U.S.S. Enterprise: Cleaning an Icon

The Smithsonian Institute made a film showing the cleaning process the curators went through before displaying the original model of the Enterprise used in the 1960s series. It was an act of devotion that is appreciated by fans around the world.

Vimeo provided this summary of the film:

This is a short film showing the process of the detail paint work on the conservation of the original U.S.S. Enterprise miniature, used in all 79 episodes of the original Star Trek television series. The detail paint work was done between the 11th and the 23rd of April 2016 at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. The model is now on display in the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.

If you watched the recent film Star Trek Beyond you might remember a similar scene at the end of the film. However, I believe that the repair process was a little more elaborate and on a larger scale (in the movie, at least). 

Starship USS Enterprise at the Smithsonian

Star Trek fans wil be happy to know the original USS Enterprise from the 1960s series has been refurbished and has its own display at the Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC (rather than sitting in the gift shop). 

The 11-foot, 200-pound, spacecraft has arrived just in time as movies and now a TV series keep the crew in our thoughts.

And here are a few interesting pieces of trivia from a recent NPR article: (1) the spacecraft is green not gray to improve the camera shots against a blue screen and (2) only one side of the spacecraft was competed since that was sufficient for filming. I know, it's like learning the Millenium Falcon is really pink. 

Time for a road trip. 

Smithsonian Restores the USS Enterprise

Do you have any early photos of the USS Enterprise from the first season of Star Trek? The Smithsonian is putting out a call for such images as it attempts to restore the ship to its original condition (the image above is from 1964).  As you can see from the image below, what the museum received in 1967 was in pretty tough shape.

The Smithsonian notes:

 The ship has been modified eight times since it was built in 1964. But the studio model's 1967 appearance in the episode “Trouble with Tribbles” was the last time the Enterprise was modified during the original "Star Trek" television series.

Fans are encouraged to submit firsthand, original images or film of the ship under construction, during filming or on public display at any time before 1976.

If you have anything you can share that can help with this archiving event, please contact StarshipEnterprise@si.edu.