The Trek III Excelsior Bridge Set

[Maurice]

Perhaps this has been discussed before, but while poking around the It's a Wrap! auctions I found this concept model for the Excelsior bridge set for SFS.

Clicky to see.

The way the set's shot in the film you don't see much of it, but I'm pretty sure they didn't build a full set as indicated by this model. Anyone ever run across the plans for the actual set?

P.S. I know there's a thread about it here, but it's not really helpful.

 

[cardinal biggles]

That looks similar to the concept sketches featured in The Art of Star Trek, where the forward half of the bridge was dominated by a huge floor-to-ceiling display screen; it also had the helm/nav stations more in a pit (like on Voyager) than the floor-level split configuration we finally saw.

I love the little touches, like the Pac-Man stickers being used to represent the control panels. And of course, what bridge isn't complete without a giant image of The Shat?

 

[Allyn Gibson]

The way the set's shot in the film you don't see much of it, but I'm pretty sure they didn't build a full set as indicated by this model.

My understanding is that they only built the little bit that we see on screen.

 

[Trekker4747]

I think the bridge we got was so much better. Perfect for a captain who runs around holding a riding crop.

 

[QuasarVM]

That bridge was HORRIBLE!!!!

 

[NCC621]

Interesting, but the model doesn't look much like the set. Maybe it was a very early concept.

 

[cardinal biggles]

Well, the eBay description does include such phrases as "U.S.S. EXCELSIOR BRIDGE MODEL — CONCEPTUAL" and "A model of the proposed bridge..."

 

[Maurice]

I did say it was a "concept model". The final did differ in details, but the general look with the large black display surfaces remained.

 

[Herbert1]

I think the bridge we got was so much better. Perfect for a captain who runs around holding a riding crop.

Actually, Captain Styles carries a swagger stick.

Did anyone else notice the Pac-Man graphics used for the control board button graphics at one of the bridge stations?

It's a shame that they didn't turn this maquette into the set.

I would never had known in 1984 that the ship that everyone was supposed to hate, would be re-used time and time again for the next 20 years.

 

[sbk1234]

Actually, they built a brand new bridge set the next time we saw the Excelsior's bridge, based on the new briedge for the Enterprise-A.

 

[cardinal biggles]

Did anyone else notice the Pac-Man graphics used for the control board button graphics at one of the bridge stations?

Yeah, I mentioned that upthread. Kind of makes me curious where they got some of the other display graphics from, especially at that station where the female figurine is seated.

The graphic of the Spacedock also looks to be from an "almost there" side view; the lower, smaller mushroom would later be flipped upside down, and they would lose the ring of outer pods.

Actually, they built a brand new bridge set the next time we saw the Excelsior's bridge, based on the new briedge for the Enterprise-A.

No, it was the same set, just redressed. (Similar to how the Enterprise refit's bridge was used for the Reliant, Grissom, and Saratoga).

 

[Maurice]

Did anyone else notice the Pac-Man graphics used for the control board button graphics at one of the bridge stations?

Yeah, I mentioned that upthread. Kind of makes me curious where they got some of the other display graphics from, especially at that station where the female figurine is seated.

Probably cut up some magazines or brochures, from the look of it. I can tell you without hesitation that PAC-MAN is from either the Atari home computer or 5200 version. It's got very distinctive maze proportions. Having worked for NAMCO for years, if there's one thing I know, it's PAC-MAN...

 

[Trekker4747]

I think the bridge we got was so much better. Perfect for a captain who runs around holding a riding crop.

Actually, Captain Styles carries a swagger stick.

Did anyone else notice the Pac-Man graphics used for the control board button graphics at one of the bridge stations?

It's a shame that they didn't turn this maquette into the set.

I would never had known in 1984 that the ship that everyone was supposed to hate, would be re-used time and time again for the next 20 years.

6 of one half a dozen of the other.

 

[QuasarVM]

I did say it was a "concept model". The final did differ in details, but the general look with the large black display surfaces remained.

ALL of it was terrible! The whole design and the set! I'd like to take a "swagger stick" to the designer! Bonk bonk on the head!

Thankfully, they fixed it in time for The Undiscovered Country -- although I thought that set was lit WAY way too bright!

 

[Maurice]

I think it's an interesting direction, what with the holographic view screen, but it's not pretty.

 

[Lightinspire]

Well I loved it myself but what do I know..to me the more technological advanced the better..I loved the layout of the panels and viewscreen.

 

[sbk1234]

Did anyone else notice the Pac-Man graphics used for the control board button graphics at one of the bridge stations?

Yeah, I mentioned that upthread. Kind of makes me curious where they got some of the other display graphics from, especially at that station where the female figurine is seated.

The graphic of the Spacedock also looks to be from an "almost there" side view; the lower, smaller mushroom would later be flipped upside down, and they would lose the ring of outer pods.

Actually, they built a brand new bridge set the next time we saw the Excelsior's bridge, based on the new briedge for the Enterprise-A.

No, it was the same set, just redressed. (Similar to how the Enterprise refit's bridge was used for the Reliant, Grissom, and Saratoga).

We need a judge's ruling. I coulda sworn that the bridge set made for STV was a new set, and that's the one that's been used since. The set made for TMP - which actually started life as the set for Star Trek Phase 2 was reused until Trek V.

Although, yes, it was the same spaceship model for Excelsior all these years.

 

[cardinal biggles]

^Why did the Bridge in VI look different...

 

[sbk1234]

Thank you!

 

[cardinal biggles]

Oh, okay, I see where the confusion was. Yes, the TFF set was newly built in 1988 specifically for that production, but the Excelsior bridge was a redress of that set, not "a brand new set... based on the new bridge."