UPDATE: Activity on 3ft Star Trek Enterprise model.

[@grivolas2144]

Anything is possible, this wouldn't be the first time something like this has happened. My favorite story is a guy who got his 57 chevy stolen that he was about to restore, and 30 years later he got it back fully restored.😅

[@chrisddawson]

If the model ended up next to the 11’ model at the Smithsonian and then joined by the TMP model, would be TRULY AWESOME. Keep on Trekking

[@themodelkitbase9649]

This video was actually kinda beautiful to watch. The presentation, the music. I loved the impact of the subjects that were raised.. I left with a lesson. Something all the best Star Trek does. Nice work!

[@TREK-WORLD]

Wow, thank you!

[@robertkees6048]

The lights bring the ship to life. I saw a Smithsonian video where the curator for the 11 foot model said she had already decided that that model would not light up from inside; much to the disappointment of everyone on the project. Then something unexpected happened, someone stuck their hand up inside the model with a flashlight, and she got to see the light from the outside and it made the ship come to life. That moment (which they show one like it here) changed everything, from that point on their goal was go make it work as originally intended, with working lights. Thank you to the fates.

[@TREK-WORLD]

Absolutely! I'm familiar with Margaret's retelling of this. We were amazingly luck indeed.

[@bbordelon2]

Agreed, the 33" should be displayed along the full scale U.S.S. Enterprise at the Smithsonian, where she can be maintained and preserved.

[@rrrosadorr]

I just finished reading a Seattle Times article dated today (4/18/24) stating that the 3 foot model was returned to Rod Roddenberry last month. Time for an update!

[@TREK-WORLD]

Thanks for this note! You were the very first to tip me off about this! - Jim

[@laner.roberts7417]

15:04 What became of the 2 or 3 AMT models that were used in TOS? Also where are the 2 metal 3” models of the Enterprise used in “Catspaw”? One was encased and the other just hung on a chain.

[@AvengerII]

I believe most of the prime surviving models were donated to the Smithsonian INCLUDING the miniature used in "Catspaw." The fact is less than 5% of the Smithsonian collection is on display at any time. The rest of it is in storage, a lot of it NEVER having been put on display since donation. I doubt even Smithsonian has complete records of what it owns. Museums are infamous for losing records and field notes of what they do own. Most of the Star Trek artifacts the Smithsonian has were put on display during the expositions in the 1990s.

[@cbspock1701]

One is in a museum in Seattle. Trek world did a video on them

[@mikedicenso2778]

This has been covered before. There were two AMT models used in TOS: for the wrecked Constellation and one as the Enterprise herself in "The Trouble With Tribbles". The Constellation model was thrown out since it was too messed up to be used for anything else, and the other never got used for another episode but was kept by Matt Jefferies. The Tribbles model was then sold by Jefferies' brother at auction in the early 2000s to Paull Allen and placed on display at the Sci Pop Culture museum in Seattle, WA. As for the Catspaw miniatures, the Lucite encased one was gifted by Jefferies along with the D7 battlecruiser model and other items to the Smithsonian. The other one has disappeared and no one knows what happened to it. It might well have been tossed out after it was painted grey and used as the Enterprise in "The Doomsday Machine".

[@boblum3360]

The model should be side by side with the 11 footer. I'm in Canada so it would be great for me to be able to see both at the same time.

[@cbspock1701]

That sounds like Rod’s plan

[@CessnaDriver2]

Yep yep, that was me, two separate sources in that posting. The quote was from a Facebook group member at Star Trek Prop Makers & Collectors​ from someone in contact with the seller early on as to the owner of the storage unit. That was where I first learned of the auction on FB. And yeah, Kerr was quoted there as it looked authentic to him, so I got that second hand. I can't remember exactly the phrasing but "looked" would have been good word to include and avoid a term like "blessed". Things were moving fast and was hard to keep up with the latest. I think next time such things happen posting screen grabs will be much better to do and keep things straight. Looking at that thread now I think maybe there was another discussion I'm not finding straight away to reconstruct how the story developed. For a prop in question as authentic or not to survive scrutiny of RPF members for even a few hours was a very positive sign. :) The Han Solo blaster auction thread there shows what the folks there are capable of.

