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[[File:D7 battlecruiser, profile.jpg|thumb|The D7-class in action]]
 
[[File:D7 battlecruiser, profile.jpg|thumb|The D7-class in action]]
Though only introduced in the [[TOS Season 3|third season]] of the ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Original Series]]'', the [[Klingon]] '''[[D7 class|D7-class]]''' [[battle cruiser]], despite its limited number of appearances, has captured the imagination of the audiences, and went on to become one of the most signature ship designs of the franchise. Ironically, the original filming model was not commissioned by the producers for the show who had to contend with severe budget cuts during the third season, but resulted firstly from the wish of kit producer [[American Model Toy Corporation|Aluminum Model Toys]] (AMT) to do a follow-up of their highly successful {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} [[Star Trek model kits|model kit]], as its designer revealed in {{STTM|2|9}} (page 66).
+
Though only introduced in the [[TOS Season 3|third season]] of the ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Original Series]]'', the [[Klingon]] '''[[D7 class|D7-class]]''' [[battle cruiser]], despite its limited number of appearances, has captured the imagination of the audiences, and went on to become one of the most signature ship designs of the franchise. Ironically, the original filming model was not commissioned by the producers for the show who had to contend with severe budget cuts during the third season, but resulted firstly from the wish of kit producer [[American Model Toy Corporation|Aluminum Model Toys]] (AMT) to do a follow-up of their highly successful {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} [[Star Trek model kits|model kit]], as its designer revealed in {{STTM|2|9|66}}.
   
 
== Design ==
 
== Design ==
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[[File:D7-class design directions by Matt Jefferies.jpg|thumb|left|Jefferies' design directions]]
 
[[File:D7-class design directions by Matt Jefferies.jpg|thumb|left|Jefferies' design directions]]
 
[[File:D7 class final design sketch.jpg|thumb|Final design sketch]]
 
[[File:D7 class final design sketch.jpg|thumb|Final design sketch]]
The D7-class [[studio model]] was originally designed by [[Matt Jefferies]] who needed about two months from start to final design sketch. Its design was explored in the ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series Sketchbook]]'' where it was explained that in Jeffries' attempt to create the D7, he "''had to design a ship that would be instantly recognizable as an enemy ship, especially for a flash cut. There had to be no way it could be mistaken for our guys. It had to look threatening, even vicious.''" Taking an aerodynamic approach to his design, he ultimately "''modeled it on a {{w|manta ray}}, both shape and color, and that's why it looks as it does in the original series.''" Jefferies later recalled on his design work:
+
The D7-class [[studio model]] was originally designed by [[Matt Jefferies]] with initial input from friend and AMT account manager [[Stephen Edward Poe]], and he needed about two months from start to final design sketch. Its design was explored in the ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series Sketchbook]]'' where it was explained that in Jefferies' attempt to create the D7, he "''had to design a ship that would be instantly recognizable as an enemy ship, especially for a flash cut. There had to be no way it could be mistaken for our guys. It had to look threatening, even vicious.''" Taking an aerodynamic approach to his design, he ultimately "''modeled it on a {{w|manta ray}}, both shape and color, and that's why it looks as it does in the original series.''" In a contemporary 1968 interview, Jefferies has delved somewhat deeper into his thought processes behind the design, having stated, "''We had already established the essential character of the Klingons, so we had really more to draw on in background than we originally had on the ''Enterprise''. The Klingon character was different and clearly defined in several scripts. We tried to keep some of that character in the design of the ship--cold and, in a sense, vicious. We tried to get into it some of the qualities of a manta ray, shark, or bird of prey, because the Klingons follow that general feeling. Another requirement was that we had to get a feeling their ships were on a par with the starships in equipment, power, size etc. After many, many sketches and many evenings, it finally evolved. Everyone liked it , and that's what we built. It was strictly an extra-curricular activity on my part.''" ([[Inside Star Trek (magazine)|''Inside'' Star Trek]], issue 4, pp. 3-4)
  +
  +
Unable to divulge the AMT connection at the time, though he evidently could not refrain from making the closing remark, which hinted at the connection, Jefferies, freed from studio policies, much later revealed on his design work:
 
<blockquote>"[[AMT]] didn't have any design input whatsoever, and by that point [[Gene Roddenberry|Gene]] pretty much left me on my own. I designed it here at home, because there was neither the time nor the money allowance to do it at the studio. Naturally, I thought it had to look as far out as we thought the ''Enterprise'' did. I was after a shape and didn't really know what the shape should be. I started doing little sketches, trying to come up with something; God knows how many there were. I saved some of them, but I'm sure I must have ashcanned maybe a hundred balled-up pieces of paper. It's like when you make a mistake in arithmetic and you go back over the same piece of paper and keep making the same dumb mistake; you've got to throw it away and start from scratch.(...)
 
<blockquote>"[[AMT]] didn't have any design input whatsoever, and by that point [[Gene Roddenberry|Gene]] pretty much left me on my own. I designed it here at home, because there was neither the time nor the money allowance to do it at the studio. Naturally, I thought it had to look as far out as we thought the ''Enterprise'' did. I was after a shape and didn't really know what the shape should be. I started doing little sketches, trying to come up with something; God knows how many there were. I saved some of them, but I'm sure I must have ashcanned maybe a hundred balled-up pieces of paper. It's like when you make a mistake in arithmetic and you go back over the same piece of paper and keep making the same dumb mistake; you've got to throw it away and start from scratch.(...)
   
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Having decided early on to make use of the same basic elements as with the ''Enterprise'', twin [[nacelle]]s and separate [[engineering]] and command hulls, with which he continued to experiment in layout and configuration, he added, "''Sometimes if you feel you have something, which could be kind of rare, you turn it around in as many ways as possible, and all of a sudden something may pop up that makes more sense.''" The ship's design was perfected by the twenty-fourth sketch on {{d|20|November|1967}}.
 
Having decided early on to make use of the same basic elements as with the ''Enterprise'', twin [[nacelle]]s and separate [[engineering]] and command hulls, with which he continued to experiment in layout and configuration, he added, "''Sometimes if you feel you have something, which could be kind of rare, you turn it around in as many ways as possible, and all of a sudden something may pop up that makes more sense.''" The ship's design was perfected by the twenty-fourth sketch on {{d|20|November|1967}}.
   
Jefferies sold off his original design sketches, as well as the below mentioned engineering drawings, on 12 December 2001 in the [[Star Trek auctions#The Star Trek Auction|The ''Star Trek'' Auction]], in order to raise funds for the charitable organization {{w|Motion Picture and Television Fund}}.
+
Jefferies sold off his original design sketches, as well as the below mentioned engineering drawings, on 12 December 2001 in the [[Profiles in History]] [[The Star Trek Auction]], in order to raise funds for the charitable organization {{w|Motion Picture and Television Fund}}.
   
 
== The original filming model ==
 
== The original filming model ==
 
{| class="wiki-sidebar"
[[File:D7-class engineering drawing by Matt Jefferies.jpg|thumb|left|Jefferies' engineering drawing of the D7-class]]
 
  +
|-
[[File:D7-class and Enterprise scale drawings.jpg|thumb|Jefferies' scale drawings of the USS ''Enterprise'' and D7-class]]
 
 
| colspan="1" align="center" |[[File:D7-class engineering drawing by Matt Jefferies.jpg|180px]]
Jefferies proceeded to draw up detailed engineering drawings which also specified the scale in relation to the ''Enterprise'', and took those to AMT. The scale drawings were also used as templates for the back-lit computer console readouts seen in the episode {{e|The Enterprise Incident}}. Under Jefferies' own personal supervision, [[Gene Winfield]]'s AMT-operated [[Custom & Speed Shop]] proceeded to manufacture two three-foot long "master tooling" models (more precisely, the dimensions were 28&times;20&times;7 inches [http://archive.propworx.com/1008/13]). A master tooling model served as a template for the molds from which AMT would cast the parts for their model kits. Jefferies recalled, "''The master models were quite large; probably close to 18 inches across, I guess. They used what they call a {{w|pantograph|pentagraph}} ''[sic]''; at one end there was a stylus that traced its way over the master model, and at the other end there was a tool that carved out the same shape in tooling steel, which became the mold they built the kit from. ''[remark: the mold for the kits were pantographed at half-scale of the master model]'' I was there at about 2 o'clock in the morning when they ran the first two or three through the machine. They weren't perfect, so they said "We'll take out a fraction here, and a fraction here." Then they'd run two or three more. If I remember correctly, it was about 10 o'clock when the first one came out that they said was perfect. They ran maybe another half a dozen, and checked those out. One of which I still have; the box has never been opened. Then the machine was put in operation, and after that one came out every 20 seconds.''" ({{STTM|2|9}}, pp. 69-70)
 
 
| colspan="1" align="center" |[[File:D7-class and Enterprise scale drawings.jpg|180px]]
 
| colspan="1" align="center" |[[File:D7-class signage as designed by Matt Jefferies.jpg|180px]]
  +
|-
  +
| class="even" | <center>Jefferies' D7-class engineering...</center>
  +
| class="even" | <center>...and scale comparison with the ''Enterprise'' drawings...</center>
  +
| class="even" | <center>...as well as his D7-class signage designs</center>
  +
|}
 
Jefferies proceeded to draw up detailed engineering drawings which also specified the scale in relation to the ''Enterprise'', and took those to AMT. The scale comparison drawings were also used as templates for the back-lit computer console readouts seen in the episode {{e|The Enterprise Incident}}. Under Jefferies' own personal supervision, [[Gene Winfield]]'s AMT-operated "[[Speed & Custom Shop]]" proceeded to manufacture two three-foot long "master tooling" models (more precisely, the dimensions were 28&times;20&times;7 inches [http://archive.propworx.com/1008/13]). A master tooling model served as a template for the molds from which AMT would cast the parts for their model kits. Jefferies recalled, "''The master models were quite large; probably close to 18 inches across, I guess. They used what they call a {{w|pantograph|pentagraph}} ''[sic]''; at one end there was a stylus that traced its way over the master model, and at the other end there was a tool that carved out the same shape in tooling steel, which became the mold they built the kit from. ''[remark: the mold for the kits were pantographed at half-scale of the master model]'' I was there at about 2 o'clock in the morning when they ran the first two or three through the machine. They weren't perfect, so they said "We'll take out a fraction here, and a fraction here." Then they'd run two or three more. If I remember correctly, it was about 10 o'clock when the first one came out that they said was perfect. They ran maybe another half a dozen, and checked those out. One of which I still have; the box has never been opened. Then the machine was put in operation, and after that one came out every 20 seconds.''" ({{STTM|2|9}}, pp. 69-70)
   
 
Under their exclusivity agreement the studio appropriated one of the master models for shooting purposes as they had done with the [[Class F shuttlecraft model|''Galileo'' studio model]]. The model was subsequently turned over to the [[Howard Anderson Company]] for final detailing and filming stock footage for use in the show. In order to make maximum use of their new nifty model and as a courtesy to AMT (who after all paid for the model), in order to get them the most exposure for their new model kit (S952), the producers decided to use it wherever possible in the remainder of the third season of TOS and so the new model first appeared on-screen as a [[Romulan]] battle cruiser in {{e|The Enterprise Incident}}, although it was first shot as a Klingon battle cruiser for {{e|Elaan of Troyius}} (which aired later). Its origin as a master tooling model for a model kit, as opposed to being an actual filming model was evident in the fact that neither model, both constructed out of solid wood, had internal lighting.
 
