The Enterprise Project

SteveNeill · 10-20-2011, 04:38 PM

For a year now I have been scratch building this larger 66 inch Enterprise. Half of that time was spent making models for people and designing and producing a new kit. But now that the model is done I have always had a bigger plan for it's use than sitting in my office.

It's a real studio model so why not use it as one?

big E story PART 47 - YouTube

For over 30 years I worked for the studios doing everything from Spock's ears to Ghost Busters creatures and more. But my first love was always space travel and Star Trek.

So I have been planning a short film all along. I have been working on a CGI TOS Bridge. I planned to place myself on the bridge and interact with the real characters as though as was the in the Captain's chair.

One small problem was I can't sit too well in a CGI chair. So I'm now starting on a replica chair.

And the model will be shot against green screen and composite with CGI backgrounds I'm building in Lightwave. Paul Gentry is donating his time and pro cameras and lights to the shoot. Thanks Paul!

Combined I'll be able to take the big model into space which is what she was built for and I get to have a teenage fantasy come true for me in the process. Not that working on TMP wasn't all that. It was fantastic but to be on this ship is the very best.

In this thread as in previous threads on this great forum I will take you through the steps of producing such a show and all that goes into it. And all on video in my usual style.

For those of you checking in for the first time please view this thread:
http://www.therpf.com/f11/studio-hal...h-build-98400/

I hope you all enjoy the ride I know I will. It should be a lot of fun. Script is being written and I have to find some more people to contribute their time to some story boards an other cores of the production. Building the Enterprise alone just about killed me. It took 4 days of rest just to recharge my batteries if you take my meaning.

Today I'll be heading out to get the plans printed and pick up some plywood to start the chair. And do a little work on the Bridge set. Lucky for me Doug Drexler is once again helping with this.

Here's a few more pictures to kick this first post off. This won't take a year this time.

ewokus · 10-20-2011, 04:50 PM

my favorite ship of all time - beautiful work! good luck with all your plans.

fraley1701 · 10-20-2011, 04:53 PM

I am ready for this ride Steve! My seat belt is fastened...Make it so!

trekriffic · 10-20-2011, 05:14 PM

Fascinating!

Damocles · 10-20-2011, 05:34 PM

Most impressive!

Artman · 10-20-2011, 05:34 PM

Yea, I'm looking forward to this!

RW.

Destructor1701 · 10-20-2011, 05:41 PM

Best of luck, Mister Neil!
A lesser man would rest on his accomplishments after constructing such a beautiful starship. I wish you smooth sailing!

SteveNeill · 10-20-2011, 06:12 PM

Thanks guys. I can't stop. It's keeping me alive!

Steve

DaddyfromNaboo · 10-20-2011, 06:27 PM

Steve, absolutely fantastic work!!! Looking at those videos is not helping me finish my current job at 1.30 am, but hey, if I have to take a break (no, not procrastinating here...) it´s gotta be worth it, and those videos, damn inspiring!!!

Michael

Jedi Dade · 10-20-2011, 07:53 PM

Subscribed and will be following this one too

SteveNeill · 10-20-2011, 10:49 PM

Thanks guys. Well Will or Feek61 as we know him is helping me with the screen graphics. He's been making screen accurate animated gifs of them for some time as it turns out. Lucky for me this will really speed things up.

I did a test tonight of one panel and converted the Gif to a targa frame sequence and added it to the engineering screen surface. Worked like a charm.

Tomorrow I'm getting the wood to start on the chair and do more work on the bridge set. Video soon.

Steve

KUROK · 10-21-2011, 02:50 PM

Now subscribed to this one!

apollo · 10-21-2011, 02:54 PM

I can think of no better man to be in the Chair!

mobius303 · 10-21-2011, 04:29 PM

I will be watching this with interest as well...this is another great project.
I am always glad to see a master artist at work.
It is really cool that Doug has time to give to this as well....should be a fascinating time for all of us.
Mobius

division 6 · 10-21-2011, 04:30 PM

Awesome work Steve.
Glad to see her finally done.

Looking forward to seeing you film competed.

Ray22 · 10-21-2011, 09:55 PM

Will the chair be half studio scale also?, Lol just joking

, Man that would be the ultimate to watch Star Trek videos sitting in the Captains chair and have all the sound effects like if the mother in law showed up you would go to red alert and have the lights flashing and sound Lol.

