TNG studio models
This chronological list covers all of the new studio model designs that first appeared in . Information about models that represented a single design can be found in the articles linked below. Data about models that were recycled or refurbished for later Star Trek episodes (or series) to represent different vessels (or props) are also shown here.

TNG Season 1

Galaxy class

 See main article: Galaxy-class model

Tarellian starship 

This model was originally designed by Andrew Probert, finalized by him in July 1987 and when built (by Gregory Jein) was approximately two feet in length. On his design, Probert later commented, "I didn't want to do yet another ship out the back. I started out with the idea that this was an alien culture that had gone a totally different direction in their power development. Originally, I had this kind of energy ball that a ship would attach to and somehow use to pull itself." () Probert however, ran into a designers version of writers block, unable to make up his mind as to where to put the engines. On another occasion Probert related how he sought out the help of Gene Roddenberry:
"My favorite ship is the Enterprise itself, but beyond that, I like the ship from  for a couple of reasons. One, it was a ship that Gene and I put together. I was stuck on a concept of the ship I wanted to be different. Every ship we've ever seen typically has its power source in the back, engines like, pushing the ship. I was working on a concept where the engine will be in the front, somehow manipulating and pulling the ship. I went to Gene and I just told him I got this kind of creative block and I really wanted to have something different. I told I thought of having the engines on the front. And Gene said,"Put the engine in the middle". I said, "What do you mean?". "Well, just put your power source in the middle. The ship is built around it and makes it go where it was meant to go." And I came with that design. Power source is as a big energy thing – of course, you don't necessarily have to fully explain how it worked – and I took from Herman Zimmerman, you know, the production designer, I took his "zap screener", or their "breech", which was basically a triangular shape, and I duplicated that at the front of that ship. I don't know, I was just very pleased with the shape, the concept, it brings me good memories of Gene and me working together." 

Probert added, "Once a general direction came into focus, I started modeling the ship's front end based on (Production Designer) Herman Zimmerman's layout for the Tarellian bridge set. That way, I'd hoped people could relate that part of the exterior to the interior." 

As for the second reason of his pride in the design, tying in with Zimmerman's bridge layout, Probert noted in , "I have a need to identify interiors and exteriors, so when I designed that ship what I did was look at Herman's set for the bridge. What you can see on that bridge is a sort of a sphere hanging down, and if you look at the exterior you can see the rest of that globe up above it."

The model for its original appearance sported a hole in the aft section in which a green ball was inserted. This ball functioned as a green screen on which the engine effects were projected in post-production as they appeared in . After this episode the model was modified once. The holes were covered up with deck plating and the triangular shaped bow section was rebuilt as a more hammerhead shaped bow. In this modification the model made its subsequent appearances.

As for the studio model itself, in its modified appearance, having escaped the 40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection and It's A Wrap! sale and auction auctions, it is still in the possession of CBS Studios Inc. and has been on tour displays such as Star Trek World Tour, Star Trek: The Exhibition, and Star Trek: The Adventure as late as 2011.

Additional sources

D'Kora class

 See main article: D'Kora-class model

Edo God 

This studio model made two appearances in .

Constellation class

 See main article: Constellation-class model

Shuttle drone 

 See main article: Shuttle drone

Batris 

The studio model of the freighter, which first appeared as the Batris in , has been one of the most heavily reused models in the Star Trek franchise, as it was called upon to represent vessels of a multitude of races and affiliations.

According to the  the Batris, "(...) was a modification of a Visitor freighter  from the miniseries ", built by Greg Jein. While the Encyclopedia entry suggested that the model was a modification of the V model, Jein himself has clarified years later, "I think, I was working on  [note: Jein was wrong about this as he would work on that feature one year later], when we did the Batris, which was a freighter ship. So we took parts we had left over from "V" and "Captain Eon and the Space Knights" [sic., Jein is referring to the 1986 science fiction short Captain Eo, featuring pop star ], and sort of cobbled them together to get it done within like a three-week period." (TNG Season 1 Blu-ray special feature, "Stardate Revisited, Part 3: The Continuing Mission")

The Batris itself was further modified and seen as a variety of other freighters in later episodes, presumably suggesting that it is a design in use by many different planets. As long as the model was a physical one, footage of it was shot at Image G. The first time the model was refurbished was already after its first use in "Heart of Glory" for . The model was repainted to gray and had a variety of add-ons attached to it, among others additional details on the bow section, and most notably additional engine exhausts attached to the bottom section. In this guise it was used once more as the Erstwhile in second season's .

