What would you change about the TOS Enterprise?

[Redfern]

Secondary bridge exit.

Yes, have the captain's chair platform slide to the side to reveal a hatch on the floor.

No need to move the captain's chair aside; there's a perfect open area in front of the Helm/Nav console. I've always pictured a hatch that lifts to reveal a companionway down to the next deck. A simple rectangular marking on the carpet would mark its location.

I suggested the very same thing in another thread some time ago. As you noted, it wouldn't really need to be functional, just markings to imply its existance (otherwise, the set would need to have been positioned over a "pit" built into the soundstage). Except for the purposes of staging, that empty spot front of the navi-helm station is a bit useless. A "hatch" gives an "in universe" reason for it to be clear.

Sincerely,

Bill

 

[Mytran]

Wasn't that where Shane Johnson put his hatch on the TMP Bridge as well? Certainly, it is the most sensible location.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

Not one damned thing. It was an inspired and lovely executed piece of design.

It broke convention when it was new and in some respects it still does given how the industrial aesthetic has taken over visual SF since Star Wars.

And unlike variations of the concept since in subsequent series and films it's a nicely balanced design with very few awkward angles. While I do like the TMP refit there are things about it that bug me. And after the original and refit I find the subsequent 1701 B, C, D, E and J variations to be largely fails in design. The 1701D gets a bit of a pass because of familiarity, but it's terribly unbalanced and has some truly poor angles to it. The JJprise is a whole other level of disaster in design.

Any problems with the TOS E model or interior sets are directly attributable to limits of budget and television production resources of that time rather than conception and intent. Mind you sometimes limitations can lead to real creativity. The transporter came into being because they realized how problematic it would be to show such a large vessel landing. Consequently we got one the slickest f/x (in look and sound) in the SF visual medium that still looks good today.

Not being able to show the ship whizzing around like a fighter jet was a limitation that actually helped sell the idea of this massive starship operating in space.

So if there's anything I would change it would be to allow TOS to have had a bit more budget. Another ten to twenty thousand bucks per episode could have gone a long way. It could have allowed them to dress up the sets more as well as possibly given them the means to display more ship designs.

Your post should be pinned for so much winning truth...though I would change one thing...

TAS' sensible second bridge turbolift, or at least a recessed ladder like those in the ship halls. That would be sound thinking eliminating the need for any "we're trapped on the bridge" plots.

 

[spockboy]

.
The transporter came into being because they realized how problematic it would be to show such a large vessel landing

Considering Gene's inspiration it may have looked something like this (VIDEO)



Spockboy

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

.
The transporter came into being because they realized how problematic it would be to show such a large vessel landing

Considering Gene's inspiration it may have looked something like this (VIDEO)



Spockboy

I salute you, Spockboy!!

 

[Kemaiku]

Quite a lot in terms of the general shape, the outdated 60's scifi look, the dull ceramic look of the hull, the unnecessary nacelle cap nonsense, the spindly struts and neck, lack of proper weapon placements, the shuttle bay approach/stern.

Drastically update the deflector, redesign or move the bridge module slightly, have proper detachable service craft for the ion surveys attached to the sides of the engineering hull.

Remove most of the windows on the neck and reduce them on the lower hull, remove the three frontal ones on the saucer and replace it with a single reinforced viewing port (dull when not in use).

Reinforce the nacelles, change the end caps to something more aesthetically interesting, add venting ports and other details.

Remove the rollerball track thing leading to the impulse engines and redesign those to look like engines, maybe have them jut out slightly less from the hull.

Reduce the idiotic inward curve of the underside of the saucer that removes so much useable room for no reason and thicken the saucer itself slightly.

Add additional docking ports to the sides and other umbilical connection ports subtely around the ship, imply greater ability for hooking up on the deep space assignments.

 

[Green Shirt]

^ Wow. You don't like the "E" much, then?

 

[Kemaiku]

^ Wow. You don't like the "E" much, then?

I like it quite a lot, enough to have about 8 different versions of it around my room.