[@TREK-WORLD]

Howdy! Actually, you and your friends handled the whole situation better than any of the other key web forums. I've noticed that before and I will check out your topics and such there so that I can learn to better understand practical models. My skill set is non-existent. I couldn't emphasize enough in my video about how I feel about the value of your forums and members without it starting to sound like pandering. But I mean every word of it. I lurk and learn. And I think that the collective background of you guys being in practical modeling has resulted in an objective viewpoint rather than an emotional one. I hope to meet you and others at Wonderfest maybe this year or next. It would be good to put faces with names/handles. -Jim

[@JMChladek]

Your analysis of the situation is very good and I appreciate the efforts to separate rumor from what is actually known. I have known Gary Kerr for years and he is one of the straightest shooters out there with his analytical skills. I believe that is down to his interest in paleontology. We as a society crave news and gossip "NOW NOW NOW" and in the absence of concrete news we fill it with whatever we can, which unfortunately can mean less than accurate reporting. The quest for mouse clicks makes it worse. Not that I am implying the other site is intentionally supplying "click bait" mind you. But the desire to keep traffic and an audience to read site content can lead to jumping the gun. Thank you for your efforts in this manner. This is why I prefer a group that tries to do it right as opposed to doing it first.

[@TREK-WORLD]

So true. This is even more of a problem for Star Trek topics since we have lost so many folks and continue to lose more as time goes by. It's just important for people to learn to slow down on these things. You are absolutely right. And, unfortunately, clicks and views equal money in today's world. So some folks will push things before they've checked them out. The night I found out, my very first step was to ask Doug Drexler if he had heard the very next morning. He gave me some info, and then I made my video. Others made videos and stories after just reading what other people were posting. TrekMovie is a prime example since they printed the Gary rumor without actually even asking him first. Which is crazy since they didn't even write their story until almost two weeks later. They've done a stand-up job of issuing updates and corrections; but journalism should start with research.

[@JMChladek]

@@TREK-WORLD very good. While I personally have some potential connections I stayed mostly hands off on this story given I am not in a position to independently verify things and it was turning into a bit of an echo chamber. Crazy this popped up especially in the wake of the recent Greg Jein auction.

[@raythackston1960]

I would say if Rod wants the model he should be able to buy it from the new owner if it did come from an auction. Not like he doesn't have the money. That is as long as the story the guy gives of buying the model is true.

[@frenchmarky]

Should be easy to take that one closeup publicity pic of the ship where you can clearly see the suspension wires and triangulate exactly which points on the newly found model they attached to.

[@x15galmichelleevans]

I am in the camp that says that this model should be on display at a museum in California. The California Science Center is an excellent location, and could absolutely handle this USS Enterprise model. And even if the National Air and Space Museum were to do the restoration, there is still no reason not to put it on display out here on the West Coast. Star Trek was created in southern California, so why wouldn't it be appropriate to have something reflecting that right here where it happened. CSC is a premiere air and space museum, and will soon be the only location on the planet where a full stack of the Space Shuttle system will be on display. No other location, including the Smithsonian, has been able to pull off something of that magnitude. Many museums around the country are Smithsonian affiliates, and routinely display Smithsonian artifacts. They do not have to be on display in Washington DC. As another example of why this is important, the Apollo program sent the first and so far only human beings to the Moon. Those Apollo Command and Service Modules were all built here in southern California, specifically at the North American Aviation plant in Downey. Yet not one of those remaining command modules is on display here on the West Coast. All of them have been taken by the Smithsonian, and put on display elsewhere in the country, and the people who actually built those spacecraft can't see them, or show them off to their family and friends, without having to do significant travel. It is not right that this is the situation.

[@brettcooper3893]

Only other filming model that carries anything that remotely comes to the emotional impact of the Enterprise is the hero car from Back To The Future, which fortunately has been restored fully and will be preserved.

[@brettcooper3893]

@chrisriff-raf2069 thats what I meant. The actual hero car was saved from deleterion in the elements. They did use models, and a life-size model in Part 2, however.

[@lemonherb1]

I'm curious on what the left over piece from the construction Noel was hinting at could be. If I were to guess, I'd say some of the wood from the base the model was mounted on. If it were the case, it would be a simple matter of matching up the wood grain if it was cut immediately adjacent to the base. Or just an analysis of the wood species itself and age

[@PatJones82]

Another great video on the subject! Well done sir and THANK YOU!

[@TREK-WORLD]

I can't express how grateful I am for your support and kind words. It's viewers like you who motivate me to keep creating content. Thank you for being a part of my KZbin journey!