Under their exclusivity agreement the studio appropriated one of the master models for shooting purposes as they had done with the [[Class F shuttlecraft model|''Galileo'' studio model]]. The model was subsequently turned over to the [[Howard Anderson Company]] for final detailing and filming stock footage for use in the show. In order to make maximum use of their new nifty model and as a courtesy to AMT (who after all paid for the model), in order to get them the most exposure for their new model kit (S952), the producers decided to use it wherever possible in the remainder of the third season of TOS and so the new model first appeared on-screen as a [[Romulan]] battle cruiser in {{e|The Enterprise Incident}}, although it was first shot as a Klingon battle cruiser for {{e|Elaan of Troyius}} (which aired later). Its origin as a master tooling model for a model kit, as opposed to being an actual filming model was evident in the fact that neither model, both constructed out of solid wood, had internal lighting.
   
[[File:D7-class signage as designed by Matt Jefferies.jpg|thumb|Jefferies' D7-class signage]]
 
 
[[File:D7-class studio model held by Matt Jefferies.jpg|thumb|left|Jefferies holding his creation after detailing]]
 
[[File:D7-class studio model held by Matt Jefferies.jpg|thumb|left|Jefferies holding his creation after detailing]]
 
[[File:IKS Gr'oth, TAS.jpg|thumb|The animated IKS ''Gr'oth'']]
 
[[File:IKS Gr'oth, TAS.jpg|thumb|The animated IKS ''Gr'oth'']]
 
The original studio model was originally finished at the [[Howard Anderson Company]] in a multi-colored paint scheme (light green underneath and gray on top), applied personally by Jefferies. Jefferies also designed and applied the Klingon emblem and the Klingon lettering, the first time ever either one appeared in the ''Star Trek'' franchise. But the color scheme was obscured by studio lighting conditions, combined with the effect of lighting bouncing of the blue-screen onto the model, an effect known as "blue spill", resulting in what appeared to be a blue-gray overall color on screen. This impression was reinforced by the box art of the release of the D7 kit by AMT (No. S952). Interestingly, in the ''Animated Series'' episode {{e|More Tribbles, More Troubles}}, Koloth's battle cruiser, {{IKS|Gr'oth}}, adheres to the original paint scheme, though the two colors are reversed. Silver detail sections of the model were an adhesive Mylar.
 
The original studio model was originally finished at the [[Howard Anderson Company]] in a multi-colored paint scheme (light green underneath and gray on top), applied personally by Jefferies. Jefferies also designed and applied the Klingon emblem and the Klingon lettering, the first time ever either one appeared in the ''Star Trek'' franchise. But the color scheme was obscured by studio lighting conditions, combined with the effect of lighting bouncing of the blue-screen onto the model, an effect known as "blue spill", resulting in what appeared to be a blue-gray overall color on screen. This impression was reinforced by the box art of the release of the D7 kit by AMT (No. S952). Interestingly, in the ''Animated Series'' episode {{e|More Tribbles, More Troubles}}, Koloth's battle cruiser, {{IKS|Gr'oth}}, adheres to the original paint scheme, though the two colors are reversed. Silver detail sections of the model were an adhesive Mylar.
   
After ''The Original Series'' was canceled, the original model of the D7 was, hand-delivered by [[Dorothy Fontana]] on {{d|7|November|1973}}, donated to the {{w|Smithsonian Institution|Smithsonian}} {{w|National Air and Space Museum}} (NASM) along with the tiny [[Constitution class model#Three- and four-inch_models|"Catspaw" model]] of the USS ''Enterprise''. "''I was trying to figure out how to pack it up to ship it. Dorothy Fontana was headed back to D.C. and agreed to take it for me; we put it in a plastic garbage back, which was not deep enough to to take the whole thing, so the head of it stuck out. Somebody on the airliner recognized it, so they unwrapped it and it toured the airliner!''", Jefferies recalled.({{STTM|2|9}}, pp. 69-70; ''[[Star Trek Giant Poster Book]]'', issue 10, 1977)
+
After ''The Original Series'' was canceled, the original model of the D7 was, hand-delivered by [[Dorothy Fontana]] on {{d|7|November|1973}}, donated to the {{w|Smithsonian Institution|Smithsonian}} {{w|National Air and Space Museum}} (NASM) along with the tiny [[Constitution class model (original)#Three- and four-inch models|"Catspaw" model]] of the USS ''Enterprise''. "''I was trying to figure out how to pack it up to ship it. Dorothy Fontana was headed back to D.C. and agreed to take it for me; we put it in a plastic garbage back, which was not deep enough to to take the whole thing, so the head of it stuck out. Somebody on the airliner recognized it, so they unwrapped it and it toured the airliner!''", Jefferies recalled.({{STTM|2|9}}, pp. 69-70; ''[[Star Trek Giant Poster Book]]'', issue 10, 1977)
   
 
=== ''Star Trek: Phase II'' derivatives ===
 
=== ''Star Trek: Phase II'' derivatives ===
[[File:D7-class destruction concept art for Star Trek PhaseII.jpg|thumb|D7-class destruction concept art for ''Phase II'']]
+
[[File:D7-class destruction concept art for Star Trek PhaseII.jpg|thumb|left|''Koro''-class destruction concept art for ''Phase II'']]
  +
{| class="wiki-sidebar"
In the latest script treatments of the pilot episode "[[In Thy Image]]" of the projected ''[[Star Trek: Phase II]]'' television project, the Klingon-''[[V'Ger]]'' encounter was already foreseen for that production. To this end, the original filming model was returned to [[Paramount Pictures]] in 1977 for intended use in the ''Phase II'' television production, and where it received a new paint job (gray, dark green and metal blue). It is conceivable that the new paint job was applied to repair damage, as the model was used as a master to take molds from in order to cast copies for intended use in the production. At the time, [[Jim Dow]] of [[Magicam|Magician Inc.]], whose company was entrusted with the build of the studio models for ''Phase II'' recalled, "''We began with the ''Klingon'' spaceship, as we had the 18-inch model from the original television series which had been loaned back to the production by the National Air and Space Museum. The basic form remaining similar, we began to make patterns and take measurements of the original, and a set of drawings was produced and blown up to eight feet then dropped back to four feet when [[Robert Abel & Associates|[Robert] Abel [& Associates]]] decided they would never be able to get far enough away from the model to photograph it.''" (''[[American Cinematographer]]'', February 1980, p. 153) To handle the original studio model, Dow actually sub-contracted [[Gregory Jein]], for his very first professional assignment on the ''Star Trek'' franchise. Jein, who at the time was rapidly making a name for himself, having been one of the chief model makers on ''Close Encounters of the Third Kind'', disassembled the model and used the parts as masters to obtain molds from them. From these he cast fiberglass parts for the construction of a "hero" model. [http://archive.propworx.com/1008/13]
 
 
The outcome of the encounter was for this production originally storyboarded as ending with the destruction of the Klingon vessels. To this end [[Studio model#Breakaway model|breakaway models]] were constructed at Magicam for their on-screen destruction, using Jein's molds.
 
{| class="wiki-sidebar" style="width:100%;"
 
 
|-
 
|-
| colspan="1" align="center" |[[File:Jim Dow supervising the breakaway D7 class studio models.jpg|150px]]
+
| colspan="1" align="center" |[[File:Jim Dow supervising the breakaway D7 class studio models.jpg|180px]]
| colspan="1" align="center" |[[File:The breakaway D7 class studio model prepared at Abel's.jpg|150px]]
+
| colspan="1" align="center" |[[File:The breakaway D7 class studio model prepared at Abel's.jpg|180px]]
| colspan="1" align="center" |[[File:The breakaway D7 class studio model set for destruction.jpg|150px]]
 
| colspan="1" align="center" |[[File:The breakaway D7 class studio model destroyed.jpg|150px]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
| class="even" | <center>Dow presiding over he break-away models...</center>
 
| class="even" | <center>Dow presiding over he break-away models...</center>
 
| class="even" | <center>...preparing the models for on-screen destruction at Abel's...</center>
 
| class="even" | <center>...preparing the models for on-screen destruction at Abel's...</center>
  +
|-
  +
| colspan="1" align="center" |[[File:The breakaway D7 class studio model set for destruction.jpg|180px]]
  +
| colspan="1" align="center" |[[File:The breakaway D7 class studio model destroyed.jpg|180px]]
  +
|-
 
| class="even" | <center>...set for destruction ...</center>
 
| class="even" | <center>...set for destruction ...</center>
 
| class="even" | <center>...and destroyed</center>
 
| class="even" | <center>...and destroyed</center>
 
|}
 
|}
 
In the latest script treatments of the pilot episode "[[In Thy Image]]" of the projected ''[[Star Trek: Phase II]]'' television project, the Klingon-''[[V'Ger]]'' encounter was already foreseen for that production. To this end, the original filming model was returned on loan to [[Paramount Pictures]] in the last quarter of 1977 for use on the ''Phase II'' television production, and where it received a new paint job (gray, dark green and metal blue). It is conceivable that the new paint job was applied to repair damage, as the model was used as a master to take molds from in order to cast copies for intended use in the production. At the time, [[Jim Dow]] of [[Magicam|Magicam Inc.]], whose company was entrusted with the [[:Category: Visual effects companies|visual effects]] (VFX) for ''Phase II'', recalled when it was later decided to build a larger model for the movie project, "''We began with the ''Klingon'' spaceship, as we had the 18-inch model from the original television series which had been loaned back to the production by the National Air and Space Museum. The basic form remaining similar, we began to make patterns and take measurements of the original, and a set of drawings was produced and blown up to eight feet then dropped back to four feet when [[Robert Abel & Associates|[Robert] Abel [& Associates]]] ''[RA&A]'' decided they would never be able to get far enough away from the model to photograph it.''" (''[[American Cinematographer]]'', February 1980, p. 153) To handle the original studio model, Dow actually sub-contracted [[Gregory Jein]], for his very first professional assignment on the ''Star Trek'' franchise. Jein, who at the time was rapidly making a name for himself, having been one of the chief model makers on ''Close Encounters of the Third Kind'', disassembled the model and used the parts as masters to obtain molds from them. From these he cast fiberglass parts for the construction of a "hero" model. [http://archive.propworx.com/1008/13] At that point in time, as indicated in early script treatises of "In Thy Image", the Klingon vessel belonged to the [[heavy cruiser]] ''Koro''-class. (''[[Star Trek Phase II: The Lost Series]]'', p. 64)
According to the contemporary [[Star Trek documentaries and specials|documentary]], ''[[The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture (documentary)|The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]'', at least twelve breakaway models were constructed for the sequence, based on the molds taken from the original studio model. Footage of the destruction was shot at Abel's, but eventually not used, as it was quickly decided that the model would not stand up to the requirements television standards of the late 70s demanded, and especially not to the big screen requirements when ''Phase II'' was upgraded to a major movie project.
 
