The wooden model of the U.S.S. Enterprise that appeared in all 79 episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series was donated to the Smithsonian in 1974. The model fell into disrepair over the years and was pulled from public display in 2015 to begin a much-needed restoration.
With the 50 th Anniversary of Star Trek approaching—the first episode aired on Sept. 8, 1966—the restoration of the Enterprise is approaching completion, with the restored model expected to return to public display in the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum this Summer.
The Star Trek Enterprise restoration aims to restore the ship to the exact look it had in “ The Trouble with Tribbles,” a second season episode that aired after the final recorded modification to the model ship.
The restoration will include not only repairs to cracked paint, but also rebuilt nacelle domes, complete with LED lights that will emulate the original production model’s spinning, shimmering combination of mirrors and motorized Christmas lights.
“Although the original nacelle dome lights did not survive, we can replicate the original effect in a way that is safe to install on the model. The LED lights can be programmed to match the original VFX footage while eliminating the burnt-out bulbs, extreme heat, and motor problems that troubled the original lights. It is a wonderful solution to re-light the nacelles while ensuring the model’s safety and longevity,” conservator Ariel O’Connor said as part of the Phase II conservation announcement.
The nacelle dome restoration is characteristic of the attention to detail going into the Star Trek Enterprise restoration. Extensive chemical analysis has been performed to ensure that the exact glues and paints are used on the combination fiberglass, plastic, and wood model ship.
The Enterprise restoration project united Gary Kerr, an Enterprise model expert who previously consulted on the remastered Star Trek rerelease (which added abominable CGI, not Gary’s fault) and Industrial Light & Magic model builder John Goodson with the Smithsonian’s conservation team.
The restored Enterprise will return to public display this Summer.
