In 1992, the Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum opened a special exhibit showcasing 25 years of Star Trek. As part of that exhibit, the 11-foot filming model of the Enterprise was restored by Ed Miarecki of Sci-Fi Modeling Associates in his shop in Springfield, Massachusetts. Ed gutted and re-painted the model. New lighting and a completely reworked Warp Engine lighting system was installed, designed to accurately duplicate the original rotating effect. Since I was also conducting a restoration of sorts on my own Enterprise model, I decided to update the model by researching the newly restored original. That meant another road trip to Washington DC and a lot more photos taken. |
Photo from Air & Space Magazine
| Visible in these photos are the controversial "Deflector Grid" lines. These grid lines became a major source of discussion among Trekkies. Some people, Ed Miarecki included, have claimed that these lines actually were on the model when the effects shots for the show's final season were being filmed. Those at the other extreme claim that the Enterprise had no such markings. Many in the middle say that the gridwork was there, that it was just overdone on the restoration or that the kit is correct in that the grid lines were on the top of the saucer only. While most views of the Enterprise on video show no such gridwork, there are some shots where it may be possible to just barely discern a faint line or two. |
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As for evidence on the big model itself, it had been painted over since
Paramount Studios gave it to the Smithsonian, covering any evidence of
a pattern of lines on its surface except for one place. According to Mr.
Miarecki, the Smithsonian informed him that Paramount, which still officially
owns the model, is allowing them to keep it as long as the upper
surface of the Saucer remains un-touched for as long as the model is in
their possession. All other parts of the model may be repainted
or reworked. (This might be the reason why the Smithsonian has never displayed
the model with the top of the saucer easily seen.)
Mr. Miarecki vigorously documented the restoration with many photos, one of which clearly shows a very finely drawn gridwork over the entire top surface of the saucer. There remains the fact, however, that the rest of the model and all other markings had been painted over since the first restoration. One of Ed's photos shows a small portion of the saucer's bottom with its own finely drawn gridwork, similar to the markings on the top but only visible on an area little more than a foot across. Oddly, no lines can be seen on any other portion of the model in any other photos. These and other photos of the '92 restoration can be seen on this page on the "Modelers Miniatures and Magic" website. |
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Visible in the above photo is some detail that was missing when I had last
photographed the model in 1989. The raised detail just forward of the red
and yellow Starfleet Pennant was a detail that was represented by a decal
on my model the first time around.
Again I referred to the drawings in SHIPS of the STARFLEET. The drawing below is modified to reflect the correct coloring. (Click on the drawing for a larger version.) |
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9:
PAINTING
II: THE WRATH OF ACRYLICS
The History of Space Exploration
Figures: People, Creatures and Dinosaurs