   
 
The outcome of the encounter was for this production originally storyboarded as ending with the destruction of the Klingon vessels. To this end [[Studio model#Breakaway model|breakaway models]] were constructed at Magicam for their on-screen destruction, using Jein's molds. According to the contemporary [[Star Trek documentaries and specials|documentary]], ''[[The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture (documentary)|The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]'', at least twelve breakaway models were constructed for the sequence, produced from Jein's molds taken of the original studio model. Footage of the destruction was already shot at Magicam in late 1977, but ultimately not used, as it was quickly decided that the model would not stand up to the requirements television standards of the late 70s demanded, and especially not to the big screen requirements when ''Phase II'' was upgraded to a major movie project in December 1977.
[[File:D7-class Klingon battle cruiser original studio model in storage .jpg|thumb|The model in its three-tone color livery at Garber's]]
 
After the decision was made that three-foot models were not up to the task for the movie-upgrade, the original television studio model was of no further use, and so it was send back to the Smithsonian, were it sat in an unlit display case for the next ten or eleven years at the NASM's Garber restoration facility, not open to the public, before being disassembled and put away in storage. Before its disassembly it was photographed by studio model aficionado [[William S. McCullars]] for an article he wrote on the model, that was published in ''[[Starlog (magazine)|Starlog]]'', issue 147. {{brokenlink|http://members.aol.com/IDICPage/TOSKlingon.html}} It was still in its new paint scheme when [[Ed Miarecki]] undertook a major renovation on the model in 1991 in preparation for the [[Star Trek Smithsonian Exhibit]] and in 1993 the D7 model and the {{Class|K't'inga}} model, which it had spawned, were reunited for a short time when the ''K'tinga'' was on loan to the Smithonian. [http://startrekpropauthority.blogspot.com/2009/05/star-trek-at-smithsonian-matt-jefferies.html] Miarecki, apparently unaware of the original paint scheme at the time, repainted the model in the blue-gray mono colored scheme as was normally perceived by television audiences. [http://www.modelermagic.com/?p=8656] Having only been displayed publicly once, the model, though in storage, is still in the possession of the Smithonian.
 
   
[[File:D7-class studio model early Star Trek Phase II variant.jpg|thumb|Jein's unused model]]
+
[[File:D7-class Klingon battle cruiser original studio model in storage .jpg|thumb|The original model in its three-tone color livery at Garber's]]
  +
[[File:D7-class studio model early Star Trek Phase II variant.jpg|thumb|left|Jein's unused model]]
Greg Jein retained the unused hero model and the molds from which he had constructed it. He finished up on the model and it has been featured in the [[Reference works|reference book]] ''[[The Art of Star Trek]]'', page 19. Jein later gave away the model to [[Doug Drexler]] who had it in his possession for several years. Drexler eventually auctioned the model off as [http://archive.propworx.com/1008/13 Lot 13] in the August 8th, 2010 [[Star Trek auctions#Propworx, Inc.|Propworx]] ''The official Star Trek Prop and Costume Auction'', estimated at US$2,000&ndash;$3,000, where it sold for US$12,000.
 
 
After the decision was made that three-foot models were not up to the task for the movie-upgrade, the original television studio model was of no further use, and so it was send back to the Smithsonian, were it sat in an unlit display case for the next ten or eleven years at the NASM's Suitland, Maryland Garber Preservation, Restoration and Storage Facility, not open to the public, before being disassembled and put away in storage. Before its disassembly it was photographed by studio model aficionado [[William S. McCullars]] for an article he wrote on the model, that was published in ''{{dis|Starlog|magazine}}'', issue 147. {{brokenlink|http://members.aol.com/IDICPage/TOSKlingon.html}} It was still in its new paint scheme when [[Ed Miarecki]] undertook a major renovation on the model in 1991 in preparation for the [[Star Trek Smithsonian Exhibit]] and in 1992 the D7 model and the {{Class|K't'inga}} model, which it had spawned, were reunited for a short time when the ''K'tinga'' was on loan to the Smithonian. [http://startrekpropauthority.blogspot.com/2009/05/star-trek-at-smithsonian-matt-jefferies.html] Miarecki, apparently unaware of the original paint scheme at the time, repainted the model in the blue-gray mono colored scheme as was normally perceived by television audiences. [http://www.modelermagic.com/?p=8656] Having only been displayed publicly once, the model, though in storage, is still in the possession of the Smithonian.
  +
 
Greg Jein retained the unused hero model and the molds from which he had constructed it. He finished up on the model and it has been featured in the [[Reference works|reference book]] ''[[The Art of Star Trek]]'', page 19. Jein later gave away the model to [[Doug Drexler]] who had it in his possession for several years. Drexler eventually auctioned the model off as [http://archive.propworx.com/1008/13 Lot 13] in the August 8th, 2010 [[Propworx]] ''[[The official STAR TREK prop and costume auction]]'', estimated at US$2,000&ndash;$3,000, where it sold for US$12,000.
   
 
== The second "master tooling" model ==
 
== The second "master tooling" model ==
Line 57: Line 67:
 
The second master tooling model was handed over to the studio a short time later after AMT was done with it. It received the same finishing touch as the first model and was at a casual glance nearly indistinguishable from the first one (exactly two times the size of the AMT model kit). There were, however, subtle differences between the two. The bulk of the differences were located on the engine nacelles. The position of the engine recessed side detail was moved more forward on the AMT prototype, in relation to the pylon foil vent. The detail piece on the engine bottom was a little further back on the studio model &ndash; about a third of its length back. There was a raised strip intersecting the chrome part of the side engine on the AMT version. The chrome part on the AMT prototype was a single strip shape that had a half-round profile view. The screen-used model version had two sets of two raised, flat chrome strips (AMT would correct this on re-issues of their model kit, as it later featured the two strips). And finally, the AMT model lacked both the feature in the torpedo launcher mouth, as well as the grills in the recessed forward "wing intakes" that were present on the screen-used model.
 
The second master tooling model was handed over to the studio a short time later after AMT was done with it. It received the same finishing touch as the first model and was at a casual glance nearly indistinguishable from the first one (exactly two times the size of the AMT model kit). There were, however, subtle differences between the two. The bulk of the differences were located on the engine nacelles. The position of the engine recessed side detail was moved more forward on the AMT prototype, in relation to the pylon foil vent. The detail piece on the engine bottom was a little further back on the studio model &ndash; about a third of its length back. There was a raised strip intersecting the chrome part of the side engine on the AMT version. The chrome part on the AMT prototype was a single strip shape that had a half-round profile view. The screen-used model version had two sets of two raised, flat chrome strips (AMT would correct this on re-issues of their model kit, as it later featured the two strips). And finally, the AMT model lacked both the feature in the torpedo launcher mouth, as well as the grills in the recessed forward "wing intakes" that were present on the screen-used model.
   
Although slated to be also used for filming it was never used as such and ended up in Roddenberry's office for awhile. Roddenberry gave the model away to [[Stephen Edward Poe]] in recognition of his help in establishing the co-operation between the [[Desilu]] studios and AMT (in whose employ Poe was at the time). It changed hands several times after that and was between 1998 and 2006 offered up for auction no less than four times. The first time it appeared, it was offered up for auction by Poe at [[Star Trek auctions#Film and Television|''Christie's Film and Television auction'']] of 18 June 1998 as [http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/star-trek-1966-1969-956443-details.aspx?from=salesummary&intObjectID=956443&sid=bacb22c7-a39b-46dc-8f08-f16276b23255 Lot 71] with an estimate of US$15,000&ndash;$20,000, selling for US$11,500 (including buyer's premium), [http://www.proparchives.com/television/television-pre-1970s/sci-fi/star-trek-the-original-series/the-original-model-of-the-klingon-bird-of-prey] and was immediately offered up for auction afterwards as Lot 245 in [[Star Trek auctions#Profiles in History|Profiles in History]]'s ''Hollywood Memorabilia Auction 5'' on 12 December 1998, selling for US$35,000. The third time it appeared at auction was on 31 March 2003 in Profiles' [[Star Trek auctions#Hollywood Auction 18|''Hollywood Auction 18'']] with an estimate of US$60,000&ndash;$80,000, [http://www.proparchives.com/television/television-pre-1970s/sci-fi/star-trek-the-original-series/the-klingon-d7-battle-cruiser-filming-miniature-from-the-original-star-trek-series] selling for US$55,000 ($64,900 including buyer's premium), before finally auctioned off as Lot 311 in Profiles' [[Star Trek auctions#Hollywood Auction 24|''Hollywood Auction 24'']] on 31 March 2006 for US$65,000, estimated at US$65,000&ndash;$85,000. [http://atomiccity.yuku.com/topic/528] [http://www.ketzer.com/PIH_Auction24.html] [http://www.proparchives.com/television/television-pre-1970s/sci-fi/star-trek-the-original-series/klingon-d7-battle-cruiser-filming-miniature-star-trek] It should be noted that all auction descriptions contained inaccuracies, and erroneously claimed that it was a screen-used model. The model was on the last occasion acquired by Microsoft's co-founder {{w|Paul Allen}} for his {{w|EMP Museum#Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame|Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame}} in Seattle, where it currently resides. The deal was brokered before auction start and the model was therefore not featured in the auction itself.
+
Although slated to be also used for filming it was never used as such and ended up in Roddenberry's office for awhile. Roddenberry gave the model away to [[Stephen Edward Poe]] in recognition of his help in establishing the co-operation between the [[Desilu]] studios and AMT (in whose employ Poe was at the time). It changed hands several times after that and was between 1998 and 2006 offered up for auction no less than four times. The first time it appeared, it was offered up for auction by Poe at [[Christie's]] ''[[Film and Television auction]]'' of 18 June 1998 as [http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/star-trek-1966-1969-956443-details.aspx?from=salesummary&intObjectID=956443&sid=bacb22c7-a39b-46dc-8f08-f16276b23255 Lot 71] with an estimate of US$15,000&ndash;$20,000, selling for US$11,500 (including buyer's premium), [http://www.proparchives.com/television/television-pre-1970s/sci-fi/star-trek-the-original-series/the-original-model-of-the-klingon-bird-of-prey] and was immediately offered up for auction afterwards as Lot 245 in [[Profiles in History]]'s ''Hollywood Memorabilia Auction 5'' on 12 December 1998, selling for US$35,000. The third time it appeared at auction was on 31 March 2003 in Profiles' ''[[Hollywood Auction 18]]'' with an estimate of US$60,000&ndash;$80,000, [http://www.proparchives.com/television/television-pre-1970s/sci-fi/star-trek-the-original-series/the-klingon-d7-battle-cruiser-filming-miniature-from-the-original-star-trek-series] selling for US$55,000 ($64,900 including buyer's premium), before finally auctioned off as Lot 311 in Profiles' ''[[Hollywood Auction 24]]'' on 31 March 2006 for US$65,000, estimated at US$65,000&ndash;$85,000. [http://atomiccity.yuku.com/topic/528] [http://www.ketzer.com/PIH_Auction24.html] [http://www.proparchives.com/television/television-pre-1970s/sci-fi/star-trek-the-original-series/klingon-d7-battle-cruiser-filming-miniature-star-trek] It should be noted that all auction descriptions contained inaccuracies, and erroneously claimed that it was a screen-used model. The model was on the last occasion acquired by Microsoft's co-founder {{w|Paul Allen}} for his {{w|EMP Museum#Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame|Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame}} in Seattle, where it currently resides. The deal was brokered before auction start and the model was therefore not featured in the auction itself.
   
