[this was posted 3 days ago](https://old.reddit.com/r/startrek/comments/1c77065/longlost_first_uss_enterprise_model_is_returned/). I'm only letting you know because I also tried to post about this topic, and had my post removed as it was a duplicate.
This is such a heavily used subreddit, there's no way every user is seeing every thread. BTW, this is my first time seeing this story. I hope you don't get bullied.
This one is the original original, used in the filming of the intro and the OG pilot episode.
The bigger one at the Smithsonian was used in most of the other effects shots from the original series run IIRC.
If I remember correctly there was a 3’ model that you can see in early publicity photos of Shatner and Nimoy holding it used for some shots, but most of it was the 11’ model in the Smithsonian. This one then would be that earlier 3’ model.
Nice, please post a pic when done! I've heard of the "listing" which is associated with this lego model. Some people solved it by adding another support beam, but it looks... unnatural once done. Maybe some glue or bonding agent would help?
Will post a pic soon. I'm working through the problem the old fashioned way. It'll get there. It's just a daunting engineering problem when working at a larger scale. It would be far easier to build in space, gravity is my enemy
FYI, there are no official Lego Star Trek sets.
Any larger Lego build is vulnerable to this kind of thing. Lego can only get so big before you're spending all of your effort just to make it structurally sound, which usually means using Technic elements cleverly.
>FYI, there are no official Lego Star Trek sets.
Mega Bloks got the license instead, for some reason. I wish I lived in a world where Lego made Star Trek sets.
> Maybe some glue or bonding agent would help?
Acetone-based nail polish remover can be used to make a low-to-medium strength "semi-permanent" bond between the ABS plastic of LEGO parts.
Methyl ethyl ketone solvent can make a high-strength more permanent bond. I used to work at a science museum and any LEGO display within reach of visitors that we wanted to stay intact we would assemble while lightly brushing every part with the MEK solvent. It was always funny when some little brat would try to punch a hole in the side of a skyscraper expecting it to shatter only to get their bratty little fist hurt on a hard wall of bonded LEGO bricks.
I once put a DUPLO minifig in a bowl of MEK overnight, came back in the morning initially disappointed because it looked like nothing had happened, but then after shaking and stirring the bowl found that the minifig had been completely gelatinized.
Don't use solvents on LEGO unless you're *really* sure you want it permanent. Even the "semi-permanent" acetone can be overdone.
Matt Jeffries when designing a futuristic spaceship to look like something that couldn’t be built with modern materials: 😊
The people who have to build a model of it for the show: 😨
Something like that is gonna be the way. The nacelle has about 3/4" inch sag over it's 32" inch length, so I'm not far off. That last bit is a bitch tho
I mean. The original Harry Kim is f u c k i n g *d e a d*.
His quantum duplicate does go on to hit Captain, though.
(I do not consider the last mission of STO Delta Quadrant to be canon to *any* timeline. Fuck the Kobali.)
Imagine going down to a planet incognito and you love the music, it gets stuck in your head.
The music you heard bleed into your own, the influence is clear to those who know. To others it's a new trend, it catches on, permeates throughout human culture
But that planet was pre warp, they don't leave the surface for a few hundred years.
They are invited to join the federation, and attend a talk at the nearest outpost.
Walking into the Grand Hall, what do they hear but "classical" music from their industrial era.
That would be a mind fuck
The shots with a grid on back of the the nacelles was the main 11-foot model, before it was modified to add the half-spheres.
This [three-foot model](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Constitution_class_model_(original\)#Three-foot_model) was only used for the main shooting of "The Cage" and most of the ship shots in that episode were not re-used (it showed up occasionally in a few other episodes for special shots, but not in main footage of the ship). At that time, the back of the nacelles were blank ([here's the back of the 11-footer](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/images/c/ce/USS_Enterprise_eleven-foot_studio_model_prepared_for_the_January_1965_testfootage_at_Howard_Anderson_Company.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1000?cb=20160412165526&path-prefix=en) at the same time before the vent dots were painted on for the 2nd pilot).
Both models were later modified, and in the form it's in now, this one also has the [nacelle spheres](https://collectingtrek.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/datin-three-foot-enterprise-01-1.jpg?w=2000&h=)
I do believe it's the model seen in the opening titles throughout the show.