[@PatJones82]

@@TREK-WORLD Thank you for replying. I wouldn't miss a video! I don't think there is ANYONE who could do what you do, as thoroughly and as well as you are doing it! It is a pleasure to support and watch your videos! :)

[@user-be2dt8eg2x]

If he personally wants it and it's recovered that would mean more to me than any other options. I've heard the stories of Majel Roddenberry saying this ship had been stolen. Much as I like Star Trek, I don't think the Air and Space museum needs to be a Star Trek annex. The eleven footer should be enough. They have a real Apollo capsule and X-15, so one prop should be enough. Most people won't understand why this ship is so important, even if a plaque is next to it. Jefferies painting and drawings of the ship were sold years ago -- one predates the model. And the Smithsonian already has the Catspaw sealed Enterprise in its collection.

[@frenchmarky]

Why did Datin write the acceptable voltages on the card? I thought the model wasn't wired for lights?

[@CIS101]

I commented on the previous video, and looking at the photo of the model on Gene's desk there's a wood grain feature on the left edge of the display base that's like a fingerprint. On that comment I called it that Eye of Jupiter looking feature, but the term fingerprint is far more meaningful in this case for obvious reasons. It was not mentioned in that video nor this one.

[@johnwarren2420]

Was a police report make of the model being stolen back at the time over 50 years ago ? If not the man who purchased the storage locker and found the model owns the Enterprise !!!

[@martyenglishiii5099]

“It belongs in a museum!”

[@amyhogarten5038]

Great research Jim, as always. I am not sure if a detail of the “legend” of this model has ever been mentioned on your channel, and I make reference to it with no “agenda” or position on the matter of “ownership”. Since this model was discovered on eBay (which again, as you point out, still needs to be authenticated) I’ve read in at least one on-line comment or article regarding the chain of provenance a very important point: although Gene Roddenberry had noted that the model had gone “missing” during the filming of ST:TMP and he wished for its return, there may have been a broken link between how the 3 foot model came into Gene Roddenberry’s possession. I believe it has been mentioned that the Studio “gifted” him the 3 foot Dayton model at some point, but can that bit of information be taken for granted and confirmed? This point is brought up to NOT imply that Gene had engaged in anything sketchy or unscrupulous, but rather to point out how much of this “legend” is just that: “legend”, with the facts being muddied over a long period of time and how it’s been “whispered down the lane” so many times. Also, regarding how the model was “lost” it may be worth noting the following in establishing how that may have happened. If you refer to the photographs of the Phase II physical model under construction before the production was revised into being made into a feature film, in the background of several of the “work in progress” photos a small original TOS model can be seen. It’s difficult to judge the exact size of this smaller “reference model”, however it appears larger than an off-the-shelf stock AMT model kit. Perhaps this is the “3 foot model” in Robert Able’s (?) workshop when the Phase II model was being assembled? I’m pointing this out as a “noted detail” and implying nothing more, as I have no larger context to comment beyond the photographs themselves.

[@TREK-WORLD]

Hi Amy! You’ve actually zeroed in on exactly what I think the situation could be. I didn’t go into the ownership dilemma as I didn’t want to make people think that personal thoughts matter. However, I believe that for the seller, this is like finding a winning lottery ticket. There is entirely too much at steak for the seller to not have already gone to a lawyer about this first. Here’s the way I would approach it if I were the seller: the critical path item is finding a way to invalidate the claim of the Roddenberry family. So as a lawyer, I would want to see some kind of paperwork documenting the “gift”. As much as I hate to say it, Gene is notorious for making things up in order to benefit from events. So, if the family can’t provide paperwork of the gift - then there’s no chain of ownership beyond Paramount. And that’s where things start looking good for the seller. Why? Because Paramount has never legally perused their rights when any of the TOS items have shown up at auction. Even when people admit to have taken the item without permission (phase, communicators, etc). In fact, it’s an established fact that Paramount literally threw things away, or left them out in the open for people to claim them. Which is how Justman ended up with the captain’s chair, etc. So if you can invalidate the Roddenberry claim; then you are pretty much in the clear as far as your ability to claim that possession indicates ownership. From a Star Trek fan’s perspective, I would love to have Roddenberry take the model and ensure it gets taken care of and preserved in the Smithsonian. But from a “human being” perspective, to me, this is very much like when the state of Florida tried to seize the Atocha wreck from Mel Fisher when he found it. It simply isn’t fair to the finder.

