TOS bridge evolution/differences

[Ziz]

Nah. That falls into that "staging for a better shot" category I mentioned about the red railings. Remember, we're trying to balance the real-world issues of TV production with the in-universe issues of starship design. You can't always have it both ways.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

No, only the first image falls into that category, because of the removal of the chair. Throughout the episode, the position of the helm/navigation console looks to be 18 degrees rather than 36. And, of course, the location of the bridge railing as well.

http://tos.trekcore.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=24&pos=414

 

[Captain Robert April]

Keep in mind that in "Where No Man Has Gone Before", they were still working with the old wooden monstrosity from the first pilot, so their options were limited.

Also, we're still talking pilot stage here, so there might've still been the notion of "nobody's gonna see this anyway" in the back of many folks' minds. They sure as hell didn't think these shots would be analyzed to this detail forty-two years later.

 

[Captain Robert April]

BTW, Dennis, I think you're right about the smaller offset. Never noticed it before.

Should be interesting to work out the ramifications of that little discovery.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Well, it's a matter of rotating the so-called "command module," which we have no reason to assume is a major bit of engineering even aboard the "real" ship - ie, nothing to do with the relative positions of viewscreens, turbolifts and other stations.

 

[Green Shirt]

Starship Polaris said:
One other difference between WNMHGB and the series is the rotated position of the Captain's chair and the helm:

http://tos.trekcore.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=24&pos=83

(In the above image, the chair itself appears to have been removed for a better shot)

The chair may have been removed, but it didn't go far judging from the gooseneck shadow on the deck in the turbolift alcove, just off Mitchell's left shoulder.