Believe it or not -tomorrow will mark 45 years since we first saw the USS Enterprise. The original Star Trek series premiered on NBC September 8th, 1966. I case you've ever wondered who ended up with the starship we saw in the opening credits, it's in good hands at the Smithsonian Institution.
The model's principal designer, Walter "Matt" Jefferies, worked with concepts provided by “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry. In the early stages of production, Paramount Studios constructed a rough 4-inch balsa and cardboard prototype. A 3-foot "pilot" model of solid wood was then built by model-maker Richard C. Datin under subcontract to the Howard Anderson Co. The 3-foot model resulted in the final 11-foot model shown here. This model is constructed of poplar wood, vacu-formed plastic, rolled sheet-metal tubes and plastic.
The model is on display at the National Air and Space Museum. Link
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They have the original model for the Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind mothership out at the Udvar-Hazy branch at the Dulles Airport, too....
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The son of Richard Datin, the original model maker, is Charlie Datin. Charlie runs http://cruisetrek.com/ - producing Star Trek cruises. I first met him a decade ago... very nice guy.
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Actually, the first USS Enterprise was in 1775, 236 years ago, and fought proudly in the Revolutionary War.
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Unfortunately the model has been consigned into a glass case in the backend of the gift shop in the basement... removed from it's former high perch in the right wing of the Air and Space Museum.....
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Seen it. Seems small when you first see it, but then seems large when you think how it fit on tv.
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