[@amyhogarten5038]

@@TREK-WORLD Thank Jim. Hopefully there can be a “Win-Win” scenario for all parties where everyone benefits: the owner is fairly compensated, The Roddenberry Estate’s concern about the item becoming part of the physical legacy of Gene, and also the ST community’s desire that this important artifact gets properly restored and becomes accessible to the public just like the 11 foot model. It seems like this scenario would conform to the optimistic “Star Trek Vision” and is “very logical” 🖖:-)

[@mem1701movies]

@@TREK-WORLDmmmm....steak

[@TREK-WORLD]

😀😀😀😀😀😀

[@scifiguy26]

I hope it's real 🤞 and I agree with Rod it should be in the Smithsonian museum not bought by some rich guy & put in a lobby like a coffee table like the refit 1701-A

[@malachicasey4534]

How do you know that it is being used as a coffee table?

[@scifiguy26]

@@malachicasey4534 read post again I said LIKE a coffee table NOT being used as one

[@malachicasey4534]

@@scifiguy26 okay, the way it was worded was bad.

[@scifiguy26]

@@malachicasey4534 it wasn't worded bad you just read it wrong ..take some responsibility

[@malachicasey4534]

@@scifiguy26 I disagree with you the 2nd like implied that the 1701 A had been done as an example.

[@donbishow5497]

The west coast had ""Star Trek the Experience" for years, ok the was in Vegas but still west. The Star Trek sets in New York are recreations of a group that love Trek so much they filmed their our Trek stories. Thanks for killing that Paramount. Galileo 7 is in Texas.

[@guyjackson132]

The Galileo shuttlecraft exterior is now on loan to James Cawley for the Star Trek Original Series Set Tour in Ticonderoga, NY.

[@andreperrault5393]

It would just be great for Trekkies and Trekkers to know where the 3 foot model is. Icing on the cake would be if that person or persons are fans to, and would be willing to share in some way. That would “fit” with the ST ethos.

[@stevenewman1393]

🖖😎👍I truly hope that it truly is the Original 3ft. Model used in the original series and not just a replica of it, But I'm not going to hold my breath on it until it's truly confirmed that it truly is the authentic original TOS model!, And if it is the authentic model Yes it most definitely needs to be put in the Smithsonian along side it's 11ft. Sister Ship indeed!.

[@Felchenstien]

Isn't there a Sci-Fi museum in Los Angeles that has the captain's chair and helm or am I way off? Thanks for these updates.

[@BuShips]

The Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle has the original Captain's chair and one of the two Klingon battlecruisers.

[@TREK-WORLD]

Howdy! Yes, the museum you are thinking of is the Pop Culture Museum in Seattle. It's owned by Paul Allen. He has the chair, helm, and the AMT model used in the Trouble with Tribbles

[@fw1421]

It will need to be restored just like the larger model.

[@vinniemorciglio4632]

Starfleet Academy is in San Francisco, so......

[@vinniemorciglio4632]

They should put a BOP in Golden Gate Park, (or is it?????)

[@timduggan1461]

I try to respect Rod Roddenberry. But? The model currently in the Smithsonian IS about 11 feet long. The history of that 3-foot model that went missing? Well, I will continue to watch.......

[@TREK-WORLD]

I think I have a clue why he got it wrong. But even in the clue, it shows that he's maybe not as invested in classic Trek as we are. But it is a shame I didn't think about it when I made the video. Datin was asked to make 2 models. A reference model and a full sized hero model. Datin always referred to the larger model as the "4X" model. Meaning it was 4 times the size of the smaller model. So the smaller model was about 32inches. And the larger one was about 132inches. But we still call the smaller one the "3 ft" model. And 4 times that size is 12ft.

[@Starshipsforever]

@@TREK-WORLD Datin almost made a second 3 footer model: That would've then been promptly damaged up to be the Constellation for "The Doomsday Machine". Perhaps lucky that he was too busy working on another series at the time to be able to build it which then forced the use of the AMT models.

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

An artist in the UK is building a 1/25th scale model.

[@B9M3]

The best restorationists in the world work for the Vatican Museums.

[@TREK-WORLD]

No argument there, my friend!