== The ''Phase II'' model ==
+
== ''The Motion Picture'' D7 aka ''Koro''-class model ==
[[File:D7-class Phase II studio model detailed by Jim Dow at Magicam.jpg|thumb|left|Dow working on what was still the ''Phase II'' D7-class studio model]]
+
[[File:D7-class Phase II studio model detailed by Jim Dow at Magicam.jpg|thumb|Dow working on what was still the ''Motion Picture'' D7-class studio model]]
  +
When the ''Phase II'' project was upgraded to a major movie project, what ultimately was to become {{film|1}}, the decision was made to have Magicam, no doubt due to their by then familiarity with the design of the ship, and supervised by Dow, built a new, more detailed twice as large scale model of the D7, based on the molds taken from the by now-disassembled original television model. Began at the start of February 1978, the D7/''Koro''-class model was the first model Magicam tackled for the upgrade, after the company received the blueprints from RA&A's Art Director [[Richard Taylor]], specifying its new movie dimensions. Taylor specified the model to be 54" long, 40" wide and 12" high, with a scale of 1"=10'. [http://startrek-enterprise.us/RT_Klingon.html] The early start was facilitated by the fact that the basic design of the model was to remain unchanged. [[Chris Ross]] was the appointed lead modeler working on the model. The most noticeable difference from the original filming model, aside from its size, was the application of more subtle hull paneling, reminiscent of the model Greg Jein later built for ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''. Despite their familiarity with the design, a construction error crept into their build as noted by Production Illustrator [[Andrew Probert]] of [[Astra Image Corporation]] (Astra), the art department subsidiary of RA&A which had taken over the VFX work from Magicam. Probert observed, "''When( I first visited their shop and saw a partially built Klingon cruiser, it was apparent to me that its neckpiece was crooked. As part of my newly assigned responsibilities, I brought this to their attention. The design of the cruiser, with its varying proportions and angles, was such that no one else had noticed it and when I came out of the blue with my observation it didn't go over too well. They told me that it would cost too much time and money to correct. As it turned out, at a much later time in the production, the need arose for a structural change, so the neck was realigned at that time. From that time onward, nothing in the way of design or drawing submitted by me was ever acceptable to Magicam.''" (''[[Fantastic Films]]'', March 1980)
[[File:D7 test shot for Phase II.jpg|thumb|D7-class test shot for ''Star Trek: Phase II'']]
 
When the ''Phase II'' project was upgraded to a major movie project, what ultimately was to become {{film|1}}, the decision was made to have Magicam, no doubt due to their by then familiarity with the design of the ship, and supervised by Dow, built a new, more detailed twice as large scale model of the D7, based on the molds taken from the by now-disassembled original television model. [[Chris Ross]] was the lead modeler working on the model. The most noticeable difference from the original filming model, aside from its size, was the application of subtle hull paneling, reminiscent of the model Greg Jein later built for ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''. Though commonly known as the "6-foot model", its exact measurements were 47.5&times;35 inches. [http://startrekpropcollector.com/trekauctions/items/1778-0996] Construction on this model, [http://www.modelermagic.com/?p=1722] outfitted with an internal lighting system, and subsequent test shooting were in progress and signed off on when Magicam delivered the model to the producers in July 1978. However, further refinement for movie purposes by that time was deemed necessary, which was done at [[John Dykstra]]'s [[Apogee, Inc.]] model shop, resulting in this model eventually becoming the [[K't'inga class model|''K't'inga''-class studio model]]. "''We had to modify it pretty severely though, because apparently it was not designed to be shot in the same kind of circumstances that we ended up shooting it in. I don't know what Bob Abel planned to do with it, but for us, the practical lighting on the model was so dim that we weren't able to get a good exposure off it even by pushing the film a couple stops and using a twenty-second exposure''", Dykstra elaborated. (''[[Cinefex]]'', issue 2, p. 52)
 
   
 
[[File:D7 test shot for Phase II.jpg|thumb|''Motion Picture'' D7-class lighting trial]]
== The ''Trials and Tribble-ations'' model ==
 
  +
Though commonly known as the "6-foot model", its exact measurements turned out to be 47.5&times;35 inches. [http://startrekpropcollector.com/trekauctions/items/1778-0996] Construction on this model, [http://www.modelermagic.com/?p=1722] outfitted with an internal lighting system, and subsequent test shooting were in progress and signed off on when Magicam delivered the model to Astra, located on Seward St, Los Angeles, responsible for RA&A's studio model effects photography, in {{m|July|1978}}. Art Director Taylor deemed the model not detailed enough and thus unsuitable to meet full theatrical feature movie requirements, therefore reverting the model back to Astra for additional detailing. Taylor recalled, "''(...)that was built before we got involved. I redesigned all the surface textures, the photon torpedo tube and many other details. I tried to put a kind of bird-feather design on the surface. One of the things we did with all of the models was to give their surfaces details and interesting designs. A smooth object has no scale so it’s important in model work to find ways of creating scale. Sometimes it’s very subtle but it’s one of the most important elements in model photography. We did re-build the Klingon ships and that was one of the first things we finished, actually.''" {{Forgotten Trek|interview-with-richard-taylor/}}, adding at a later point in time, "''We also detailed out the Klingon ships adding detail to the bodies, the nose pod, the photon torpedo tube, and the bridge. I designed a new bird-like paint design for the wings and body of the Battle Cruisers. (...) [[Michael Sterling]] and I designed a new Star Fleet typeface, a Klingon typeface, and new logos for the Star Fleet and the Klingons.''" (''[[Star Trek: Creating the Enterprise]]'', p. 104) Yet, upon delivery in July 1978 of the new, twice as large model, it was decided that further refinements were deemed necessary and the model reverted to Magicam/Astra for the requested upgrades. Production Illustrator [[Andrew Probert]] further elaborated on the rework done on the model at that point in time,
  +
<blockquote>"Due to continuing miscommunication with Magicam, the Klingon model eventually came to our Seward shop for additional detailing. We attempted to stay as close to the TV series version as possible, but after running some camera tests we discovered that an additional level of detail was needed for widescreen photography. A series of slides was taken of the model. We had photostats made of them and I did some initial design work on top of the stats. We painted it a darker color. I've always liked the idea of a black spaceship &ndash; which would have been impractical for this movie; so we came up with a dark military green. I had an idea that was carried out beautifully by [[Ron Gress]]. Ron painted a giant Klingon symbol on the underbelly of the ship. It was a revision of the old Klingon symbol." (''{{dis|Starlog|magazine}}'', No.32, March 1980, p. 63)</blockquote>How pressured for time the studio was by then, was experienced by Magicam's Model Electronics Engineer [[Paul Turner]], who was responsible for the lighting rig of the model,
  +
<blockquote>"They ''[remark: RA&A]'' decided they wanted some additional work done on the model and they convinced Paramount that they should spend additional time and money, and it was returned to us. We added some lights to it; we changed the structure just a little bit ''[remark: the neckpiece of Probert's observation]''; we did quite a number of things. Everybody worked together around the clock to get the thing out. Then we has an unveiling where people were called at Paramount, and various interested parties, to coma and see the Klingon. They were working on finishing the detail right up until the time the executives were due to arrive. Twenty minutes before the executives were due to arrive they were still in there painting and spraying and touching up on the detail. I hadn't been able to get in there and hook up the wiring yet. I finally got my chance to work on the thing and then everyone came into the room and started looking at it, which made it very difficult for me to concentrate on what I was doing, so I threw everybody out. I said, "Out please. Everybody leave. Give me fifteen minutes to hook the system up." And I threw out everybody, executives and everybody. I got it hooked up and got everything working. Fortunately everything worked. I had pretested all the sub-assemblies, but you never knew when something is going to go wrong. Fortunately everything worked and everyone could come back in and see the model, which was about four feet ''[sic.]'' long." (''[[Enterprise Incidents]]'', issue 13, p. 24)</blockquote>
  +
  +
However, even further refinement for movie purposes was deemed necessary at a somewhat later time the subsequent year, which was lastly done at [[John Dykstra]]'s [[Apogee, Inc.]] model shop, resulting in this model eventually becoming the [[K't'inga class model|''K't'inga''-class studio model]]. (''[[Cinefex]]'', issue 2, p. 52)
  +
 
== The "Trials and Tribble-ations" model ==
 
[[File:IKS Gr'oth.jpg|thumb|Jein's IKS ''Gr'oth'' model in action]]
 
