June 29, 2014

Update from Rob Minnes

I’ve some additional info regarding this studio model.

Actually, it isn’t a Phase II model, but already the Motion Picture model. Since the production history of TMP is so muddied and mired in lore, the mistake is very much understandable. It has taken me quite some time to piece together a timeline, garnering info from a myriad of publications, so here goes:

Early September 1977: Magicam is contracted to do all the visual effects for the television project “Star Trek: Phase II”, including the build of the studio models, construction on which is started ommediately (The Enterprise model subcontracted to Brick Price Movie Miniatures – you have a page here: https://www.modelermagic.com/?p=2851 -) The D7 model is subcontracted to Greg Jein who build a 3-foot one using the original television model as a template.

Late December 1977: The decision is made to upgrade the television project to a motion picture

January/February 1978 : Robert Abel & Associates (RA&A) is contracted to do the visual effects for the movie. Director Robert Wise and RA&A’s Art Director Richard Taylor inspect the Phase II models in their various stages of completion and deem them to small and too undetailed for big screen requirements. Work on the models is immediately halted and they are later discarded. Magicam is retained as model making company, but has to do the work all over again, starting from scratch. Work is started on the new, more detailed, twice as large, 6-foot D7 class in the spring of 1978. (the one pictured here)

July 1978: The finished D7 model is delivered to the producers and test footage is shot of the model in this livery, however, Taylor finds the model still wanting in level of detail and the model reverts to Magicam for further detailing and upgrades, additional upgrades ( among others the large Klingon symbol on the underside of the model) done at Astra (the art department subsidiary of RA&A) This helps to somewhat date the Suzana Swansea picture here: https://www.modelermagic.com/?p=1926

22 February 1979: RA&A is released from the production in an atmosphere of extreme anomisity

March 1979: John Dykstra’s Apogee Inc. is brought in as visual effects company and his is handed the D7 model for filming. Yet, he too decided the model needs additional detailing and further upgrades are performed, most notably getting the model an entirely new lighting rig.It has now become the K’t’inga-class model

1991: The model is refurbished ar ILM as the Qronos one for Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country by model makers John Goodson, Bill George and Mark Moore. (you have a page here: https://www.modelermagic.com/?p=15819 )

So to recapitulate: The model pictured here, the K’tínga-class model and the Qronos One are all one and the same model.

I am including two pics, the first one is from Starlog magazine, issue 27, October 1979, p. 26, showing Magicam model shop supervisor Jim Dow working on the model in its early stages; The second one is from American Cinematographer, February 1980, page 179, showing the model in test footage around July 1978 before the first round of modifications, the only one picture I know of in existence.

Hope to be of some kind of help, Warm Regards,

Rob Minnes

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Jan 5, 2009

Before Star Trek The Motion Picture actually came about, Gene Roddenberry and Paramount was going to release a new series called Star Trek Phase II. They ended up using one of the storylines to make The Motion Picture. Never-the-less, models were made for the series that never came about. This is the Klingon D-7 as it was built for the never realized series. The artist pictured is Chris Ross from Magicam. Thank you to Rob Minnes for noting this information for us all.