SteveNeill · 10-21-2011, 10:01 PM

Thanks guys I should have the first video up tomorrow. I'm looking forward to sawing and drill with wood. I'm off to pick up a pile of lumber and gray paint tomorrow and start assembling this chair.

Will is on the bridge graphics so Monday I should have more done on the CGI bridge.

Steve

liskorea317 · 10-22-2011, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray22

Will the chair be half studio scale also?, Lol just joking

, Man that would be the ultimate to watch Star Trek videos sitting in the Captains chair and have all the sound effects like if the mother in law showed up you would go to red alert and have the lights flashing and sound Lol.

I have to try that myself!:-)

singingperry · 10-22-2011, 07:05 PM

I remember since a child of the 60's the original Enterprise appeared white with medium red trim. I recently got a replica that is prepainted and is medium gray. Is it so that it's really gray? It's kind of a shock. It seemed to be a beautiful white or near white color

SteveNeill · 10-23-2011, 02:43 AM

The Enterprise Project Part 1

sliuman · 10-23-2011, 02:58 AM

Hi Steve,

Just to let you know the above link is wrong...points to vid 47 of the E build...but the correct one is easy enough to find...

Cheers

Steve

watching now!

renaissance_man · 10-23-2011, 05:40 AM

Steve,
Fantastic job on the Enterprise. I look forward to seeing where your other projects take us in the near future.

DaddyfromNaboo · 10-23-2011, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sliuman

Hi Steve,

Just to let you know the above link is wrong...points to vid 47 of the E build...but the correct one is easy enough to find...

Cheers

Steve

watching now!

Now it should point to the correct vid.

Michael
RPF staff

Galactifan · 10-23-2011, 05:49 AM

Wow! Fantastic!!! Love the original Enterprise.

Shizman · 10-23-2011, 07:11 AM

The correct link appears to be Enterprise Project part 1 - YouTube

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10-20-2011, 04:38 PM	#1
SteveNeill Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,912	The Enterprise Project For a year now I have been scratch building this larger 66 inch Enterprise. Half of that time was spent making models for people and designing and producing a new kit. But now that the model is done I have always had a bigger plan for it's use than sitting in my office. It's a real studio model so why not use it as one? big E story PART 47 - YouTube For over 30 years I worked for the studios doing everything from Spock's ears to Ghost Busters creatures and more. But my first love was always space travel and Star Trek. So I have been planning a short film all along. I have been working on a CGI TOS Bridge. I planned to place myself on the bridge and interact with the real characters as though as was the in the Captain's chair. One small problem was I can't sit too well in a CGI chair. So I'm now starting on a replica chair. And the model will be shot against green screen and composite with CGI backgrounds I'm building in Lightwave. Paul Gentry is donating his time and pro cameras and lights to the shoot. Thanks Paul! Combined I'll be able to take the big model into space which is what she was built for and I get to have a teenage fantasy come true for me in the process. Not that working on TMP wasn't all that. It was fantastic but to be on this ship is the very best. In this thread as in previous threads on this great forum I will take you through the steps of producing such a show and all that goes into it. And all on video in my usual style. For those of you checking in for the first time please view this thread: http://www.therpf.com/f11/studio-hal...h-build-98400/ I hope you all enjoy the ride I know I will. It should be a lot of fun. Script is being written and I have to find some more people to contribute their time to some story boards an other cores of the production. Building the Enterprise alone just about killed me. It took 4 days of rest just to recharge my batteries if you take my meaning. Today I'll be heading out to get the plans printed and pick up some plywood to start the chair. And do a little work on the Bridge set. Lucky for me Doug Drexler is once again helping with this. Here's a few more pictures to kick this first post off. This won't take a year this time.

10-20-2011, 04:50 PM	#2
ewokus Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 236	Re: The Enterprise Project my favorite ship of all time - beautiful work! good luck with all your plans.

10-20-2011, 04:53 PM	#3
fraley1701 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 59	Re: The Enterprise Project I am ready for this ride Steve! My seat belt is fastened...Make it so!

10-20-2011, 05:14 PM	#4
trekriffic Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 612	Re: The Enterprise Project Fascinating!

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10-20-2011, 05:34 PM	#5
Damocles Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Illinois Posts: 94	Re: The Enterprise Project Most impressive!

10-20-2011, 05:34 PM	#6
Artman Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waterloo Ontario Posts: 79	Re: The Enterprise Project Yea, I'm looking forward to this! RW.

