TMP docking port door mechanism

[Timo]

Well, there are those double slit windows on both sides, and both pairs of them have the potentially door-like seams around them. Then there are three horizontal windows: one per side, and one astern on the port side. Plus red-marked circular hatches on top and bottom of the pod. And what looks like TNG-style transporter emitters on the leading edges of the aft side panels! Plenty of features for interaction with the surroundings, embarkation and disembarkation, then, apart from the actual docking port.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Uxi]

Modular definitely could have some utility. Imagine a "battle sled" attachment as well as the Surak's "warp sled." Possibly a "scientific survey" sled, "AWACS sled," etc. All sorts of possibilities.

Surak kinda got jipped only getting a souped up shuttle to get his name on, though.

 

[blssdwlf]

The only catch about the sled is that it looks to big for the Enterprise to carry more than one in a ready-use situation (and that would likely block normal shuttle operations space). Three or four could be stored unassembled with the same cargo load as seen in TMP. A squadron of these as "PT boats" I can see though

 

[Timo]

...Realizing this, Probert postulated a mini-shuttle, with a mini-warp-sled plus other attachments. But the downsizing meant that this shuttle had less useable volume than the corresponding TOS and ST5:TFF shuttles, and it probably wouldn't have made for a very good full-size prop, either.

At some point, modularity becomes a burden. Why not have the warp engines permanently attached? Or, the missions calling for impulse packs might also call for weapons most of the time, so it would be better to have those in a combined package - and perhaps not attached to the shuttle body at all, but reserved for use with some sort of a smaller cockpit, or even without.

Timo Saloniemi