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May 19
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USS Enterprise Studio Model at the Smithsonian

After donating the Studio Scale Motion Picture Enterprise REFIT Replica to The Museum of Science Fiction this past May 24-26 at Escape Velocity, and while we were in the Washington DC area, my wife Melanie and I paid homage to the original Starship Enterprise Studio Model in the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum. It’s refurbishment was recently completed, and it stood proud and beautiful within it’s large glass case. Every few hours the Enterprise would turn on to reveal what we all imagined it would look like, with the windows and bussard collectors lit up and rotating, and the navigation lighting doing it’s thing. There were subtle hints of lighting on it’s top hull from LED spot lighting located in the top of the case that really enhanced the beauty of this original design by Matt Jefferies. There was a moment of “surreal” that encompassed me as I looked at this model that has inspired many generations all over the world. I felt as if I were visiting an old friend. The restoration crew did marvelous work… thank you all who were involved.
These photos and video we share today have a bit of glare and reflection due to the case’s glass placement… something we will look at making different with the Refit final display when it is shown on permanent display, just as this one is. The Star Trek theme does play when the model lights up, but it is barely audible. In my opinion the music should play as loud and proud as the model it is representing. Never the less… how beautiful is this model? Graceful and powerful in appearance, we enjoyed the experience. I hope our photos and video (in full resolution) will help those who are not able to visit feel as we did.
Kurt Kuhn
Kuhn Global Incorporated
Modelers Miniatures & Magic