend to help.

Forbin, as much as I disagree with you that the cover art isn't particularly accurate, this is really uncalled for. Based on this post and one in the other thread, you've earned an infraction for trolling. I hate to say this, but I don't understand why you seem to be in a knot over the flaws in the art or valid criticisms of the filming model.

 

[Forbin]

Because those criticisms of the filming model had nothing at ALL to do with my points about the errors in the cover art, but were being shoved down my throat as a reason my comment was "stupid." I made simple comment about the errors that I didn't even feel the need to follow up on because they're so obvious, and was then set upon by Darkwing as if I'd drowned his kitten - including his starting this whole new thread just to continue it.

I suppose I should stop falling for this after all these decades. It's the old tactic where the bully shoves you around on line until you take a swing at him, then the teacher puts YOU in detention for fighting on line.

Oh well. Carry on.

 

[Tallguy]

Since the vast bulk of the effects footage was shot during the first season, this means the ol' girl spent a lot of time in those crates.

Number of shots using the 11 foot model:
The Cage: 1
Where No Man Has Gone Before: 7
Season One: 21
Season Two: 15

But still, yes.

 

[Captain Robert April]

Wasn't there one new effects shot in the third season, that closeup of the lower sensor dome in the opening of "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield"? Or was that recycled from a previous season?

 

[Tallguy]

Wasn't there one new effects shot in the third season, that closeup of the lower sensor dome in the opening of "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield"? Or was that recycled from a previous season?

Yes it was only seen third season, but for the very reasons we're talking about I can't believe they hauled the old gal out just for that last shot. Especially since the writing had to have been on the wall at that point that this would be the end of the show. I assume that it was shot in the second and just never used until then.

 

[Search4]

Shoddy construction?? Bite your tongue.

The old girl is wonderful and still with us almost 45 years later.

 

[Guartho]

Certain lenses distort the image as induced onto the negative, "warping" the visual slightly (the "fisheye effect). One way to counteract this is to build counter-distortion into the model so that the optical image that is deposited on the film is automatically corrected.

That would only work from exactly one filming angle with a little fudge-room to either side, so I'm going with "no."

Number of shots using the 11 foot model:
The Cage: 1
Where No Man Has Gone Before: 7
Season One: 21
Season Two: 15

Which shot in the Cage is the 11 footer? Until now I was under the impression that the 11 footer was built for Where No Man and didn't yet exist for the Cage.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Certain lenses distort the image as induced onto the negative, "warping" the visual slightly (the "fisheye effect). One way to counteract this is to build counter-distortion into the model so that the optical image that is deposited on the film is automatically corrected.

That would only work from exactly one filming angle with a little fudge-room to either side, so I'm going with "no."

Number of shots using the 11 foot model:
The Cage: 1
Where No Man Has Gone Before: 7
Season One: 21
Season Two: 15

Which shot in the Cage is the 11 footer? Until now I was under the impression that the 11 footer was built for Where No Man and didn't yet exist for the Cage.

Isn't the "track in on the bridge" shot in the opening of "The Cage" the big model?

 

[Tallguy]

Isn't the "track in on the bridge" shot in the opening of "The Cage" the big model?

It is indeed. And yes, it's the only shot of the big 'un in The Cage.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Yeah, I know that shot pretty well...

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xkyghl9Elg[/yt]

 

[Forbin]

^Is that finished yet?

 

[Albertese]

Dennis that was awesome! I love your set. Everything was great. I want to see more!

--Alex