...They Almost Built a Life Sized Enterprise-A in Las Vegas

[Saul]

Ptf! I think the arguments for Trek 09 prove that it would be very unrealistic to build a starship on the ground

But holy hot jumping sh*t this would have been like some kind of wild fantasy becoming real. I was excited to hell visiting the Experience in Vegas. I might well have pissed myself if I had gone to this.

The bridge would probably be a restaurant though.

 

[Captain Rob]

I think if you build the ship like an aircraft this could work. Build it with aircraft grade aluminum and titanium. And use composite materials as often as possible. The key is to keep it strong and as light as possible. The primary hull could be supported by a gantry structure like we saw in ST2009. With a twin column port and starboard with boarding gangways. And single columns at each of the RCS quadrants. Then have additional support columns acting as cargo and service access where the cargo ports are on the lower portion of the saucer. The warp nacelles could be built like empty aircraft fuselages that only contain lights. Then they are supported by dual columns on each end with a single column just fore and aft of the nacelle pylons. All columns would be steel-reinforced concrete painted to look metallic. You could come aboard by the primary hull gangways on the columns or through the port or starboard docking ports thet have gangways attached to them.
As for the hull. I'm intrigued by this composite foam that James Cameron's sub was made out of for his recent trip to the deepest part of the ocean. It's said to be stronger than steel and very light, and obviously waterproof. Would probably make excellent hull plates.
As for the size of the crew quarters. How big are cruiseship staterooms? Double and multiple occupancy cabins would obvoiusly be bigger than single occupancy cabins. You could have standard cabins for around 200 people (officers) in the primary hull. And enlisted berthing (Navy-style bunking) in the lower primary hull and engineering hull.
I'd cheat the design a little by making the ship bigger to fit the sets in and reduce the primary hull undercut to fit two full decks in the widest part of the saucer. Empty space where the escape pods would be would help lighten the saucer. We could have a bar in the wardroom in the bow, as seen in STV, with big windows to overlook the city. It could be called the Foc'sle (Forecastle). Main dining in the messhall in the center of the main deck (uppermost deck of the widest point of the saucer). And VIP dining in the VIP lounge on decks two and three. A nice big simulated outdoors area would be where the huge windows on the engineering hull are. Complete with a pool and a sauna jacuzzi.
I'd loose the huge cargo bay seen in TMP and replace it with two levels of cargo rooms with 20 foot ceilings. They could be used as rental space for activities. There'd be a central cargo gallery (wide corridor) that runs down the middle of the deck to the shuttlebay. With another one directly below that connects to the shuttle hangar below the shuttle bay. The 6-lane bowling alley's below the shuttle hangar.
When I win the lotto I'll build it myself and park my helicopter in the shuttlebay.
$20 bucks for a daypass. TrekBBS members are free.

 

[F. King Daniel]

A huge problem, of course, is that the sets wouldn't fit in the Enterprise at it's "full size" of 305 metres. Even the bridge in Star Trek VI moved the turbolifts from the rear to the sides, where they'd stuck out the sides of the dome.
The TMP set for the Rec Room was 3 stories high, when the saucer rim itself is two. There is no large window on the saucer rim as seen in the observation room in STV.

 

[EJD1984]

A huge problem, of course, is that the sets wouldn't fit in the Enterprise at it's "full size" of 305 metres. Even the bridge in Star Trek VI moved the turbolifts from the rear to the sides, where they'd stuck out the sides of the dome.
The TMP set for the Rec Room was 3 stories high, when the saucer rim itself is two. There is no large window on the saucer rim as seen in the observation room in STV.

Even the Photon Torpedo from TWOK wouldn't fully fit, if you taking into account the warp core that passes thrugh that area. The Rec room is close, and would most likely be adjust ed similar to this shape - Picture

Most people would understand realistic adjustments to the sets, and just be plain ecstatic the full-scale ship was made. Personally I think that choosing the TMP Enterprise is the perfect choice - It a work of art unto-itself.