In 2012 a CGI model was constructed at CBS Digital for use in some of the profile shots as the Erstwhile in the 2012 remastered version of "The Outrageous Okona", simply because, "Some footage was just plain missing [remark: for upgrading the footage to High Definition]. The only time we felt justified to replace an element.", as Doug Drexler put it.  Use was made of the opportunity to replace the original LCARS graphics display of the vessel, that was consulted by the crew earlier in the episode, and which did not quite match up with the model configuration actually used, with the correct one, based on the wire-frame model of the CGI model. Michael Okuda recalled, "The console graphics (...) are entirely "practical,' meaning that they were actually there on set and were photographed by the camera. This is all back-lit art. The green wireframe (...) was indeed added in postproduction. Everything around the green element is practical, backlit art. I'm pretty sure I didn't do that wireframe, but I don't know who actually did it." Drexler did for the remastered version, "Deg [remark: Douglas E. Graves] built it in house."  Graves took care that his CGI model was not too pristine looking, and toned it down in resolution to have it correspond with its original appearance. The original green wire-frame model, Okuda referred to, was also a computer generated graphic, and therefore one of the earliest CGI applications in the Star Trek franchise, as confirmed in the auction description of the "Long-Range Scan - Forward Array" LCARS translite graphic, that appeared directly on the console screen before the green wire-frame was built up on-screen. Originating from Drexler's own personal collection that graphic was sold as  in Propworx' The official STAR TREK prop and costume auction of 8 August 2010 for US$420 (including buyer's premium), having had an estimate of US$400-$600.

Oddly enough, the physical model was mostly reverted to its original appearance for its subsequent appearances. The add-ons were removed and the model was repainted in its original brownish colors, though some minor details differed slightly from its original appearance, among others the application of lattice on the bow section and the removal of the exhaust pipes on the bottom. In this guise it appeared as various ships in , with stock footage appearing in .

In 1992/1993 the model was for the third and last time refurbished to represent yet another freighter configuration, in this case to represent the  vessel Norkova in the first season episode of , . The refurbishment was an extensive one. The model was flipped, had its original upper bridge module removed, the original spine appendices reattached, the cargo modules extended and last but not least repainted in gray. In this very guise it was most notably used to represent the  in the DS9 episodes  and .

For its three last appearances as Earth/alien freighters in  and , a first CGI model was constructed at Foundation Imaging, based on the physical model as it was then. The CGI model debuted in  as a Telsian freighter (), and was for the last time, anachronistically, reused as a Moon freighter in .

As of 2012, the physical studio model itself, never been modified afterwards, having escaped the 40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection and It's A Wrap! sale and auctions, is still in the possession of Paramount Pictures and has, as a display piece, been on tours such as Star Trek World Tour, Star Trek: The Adventure, and Star Trek The Exhibition as late as 2011.

Additional sources

Type 7 shuttlecraft

 See main article: Type 7 shuttlecraft

Echo Papa 607

 See main article: Echo Papa 607

Space module

This model, which measured 36×26×5 inches, was designed by Rick Sternbach and Michael Okuda. It was based on a drawing Sternbach did in the Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual. According to the , "Extremely close examination of the model might have revealed tiny letters reading "S.S. Birdseye" inscribed on the hull."

The module was modified to become the  design after the solar panels were removed and replaced with other antenna. 

A concept sketch for this design was sold in the Profiles in History auction for US$150.00.  The studio model was later sold in It's A Wrap! sale and auction for the final auction price of US$3,329.00. .

D'deridex class

 See main article: D'deridex-class model

TNG Season 2

Containment module

This model originally appeared as a containment module in . It would later be reworked, as a Rick Sternbach design, into "The Egg" appearing in . The new design was inspired by the anime series The Dirty Pair.  (Also see: Exocomp) 

A miniature was also created for this prop, which sold in the It's A Wrap! sale and auction. The model measured approximately 16×10×20½ inches.

Straleb security vessel 
This model, according to the , was a Rick Sternbach design, that was said to have been modeled simply after "a big Easter egg." The studio model measured 24 inches×9½ inches.

The model was eventually sold for US$4,800 at the 40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection auction, then re-sold in the Profiles in History Hollywood Auction 30 for US$6,500.

External link

Type 15 shuttlepod

 See main article: Type 15 shuttlepod

Borg cube 

 See main article: Borg cube model

Mondor
This model was sold for US$3,360 in the 40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection auction.

TNG Season 3

Husnock warship 

 See main article: Delta Rana warship

Promellian battle cruiser 

The studio model "[..] was designed by Steve Burg and built by Ron Thornton for [the  film] ." () In the first edition of the Star Trek Encyclopedia (p. 51), the authors erroneously stated that Tony Meininger designed and built the Promellian battle cruiser. 

