Author Topic: Original 3-foot Enterprise model found (and verified) (Read 1701 times)

Blackstar · « **on:** 04/18/2024 07:16 pm »

https://apnews.com/article/star-trek-uss-enterprise-roddenberry-e3cea04b05ae5c24130d144a0b38d051?mibextid=o8wo0F

Bob Niland · « **Reply #1 on:** 04/18/2024 07:57 pm »

Might want to tack this onto the (an?) existing thread:
Topic: Lost 3 foot Model of the Starship Enterprise Has Been Found!

Blackstar · « **Reply #2 on:** 04/18/2024 08:37 pm »

https://trekmovie.com/2024/04/18/lost-original-uss-enterprise-model-from-star-trek-returned-to-gene-roddenberrys-son/

Blackstar · « **Reply #3 on:** 04/18/2024 11:10 pm »

Rod Roddenberry just posted a bunch of photos.

Blackstar · « **Reply #4 on:** 04/19/2024 12:31 am »

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/long-lost-uss-enterprise-model-returned-star-trek-109386944

AS_501 · « **Reply #5 on:** 04/19/2024 12:37 am »

Having a senior moment...what is the history of the Enterprise model in the Smithsonian?

Blackstar · « **Reply #6 on:** 04/19/2024 01:41 am »

Quote from: AS_501 on 04/19/2024 12:37 am

Having a senior moment...what is the history of the Enterprise model in the Smithsonian?

This 3-foot model was built before filming began. It appeared in the opening credits (the Enterprise swooshing past) and in publicity photos. Lots of photos with the cast posing with the model. It made a few appearances in the show. It was later in Gene Roddenberry's possession in the 1970s. In the late 1970s he loaned it to Paramount as a reference as they were working on The Motion Picture, and he never got it back. He wrote asking for the model back, and apparently asked several times. But he didn't get it back.

The 11-foot model was built for the pilot, with several differences compared to how it later looked in the series. It appeared in the original pilot, "The Cage." It was used for a number of shots that were later reused throughout the series. Most of the appearances of the ship were essentially stock shots and after the first season it was rarely filmed again. That model was donated by the studio to the National Air and Space Museum in the mid-1970s and was on display in the museum for many years, restored several times. It is currently on display in the museum near the entrance.

The 3-foot model is the original Enterprise, the first. If it was put up for auction, it would sell for at least a million dollars or more (a missing X-Wing from Star Wars recently sold for $3 million). Fortunately, Roddenberry's son has indicated that he wants this model to end up in a museum.