[[File:IKS Gr'oth.jpg|thumb|Jein's IKS ''Gr'oth'' model in action]]
In {{y|1996}}, a new model of the D7-class, IKS ''Gr'oth'', was created by Greg Jein for ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''{{'}}s episode {{e|Trials and Tribble-ations}}. While referenced, but not seen, in the original version of the "Trouble with Tribbles," the model featured an amalgam of detail from both the ''Original Series'' model and the ''K't'inga''-class seen in {{film|1}}. The new model bore a pale green coloration, in line with future Klingon vessels. Jein, a passionate life long fan of the original series, used his set of molds of the original ''Star Trek: Phase II'' D7 studio model, and from those cast the model, which was further embellished. "''Greg had a mold of the original, which had been on loan from the Smithsonian during the making of ST: TMP. The "Trials" ship was from that mold and uprezzed.''", Doug Drexler later confirmed. {{DrexFiles|2010/05/23/propworx-trek-auction-unveiled/#comment-25610}} Apart from the additional slight hull detailing, reminiscent of the ''Phase II'' model, this model also sported internal lighting, strobe lights, and lights on the crown of the bridge. Although the producers originally did not want to have the model built, because of budget concerns, effects supervisor for the episode [[Gary Hutzel]] pushed the construction through, after he discussed the matter with Jein: "''We talked for about fifteen seconds, and then Greg said "Oh, I'll build a shell. You paint it and detail it and we'll put it in the show."''", adding "''(We) took a little liberty. The original model had no lights on it at all, and it was pretty smooth, with no detail. We added neon for inside, strobe lights and some some lights on the crown of the bridge.''" (''[[The Magic of Tribbles: The Making of Trials and Tribble-ations]]'', pp. 45-46) Jein's passion for the project however, resulted in a full-blown studio model, produced at a bargain. Jein himself reiterated, "''And I said, "You know, in that episode they had not the budget to show the Klingon ship", because a Klingon ship did not show up until the third season, this was a second season show, and we said how about we build a Klingon ship, and he ''[Hutzel]'' said, "No, we cannot definitely afford that, we're in trouble as it is!" So I said, "Tell you what, If the day comes when you need to shoot it, give us a call, and if you shoot it, fine, it's yours." So, we actually built the Klingon ship, which was Gary's heartset, so "the hell with it, we're gonna use it!", so he stuck it in the film.''" (''[[Sense of Scale]]'', disc 2)
+
In {{y|1996}}, a new model of the D7-class, IKS ''Gr'oth'', was created by Greg Jein for ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''{{'}}s episode {{e|Trials and Tribble-ations}}. While referenced, but not seen, in the original version of the "Trouble with Tribbles," the model featured an amalgam of detail from both the ''Original Series'' model and the ''K't'inga''-class seen in {{film|1}}. The new model bore a pale green coloration, in line with future Klingon vessels. Jein, a passionate life long fan of the original series, used his set of molds of the original ''Star Trek: Phase II'' D7 studio model, and from those cast the model, which was further embellished. "''Greg had a mold of the original, which had been on loan from the Smithsonian during the making of ST: TMP. The "Trials" ship was from that mold and uprezzed.''", Doug Drexler later confirmed. {{DrexFiles|2010/05/23/propworx-trek-auction-unveiled/#comment-25610}} Apart from the additional slight hull detailing, reminiscent of the ''Phase II'' model, but more subdued than on its ''K't'inga''-class model successor, this model also sported internal lighting, strobe lights, and lights on the crown of the bridge. Although the producers originally did not want to have the model built, because of budget concerns, effects supervisor for the episode [[Gary Hutzel]] pushed the construction through, after he discussed the matter with Jein: "''We talked for about fifteen seconds, and then Greg said "Oh, I'll build a shell. You paint it and detail it and we'll put it in the show."''", adding "''(We) took a little liberty. The original model had no lights on it at all, and it was pretty smooth, with no detail. We added neon for inside, strobe lights and some some lights on the crown of the bridge.''" (''[[The Magic of Tribbles: The Making of Trials and Tribble-ations]]'', pp. 45-46) Jein's passion for the project however, resulted in a full-blown studio model, produced at a bargain. Jein himself reiterated, "''And I said, "You know, in that episode they had not the budget to show the Klingon ship", because a Klingon ship did not show up until the third season, this was a second season show, and we said how about we build a Klingon ship, and he ''[Hutzel]'' said, "No, we cannot definitely afford that, we're in trouble as it is!" So I said, "Tell you what, If the day comes when you need to shoot it, give us a call, and if you shoot it, fine, it's yours." So, we actually built the Klingon ship, which was Gary's heartset, so "the hell with it, we're gonna use it!", so he stuck it in the film.''" (''[[Sense of Scale]]'', disc 2) The build was not entirely without its setbacks, as [[Gary Kerr]], a friend of Jein who was visiting his shop at the time, observed, "''(...)Greg's assistant was trying to finish the lighting on the model of the ''Klingon cruiser'' &ndash; which unfortunately kept burning out.''" (''[[Sci-fi & fantasy modeller]]'', p. 40)
  +
  +
Neither officially commissioned by the studio, nor intended for further use, Jein's IKS ''Gr'oth'' was a one-time use only model and slated to be discarded, but was saved from the dumpster by Hutzel, who took the model into his care. [http://startrekauction.blogspot.nl/2014/10/doug-drexler-previews-gary-hutzel.html]
   
 
The molds Jein owned were put to good use besides the IKS ''Gr'oth''; Apart from this ship he cast from the molds a commercial limited production run of twelve, without internal lighting, that was sold in 1997, accompanied with a certificate of authenticity signed by Greg Jein at the {{w|Viacom Entertainment Store}} in Chicago. {{brokenlink|http://www.members.aol.com/IDICPage3/JeinEnt.html}} In addition to these, two ''K't'inga''-class vessels were constructed from the molds: the [[Unnamed K't'inga class starships#Qualor II hulk|unnamed ''K't'inga''-class]] in {{TNG|Unification I}} and the {{IKS|B'Moth}} in {{DS9|Soldiers of the Empire}}.
 
The molds Jein owned were put to good use besides the IKS ''Gr'oth''; Apart from this ship he cast from the molds a commercial limited production run of twelve, without internal lighting, that was sold in 1997, accompanied with a certificate of authenticity signed by Greg Jein at the {{w|Viacom Entertainment Store}} in Chicago. {{brokenlink|http://www.members.aol.com/IDICPage3/JeinEnt.html}} In addition to these, two ''K't'inga''-class vessels were constructed from the molds: the [[Unnamed K't'inga class starships#Qualor II hulk|unnamed ''K't'inga''-class]] in {{TNG|Unification I}} and the {{IKS|B'Moth}} in {{DS9|Soldiers of the Empire}}.
   
 
==Display model==
 
==Display model==
  +
{| class="wiki-sidebar"
[[File:D7-class battle cruiser display model.jpg|thumb|Worf's D7-class model]]
 
  +
|-
As the D7-class was only featured in the ''Original Series'' era, very few other physical representations of the class were utilized on the other franchise productions. Still, a commercial product showed up to physically represent the class as a display [[model]] in [[Worf]]'s [[quarters]] in ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''{{'}} [[TNG Season 2|second season]] episode, {{e|Peak Performance}}. It was only after the episode was [[TNG-R|remastered]] in 2012, that it could be discerned that it concerned the 1989 nine inch pewter model from [[Franklin Mint]]'s [[Franklin Mint#Pewter Star Trek Starships|Pewter ''Star Trek'' Starships]]-line. The otherwise unmodified pewter model was later again utilized as a nearly undiscernable display model in [[drafting room 5]] in [[Mars Station]] at the [[Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards]] in {{e|Booby Trap}}.
 
  +
| colspan="1" align="center" |[[File:Franklin Mint Klingon Battle Cruiser.jpg|180px]]
 
| colspan="1" align="center" |[[File:D7-class battle cruiser display model.jpg|180px]]
  +
|-
  +
| class="even" | <center>Franklin Mint's pewter D-7 class model...</center>
  +
| class="even" | <center>...featured as Worf's display model</center>
  +
|}
  +
As the D7-class was only featured in the ''Original Series'' era, being replaced by its ''K't'inga''-class descendant, very few other physical representations of the class were utilized on the other spin-off franchise productions. Still, a commercial consumer product showed up to physically represent the class as a [[Model|display model]] in [[Worf]]'s [[quarters]] in ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''{{'}} [[TNG Season 2|second season]] episode, {{e|Peak Performance}}.
  +
 
It was only after the episode was [[TNG-R|remastered]] in 2012, that it could be discerned that it concerned a 1989 pre-sale evaluation, or approval nine inch pewter model, formally released the same year, from [[Franklin Mint]]'s [[Franklin Mint#Pewter Star Trek Starships|Pewter ''Star Trek'' Starships]]-line. The otherwise unmodified pewter model was later again utilized as a nearly undiscernable display model in [[drafting room 5]] in [[Mars Station]] at the [[Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards]] in {{e|Booby Trap}}.
   