The one issue the developer brought up in the article was having to take the local winds into account. Well, according to this wind tunnel test. The TMP Enterprise is already fairly aerodynamic.

 

[Lynx]

When I become a millionaire, I'll build Voyager!

 

[Captain Rob]

Well; I did say cheat the design a little. I'd go for a 400 meter long Enterprise-A so everything would fit better. Since it is the A and not the refit. We've never seen the recroom on the A. So it could look totally different, like the torpedo room does. As seen in STVI. If we're building the refit from TMP. I'd just make the recroom fit into the space available. We only saw the full spread of it once.
As for the photorp room. I like how the Enterprise-a deckplans did it by having the rooms aft of the vertical core. With the tubes themselves going around both sides of the core.

 

[Takeru]

They should build the Enterprise D saucer instead and call it the Enterprise crashside hotel, pretend it's the actual saucer that crashed and was rebuilt into a hotel, they can remove parts of the outer hull to create terraces and outdoor areas on top of the ship and maybe two or three courtyards that go from top to bottom.

Would be much easier to build than a complete ship and by using the "we salvaged the wreck and rebuilt it" story they can explain away all obvious differences to the tv version for the people that care, just keep the entire bridge dome, sickbay, Ten Forward, the general look of the quarters etc. intact.

 

[Cyke101]

In some glorious alternate reality, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Co. break into the ship.

 

[Start Wreck]

I wouldn't even be surprised if they had built several bridges including a replica of the tv version, that's stuff people want to see, not miles of boring corridors ... "OMG, what's behind this door?! A cabin and it looks exactly like it did in the movies!!!" is interesting once or twice, not 200 times in a row.

Agreed.
Also, as mentioned, with no frame of reference, you wouldn't actually know where you are in relation to the outside. The multiple bridges idea is brilliant; they could sell it as a "time travel" feature.

I have a feeling when "real" holodecks come about one of the first commercially available programs to roam around in will be the good old Enterprise.

Oh yes, I'd like to think so. But strangely, there don't even seem to be any computer games that recreate the Enterprise in its entirety, which I'm sure is a technically feasible goal (make it a first-person shooter in the Unreal Engine or something). Why has this not happened? Or have I missed it?

 

[137th Gebirg]

^^^ There are a couple of people working on that very thing (for the TOS Enterprise) here on this BBS. As for technical limitations, it all comes down to the number of polys and the power of the CPU and graphics accelerator to display them smoothly and at a believable-enough frame rate.

 

[Owain Taggart]

This would have been way too cool. Although, I can see from the CEO's point of view, as it would have relied entirely on the popularity of the franchise, and if it had taken a dive, which it did after Insurrection and Nemesis, it would have been too much of a risk. The Experience was much less of a risk, because being hosted in a hotel meant that if for whatever reason the franchise took a dive, they could just remove the exhibit without much harm to the environment around it.

 

[trek_futurist]

In other words, only create certain decks for exploration. Several dozen decks populated with all the rooms and interior spaces would be nearly impossible to manage from a security standpoint... unless there were guided tours people would get lost in there.

Do people get lost in the empire state building? And if so, do they eventually find their way out? Besides, strategically placed camera systems that alerted a security staff to the whereabouts of every person in every section would easily resolve this. They do it with traffic lights, why not a structure like a lifesized starship replica?

 

[sojourner]

^Only the observation decks are open to tourists at the Empire State building.

 

[GalaxyClass1701]

Amazing Trek Vegas attraction that never happened!

http://www.thegoddardgroup.com/blog...-attraction-that-almost-came-to-life-in-1992/

Never knew about this wow would have been epic!!

 

[Count Zero]

Re: Amazing Trek Vegas attraction that never happened!

I'm merging this with the already existing thread.

 

[The Trekster]

As mentioned, the accuracy would be the main attraction for the fans. The exterior, I can perhaps see them getting it correct. The interior is a whole 'nuther thing.