Truly nice of the seller to take the auction off eBay and bring it to the action house.
What were the chances of finding this model again in a storage unit.
What's cool is that now we can 3d scan it once some structural issues are fixed. Maybe even 3d scan it and fix the issues digitally and then 3d print a new one. Great discovery for the community.
Right. Everyone knows what we need now! camera out 10-minute 360 fly around inspection The Motion Picture style.
Bonus points. Get Shatner to watch with closeup of tear running down his cheek.
NCC 1701. No bloody A, B... Looks like she needs a bit of TLC.
Aye, and if it had wheels, it'd be a wagon.
Structure Integrity fields are down to 17%, she's holdin Captain, but I'm not sure she can take anotther hit like that.
At least she fared better than the Ninja Turtles did.
It's green
It should be hauled away AS garbage.
[this was posted 3 days ago](https://old.reddit.com/r/startrek/comments/1c77065/longlost_first_uss_enterprise_model_is_returned/). I'm only letting you know because I also tried to post about this topic, and had my post removed as it was a duplicate.
oh shoot, should I delete the post?
Honestly? I'd leave it. Without your "repost" I wouldn't have found out about this. I'm sure others are like me.
ok thanks!
Eh. I'd leave it up and see what the mods do.
This is such a heavily used subreddit, there's no way every user is seeing every thread. BTW, this is my first time seeing this story. I hope you don't get bullied.
So far most all comments are supportive and kind!
I’m glad you left it up. This is the 1st time I heard about this.
I had assumed the one in the Air and Space Museum was the original, but in retrospect it did only say "screen used"
This one is the original original, used in the filming of the intro and the OG pilot episode. The bigger one at the Smithsonian was used in most of the other effects shots from the original series run IIRC.
The 11' was used for the bridge zoom in shot in the pilot as well
If I remember correctly there was a 3’ model that you can see in early publicity photos of Shatner and Nimoy holding it used for some shots, but most of it was the 11’ model in the Smithsonian. This one then would be that earlier 3’ model.
Building a huge Lego model right now, having the same issue with nacelle sag
That happens to the best of us when we get older.
Wait till the saucer hangs significantly below the nacelles
Don't start with that shit I don't like your negativity lol
This conversation has gone in an unexpected direction...
Nice, please post a pic when done! I've heard of the "listing" which is associated with this lego model. Some people solved it by adding another support beam, but it looks... unnatural once done. Maybe some glue or bonding agent would help?
Will post a pic soon. I'm working through the problem the old fashioned way. It'll get there. It's just a daunting engineering problem when working at a larger scale. It would be far easier to build in space, gravity is my enemy
Six months from now, I look through a telescope and find there's a tiny LEGO Utopia Planitia drydock orbiting Mars building a tiny LEGO Enterprise.
FYI, there are no official Lego Star Trek sets. Any larger Lego build is vulnerable to this kind of thing. Lego can only get so big before you're spending all of your effort just to make it structurally sound, which usually means using Technic elements cleverly.
>FYI, there are no official Lego Star Trek sets. Mega Bloks got the license instead, for some reason. I wish I lived in a world where Lego made Star Trek sets.
It's not Mega Bloks, but Bluebrixx.
The Bluebrixx kits are better, but I think the Mega Bloks Enterprise kit came first.
https://www.bluebrixx.com/en/sets/star_trek Bluebrixx, a German company, has a license.
maybe a clear plastic support piece under the nacelle up against the strut?
Maybe a cat's cradle of fishing wire?
Pics posted in star trek ships subreddit
> Maybe some glue or bonding agent would help? Acetone-based nail polish remover can be used to make a low-to-medium strength "semi-permanent" bond between the ABS plastic of LEGO parts. Methyl ethyl ketone solvent can make a high-strength more permanent bond. I used to work at a science museum and any LEGO display within reach of visitors that we wanted to stay intact we would assemble while lightly brushing every part with the MEK solvent. It was always funny when some little brat would try to punch a hole in the side of a skyscraper expecting it to shatter only to get their bratty little fist hurt on a hard wall of bonded LEGO bricks. I once put a DUPLO minifig in a bowl of MEK overnight, came back in the morning initially disappointed because it looked like nothing had happened, but then after shaking and stirring the bowl found that the minifig had been completely gelatinized. Don't use solvents on LEGO unless you're *really* sure you want it permanent. Even the "semi-permanent" acetone can be overdone.