 
== The CGI model ==
 
== The CGI model ==
 
[[File:Romulan flagship, TEI remastered.jpg|thumb|left|CBS' CGI model in Romulan livery]]
 
[[File:Romulan flagship, TEI remastered.jpg|thumb|left|CBS' CGI model in Romulan livery]]
 
[[File:D7 aft, remastered.jpg|thumb|CBS' CGI model viewed from the aft]]
 
[[File:D7 aft, remastered.jpg|thumb|CBS' CGI model viewed from the aft]]
Yet another model of the ''Gr'oth'', this time built entirely digitally by [[CBS Digital]] and supervised by [[Dave Rossi]] and [[Niel Wray]], was created for the {{y|2006}} "[[TOS#Remastered|remastered]]" version of the various TOS episodes the design made an appearance in. In regards to this [[CGI model]], when making those appearances, [[Michael Okuda]] noted that "''the Klingon ship was basically in two forms. In early episodes, when it was very small on the screen, it was the original version of the ship, which had essentially no surface detail. In {{e|The Enterprise Incident}}, {{e|Elaan of Troyius}}, and {{e|Day of the Dove}}, the ship was reworked somewhat to add surface texture. And, of course, in "The Enterprise Incident" we added the Romulan bird markings.''" {{Forgotten Trek|designing-the-klingon-battle-cruiser/}}
+
Yet another model of the ''Gr'oth'', this time a [[CGI]] version, was used in the 2006 [[TOS-R|remastered]] ''Original Series'' at [[CBS Digital]], where digital animators worked with the model under the supervision of [[Niel Wray]] and [[David Rossi]], for representation of the craft in its respective episodes. The model was built by Finnish [[Trekkie|fan]] and digital modeler [[Petri Blomqvist]], and was bought from him by [[CBS Television Studios]] for use in the series. Blomqvist's work was brought to the attention of Wray and Visual Effects Supervisor [[Michael Okuda]] by Technical Consultant Gary Kerr, the same Kerr who had visited Greg Jein's model shop a few years earlier. The quality of his work was a compelling reason for the acquisition, as it saved valuable production time. Nevertheless, the digital animators still had their work cut out for them as Blomqvist's model was constructed in the {{w|LightWave 3D}} software, whereas they used the {{w|Autodesk Maya}} CGI software at the time, and had to translate the digital model from one format into the other, which inevitably led to some information loss. Additionally, they had to cut down on the resolution level of Blomqvist's highly detailed high-resolution model, in order to speed up computer [[CGI#Rendering and animation|rendering]] time. It, and the other models CBS bought from him for the project, has earned Blomqvist an official "Technical Consultant" credit. (''[[Sci-fi & fantasy modeller]]'', Vol. 26, p. 49-50) In regards to this CGI model, when making its appearances, Okuda noted that "''the Klingon ship was basically in two forms. In early episodes, when it was very small on the screen, it was the original version of the ship, which had essentially no surface detail. In {{e|The Enterprise Incident}}, {{e|Elaan of Troyius}}, and {{e|Day of the Dove}}, the ship was reworked somewhat to add surface texture. And, of course, in "The Enterprise Incident" we added the Romulan bird markings.''" {{Forgotten Trek|designing-the-klingon-battle-cruiser/}} It should be noted that, in the original run of the series, the design made an actual appearance in these third season episodes of the series only, simply because the physical studio model did not yet exist before that. Yet, for the remastered version of the series, use was made of the opportunity to incorporate the CGI model in those episodes of previous seasons, where the design was implied to be present, and which included the [[TOS Season 1|first season]] episode {{e|Errand of Mercy}}, and the [[TOS Season 2|second season]] episodes, {{e|Friday's Child}}, {{e|The Trouble with Tribbles}}, and {{e|A Private Little War}}.
   
 
[[File:D7 class by Doug Drexler.jpg|thumb|Drexlers D7-class CGI model]]
 
[[File:D7 class by Doug Drexler.jpg|thumb|Drexlers D7-class CGI model]]
Another CGI model was previously constructed by Doug Drexler for use in [[James Cawley]]'s 2004 non-profit Internet [[Trekkie|fan]] series {{IMDb-name|id=tt0458122|name=Star Trek: New Voyages}}. Nevertheless, that model also showed up in licensed publications, most notably the ''[[Star Trek: Ships of the Line]]'' [[calendars]] and their [[Ships of the Line|book derivative]]. Noteworthy, however, is that Drexler chose to have his CGI build model mirror the original second "master tooling" model&ndash;''i.e.'', the single strip on the warp engines&ndash;, despite the fact that he had Greg Jein's ''Phase II'' model in his possession for reference.
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Another CGI model was previously constructed by Doug Drexler for use in [[James Cawley]]'s 2004 non-profit Internet [[Trekkie|fan]] series ''[[w:c:stexpanded:Star Trek: New Voyages|Star Trek: New Voyages]]'' (later rechristened to ''Star Trek: Phase II''), where it made several appearances, debuting in the 2006 episode "[[w:c:stexpanded:To Serve All My Days (Phase II episode)|To Serve All My Days]]", but, echoing what happened to its illustrious physical counterpart of the past, first used for the 2005 vignette "[[w:c:stexpanded:No-Win Scenario (Phase II vignette)|No-Win Scenario]]", that was only first aired in 2011. Nevertheless, that model also showed up in licensed print publications, most notably the ''[[Star Trek: Ships of the Line]]'' [[calendars]] and their [[Ships of the Line|book derivative]], in particular showing scenes stemming from "To Serve All My Days". Noteworthy, however, is that Drexler chose to have his CGI build model mirror the original second "master tooling" model&ndash;''i.e.'' the single strip on the warp engines&ndash;, despite the fact that he had Greg Jein's ''Phase II'' studio model in his possession for reference.
   
 
==Further reading==
 
==Further reading==
*"Raiders of the Lost Starcruiser", William S. McCullars, ''[[Starlog (magazine)|Starlog]]'', issue 147, October 1989, pp. 24-25
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*"Raiders of the Lost Starcruiser", William S. McCullars, ''{{dis|Starlog|magazine}}'', issue 147, October 1989, pp. 24-25
 
*"Behind the Scenes; Designing the Klingon Battle Cruiser", {{STTM|2|9}}, January 2002, pp. 66-71
 
*"Behind the Scenes; Designing the Klingon Battle Cruiser", {{STTM|2|9}}, January 2002, pp. 66-71
 
[[Category:Studio models]]
 
[[Category:Studio models]]

Revision as of 19:51, 23 October 2015

D7 battlecruiser, profile

The D7-class in action

Though only introduced in the third season of the Original Series, the Klingon D7-class battle cruiser, despite its limited number of appearances, has captured the imagination of the audiences, and went on to become one of the most signature ship designs of the franchise. Ironically, the original filming model was not commissioned by the producers for the show who had to contend with severe budget cuts during the third season, but resulted firstly from the wish of kit producer Aluminum Model Toys (AMT) to do a follow-up of their highly successful USS Enterprise model kit, as its designer revealed in Star Trek: The Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, p. 66.

Design

D7-class last minute design variant by Matt Jefferies

Last minute design variant

D7-class design directions by Matt Jefferies

Jefferies' design directions

D7 class final design sketch

Final design sketch

The D7-class studio model was originally designed by Matt Jefferies with initial input from friend and AMT account manager Stephen Edward Poe, and he needed about two months from start to final design sketch. Its design was explored in the Star Trek: The Original Series Sketchbook where it was explained that in Jefferies' attempt to create the D7, he "had to design a ship that would be instantly recognizable as an enemy ship, especially for a flash cut. There had to be no way it could be mistaken for our guys. It had to look threatening, even vicious." Taking an aerodynamic approach to his design, he ultimately "modeled it on a manta ray, both shape and color, and that's why it looks as it does in the original series." In a contemporary 1968 interview, Jefferies has delved somewhat deeper into his thought processes behind the design, having stated, "We had already established the essential character of the Klingons, so we had really more to draw on in background than we originally had on the Enterprise. The Klingon character was different and clearly defined in several scripts. We tried to keep some of that character in the design of the ship--cold and, in a sense, vicious. We tried to get into it some of the qualities of a manta ray, shark, or bird of prey, because the Klingons follow that general feeling. Another requirement was that we had to get a feeling their ships were on a par with the starships in equipment, power, size etc. After many, many sketches and many evenings, it finally evolved. Everyone liked it , and that's what we built. It was strictly an extra-curricular activity on my part." (Inside Star Trek, issue 4, pp. 3-4)

Unable to divulge the AMT connection at the time, though he evidently could not refrain from making the closing remark, which hinted at the connection, Jefferies, freed from studio policies, much later revealed on his design work:

"AMT didn't have any design input whatsoever, and by that point Gene pretty much left me on my own. I designed it here at home, because there was neither the time nor the money allowance to do it at the studio. Naturally, I thought it had to look as far out as we thought the Enterprise did. I was after a shape and didn't really know what the shape should be. I started doing little sketches, trying to come up with something; God knows how many there were. I saved some of them, but I'm sure I must have ashcanned maybe a hundred balled-up pieces of paper. It's like when you make a mistake in arithmetic and you go back over the same piece of paper and keep making the same dumb mistake; you've got to throw it away and start from scratch.(...) "The Klingons were supposed to a pretty wicked people, so I wanted something with a "killer potential" that would look wicked. Basically, I was feeding on the look of the stingray, or the manta ray, for part of the shape. Even though it is not dangerous, I think a lot of people think the manta ray has a very vicious look to it, yet when it swims it is very graceful. I was trying to get all of that in there. Then the coloration came directly from a shark, it's a grayish-green on top and a lighter gray underneath." (Star Trek: The Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, pp. 66-69)

Having decided early on to make use of the same basic elements as with the Enterprise, twin nacelles and separate engineering and command hulls, with which he continued to experiment in layout and configuration, he added, "Sometimes if you feel you have something, which could be kind of rare, you turn it around in as many ways as possible, and all of a sudden something may pop up that makes more sense." The ship's design was perfected by the twenty-fourth sketch on 20 November 1967.

Jefferies sold off his original design sketches, as well as the below mentioned engineering drawings, on 12 December 2001 in the Profiles in History The Star Trek Auction, in order to raise funds for the charitable organization Motion Picture and Television Fund.

The original filming model

D7-class engineering drawing by Matt Jefferies D7-class and Enterprise scale drawings D7-class signage as designed by Matt Jefferies
Jefferies' D7-class engineering...
...and scale comparison with the Enterprise drawings...
...as well as his D7-class signage designs

Jefferies proceeded to draw up detailed engineering drawings which also specified the scale in relation to the Enterprise, and took those to AMT. The scale comparison drawings were also used as templates for the back-lit computer console readouts seen in the episode "The Enterprise Incident". Under Jefferies' own personal supervision, Gene Winfield's AMT-operated "Speed & Custom Shop" proceeded to manufacture two three-foot long "master tooling" models (more precisely, the dimensions were 28×20×7 inches [1]). A master tooling model served as a template for the molds from which AMT would cast the parts for their model kits. Jefferies recalled, "The master models were quite large; probably close to 18 inches across, I guess. They used what they call a pentagraph [sic]; at one end there was a stylus that traced its way over the master model, and at the other end there was a tool that carved out the same shape in tooling steel, which became the mold they built the kit from. [remark: the mold for the kits were pantographed at half-scale of the master model] I was there at about 2 o'clock in the morning when they ran the first two or three through the machine. They weren't perfect, so they said "We'll take out a fraction here, and a fraction here." Then they'd run two or three more. If I remember correctly, it was about 10 o'clock when the first one came out that they said was perfect. They ran maybe another half a dozen, and checked those out. One of which I still have; the box has never been opened. Then the machine was put in operation, and after that one came out every 20 seconds." (Star Trek: The Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, pp. 69-70)

Under their exclusivity agreement the studio appropriated one of the master models for shooting purposes as they had done with the Galileo studio model. The model was subsequently turned over to the Howard Anderson Company for final detailing and filming stock footage for use in the show. In order to make maximum use of their new nifty model and as a courtesy to AMT (who after all paid for the model), in order to get them the most exposure for their new model kit (S952), the producers decided to use it wherever possible in the remainder of the third season of TOS and so the new model first appeared on-screen as a Romulan battle cruiser in "The Enterprise Incident", although it was first shot as a Klingon battle cruiser for "Elaan of Troyius" (which aired later). Its origin as a master tooling model for a model kit, as opposed to being an actual filming model was evident in the fact that neither model, both constructed out of solid wood, had internal lighting.