David Stipes, who at the time was a visual effects supervisor for the movie, stated on his  that, since there was only to be one shot of the ship to be seen in the movie, only the ventral side of the model was built in any detail. In the {{w|Night of the Creeps#Alternate ending|alternative ending]] of the film, the ship was seen in better detail in the very last shot of the film flying slowly over a grave yard.

After the movie had wrapped the model ended up in the possession of Stipes, thereby saving the model from the dumpster as was customary in the motion picture industry. (Star Trek: The Official Starships Collection, issue 142, p. 11)

When the The Next Generations third season episode  went into pre-production, the producers found themselves in a time pinch to come up with a model for the Promellian battle cruiser Cleponji, in  simply described as "an ancient warship", as regular studio model vendor Gregory Jein, Inc. was tied up in the Paramount Pictures production of  (1990).

As a stopgap, Stipes – who had already provided the franchise with some occasional services before he was given tenure in late 1992 – lent Paramount Television his model for use in the Star Trek television franchise, where the model was flopped, with the ventral side becoming the dorsal side. (Star Trek: The Official Starships Collection, issue 142, p. 11) The opening shot in the episode showed the model from the aft (and its perspective thereby confusing the editors of Star Trek Fact Files – a predecessor of The Official Starships Collection – , whose interpretation of the Cleponji was woefully inaccurate ). The studio held on to the model long enough for it to be used once more, as a Skrreean ship for the second season  episode , with stock footage of that shoot appearing as Noggra's shuttle in , and as an alien ship in , both in that show's fourth season. 

Upon return to the Stipes family, the model was entrusted, after refurbishment by Stipes' son Nathan in 2005, into the care of genre aficionado Bob Burns for display on a semi-permanent basis in his private museum "Bob's Basement", and where the model still resides.  

The model has the distinction of being one of the very few studio models neither commissioned nor constructed by the Star Trek production team (the  was a privately built model, while Jaheel's ship may have been used in an earlier TV show). The  inaccurately describes this model as being "a re-dress of the Husnock ship seen in ." Previously, the  too, erroneously attributed the build to the builder of the Husnock ship, Tony Meininger, before that was corrected in later editions. Incidentally, Meininger was called upon in the same time period as well to take up the slack, left by the temporary unavailability of Jein.

Ferengi pod

 See main article: Ferengi shuttle

Romulan scout ship 

According to , when designing this vessel, Rick Sternbach made sure that the design echoed the shapes that had been established for the  and the  Romulan Bird-of-Prey. At he same time he imagined the bridge to be an ejectable module, usable as an escape pod in an emergency, though that never came to be.

Once approved, the design was eventually built by Gregory Jein. The model was modified twice. For its appearance as a Romulan science ship in , the forward module was replaced with a different structure at Gregory Jein, Inc., and a "hammerhead" extension was added on the aft. Simultaneously a varying paint scheme was applied. The one and last later appearance as the Nerada in  entailed a far less intrusive modification as the model was merely endowed with a new paint scheme at Brazil-Fabrication & Design, and that the flight direction was reversed.

The practice of altering physical studio models to make them re-usable as ships of other design and/or affiliation, was met with rueful skepticism by designer Sternbach, "Once the drawings and/or blueprints left my desk, I didn't have a whole lot of control over what happened to the models, as evidenced by the weirdness with the Enterprise-C and ships like the Romulan scout and Talerian (Tarelian?) cruiser.  (...) I don't mind the rework of some of my designs in CG (...), since there's no real loss, but it was sad to see them do chop jobs on the physical miniatures like the Romulan scout. Expediency vs. history." 

The model itself, by now 31×25 inches, was later listed as  in the 40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection auction, estimated at US$4,000-$6,000; it ultimately sold for US$5,500 ($6,600 with premium) on 7 October 2006. A set of ten concept sketches, listed as  of this design was sold in the The Ultimate Sci-Fi Auction estimated at US$400-$600, selling for US$400. A foam core camera test model for the Romulan scout was later sold as  in the It's A Wrap! sale and auction for US$138.61 on 28 March 2008, measuring 8½×10.¾×1 inches, while stating "Romulan Scout 1/3 scale".

Angosian escape pod

Ambassador class

 See main article: Ambassador-class model

Gomtuu

 See main article: Gomtuu

Jovis 
This model was designed and built by Gregory Jein. According to the , this model may have been heavily modified from the Husnock warship studio model. 

The model (measuring 25"×14") was listed in the 40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection auction. The estimated price for this model was US$3,000 to $5,000; it ultimately sold for US$4,800 ($5,760 with premium).