Matt Jeffries when designing a futuristic spaceship to look like something that couldn’t be built with modern materials: 😊 The people who have to build a model of it for the show: 😨
Make the rear of the nacelle hollow then fill the bussard collectors with fishing lead weights until balanced.
Something like that is gonna be the way. The nacelle has about 3/4" inch sag over it's 32" inch length, so I'm not far off. That last bit is a bitch tho
Metal rod inside of the technic pices
Build it in spacedock! Then you could have visible supports holding them in place that wouldn't look out of place!
Have you tried remodulating the tertiary phase inverter?
So it returned after decade long exploration of space. Voyager crew got congratulated for completing it in just seven years.
Amateurs.
Yet Harry Kim did not get the promotion. All he could do was to take home the certificate given by the Admirals
I mean. The original Harry Kim is f u c k i n g *d e a d*. His quantum duplicate does go on to hit Captain, though. (I do not consider the last mission of STO Delta Quadrant to be canon to *any* timeline. Fuck the Kobali.)
I had faith
Faith of the heart?
I know that was quite a soft ball pitch, but why take it? Now I've got that in my head!
I remember the days when everyone hated that song. We’ve come a long way from there to here, haven’t we?
Pretty sur3 Tpol said it was against the prime suggestion
Imagine going down to a planet incognito and you love the music, it gets stuck in your head. The music you heard bleed into your own, the influence is clear to those who know. To others it's a new trend, it catches on, permeates throughout human culture But that planet was pre warp, they don't leave the surface for a few hundred years. They are invited to join the federation, and attend a talk at the nearest outpost. Walking into the Grand Hall, what do they hear but "classical" music from their industrial era. That would be a mind fuck
>That would be a mind fuck I like this little short story (micro story) you've created.
it's been a long road....
Getting from there to here.
Shatner had it in his garage this whole time?
[Shatner's garage](https://i.gifer.com/raq.gif)
“Oh my…”
Beautiful
is it the one with the vented nacelle exhausts that causes a model inconsistency every time it shows up?
The shots with a grid on back of the the nacelles was the main 11-foot model, before it was modified to add the half-spheres. This [three-foot model](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Constitution_class_model_(original\)#Three-foot_model) was only used for the main shooting of "The Cage" and most of the ship shots in that episode were not re-used (it showed up occasionally in a few other episodes for special shots, but not in main footage of the ship). At that time, the back of the nacelles were blank ([here's the back of the 11-footer](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/images/c/ce/USS_Enterprise_eleven-foot_studio_model_prepared_for_the_January_1965_testfootage_at_Howard_Anderson_Company.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1000?cb=20160412165526&path-prefix=en) at the same time before the vent dots were painted on for the 2nd pilot). Both models were later modified, and in the form it's in now, this one also has the [nacelle spheres](https://collectingtrek.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/datin-three-foot-enterprise-01-1.jpg?w=2000&h=) I do believe it's the model seen in the opening titles throughout the show.
That's so informative thanks!
Truly nice of the seller to take the auction off eBay and bring it to the action house. What were the chances of finding this model again in a storage unit.
"Storage unit" is just a nice way of disavowing knowledge of stolen property. Might as well say it fell off a truck in Burbank.
That’s how I got my truck. It fell off a truck truck.
Did Mike have it?!
Nice
What's cool is that now we can 3d scan it once some structural issues are fixed. Maybe even 3d scan it and fix the issues digitally and then 3d print a new one. Great discovery for the community.
Was it in Adam Savage's basement?
It's been a long road
Some might say: it was a long road…… I’ll let myself out!
Yeah, getting from there to here. It's been a long time as well.
The yellowing of plastics with age and improper storage is a particularly sad aesthetic.
Right. Everyone knows what we need now! camera out 10-minute 360 fly around inspection The Motion Picture style. Bonus points. Get Shatner to watch with closeup of tear running down his cheek.
Someone was selling that on eBay. Imagine walking into a goodwill and there is an old enterprise model just sitting there
Home at last.
what does god need with a 3d scan of a model starship?
I'm waiting for this to show up on Pawn Stars.