[@x15galmichelleevans]

But they have zero experience with artifacts as being discussed here. They mainly deal in manuscripts, which is a big difference to models and set pieces from Hollywood. The best restorers of space artifacts is actually the Kansas Cosmosphere. The Smithsonian has outsourced many restorations to them, such as the Apollo 13 command module Odyssey, and the Liberty Bell 7 Mercury spacecraft. Their craftsmanship is beyond measure in this field.

[@cbspock1701]

I hope it turns out to be real

[@dthorne4602]

It's real

[@philigan2339]

The original is actually in the park in San Francisco but you can't see it, it's cloaked.

[@MrMe4444444]

Good vid. Misplaced faith in the Smithsonian tho. Never place all your eggs in one basket. Look what happened at Alexandria. Plus the big S is complicit in hiding "either by accident but more likely on purpose" artifacts.

[@AvengerII]

Look, If you want to believe in conspiracy theories and think the Smithsonian is hiding giant bones, evidence of Noah's ark and other things like that, that's on YOU. The fact of the matter is the Smithsonian has tons of items in storage in warehouses around the country and can never display much more than 3% of its collection at any time!!! They have decades of backlog of items that need to be carefully analyzed and preserved. It took them around 50 years to get around to preserving and reassembling the Enola Gay at the Annex at Dulles Airport! These are facts, not speculations that can't be verified. There is only so much money to do things. We have grown up in an era of entitlement where people dump things on other people and organizations because they think the other party has infinite resources to take care of everything. That's not reality!

[@bertruttan129]

Please restore it. Don't leave it in it's current dilapidated condition. Absconded would be a more accurate description of it so called mysterious "disappearance". I imagine all three sitting together on display. Breath taking!! My most favorite ENTERPRISE. It's not unlike the OG Spiderman is Peter Parker. Miles Moralis is Miles Moralis. Point is there is only 3 OG TV Enterprises.

[@RailRover65]

Question: At 9:42 there is a quote from (I think) Richard C. Datin Jr. saying the photos in his book of his father presenting the model to Gene Roddenberry were taken by Richard Arnold in 1964. However I think Richard Arnold (the Star Trek Archivist) was born in 1954, which would have made him 10 years old at the time? Could this have been a different person who took those particular photos? As an aside a friend of mine in the St. Louis area was friends with Richard Arnold for many years and helped him during the last part of Richard's illness before his passing a couple years ago - I seem to remember him saying Richard was in his 60's, so don't see how he could have taken those photos. Maybe time travel!

[@TREK-WORLD]

You are correct. I saw that too, but I didn't want to change the wording that she actually used. But it would have been another "they made a mistake" disclaimer like I had to do with Rod's reference of the 12 foot model. So I just figured I would let it go, in order to keep the narrative focused on the model. I think it was much more likely that the photos were taken by Justman, but that's just a guess as I've never tried researching it up to now. -Jim

[@guyjackson132]

Noel (Datin's daughter - not son) may have miswritten as to when the photo was taken. Page 39 (not 30) of her and her father's book shows the photo of Datin presenting the model to Roddenberry (with another one showing Jeffrey Hunter and Roddenberry holding the model). According to the text - the model was taken to Roddenberry in November of 1964. The captions beneath both photos have a blurb: "Photo courtesy of Richard Arnold". So...the photos may have been taken by some unknown photographer back in 1964 AND Richard Arnold may have provided copies of these photos much later (the book is copyrighted 2016).

[@RailRover65]

That would make sense @@guyjackson132 ! Thanks for the clarification.

[@markbelsom3174]

The question is if this is the real deal, will the model be preserved as is or restored? Definitely will need a lot of TLC.

[@AvengerII]

To be stabilized, it's going to have to have work. By the time they get done ---! They might as well do a full restoration and repaint the thing after they check the condition of the wood. The paint job, at least, is in TERRIBLE condition and the warp nacelles are "out of alignment" to put it nicely! Someone else on another channel commented that he felt the Able workshop employees tried to take the 3-ft model apart without realizing it was NEVER meant to be taken apart for storage like the 11-ft model! Whoever tried to repair the 3-ft model did a very amateur job of it. This IS the 3-ft model. There are enough photos of it at Desilu and Gene's desk and there are a half-dozen major points of ID that point towards this being the real thing. What seals the deal further is the plaque, wood base, and mike neck the model is mounted. No, Richard Daytin did NOT make more than one 3-ft model! This is the real deal.

[@markbelsom3174]

Thought they were still deciding.