External link

Jovis escape pod 

This model was designed, in part, by Joseph Hodges  and Rick Sternbach, as well, on this ship type. ()

The original model was later redressed for several appearances throughout TNG.

The front portion of the ship was a reuse of the Zibalian escape pod partially seen in , which was also used as the Zalkonian escape pod in , and the Arcos escape pod in .

The penultimate appearance of the model, as the Iyarran shuttle,   had the registry BCD-31775.

Illustrations of Sternbach's modifications for the model's final appearance as a "Klingon shuttle", dated , appeared in the Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Continuing Mission (p. 200).

External link

TNG Season 4

Challenger class 

 See main article: Challenger-class

Cheyenne class 

 See main article: Cheyenne class

Freedom class 

 See main article: Galaxy-class derivative ship class studio models

Nebula class 

 See main article: Nebula class

New Orleans class 

 See main article: New Orleans class

Niagara class 

 See main article: Galaxy-class derivative ship class studio models

Springfield class 

 See main article: Springfield class

Federation defense pod 

According to the Star Trek Encyclopedia, this studio model was made from a , with two  as nacelles. The model of the Federation defense pod was designed and built by Rick Sternbach as confirmed by Michael Okuda, "Rick S. built the Mars perimeter ship from the same type of model kit. I think the body was made from a Typhoon-class Russian sub kit, although it was not specifically tied to the movie . If I recall, he and I bought a whole bunch of kits, including the Russian subs, in hopes of doing some kitbash ships ourselves. I used a couple of other subs on the Buran. " Sternbach later clarified that there was only one built, "There's no they. It was a single model which I built that was, yes, based on a Typhoon hull at one scale, and two Dallas hulls at a different scale. Motion control and compositing can do wonders in the absence of additional copies." 

The offhand remark of Sternbach, belied the amount of work that was involved in shooting the scene in . Composited in the pre-CGI age, choreographing the action of multiple ships required the motions of each element be worked out separately in . "If it's a battle sequence that involves three or four ships, the work goes up in geometric proportions. For ten seconds of screen time, you've shot four or five days. That's [rem: the scene] a big shot. It has Mars in it, it has the starfield, the three ships blowing up, and the Borg ship flying towards us and away.", Visual Effects Supervisor Robert Legato explained. (Cinefantastique, Vol 22, No.2, p.33)

Built shortly after the movie  was released, the model was dubbed the "Blue-gray October" by the TNG production staff. () In the documentary "Models and Miniatures: A Model of Perfection" a slightly longer take was featured of the model than was aired in the episode .

McKinley Station 

 See main article: McKinley type

Talarian observation craft 

This model was built by Gregory Jein, based on sketches drawn up by Rick Sternbach. 

Original design and modifications:
 It originally appeared as the Talarian observation craft in . Sternbach's design was "given a slight Coast Guard sailing ship feel."  The  explains, "the training ship, with its two great power panel "sails," harks back to the early wind-powered Coast Guard trainers." It also appearing in this form in one of the two variations of the Kriosian ship that appeared in .
 The model was then heavily modified, and given red nacelle glow, for its appearance as the Tamarian deep space cruiser in .
 After that, it was further altered to become the Klaestron starship in . In this usage, the entire model was turned upside down, and the nacelles were given a light blue glow. 
 The structure was modified again, and the nacelles were given an orange glow, when it appeared as the T'Lani cruiser in . The glow was then changed to purple for its appearance one of the two illusory Bothan starships that appeared in . 
 Finally, its structure was heavily modified, this time with nacelles glowing dark blue, as the Drayan starship in . 

A concept sketch for this design was sold as  in the Profiles in History auction for US$275.00. The model itself, measuring 27×29 inches, was listed as  in the 40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection auction. The estimated price for this model was US$3,000 to $5,000; it ultimately sold for US$5,500 ($6,600 with premium).

External link

Talarian warship 
This studio model was designed by Rick Sternbach and built by Gregory Jein. According to the , Sternbach revealed that "the look of Endar's warship, Q'Maire, is based on the big galactic patrol vessels of 's ." 

The forward part of the primary hull for the model of the Talarian warship was constructed from an . The remainder of the model remains true to the "Talarian design" found in the similar observation craft. 

This model was used in several appearances throughout Star Trek. It was eventually sold for US$6,000 at the 40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection auction.

External link

Vor'cha class 

 See main article: Vor'cha-class model

Galor class

 See main article: Galor-class model

Cytherian probe 

This studio model was sold in the It's A Wrap! sale and auction for US$2,200.

TNG Season 5

Type 6 shuttlecraft 

 See main article: Type 6 shuttlecraft

Saucer 

 See main article: Saucer

Space stations  

 Presumably concept models for the Spacedock type.

