The battle in "Shattered Mirror"

[DS9forever]

Shattered Mirror has that great battle, first the Defiant taking on the birds-of-prey around the station then moving on to the Defiant engaging the Negh'Var. The DS9 model and the Negh'Var were physical models, but is the Defiant completely computer generated in the scenes?

 

[Angry Fanboy]

I've just watched it on YouTube. I'd be interested to know the answer myself.

My instinct is to say it's a model but I'm no expert - just something about the way it moves feels like it was shot using a camera rig.

Also I'm not sure if CGI models were being utilised regularly in episodes as of early 1996, I think they became more commonplace around '98 for DS9 and VOY?

As I said though I'm no expert!

 

[NCC-73515]

Since the digital model's deflector is much thicker than the physical model's, I would say it's the physical one.

 

[DS9forever]

I did some digging: The Defiant in the season four credits is CG. "Starship Down" earlier in season four is definitely CG and it appears the Defiant was CG even in season three, like shots of it docked to the station and going to warp.
http://web.archive.org/web/20001109110200/http://www.visionart.com/~daniel/

And the computer model used in First Contact was based on a CG model already in use by the series SFX wizards.

 

[Tosk]

The Defiant in the season four credits is CG.

And has a misaligned deflector housing.

I do believe it was the physical model in Shattered Mirror (at least for the most part) which is why the Terrans bother to paint Starfleet livery on the hull. (Although IIRC, the VFX crew did get to cover up/paint out the Defiant registry.)

 

[DS9forever]

I think the best way to illuminate this discussion would be if anyone has the Cinefantastique issue where they look at DS9 season four.

 

[NCC-73515]

https://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/articles/defiant/defiant-inaccurate.jpg

 

[Farscape One]

I absolutely ADORED that battle sequence. Without question, it was one of THE very best highlights of the Defiant in action, and a phenomenal use of the station itself as a means to duck and weave while battling the Klingon ships.