D7-class studio model held by Matt Jefferies

Jefferies holding his creation after detailing

File:IKS Gr'oth, TAS.jpg

The animated IKS Gr'oth

The original studio model was originally finished at the Howard Anderson Company in a multi-colored paint scheme (light green underneath and gray on top), applied personally by Jefferies. Jefferies also designed and applied the Klingon emblem and the Klingon lettering, the first time ever either one appeared in the Star Trek franchise. But the color scheme was obscured by studio lighting conditions, combined with the effect of lighting bouncing of the blue-screen onto the model, an effect known as "blue spill", resulting in what appeared to be a blue-gray overall color on screen. This impression was reinforced by the box art of the release of the D7 kit by AMT (No. S952). Interestingly, in the Animated Series episode "More Tribbles, More Troubles", Koloth's battle cruiser, IKS Gr'oth, adheres to the original paint scheme, though the two colors are reversed. Silver detail sections of the model were an adhesive Mylar.

After The Original Series was canceled, the original model of the D7 was, hand-delivered by Dorothy Fontana on 7 November 1973, donated to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (NASM) along with the tiny "Catspaw" model of the USS Enterprise. "I was trying to figure out how to pack it up to ship it. Dorothy Fontana was headed back to D.C. and agreed to take it for me; we put it in a plastic garbage back, which was not deep enough to to take the whole thing, so the head of it stuck out. Somebody on the airliner recognized it, so they unwrapped it and it toured the airliner!", Jefferies recalled.(Star Trek: The Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, pp. 69-70; Star Trek Giant Poster Book, issue 10, 1977)

Star Trek: Phase II derivatives

D7-class destruction concept art for Star Trek PhaseII

Koro-class destruction concept art for Phase II

Jim Dow supervising the breakaway D7 class studio models File:The breakaway D7 class studio model prepared at Abel's.jpg
Dow presiding over he break-away models...
...preparing the models for on-screen destruction at Abel's...
File:The breakaway D7 class studio model set for destruction.jpg File:The breakaway D7 class studio model destroyed.jpg
...set for destruction ...
...and destroyed

In the latest script treatments of the pilot episode "In Thy Image" of the projected Star Trek: Phase II television project, the Klingon-V'Ger encounter was already foreseen for that production. To this end, the original filming model was returned on loan to Paramount Pictures in the last quarter of 1977 for use on the Phase II television production, and where it received a new paint job (gray, dark green and metal blue). It is conceivable that the new paint job was applied to repair damage, as the model was used as a master to take molds from in order to cast copies for intended use in the production. At the time, Jim Dow of Magicam Inc., whose company was entrusted with the visual effects (VFX) for Phase II, recalled when it was later decided to build a larger model for the movie project, "We began with the Klingon spaceship, as we had the 18-inch model from the original television series which had been loaned back to the production by the National Air and Space Museum. The basic form remaining similar, we began to make patterns and take measurements of the original, and a set of drawings was produced and blown up to eight feet then dropped back to four feet when [Robert] Abel [& Associates] [RA&A] decided they would never be able to get far enough away from the model to photograph it." (American Cinematographer, February 1980, p. 153) To handle the original studio model, Dow actually sub-contracted Gregory Jein, for his very first professional assignment on the Star Trek franchise. Jein, who at the time was rapidly making a name for himself, having been one of the chief model makers on Close Encounters of the Third Kind, disassembled the model and used the parts as masters to obtain molds from them. From these he cast fiberglass parts for the construction of a "hero" model. [2] At that point in time, as indicated in early script treatises of "In Thy Image", the Klingon vessel belonged to the heavy cruiser Koro-class. (Star Trek Phase II: The Lost Series, p. 64)

The outcome of the encounter was for this production originally storyboarded as ending with the destruction of the Klingon vessels. To this end breakaway models were constructed at Magicam for their on-screen destruction, using Jein's molds. According to the contemporary documentary, The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, at least twelve breakaway models were constructed for the sequence, produced from Jein's molds taken of the original studio model. Footage of the destruction was already shot at Magicam in late 1977, but ultimately not used, as it was quickly decided that the model would not stand up to the requirements television standards of the late 70s demanded, and especially not to the big screen requirements when Phase II was upgraded to a major movie project in December 1977.

D7-class Klingon battle cruiser original studio model in storage

The original model in its three-tone color livery at Garber's

D7-class studio model early Star Trek Phase II variant

Jein's unused model

After the decision was made that three-foot models were not up to the task for the movie-upgrade, the original television studio model was of no further use, and so it was send back to the Smithsonian, were it sat in an unlit display case for the next ten or eleven years at the NASM's Suitland, Maryland Garber Preservation, Restoration and Storage Facility, not open to the public, before being disassembled and put away in storage. Before its disassembly it was photographed by studio model aficionado William S. McCullars for an article he wrote on the model, that was published in Starlog, issue 147. Template:Brokenlink It was still in its new paint scheme when Ed Miarecki undertook a major renovation on the model in 1991 in preparation for the Star Trek Smithsonian Exhibit and in 1992 the D7 model and the K't'inga-class model, which it had spawned, were reunited for a short time when the K'tinga was on loan to the Smithonian. [3] Miarecki, apparently unaware of the original paint scheme at the time, repainted the model in the blue-gray mono colored scheme as was normally perceived by television audiences. [4] Having only been displayed publicly once, the model, though in storage, is still in the possession of the Smithonian.

Greg Jein retained the unused hero model and the molds from which he had constructed it. He finished up on the model and it has been featured in the reference book The Art of Star Trek, page 19. Jein later gave away the model to Doug Drexler who had it in his possession for several years. Drexler eventually auctioned the model off as Lot 13 in the August 8th, 2010 Propworx The official STAR TREK prop and costume auction, estimated at US$2,000–$3,000, where it sold for US$12,000.

The second "master tooling" model

D7-class Klingon battle cruiser second studio model

The second master tooling model at auction

The second master tooling model was handed over to the studio a short time later after AMT was done with it. It received the same finishing touch as the first model and was at a casual glance nearly indistinguishable from the first one (exactly two times the size of the AMT model kit). There were, however, subtle differences between the two. The bulk of the differences were located on the engine nacelles. The position of the engine recessed side detail was moved more forward on the AMT prototype, in relation to the pylon foil vent. The detail piece on the engine bottom was a little further back on the studio model – about a third of its length back. There was a raised strip intersecting the chrome part of the side engine on the AMT version. The chrome part on the AMT prototype was a single strip shape that had a half-round profile view. The screen-used model version had two sets of two raised, flat chrome strips (AMT would correct this on re-issues of their model kit, as it later featured the two strips). And finally, the AMT model lacked both the feature in the torpedo launcher mouth, as well as the grills in the recessed forward "wing intakes" that were present on the screen-used model.

Although slated to be also used for filming it was never used as such and ended up in Roddenberry's office for awhile. Roddenberry gave the model away to Stephen Edward Poe in recognition of his help in establishing the co-operation between the Desilu studios and AMT (in whose employ Poe was at the time). It changed hands several times after that and was between 1998 and 2006 offered up for auction no less than four times. The first time it appeared, it was offered up for auction by Poe at Christie's Film and Television auction of 18 June 1998 as Lot 71 with an estimate of US$15,000–$20,000, selling for US$11,500 (including buyer's premium), [5] and was immediately offered up for auction afterwards as Lot 245 in Profiles in History's Hollywood Memorabilia Auction 5 on 12 December 1998, selling for US$35,000. The third time it appeared at auction was on 31 March 2003 in Profiles' Hollywood Auction 18 with an estimate of US$60,000–$80,000, [6] selling for US$55,000 ($64,900 including buyer's premium), before finally auctioned off as Lot 311 in Profiles' Hollywood Auction 24 on 31 March 2006 for US$65,000, estimated at US$65,000–$85,000. [7] [8] [9] It should be noted that all auction descriptions contained inaccuracies, and erroneously claimed that it was a screen-used model. The model was on the last occasion acquired by Microsoft's co-founder Paul Allen for his Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle, where it currently resides. The deal was brokered before auction start and the model was therefore not featured in the auction itself.

The Motion Picture D7 aka Koro-class model

D7-class Phase II studio model detailed by Jim Dow at Magicam

Dow working on what was still the Motion Picture D7-class studio model

When the Phase II project was upgraded to a major movie project, what ultimately was to become Star Trek: The Motion Picture, the decision was made to have Magicam, no doubt due to their by then familiarity with the design of the ship, and supervised by Dow, built a new, more detailed twice as large scale model of the D7, based on the molds taken from the by now-disassembled original television model. Began at the start of February 1978, the D7/Koro-class model was the first model Magicam tackled for the upgrade, after the company received the blueprints from RA&A's Art Director Richard Taylor, specifying its new movie dimensions. Taylor specified the model to be 54" long, 40" wide and 12" high, with a scale of 1"=10'. [10] The early start was facilitated by the fact that the basic design of the model was to remain unchanged. Chris Ross was the appointed lead modeler working on the model. The most noticeable difference from the original filming model, aside from its size, was the application of more subtle hull paneling, reminiscent of the model Greg Jein later built for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Despite their familiarity with the design, a construction error crept into their build as noted by Production Illustrator Andrew Probert of Astra Image Corporation (Astra), the art department subsidiary of RA&A which had taken over the VFX work from Magicam. Probert observed, "When( I first visited their shop and saw a partially built Klingon cruiser, it was apparent to me that its neckpiece was crooked. As part of my newly assigned responsibilities, I brought this to their attention. The design of the cruiser, with its varying proportions and angles, was such that no one else had noticed it and when I came out of the blue with my observation it didn't go over too well. They told me that it would cost too much time and money to correct. As it turned out, at a much later time in the production, the need arose for a structural change, so the neck was realigned at that time. From that time onward, nothing in the way of design or drawing submitted by me was ever acceptable to Magicam." (Fantastic Films, March 1980)

