Sooner or later, all talk of Science Fiction television must come back to this: The TOS (The Original Series) U.S.S. Enterprise. None of the alphabet of Enterprises to follow, we’re talking the original (and still, to my mind, the most innovative) starship to take the Federation’s enlightened form of imperialism to the galaxy.
As Browncoats, we can perhaps feel some sympathy for the devils of old Trek. Klingons may not have been civilized, but at least they were free. Romulans my have been mysterious and clandestine, but at least no one told them what to do, what to think. Never was the story of self-righteous imperialism more purely told than in the original Star Trek, except perhaps in Firefly and Serenity. Star Trek’s optimism about limitless horizons (and resources) and almost casual “might makes right as long as its our definition of right” philoposhy sounds so suspiciously close to Alliance-think, it makes me wonder if perhaps the show still enjoys popularity on the Core Worlds as Saturday morning entertainment for the kiddies? Hmmm…
It’s also true that the original Star Trek laid considerable rail for what was to follow. Even Firefly, which went to great lengths to distance itself from the Federation’s sterile, goodie-goodie society, still needed a show like Star Trek so there was some benchmark to measure that distance.
And certainly, no show has influenced more technical innovations, inspired more scientists, and had so great and prevailing impact on the way we even think about the possibility of space exploration as Star Trek has. Name another TV vessel that had an actual, real-life spaceship named after it? It’s a very short list, indeed.
So, it is with all due reverence, respect and mild suspicion (because, as Browncoats, how could it be otherwise?), we present the flagship of the Federation: The FX Company’s build of the Enterprise NCC-1701 (no appended digit):
Great stuff, as usual. I agree, it’s an awesome ship. We can love more than one show right?
One question though. How big is the model?
WOW! Where can I get mine?
Hi Michael – not sure, exactly. I’m guessing around 30″ or so as I have a pict of her displayed next to one of their Voyager builds, and I know that model’s about 35″.
Durl – I’m sure FX would be happy to build one for you!
>>Name another TV vessel that had an actual, real-life spaceship named after it? It’s a very short list, indeed.
Technically (nitpicking here) but wouldn’t that be “Name another TV vessel that had the atmospheric test vehicle for an actual, real-life spaceship named after it?”
I’ve been to see the Shuttle Enterprise, and it’s very cool, but it never did get refurbished into a functional space-capable vessel.
This is amazing, especially lighting the impulse engines and inboard the warp nacelles (the shuttle bay too). It has perplexed me why none of the CG or other representations of the ship in recent years (that I have seen) have included this (to me) obvious adjustment to these now cannon design features. The architecture has been there from day one and ever since the STTMP refit made it a feature, I wanted to see it added to the STOS Enterprise. Have you considered also back-lighting between the concentric rings behind the nav-deflector? These are all features I have attempted to work in to various half-complete models I have, including the individual switches to activate them… Fantastic!!! I debate with myself on adding phaser turrets and reaction control thrusters but the RCTs are probably too much of a change.