[@markbelsom3174]

@@danceswithcomicbooks7733 excellent, now they need to decide where to put it.

[@markbelsom3174]

@@danceswithcomicbooks7733 why does that not surprise me, isn't it stolen property??

[@alexrebmann1253]

The statue of limitation of theft in California is 1 to 3 years. Could the guy that put it up for bid have kept it?

[@Beer_Dad1975]

Currently I believe this is likely authentic - if it's not, it's a very sophisticated fraud. Given the people involved now, time will definitely tell. I think it's great that Rod Roddenberry wants the model to go to public exhibition - but I do think it should be displayed somewhere else - rather than keeping all the eggs in one-basket as it where. It's not unheard of for (providence forbid) museums to burn down, or be destroyed by earthquakes, flood etc. Having the other original model in a different location not only reduces the risk of losing both, but as you state in this video, makes an important piece of nostalgic history more accessible for more people. There is no reason why the Smithsonian couldn't do the repairs and then send it to another museum to exhibit - and I'd even be happy to contribute to funding such a restoration.

[@TREK-WORLD]

I completely understand your concern about the risk of keeping the model in one location. It's definitely important to consider the safety and accessibility of such a valuable piece of history.

[@1TakoyakiStore]

As a wise person from the internet once said, "there's a non-zero chance."

[@diggingattycho7908]

That's the miniature, all of us guys who know the Big E would attest. But we all practice CYA. Especially in the Trek community. Which was part of the reason I left the Trek community.

[@TREK-WORLD]

You know, I hear that all the time when I speak to folks off the record about my research. And it really saddens me to hear it each time. There is a small, but extremely vocal group of "Treksperts" hanging out on almost every forum still available on the web. And they do more damage to fandom in a single day than old fashioned yellow journalism could do in a year. I avoid them like the plague - once they "notice" you, they begin their bullying character assassination with a religious glee. Obviously, they can only feel good about themselves by putting other people down. I need to leave it at this, or I'll never get off my soapbox.

[@diggingattycho7908]

@@TREK-WORLD Thank you for the reply, sadly I wouldn't call them small. I've run into them at cons before the days of the internet. The net only made it better and worse at the same time. I abandoned one of the largest miniatures you can do in Trek(Grey Ghost). For a host of reasons, the fans being a big part of it. I was once told you have to have a thick skin for the web. Yea, kid you'll learn one day. It has nothing to do with skin, but how much crap you want to put up with.

[@TREK-WORLD]

I can definitely feel what you're saying..... I plan to go to Wonderfest for the first time in 2024. But a part of me is saying not to wear anything that connects me to TrekWorld. I know that Wonderfest willl have a contingent of these folks who may take great fun in just trying to make my wife and I uncomfortable - and it will be her first ever Trek experience. But the flip side is that I want to be visible, there are great people here on this channel that I want to meet. And that's hard if I hide who I am. Sometimes, its like dealing with schoolyard bullies.

[@diggingattycho7908]

@@TREK-WORLD ​ @TREK-WORLD I wouldn't worry about going to Wonderfest. I've never been myself, my wallet wouldn't survive the trip. Besides I would have to ship all the models I bought home, I couldn't fit on carry-on, that would be all of them. Years ago we were expecting flame wars to break out in the real world at Wonderfest. That never happened. There was a guy who had since passed away, was a regular at Wonderfest, he was one of the most hated guys in the Trek modeling community. He was real civil when you talked to him. But put that guy behind a keyboard, I can say no tears were shed when he passed. I understand your trepidation, but Wonderfest isn't a Star Trek show, it's sci-fi/fantasy modeling. There are things there worth seeing. Some really good work on display. If you want to go to a Trek show, Creation is still putting on their Star Trek Cons. That's the one to see. They haven't changed their format since the eighties. Which is good and bad, they were making fun of the old Creation cons in Galaxy Quest. I haven't been to one in nearly ten years.

[@hodges1263]

I had an opportunity to briefly speak this weekend to Inglorious Trekspert Daren Dochterman about the model. He is convinced it is the real model, but finds the story of how it was discovered dubious.

[@TREK-WORLD]

Yeah.... the storage unit auction keeps the seller from having to explain how it got to them.

[@brookestephen]

does he mean *MISSING* or *STOLEN* ????

