Star Trek Exhibit in San Diego

[TheRealMcFly]

Why was a smaller Excelsior built? Same reason the 4-ft Enterprise-D was (the big-uns too big and unwieldy)?

The original Excelsior model was redressed for Generations as the new improved excelsior class Enterprise B. A real shame if you ask me, they should have re-badged it Enterprise A. Then, later Voyager did an episode where they required the use of additional effects shots of the Excelsior. It was a strange episode to me, I didn't realize that is was supposed to be the same Vulcan character.

Anyway, a model made afterwards, and one that has nothing to do with the film version. It has been speculated that no one has yet replicated the correct shape/mass of the deflector dish area. I would love a good excelsior model.

 

[MGC]

Wow, the Cube looks like trash - really really bad. Is that how it always looked? It seemed so much neater on screen.

All of the big model starships looked beautiful in the flesh (the A especially), but bleh - that cube is hideous. I know the screen hides a lot of evils but I'm wondering, with how well a lof of the models translated, if this is how the cube was supposed to look? It seems very flimsy.

Thanks for the photos, all the same!

 

[Raffles]

Wow I remember seeing most of these at the star trek touring exhibit in the mid 90's. Some bits aren't faring too well.

 

[PHArchivist]

Is this the same tour that was in Long Beach earlier this year?

 

[spcglider@aol.com]

I was actually very disappointed in the exhibit. We went during SDCC.

I understand the sheer impossibility of gathering a ton of ORIGINAL material from StarTrek (in all incarnations) as most of it is in private collections or just doesn't exist any more, but when I go to a MUSEUM and pay to see an exhibit I expect the people who put the exhibit together to be honest enough to label things as "replica" or "original".

A note here: Its not just the Trek exhibit that 'm railing against in this case. The Viking exhibit was even worse... resin replicas of non-existent Viking tools and weapons? CHa!!!

I know most, if not all, of the models in the exhibit were originals and many of them were labeled with the maker's name. That's highly cool and very respectful. Buy if I'm not mistaken, the props from TOS in the bubble case were Roddenerry.com pieces and the display of the TOS Enterprise was the MR piece? And there were plenty of other items of dubious lineage around as well.

Somebody on this board can probably list them item by item.

BTW, how did you guys get away with taking so many pics? They were hawking down on anybody with a camera when I was there. "Excuse me, but there are no pictures allowed in the exhibit." For crying out loud! Why??? Its not like we can't go online and buy a kit of just about everything in the exhibit anyway! These items were MADE to be photographed. I don't get it.

Anyhow, I walked away with two very distinct impressions:

1) The environments they built for the Trek exhibit were more impressive than the exhibit itself. The walk-thru ship's hallways were pretty neat.

2) The San Diego Air and Space Museum (outside of the Trek exhibit) is worth the price of admission. Its just too cool. And they mark things as replicas when they are.

My wife and I were grooving on the museum's building. it having been the Ford Exhibition Building at one time. If you go in the center courtyard and look very carefully at the fountain in the center you'll see that it is in the shape of the original "V8" logo!

-Gordon

 

[Tripper]

Are there any photos of the TOS props display?

 

[franz bolo]

BTW, how did you guys get away with taking so many pics? They were hawking down on anybody with a camera when I was there.

2) The San Diego Air and Space Museum (outside of the Trek exhibit) is worth the price of admission. Its just too cool. And they mark things as replicas when they are.
-Gordon

I took a photo once the sliding main bridge doors opened and they said don't take pics but when I got to the ships, I took as many as I could (almost 200) and no one said anything. I didn't take any near the photo areas they had set up.

None of the props I saw displayed, except the Klingon sash, in the domes were original. The ships were the coolest thing so I enjoyed it a lot! All the uniforms were authentic.

The museum itself is really nice. My son loved it!!

FB

 

[DLO Studios]

Has anyone mentioned that kirks chair is one of 3 originals? I sat in it. Very cool. None of the buttons worked though.

 

[CessnaDriver]

Has anyone mentioned that kirks chair is one of 3 originals? I sat in it. Very cool. None of the buttons worked though.

They said it was "original" but I was skeptical of that.

The whole bridge was made for wear and tear by the public.
So lots of dummy switches. Photographs very well though.
I'll have to go back before it leaves. Hoping to go on a day with nobody there. Kinda got rushed through.

 

[franz bolo]

HERE are the pics I took at the event.

FB

 

[feek61]

Thanks for linking the photos: pretty cool. I love all of the models.


Will

 

[Vaderman]

I have to go find out if that is a "real" Kirk chair, I would be amazed if it were.

Glad this exhibit made it to San Diego, the folks who started it in Long Beach have had a very rough time of it and been virtually taken over by an investor since Long Beach. This tour was counted out as dead several times.
Anyway, I need to go look at the pics. I am after some of the Iyaaran shuttlecraft. WHen I saw the LB version, it was opening night and I was on my way to San Diego (what a coincidence) and I had about an hour, without my camera. I managed to take two shots with my camera phone before getting distracted. I hated seeing the models "hog-tied" with wire and I hope they are now displayed using the mounts that are built into them for shooting!
The TOS props are replicas, for sure, though three should be a lot of costumes from TOS intact.
Thanks for posting the pics!