10-20-2011, 05:41 PM	#7
Destructor1701 Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 31	Re: The Enterprise Project Best of luck, Mister Neil! A lesser man would rest on his accomplishments after constructing such a beautiful starship. I wish you smooth sailing!

10-20-2011, 06:12 PM	#8
SteveNeill Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,912	Re: The Enterprise Project Thanks guys. I can't stop. It's keeping me alive! Steve

10-20-2011, 06:27 PM	#9
DaddyfromNaboo RPF Staff - Formerly ManfromNaboo Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 9,042	Re: The Enterprise Project Steve, absolutely fantastic work!!! Looking at those videos is not helping me finish my current job at 1.30 am, but hey, if I have to take a break (no, not procrastinating here...) it´s gotta be worth it, and those videos, damn inspiring!!! Michael

10-20-2011, 07:53 PM	#10
Jedi Dade Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Langhorne, PA - just outside of Philadelphia Posts: 1,596	Re: The Enterprise Project Subscribed and will be following this one too

10-20-2011, 10:49 PM	#11
SteveNeill Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,912	Re: The Enterprise Project Thanks guys. Well Will or Feek61 as we know him is helping me with the screen graphics. He's been making screen accurate animated gifs of them for some time as it turns out. Lucky for me this will really speed things up. I did a test tonight of one panel and converted the Gif to a targa frame sequence and added it to the engineering screen surface. Worked like a charm. Tomorrow I'm getting the wood to start on the chair and do more work on the bridge set. Video soon. Steve

10-21-2011, 02:50 PM	#12
KUROK Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 207	Re: The Enterprise Project Now subscribed to this one!

10-21-2011, 02:54 PM	#13
apollo Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 14,742	Re: The Enterprise Project I can think of no better man to be in the Chair!

10-21-2011, 04:29 PM	#14
mobius303 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 226	Re: The Enterprise Project I will be watching this with interest as well...this is another great project. I am always glad to see a master artist at work. It is really cool that Doug has time to give to this as well....should be a fascinating time for all of us. Mobius

10-21-2011, 04:30 PM	#15
division 6 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Central Ca Posts: 3,046	Re: The Enterprise Project Awesome work Steve. Glad to see her finally done. Looking forward to seeing you film competed.

10-21-2011, 09:55 PM	#16
Ray22 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bronx, New York Posts: 615	Re: The Enterprise Project Will the chair be half studio scale also?, Lol just joking , Man that would be the ultimate to watch Star Trek videos sitting in the Captains chair and have all the sound effects like if the mother in law showed up you would go to red alert and have the lights flashing and sound Lol.

10-21-2011, 10:01 PM	#17
SteveNeill Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,912	Re: The Enterprise Project Thanks guys I should have the first video up tomorrow. I'm looking forward to sawing and drill with wood. I'm off to pick up a pile of lumber and gray paint tomorrow and start assembling this chair. Will is on the bridge graphics so Monday I should have more done on the CGI bridge. Steve

10-22-2011, 07:05 PM	#19
singingperry Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 1	Re: The Enterprise Project I remember since a child of the 60's the original Enterprise appeared white with medium red trim. I recently got a replica that is prepainted and is medium gray. Is it so that it's really gray? It's kind of a shock. It seemed to be a beautiful white or near white color

10-23-2011, 02:43 AM	#20
SteveNeill Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,912	Re: The Enterprise Project The Enterprise Project Part 1 Last edited by SteveNeill; 10-23-2011 at 02:58 PM. Reason: Fixed video link !!!

10-23-2011, 02:58 AM	#21
sliuman Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 49	Re: The Enterprise Project Hi Steve, Just to let you know the above link is wrong...points to vid 47 of the E build...but the correct one is easy enough to find... Cheers Steve watching now!

10-23-2011, 05:40 AM	#22
renaissance_man Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wales, UK Posts: 235	Re: The Enterprise Project Steve, Fantastic job on the Enterprise. I look forward to seeing where your other projects take us in the near future.

10-23-2011, 05:49 AM	#24
Galactifan Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 2,105	Re: The Enterprise Project Wow! Fantastic!!! Love the original Enterprise.

10-23-2011, 07:11 AM	#25
Shizman Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Wellesley, ON, Canada Posts: 150	Re: The Enterprise Project The correct link appears to be Enterprise Project part 1 - YouTube

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