Hi everyone, I'm Alan, a.k.a. nixonshead (I used the name way back in my days on the Subspace Comms Network and it's kind of stuck). As you may have seen on
Rekkert's Star Trek Interiors thread, he had started work on a commission for me to build one of the TNG concept bridges from Andrew Probert's early designs for the show. Unfortunately, Rekkert was unable to complete the bridge, but was kind enough to pass me the WIP meshes and some helpful models for set dressing that will let me continue the project. It's likely to be slow going, as I'm only able to work on this between other things, but I thought I'd stop lurking and start posting updates for those interested.
So, here are the first few updates. The main differences so far are a remodelled outer shell for the room. Rekkert made an excellent clean mesh for this complex shape, but I wanted to tweak a couple of things, and ended up re-doing the whole thing. I'll probably do one more version of this, as I'm still not fully happy with the curve where the viewscreen meets the wall, and I need to add the alcoves at the rear. I've also updated the wall materials to match Probert's orange felt-tip. It's now a carpet style material (a bridge on the bridge, carpet on the walls - this is an odd design!). I've also added some conference room chairs that Rekkert provided.
Next couple of images, I've re-done the curvy consoles (again, likely to be tweaked further or outright replaced), added some more details to the conference area, and updated some materials.
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Cool updates from where I left off. It was smart redoing the outer shell, I had totally destroyed the shape of the viewscreen when doing the ceiling.
Interesting that you're going for the carpet on the wall, clearly a much more faithful take to the original concept drawing, while I was going for a mix of that and what was eventually seen on screen. Looking forward for more!
And welcome.
Yep, not sure yet if I'll keep the wall carpet or end up going for something closer to the final on-screen set. Figured I'd start with the Probert drawing then play around with things afterwards.
Thanks! It's slow going (not helped by a seasonal cold), but I'm finding it a nice relaxing project without the pressure of a client
I could totally see that, maybe with the upper level being like a VIP viewing platform!
Thanks!
A couple of small updates. I've remodelled the curvy consoles a bit and given them ends so they don't just terminate in a flat cutoff. I made the cushioning a little thinner when doing that, so maybe the comfort level has dropped I may go back an inflate them again later.
I've also started modelling the forward "coffee table". This is supposed to have little displays that flip up out of the surface, but I've not yet added those.
Lastly a view from the conference area. You can see I added chairs into the curvy console, as they appear on the concept art. These are based on the chairs at the rear consoles of the screen Ent-D brisge, but with thinner back pieces to fit under the lower curvy console. I'm not fully happy with these currently, as a) they have flat backs, not following the curve, and b) in order to stop them poking out the front of the console, they can't be very deep, so any crew using them would have to perch quite uncomfortably on them. I'm thinking to replace these chairs with access panels and just have any crew using the consoles (apart from Conn and Ops) stand. Also, the captain's chair is still using antigravity suspension
For the viewscreen, I wanted to give it a real holographic feel, especially if I end up doing an animated walk-through, so I basically just made it a transparent window and put a nebula outside. I like the way that illuminates the bridge, but it emphatically is NOT a window! No windows on my starship bridges! (My assumption is this is still Probert's original concept of having the bridge deep inside the saucer). Lastly, a few LCARS displays to spice things up.
I agree, no F'ing Windows for view screens. I can let slide a "Skylight" window ala Ent-D, but it would need to have shutter on it, for when the ship goes into battle. Can't have that being a week spot.
It shouldn't have shattered like it did in Generations, because it should have been transparent duranium, or tritanium, or something like that. After all, if they had transparent aluminum, they likely had other transparent metals. It would only make sense to use them for durability over glass.
Yep, transparent alumin(i)um. I hope in vain for an episode of Trek to one day show a window dented instead of shattered
And yes, that's a huge amount of room in front of the aft consoles! In keeping with the asthetic, I'm thinking of adding a couple of replicators and a coffee bar behind the conference area
I've also modified the lighting for the upper deck. Still some tweaking to do, especially after I put the ready Room up there, but a bit more realistic now.
I do wonder how safe those steps would be if the Captain is called to the bridge during an attack, with everyone shaking from side to side...
I agree it is crazy, but I guess it kind of fits a lot of what they were trying to get across in the early episodes. With families on board, and an original design crew of ten thousand, the Enterprise-D was supposed to be more a small town than a naval vessel like Kirk's ship. Even if it did get into a fight, the civvies were supposed to be left safely with the (sublight?!) saucer, so the main bridge would very rarely have had to deal with combat stresses. That could have been an interesting show... but on balance, I'm glad we got the version we did.
I love that idea! Or maybe a big ball pool he can jump into. There's plenty of room for one!
Thanks (mainly on Probert's behalf)!
I could see that, though I think it's overall still too forward-facing for a starbase. Unless maybe the viewscreen was replaced by a bay window looking out onto the docking bays? (I'm fine with windows for starbases )
What with the PC replacement, I've not had chance to do any more modelling, but I have been playing with some lighting schemes. Which Red Alert do you guys like best?
Though I also like the version where you have no light at the front to the bridge so it does not distract the Helms and Ops Officers.
When the ship went to battle station at night, the lights would go off and red lights would come on (that where Red Alert come from.)
This would make it harder to see the ship at night and with the red light you could still see / read what you are doing. The Red light spectrum is not as easy to see from a distance compared to white light.
As I never served on a Submarine and the film show this happening on them even though they have no windows, I guess it has become a tradition.
I'm still playing with the colouring, and need to work more on the couch, add a small coffee table and probably a planter, but you get the idea. You might also note I've labelled the doors as being on Deck 10, in keeping with Probert's original concept of having the bridge protected in the heart of the saucer. Down the aft-pointing corridor is a door to a transporter room behind the bridge, another of Probert's early ideas (which would have cut out a lot of turbolift chat scenes if it had ever made it into the show!).