Speak for yourself Not everyone has memorized the blueprints. Show me the bridge. Show me the mess hall where I can get some fun Trek themed food. Show me engineering and sick bay. The captain's quarters and maybe a couple other characters' for good measure and I'd be happy.

No, there's not a single fan in the world who would appreciate an authentic interior. Many would claim that it is the most awesome thing ever, but after walking down 3 identical decks with nothing but cabins, conference rooms etc. they'd be bored do death.
They obviously would have stuffed the interior with themed restaurants, gift shops, museums etc., I wouldn't even be surprised if they had built several bridges including a replica of the tv version, that's stuff people want to see, not miles of boring corridors ... "OMG, what's behind this door?! A cabin and it looks exactly like it did in the movies!!!" is interesting once or twice, not 200 times in a row.

Yep. My thoughts exactly. Well said.

 

[Sector 7]

As mentioned, the accuracy would be the main attraction for the fans. The exterior, I can perhaps see them getting it correct. The interior is a whole 'nuther thing.

I don't believe they'd make the interior "accurate". They'd use all the space for some real-life purpose (gift shops, restaurants, hotel rooms) rather than recreations of every corridor and cabin and cargo bay and turbolift shaft and hangar deck, etc.

Would that make a difference? If only a handful of "Star Trek" locations were really inside the ship, would it matter? Or would fans only accept an authentic deck-by-deck structure, including fictional machinery spaces and life support and deflector units and such?

For fans, wouldn't a large part of the appeal be the opportunity to freely roam the corridors and explore areas of the ship, rather than bop between the bridge, sickbay, and Kirk's cabin and that's it?

All that being said, an actual real-life honest-to-goodness full-size starship Enterprise is just about the most amazing thing that could ever happen in a ST fan's lifetime.

A totally accurate recreation of the entire ship would have appeal to Uber-Trekkies only. With multiple decks, they could devote 1 or 2 decks (Foredeck only) with enough bridges, quarters, sickbays, etc. to please fans in general, as well as, tourists. Should they have built this, I'd have been willing to timeshare a Captain's cabin! Remember, a life-size Enterprise would have many decks with plenty of room for gaming/gambling, performing, events, etc.

A project like this must have been budgeted out at some point in the design phase. I wonder what kind of $$$ they were looking at for something like this?

It might have been feasible had they built the main areas (bridge, engineering, sickbay etc) and then had them connected with a few lifts or staircases and left the bulk of the ship empty space (conveniently placed doors that won't open). But there would still be a few hallways you could roam.

In other words, only create certain decks for exploration. Several dozen decks populated with all the rooms and interior spaces would be nearly impossible to manage from a security standpoint... unless there were guided tours people would get lost in there.

I have a feeling when "real" holodecks come about one of the first commercially available programs to roam around in will be the good old Enterprise.

Looks like you have the same idea I did. I agree about the holodeck-type program.

When I become a millionaire, I'll build Voyager!

The older I get, the more I like the design of the Intrepid Class starships. It would also be more stable as a building. Unfortunately, most of the world relates to Enterprise ["no bloody -A, -B, -C or -D!"] when building an attraction. OK, maybe Enterprise-A in this case!

 

[Gary7]

I think it could have worked, if they gave the saucer section better support. What they could have done is construct a support shaft that would double as an elevator, extending upward to the bottom tip of the saucer. Sure, you never saw the Enterprise supported that way, but then again the ship wasn't meant to land on a planet. Cover the exterior of the shaft in a matte black finish, and it would work without detracting from the rest of the ship.

 

[USS Excelsior]

It could make money if they include a casino deck on it.

 

[Captain Rob]

Whoops! It looks like somebody locked the casino simulation program on the holodeck again. It's running and it can't be stopped. Holodeck two's got a stripclub sim running. Oh well. Easy come easy go.