Nothing is perfect and this thread is an open "what if", so I made some suggestions. So I'd stop implying hate where none exists, projection is a very ugly thing.

 

[plynch]

yikes

 

[LadyT'Anna]

The horrendous interior design?

I'd get rid of all the bright, orangey red that seemed to be used everywhere, as well as the other overly bright primaries.

Better yet, alternate them with pastels to relieve the monotony, not to mention the eyestrain. I'd reserve the scarlet doors for restricted areas, though.

 

[Warped9]

I have played around with the design over the years and rarely did I find anything that improved it.

I would dare say that a lot of criticisms directed at the design could be influenced by forty years of SF hardware we've gotten since and subsequently later perceptions could give some cause to see the TOS E in a different light than when it first appeared. Standards and expectations have changed.

Now I would also say that if TOS were being rebooted (again) I do think it would be possible to "freshen" the design without losing much of the original's appeal. I hasten to add I don't mean something like the TMP refit or particularly the JJprise version. I would also resist many of the efforts we've seen over the years of layering on TMP and Star Wars style detailing onto the original concept. I'm talking about tweaking a few of the lines and details and adding a bit extra detail, but resist overdoing it. I think the interior could use more dressing up than the exterior on a newer version.

 

[Green Shirt]

^ Wow. You don't like the "E" much, then?

I like it quite a lot, enough to have about 8 different versions of it around my room.

Nothing is perfect and this thread is an open "what if", so I made some suggestions. So I'd stop implying hate where none exists, projection is a very ugly thing.

I guess I should have put in more than one , so you wouldn't have made the colossal leap in illogic that I'm some kind of psychotic hate monger. Speaking of projection, the only ugliness here is your attitude. Wow, if you fall apart this badly when somebody makes a "winky joke" then you need to take a chill pill, bub.


SHEEEESH.

 

[Orphalesion]

The horrendous interior design?

I'd get rid of all the bright, orangey red that seemed to be used everywhere, as well as the other overly bright primaries.

Better yet, alternate them with pastels to relieve the monotony, not to mention the eyestrain. I'd reserve the scarlet doors for restricted areas, though.

yeah, some pastels and perhaps earth tones. The scarlet doors might work for areas that need to be easily identifiable in emergencies, such as engineering or the outside of sickbay.

 

[MANT!]

I wouldn't change anything... (See Neil deGrasse Tyson's eloquent words on the design)
[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBVsQW6Gyd4[/yt]

 

[JWPlatt]

Gosh, that was cool.

 

[LadyT'Anna]

The horrendous interior design?

I'd get rid of all the bright, orangey red that seemed to be used everywhere, as well as the other overly bright primaries.

Better yet, alternate them with pastels to relieve the monotony, not to mention the eyestrain. I'd reserve the scarlet doors for restricted areas, though.

yeah, some pastels and perhaps earth tones. The scarlet doors might work for areas that need to be easily identifiable in emergencies, such as engineering or the outside of sickbay.

Agreed, plus the door to the hangar deck. Speaking of which, that particular door should be restricted with a command code specific to the Enterprise so that no one pulls a Matt Decker and steals another shuttlecraft from under the captain's nose.

(Ah, pipe dreams. Or should I say Jefferies tube dreams? )

 

[Mytran]

Every visitor on shows up to and including TNG and VOY had free access to the shuttlebay, why should TOS be any different?

 

[Ithekro]

That and Commodore Decker probably have higher clearances anyway.

 

[Forbin]

Every visitor on shows up to and including TNG and VOY had free access to the shuttlebay, why should TOS be any different?

I imagine she'd suggest changing it for those shows too.

 

[LadyT'Anna]

Every visitor on shows up to and including TNG and VOY had free access to the shuttlebay, why should TOS be any different?

I imagine she'd suggest changing it for those shows too.

Indeed I would, Forbin. It appears you read my mind without benefit of meld, and I thank you for that.

Leaving shuttlebays unguarded demonstrates a shocking lack of security, IMO. Having a security guard present to validate the launch of a shuttlecraft seems like a basic security precaution to me.