Apollo class

According to the , this studio model was originally designed by Rick Sternbach, "with a Reliant-like feel featuring long, pointed engine pods and a bridge-over-pod hull look. Urged to go for a more alien non-Starfleet look, Sternbach said he based the design on a central core surrounded by a wraparound circular generator."  Sternbach did start from the only Vulcan ship ever seen up to that point in , as his annotations on a preliminary design sketch showed, "-Basic masses only; -Vulcan style engine pods ala shuttle/sled in ST:TMP; -Vulcan/Starfleet Main Hull style" 

Abandoning the preliminary design lines which echoed the design of the long range shuttle, Sternbach arrived at a final version in September 1991 and his notes on the final design read, "Vulcan Ship V Variant of Annular; No windows or other details; basic body shape." Later he recalled,"The commandeered Vulcan ships in "Unification" followed a pretty familiar approvals flow of initial idea, producer changes, and final concept to go to the model maker, in this case Greg Jein. Since we hadn't seen much in the way of Vulcan ship technology, beyond the motion picture shuttle, it was a bit daunting to home in on a true Vulcan style, and I can't say I'm terribly happy with the final result. Hindsight always invokes a desire for more design time, which might have helped. Perhaps different proportions on the annular warp ring, more curves, and more positive-negative surface detailing." ()

Eventually Jein constructed a physical studio model, measuring 20" × 13" for . The model was to be used twice more. The first re-use was as Tosk's ship. The model was extensively re-modified for the episode. Modifications included a new paint job, addition of small curved winglets in the mid and front section, an additional superstructure at the aft end and white window-like detail visible on the top of the model to convey the notion that it was a smaller vessel. Modifications were done at Jein's shop where co-worker Bruce MacRae was responsible for much of the refurbishment.  The second re-use was aptly as a Vulcan freighter. Modifications this time were done at Brazil-Fabrication & Design and were limited to removal of the winglets and application of additional "greeblies" over the window details. As such, the model known as  was offered in the 40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection auction at an estimated sale price of US$4,000 to $6,000, where it ultimately sold for $12,000 ($14,400 with premium).

A set of Sternbach's design sketches, including some done in CGI, was sold as Lot #331 in the Profiles in History Hollywood Auction 14,  and another two sets were later offered as  and  in the The Ultimate Sci-Fi Auction of 26 April 2003, estimated at $600-$800 and $400-$600, where they sold for $850 and $350 respectively. A foam core test model,  (measuring 7"×3"×10"), created for , was later sold in the It's A Wrap! sale and auction for $119.61, resold in the Propworx' STAR TREK auction as Lot 202 on 2 June 2011 for $100 ($128 inclusive buyer's premium and with an estimate of $100-$200). 

Sternbach's misgivings notwithstanding, the Apollo class was a co-influence in the design of Doug Drexler's , establishing the circular warp engines as an signature design feature for Vulcan starships.

Lysian sentry pod

One of the least known studio models to appear in the Star Trek franchise, it is only known that the model was built at Gregory Jein, Inc. (Star Trek: Official Guide 4 - Mechanics, p. 145)

In 2022, the model showed up unexpectedly at a Prop Store auction as Lot #343, with an auction estimate of US$4,000–6000.  It was not sold at its slated auction on 21 June 2022, being "passed" instead,  but was apparently sold beforehand to an as of yet unidentified buyer in an off-the-books transaction, as the official auction house site does list the model as being sold.

Academy trainer craft

 See main article: Academy trainer craft

TNG Season 6

Dyson sphere 

 See main article: Dyson sphere maquettes

Tyrus VIIA station

Exocomp 

 See main article: Exocomp

Yridian starship 

 See main article: Yridian starship

Borg type 03

This model was designed by Dan Curry and built by Greg Jein. ()

A display graphic, featuring an overview of the same design was later used to represent a Borg multikinetic neutronic mine, which appeared in .

The original shooting model was later placed in the 40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection auction, where it was identified as a "Borg Type-2 Ship Model" and described as "An irregularly-shaped asymmetric ship visual effects model featuring numerous open areas, outer hull made of overlapping matrices of miniature conduit detail, and intricate interior details – 36×26 in." 

Lot #705: Estimate: $4,000 - $6,000; Highest bid: $9,500; Price: $11,400

TNG Season 7

Terellian cargo freighter 

 See main article: Terellian cargo freighter

D'Arsay archive

 See main article: D'Arsay archive

Maquis fighter

 See main article: Maquis fighter model

Olympic class

 See main article: Olympic class

Negh'Var warship

 See main article: Negh'Var warship

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