Studio Half Scale TOS Enterprise Scratch build

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The height of the bridge on the original always irked me somewhat... also the pretty useless strategic position of it! :)

(hmm.. where to shoot first... :unsure ) But that's another topic for another day.
 
The height of the bridge on the original always irked me somewhat... also the pretty useless strategic position of it! :)

(hmm.. where to shoot first... :unsure ) But that's another topic for another day.

Every notice where the bridge is on a WW2 battle ship or even a current flat top? Yep. Easy target.

Steve
 
With shields/force fields I don't see why the bridges location is such a liability. In fact, if the ship's shield grids operated as separate systems ( I seem to recall references to port shields, forward shields, etc) you might design them to overlap in the center making the shields strongest right over the bridge.
Conversely, once the shields are down, one location on the ship is no better or worse than another.
 
Every notice where the bridge is on a WW2 battle ship or even a current flat top? Yep. Easy target.

Steve
Indeed, but for an advanced space faring race of beings, who aren't exactly looking out the windows.. :)

I suppose they did try to address this with the "battle bridge" in TNG, but then I bet that was more borne out of needing a second bridge for when the engineering section buggers off on it's own..

"Commander Riker, I seem to remember leaving my ship in one piece.." ok probably not the exact quote, not seen the pilot for many many years.

Edit: And I suppose they also tried to address that in TWoK with the shields raised in critical areas during Yellow Alert.

But it is easier to defend something in the middle of the saucer section behind many bulkheads, and not right next to the skin between them and outer space. (that's my point)
 
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Steve



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I'm getting SO itchy to see the finale!!!!!!:love
 
Steve,

I've been following this thread with great interest. Thanks for sharing so much of your experience and so many great techniques. It's answered a lot of questions for me.

The only way I know to solve issues like this is to build a 3D model, pose it to match photos of the original, and then compare the results. I did this years ago with the TOS E and I got a pretty good match. I'm sure my model could use some tweaking, but it looks fairly close to my eye.

I have the bottom of the nacelle just flush with the top of the saucer. I also noticed the port nacelle on the original was sagging compared to the starboard. I really started spotting asymmetry on the original once I had a near perfect CG version to compare it with.

HTH. . .
 
They shouldn't be flush according to Kerr's plans. However the differences are just too small for me to spend anymore time worrying about it or I'll never finish.

I worked for the studios for 35 years and learned long ago good enough is.

Nice job on the CGI model I built one too as seen in the credits of my videos but I never finished it.

Steve
 
Me, either. It was a study model but I did not complete it. I definitely agree with the idea of "close enough." I didn't use to, but I do now. Otherwise, you'd never get anything done! LOL

Fantastic job, BTW it looks great. :D
 
To me, the whole point of the bridge being where it was went hand in hand with the optimism of the series. We're right up top and proud. We've got nothing to fear, cuz right is on our side and we have a fully charged phaser bank pointed right at you


that sort of thing.

Hiding your command deck in the center of your ship is something that only cowards or Battlestar commanders would do (ducks and hides...)
 
Me, either. It was a study model but I did not complete it. I definitely agree with the idea of "close enough." I didn't use to, but I do now. Otherwise, you'd never get anything done! LOL

Fantastic job, BTW it looks great. :D


Righton the money and thanks very much! ;)

Steve
 
Ok, since this discussion on the nacelles has started I have tried to find the Kerr plans which I realize you can't, lol. I have the Sinclair plans but also I have a set from Charles Casimiro. Does anyone know how accurate they are?

Sorry, don't mean to distract from your great thread Steve.
 
Beautiful job, Steve. It really turned out great, it'll be fun to see it all complete and alive with lights.

And you can definitely see when it's mocked up that you had the rear of the nacelles up a little too high so that just made it appear they were too low in the front. I noticed it the other day, then saw the reason why.
 
Ok, since this discussion on the nacelles has started I have tried to find the Kerr plans which I realize you can't, lol. I have the Sinclair plans but also I have a set from Charles Casimiro. Does anyone know how accurate they are?

Sorry, don't mean to distract from your great thread Steve.

The Sinclare plans are fine. They are taken from the Kerr plans I believe.

Beautiful job, Steve. It really turned out great, it'll be fun to see it all complete and alive with lights.

And you can definitely see when it's mocked up that you had the rear of the nacelles up a little too high so that just made it appear they were too low in the front. I noticed it the other day, then saw the reason why.

Richard you are so right. The darn secondary hull is sitting positive to the stand at a few degrees. Pitching up. The Saucer is at a negative pitch and has over a 1/8 clearance from the dorsal. All this will be sorted out when I really assemble it for real as you well know.

Steve
 
I noticed it too, but didn't feel it needed pointing out since it was just a dry fit.

Looking forward to your "build" videos. I have to build the Custom Replicas kit for Federation Models. Will see what new techniques I can pick up from you. Tracy wants the kit to be able to be broken down so he can take it to Wonderfest and Model shows. Trying to figure something out internally so nuttin' will be seen on the outside.

Tracy
 
I wouldn't worry about it the real one did. LOL!!

If your fit is tight enough that might do it. Butter the slot and wax the pylon. That's what I'm going to do but if not they used two set screws. You just did see it on camera. Hey it's scale! ;)

Thanks Tracy.

Steve
 
Guys no video tonight or report other than staying up late and endlessly pouring parts. I have about two more days of it and preening and hand making the beacon parts.

I made the molds today for the 3/4 dome under saucer NAVs and the upper saucer tear drops. Still have to preen Johns hull parts, get a CD together and Monday I'll have Paul's hull parts to epoxy glass up. I'm putting in late nights to make up for the overload.

Back to work,

Steve
 
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