[@TREK-WORLD]

To be honest.... I don't think that anyone associated with the model will use the word "stolen" at this stage of the game. It's likely to cause problems with the negotiations that are obviously going on. However, if the situation becomes a fight over who really owns the model - then the word "stolen" will be overused. 😀

[@Charlie_Duz]

It would've made a better final Indiana Jones movie if he'd gone after the Enterprise model instead of that dreary Dial of Disappointment. 🖖🛸

[@robinredbreast-kc5gs]

will the enterprise model be restored

[@jackmclaughlin4552]

They probably threw the doomsday machine in the trash😢

[@generationproductions1154]

hey i have a Question @TREK WORLD if this turns out NOT to be the long lost Gene Rod model But another 3ft Star Trek Enterprise model from the same time here are a few thoughts of mine ..... is it possible that 1) More 3ft Star Trek Enterprise models could have been Made and be given to investors , Cast members , producers or Directors at the time ? like a replica of Gene's ? 2) could it be a prototype ? like one made for Display to show Gene and investors what the 3ft Star Trek Enterprise model would look like ? 3) or even the model maker / prop-maker Richard Datin Jr . made some more 3ft Star Trek Enterprise Models for family and friends when the show was a hit at the time ?

[@Nowhereman10]

Very unlikely. Richard C. Datin and Matt Jefferies' took and kept their notes as well as receipts of work. A very necessary thing when dealing with Hollywood in general at the time to gain credit for work, and thus pay as well as future work on other TV series and movies. None of their recollections, notes, or receipts mention other such models. The closest thing to it was Jefferies wanted Datin to do another 3-footer to represent the Constellation. But that plan had to be scrapped because Datin was involved doing work for another series at the time and couldn't build something so elaborate as that. So, Jefferies decided to use two 18" AMT kits: one to become the Constellation for "The Doomsday Machine" and the other the Enterprise in "The Trouble With Tribbles".

[@TREK-WORLD]

Datin himself never made any additional copies of the model. His daughter Noel kept records of all his notes and what he had done.

[@generationproductions1154]

@@TREK-WORLD ah ok cool just checking but good to know that he only made one .

[@generationproductions1154]

@@Nowhereman10 ah very cool thanks and yeah ok . :)

[@boblum3360]

any update on this sir?

[@TREK-WORLD]

I wish... But the whole fandom has been strangley quiet on this one. The delayed silence may not bode well.... But who knows at this point

[@corwinmorton3411]

Although this is terrific I heard about this supposed update about the 3 ft model reappearing about 3 or 4 months ago however I do love Star Trek and I believe in its concept so I shall listen again even though I heard it before

[@STho205]

You (or others including Rod Roddenberry) should have said nothing, bought it on eBay for $1000 and donated it to the museum. Less drama and best result to your stated wishes. Or.....would it have become Meeeee preciousssss.

[@bertruttan129]

IMHO it's actually the stories and history of it's existence that makes a compelling narrative. Just like the shuttle. How kewl and fortuitous that these lost and found Star Trek iconic props hold the value they have become recognized for. The cultural history alone makes them priceless and precious reminders of a positive future..........at least to me anyway. In spite of where the world is now.

[@jimjam51075]

"From it's creation in the mid-60s until about 1977, this model was in the possession of my father, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. Unfortunately, he used its lending out as a cover for selling it off and making a tidy profit from the deal." There. Fixed it for Rod. There is NO way Gene would have just shrugged and said, "Huh, well I guess stuff just disappears sometimes." You don't theif from a theif. Given the tight chain of custody on it, finding the theif would have been easy had Gene wanted to look. Since he used to raid the film lockers and sets after he officially left the original show for items to sell off at conventions, I have no doubt in my mind Gene sold the thing off in the first place. Rod is probably not aware of the sale, but Gene is laughing somewhere at his family being gifted this thing three times.

[@dthorne4602]

Thief

[@jimjam51075]

@@dthorne4602 Autocorrect is a curse. It let me do it and I am ashamed.

[@dthorne4602]

@@jimjam51075 life goes on. Lol. Have a good day.

[@seismojones]

Roddenberry is assuming the Smithsonian would even want the 3 foot model. If that's the real deal it needs a good bit of restoration and cleanup. Of course, just due to size alone it wouldn't be near the effort of the 11 foot model but I'm not so sure they'd be interested. The Enterprise is only there because it inspired generations of real people and machines in the field. I'd love to see it there but I'm not sure they'd want to add another Enterprise. On the other hand, what do I know? (Nothing, that's what) They might jump at the chance.