D7 test shot for Phase II

Motion Picture D7-class lighting trial

Though commonly known as the "6-foot model", its exact measurements turned out to be 47.5×35 inches. [11] Construction on this model, [12] outfitted with an internal lighting system, and subsequent test shooting were in progress and signed off on when Magicam delivered the model to Astra, located on Seward St, Los Angeles, responsible for RA&A's studio model effects photography, in July 1978. Art Director Taylor deemed the model not detailed enough and thus unsuitable to meet full theatrical feature movie requirements, therefore reverting the model back to Astra for additional detailing. Taylor recalled, "(...)that was built before we got involved. I redesigned all the surface textures, the photon torpedo tube and many other details. I tried to put a kind of bird-feather design on the surface. One of the things we did with all of the models was to give their surfaces details and interesting designs. A smooth object has no scale so it’s important in model work to find ways of creating scale. Sometimes it’s very subtle but it’s one of the most important elements in model photography. We did re-build the Klingon ships and that was one of the first things we finished, actually." [13], adding at a later point in time, "We also detailed out the Klingon ships adding detail to the bodies, the nose pod, the photon torpedo tube, and the bridge. I designed a new bird-like paint design for the wings and body of the Battle Cruisers. (...) Michael Sterling and I designed a new Star Fleet typeface, a Klingon typeface, and new logos for the Star Fleet and the Klingons." (Star Trek: Creating the Enterprise, p. 104) Yet, upon delivery in July 1978 of the new, twice as large model, it was decided that further refinements were deemed necessary and the model reverted to Magicam/Astra for the requested upgrades. Production Illustrator Andrew Probert further elaborated on the rework done on the model at that point in time,

"Due to continuing miscommunication with Magicam, the Klingon model eventually came to our Seward shop for additional detailing. We attempted to stay as close to the TV series version as possible, but after running some camera tests we discovered that an additional level of detail was needed for widescreen photography. A series of slides was taken of the model. We had photostats made of them and I did some initial design work on top of the stats. We painted it a darker color. I've always liked the idea of a black spaceship – which would have been impractical for this movie; so we came up with a dark military green. I had an idea that was carried out beautifully by Ron Gress. Ron painted a giant Klingon symbol on the underbelly of the ship. It was a revision of the old Klingon symbol." (Starlog, No.32, March 1980, p. 63)

How pressured for time the studio was by then, was experienced by Magicam's Model Electronics Engineer Paul Turner, who was responsible for the lighting rig of the model,

"They [remark: RA&A] decided they wanted some additional work done on the model and they convinced Paramount that they should spend additional time and money, and it was returned to us. We added some lights to it; we changed the structure just a little bit [remark: the neckpiece of Probert's observation]; we did quite a number of things. Everybody worked together around the clock to get the thing out. Then we has an unveiling where people were called at Paramount, and various interested parties, to coma and see the Klingon. They were working on finishing the detail right up until the time the executives were due to arrive. Twenty minutes before the executives were due to arrive they were still in there painting and spraying and touching up on the detail. I hadn't been able to get in there and hook up the wiring yet. I finally got my chance to work on the thing and then everyone came into the room and started looking at it, which made it very difficult for me to concentrate on what I was doing, so I threw everybody out. I said, "Out please. Everybody leave. Give me fifteen minutes to hook the system up." And I threw out everybody, executives and everybody. I got it hooked up and got everything working. Fortunately everything worked. I had pretested all the sub-assemblies, but you never knew when something is going to go wrong. Fortunately everything worked and everyone could come back in and see the model, which was about four feet [sic.] long." (Enterprise Incidents, issue 13, p. 24)

However, even further refinement for movie purposes was deemed necessary at a somewhat later time the subsequent year, which was lastly done at John Dykstra's Apogee, Inc. model shop, resulting in this model eventually becoming the K't'inga-class studio model. (Cinefex, issue 2, p. 52)

The "Trials and Tribble-ations" model

IKS Gr'oth

Jein's IKS Gr'oth model in action

In 1996, a new model of the D7-class, IKS Gr'oth, was created by Greg Jein for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's episode "Trials and Tribble-ations". While referenced, but not seen, in the original version of the "Trouble with Tribbles," the model featured an amalgam of detail from both the Original Series model and the K't'inga-class seen in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The new model bore a pale green coloration, in line with future Klingon vessels. Jein, a passionate life long fan of the original series, used his set of molds of the original Star Trek: Phase II D7 studio model, and from those cast the model, which was further embellished. "Greg had a mold of the original, which had been on loan from the Smithsonian during the making of ST: TMP. The "Trials" ship was from that mold and uprezzed.", Doug Drexler later confirmed. [14](X) Apart from the additional slight hull detailing, reminiscent of the Phase II model, but more subdued than on its K't'inga-class model successor, this model also sported internal lighting, strobe lights, and lights on the crown of the bridge. Although the producers originally did not want to have the model built, because of budget concerns, effects supervisor for the episode Gary Hutzel pushed the construction through, after he discussed the matter with Jein: "We talked for about fifteen seconds, and then Greg said "Oh, I'll build a shell. You paint it and detail it and we'll put it in the show."", adding "(We) took a little liberty. The original model had no lights on it at all, and it was pretty smooth, with no detail. We added neon for inside, strobe lights and some some lights on the crown of the bridge." (The Magic of Tribbles: The Making of Trials and Tribble-ations, pp. 45-46) Jein's passion for the project however, resulted in a full-blown studio model, produced at a bargain. Jein himself reiterated, "And I said, "You know, in that episode they had not the budget to show the Klingon ship", because a Klingon ship did not show up until the third season, this was a second season show, and we said how about we build a Klingon ship, and he [Hutzel] said, "No, we cannot definitely afford that, we're in trouble as it is!" So I said, "Tell you what, If the day comes when you need to shoot it, give us a call, and if you shoot it, fine, it's yours." So, we actually built the Klingon ship, which was Gary's heartset, so "the hell with it, we're gonna use it!", so he stuck it in the film." (Sense of Scale, disc 2) The build was not entirely without its setbacks, as Gary Kerr, a friend of Jein who was visiting his shop at the time, observed, "(...)Greg's assistant was trying to finish the lighting on the model of the Klingon cruiser – which unfortunately kept burning out." (Sci-fi & fantasy modeller, p. 40)

Neither officially commissioned by the studio, nor intended for further use, Jein's IKS Gr'oth was a one-time use only model and slated to be discarded, but was saved from the dumpster by Hutzel, who took the model into his care. [15]

The molds Jein owned were put to good use besides the IKS Gr'oth; Apart from this ship he cast from the molds a commercial limited production run of twelve, without internal lighting, that was sold in 1997, accompanied with a certificate of authenticity signed by Greg Jein at the Viacom Entertainment Store in Chicago. Template:Brokenlink In addition to these, two K't'inga-class vessels were constructed from the molds: the unnamed K't'inga-class in TNG: "Unification I" and the IKS B'Moth in DS9: "Soldiers of the Empire".

Display model

Franklin Mint Klingon Battle Cruiser D7-class battle cruiser display model
Franklin Mint's pewter D-7 class model...
...featured as Worf's display model

As the D7-class was only featured in the Original Series era, being replaced by its K't'inga-class descendant, very few other physical representations of the class were utilized on the other spin-off franchise productions. Still, a commercial consumer product showed up to physically represent the class as a display model in Worf's quarters in Star Trek: The Next Generation' second season episode, "Peak Performance".

It was only after the episode was remastered in 2012, that it could be discerned that it concerned a 1989 pre-sale evaluation, or approval nine inch pewter model, formally released the same year, from Franklin Mint's Pewter Star Trek Starships-line. The otherwise unmodified pewter model was later again utilized as a nearly undiscernable display model in drafting room 5 in Mars Station at the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards in "Booby Trap".

The CGI model

File:Romulan flagship, TEI remastered.jpg

CBS' CGI model in Romulan livery

D7 aft, remastered

CBS' CGI model viewed from the aft

Yet another model of the Gr'oth, this time a CGI version, was used in the 2006 remastered Original Series at CBS Digital, where digital animators worked with the model under the supervision of Niel Wray and David Rossi, for representation of the craft in its respective episodes. The model was built by Finnish fan and digital modeler Petri Blomqvist, and was bought from him by CBS Television Studios for use in the series. Blomqvist's work was brought to the attention of Wray and Visual Effects Supervisor Michael Okuda by Technical Consultant Gary Kerr, the same Kerr who had visited Greg Jein's model shop a few years earlier. The quality of his work was a compelling reason for the acquisition, as it saved valuable production time. Nevertheless, the digital animators still had their work cut out for them as Blomqvist's model was constructed in the LightWave 3D software, whereas they used the Autodesk Maya CGI software at the time, and had to translate the digital model from one format into the other, which inevitably led to some information loss. Additionally, they had to cut down on the resolution level of Blomqvist's highly detailed high-resolution model, in order to speed up computer rendering time. It, and the other models CBS bought from him for the project, has earned Blomqvist an official "Technical Consultant" credit. (Sci-fi & fantasy modeller, Vol. 26, p. 49-50) In regards to this CGI model, when making its appearances, Okuda noted that "the Klingon ship was basically in two forms. In early episodes, when it was very small on the screen, it was the original version of the ship, which had essentially no surface detail. In "The Enterprise Incident", "Elaan of Troyius", and "Day of the Dove", the ship was reworked somewhat to add surface texture. And, of course, in "The Enterprise Incident" we added the Romulan bird markings." [16] It should be noted that, in the original run of the series, the design made an actual appearance in these third season episodes of the series only, simply because the physical studio model did not yet exist before that. Yet, for the remastered version of the series, use was made of the opportunity to incorporate the CGI model in those episodes of previous seasons, where the design was implied to be present, and which included the first season episode "Errand of Mercy", and the second season episodes, "Friday's Child", "The Trouble with Tribbles", and "A Private Little War".

File:D7 class by Doug Drexler.jpg

Drexlers D7-class CGI model

Another CGI model was previously constructed by Doug Drexler for use in James Cawley's 2004 non-profit Internet fan series Star Trek: New Voyages (later rechristened to Star Trek: Phase II), where it made several appearances, debuting in the 2006 episode "To Serve All My Days", but, echoing what happened to its illustrious physical counterpart of the past, first used for the 2005 vignette "No-Win Scenario", that was only first aired in 2011. Nevertheless, that model also showed up in licensed print publications, most notably the Star Trek: Ships of the Line calendars and their book derivative, in particular showing scenes stemming from "To Serve All My Days". Noteworthy, however, is that Drexler chose to have his CGI build model mirror the original second "master tooling" model–i.e. the single strip on the warp engines–, despite the fact that he had Greg Jein's Phase II studio model in his possession for reference.

Further reading