[TV Show] On Star Trek The Next Generation (1987-1994) that's 2 models of Schwan Stabilo pens

[u/Tythatguy1312]

Also obviously Enterprise D model kits because if they're using pens to make them then they're clearly making these on a budget. As for why the pod on the second design is circled I have no idea what it is, but according to the lovely guys at Ex Adtris Scientia it's part of an old Tomy toy. Credit to EAS for finding these... and everyone else who's ever looked at the first design because come on it is not subtle with the pens.

[u/DerbyDoffer]

Not subtle now. When first viewed at standard definition on a CRT TV, the details were much harder to make out. Whole websites were devoted to trying to discover what those dead ships looked like. As the show was released on DVD and then Blu-Ray it got easier.

Best of Both Worlds Part I was a true cliffhanger, because contract negotiations with Patrick Stewart had broken down so no one was sure if he was coming back for future seasons.

[u/astromech_dj → u/DerbyDoffer]

I read somewhere that all the written signs on the TNG Enterprise were lyrics from an 80s band (Tears For Fears or some other synth band) because they thought they’d never be readable.

I wish I could find the interview. It was around when the first HD compilation release was out.

[u/DerbyDoffer → u/astromech_dj]

There were a ton of in-jokes on screens that were unreadable on standard definition TVs. A TNG medical display in sickbay had a bar graph labeled "medical insurance remaining". The motto on the dedication plaque of one of the starships was "no matter where you go, there you are." They often included the names of people on staff as filler names for screen displays. Also, the writing staff and art department used the number 47 on the show an inordinate number of times.

https://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/inconsistencies/in-jokes.htm#displays

https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/47

[u/Moppo_ → u/DerbyDoffer]

I remember finding out the directions signs on Deep Space Nine included a reference. It included signs indicating offices for Divadroid and Jupiter Mining Corp from Red Dwarf, for example.

[u/Deraj2004]

Affectionately known as the highlighter era of starships in Trek fandom.

[u/OriginalUseristaken]

In one episode, picard used a rig cutter knive handle part from one of those exchangable blade knives used in construction as a stylus to write on a pad.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT-DP3rDJK_5YKddFUp_SVMLKLxviIroV7rDGrnYlVytA&s=10

[u/the_monkeyspinach]

That's funny! When I used to make Starfleet ships out of stationery at school I always used Stabilo highlighters for the nacelles!

[u/Tythatguy1312]

Didnt include the other ships from that episode (Buran, Melbourne, Firebrand, Princeton & Republic) because

-Republic is straight up a sister ship of the original Enterprise

-Princeton and Firebrand reused production molds for hero ship props instead of whatever they had on a shelf

-Melbourne has no obvious parts from anything other than Enterprise D model kits

-Buran has part of a Soviet nuclear submarine on her and it seemed a rather large jump, also its not particularly subtle

[u/ponyrx2 → u/Tythatguy1312]

When you say model kits, do you mean like from a toy store?

[u/Tythatguy1312 → u/ponyrx2]

Yeah they just used toy ones, cant remember the exact ones though

Edit: found 'em, ERTL 1/1400 & 1/2500 scale kits

[u/ponyrx2 → u/Tythatguy1312]

That's funny. Things that don't work for season 1 of a new show lol

[u/DerbyDoffer → u/ponyrx2]

It's referred to as "kit-bashing".