[@thomashernandez6985]

The Smithsonian would happily accept the 3 foot model.

[@x15galmichelleevans]

@@thomashernandez6985 No, it is not a given that the National Air and Space Museum would want the model, or that if they did that it would eventually go on display there. I know of many actual space artifacts that have been offered to the NASM and were turned down. As an example, I have items from the X-15 rocket plane program that were offered to NASM, and they refused. Luckily I was able to acquire them, created display cases for them, and eventually they will go to the Flight Test Museum at Edwards AFB here in California.

[@cbspock1701]

They have a bunch of other Trek items

[@x15galmichelleevans]

@@cbspock1701 Yes the NASM has a lot of Star Trek artifacts already, but that is no guarantee that they would want this model, and commit to its restoration. They did a wonderful Star Trek exhibition at NASM many years ago that my wife and I flew back to Washington DC to see. None of that precludes the fact that we should also have access here on the West Coast, where Star Trek first came into being.

[@TREK-WORLD]

You've touched a very real concern of mine, Michelle. Namely, we shouldn't take for granted that the Smithsonian would take the model. And if they did, there's no guarantee they would - or could - display it. Space is at a premium in such museums. One of the great tragedies concerning the Galileo was that almost every owner felt certain they could get a museum to accept the prop. But it turned out to be a false hope in each case. My hope would be that more than one location would offer to show the piece. Then pick them.

[@warstarbs]

It's good that this artifact can be saved, its iconic, but shattner said it best! Get a life! It's a hunk of wood after all stop worshipping it .

[@SHONNER]

I think it's fake. A timeline will reveal something about the order the original desk photo was taken and how the model was used before and after that photo. If the model tries to match every model photo ever taken of it (a morph of all the conditions shown from each photo) it's got to be a fake. I'm more interested about who borrowed it from Gene? What was their reason? What did they do with it? Why no integrity from anyone about its whereabouts?

[@cbspock1701]

It was Abel and Associates it’s in photos with the phase 2 enterprise model under construction. When Abel was tossed off of TMP the model vanished

[@TREK-WORLD]

I originally held the belief that the person who took the model was nefarious. No, seeing the condition of the model after all these years, I pretty much believe they were just stupid.

[@SHONNER]

@@TREK-WORLD It would be nice to see the photos of the self-storage interior (or wherever the model was discover) before things where auctioned off from it. Were there all kinds of junk thrown on top of the model? Why the tape on the base's top and bottom?

[@guyjackson132]

​​​@@cbspock1701I have to disagree. The photos of the TOS Enterprise with the Phase 2 Enterprise are not clear as to details of the smaller miniature nor the scale but it appears to be roughly the length of the width of the drawer of the workbench it's sitting on. Because of that - I believe that miniature is an AMT plastic model.

[@3ccdmike]

Gene Roddenberry did not pay a contractor out of his pocket to make that model nor any thing else Star Trek, it was Desilu money that did that ! It is not Rod's birthright as he claims.

[@jimjam51075]

That's what I'm trying to figure out...how it became Gene's "property" in the first place. What you touched on is the basis of my theory he sold it, using him "lending" it out as cover. Gene looted plenty of stock footage and props after he left the show during the 3rd season to sell at conventions. I think the show just tacitly "bestowed" the model upon him without real permission to go sell something the studio paid to create. And that is why he had to orchestrate the sale as it disappearing from a third party's custody. I deeply believe that the Great Bird of the Galaxy hocked it.

[@3ccdmike]

@@jimjam51075 it has been said that the 3'r was on his desk on lone.

[@jimjam51075]

@@3ccdmike EXACTLY. He knew the studio would have come to him with, "Hey, we didn't give you that model to sell!" And he knew that. So why not arrange a plausible response of, "Oh, I lent it to this company for reference and they said it walked off. This is awful, I'll ask the company to look into it." He just leaves out the part where he told his buyer they could walk off with it out of that company's workshop when no one was looking. It's the same as if I borrowed your car and told you I lent it to some circus clowns for a day when I really sold it to one of the clowns' wife. Then I tell you the next day, "...gosh...I don't know where it went after that. I'll check in with the lion tamer." Oh, and on top of that I was previously known in the past to sell people's lawnmowers I had access to.

[@3ccdmike]

@@jimjam51075 That's messed up, interesting but messed up, still...