According to James Dow, the Enterprise model that was constructed for the Phase II T.V. show by Don Loos was the only model that was retained from those made for Phase II. The original Orbital Dockyard, Klingon Cruiser, and Orbital Space Office Complex all were abandoned when the show became a movie. It was at this point that Bob Abel came onto the picture. It was Able who looked at the Phase II models and decided to scrap everything except for the Enterprise.

So the T.V. Enterprise model was taken into Bob Abel’s shop and tests were done for a complete re-build of the Enterprise that was up-sized to 1 inch equals 10 feet in scale and made for the motion control requirements at Magicam. Bob Abel’s team worked on that new model for about a year before there was a complete change in the effects department and Abel was let go. All of the effects shots done in that year with that Enterprise had been thrown out.

Backtracking a bit, when Abel came onto the project he hired Richard Taylor to do all the redesigns of models not originating with the original series.

Phil Rawlins:
“I would say 90% of the changes from the old original Enterprise model to the one we used in the movie were Richard Taylor’s. Later during post-production, I believe a couple of other changes were done to it, but most of the design was Taylor’s”

At this point Andrew Probert comes aboard and helps Taylor realize and construct the new film version of the Enterprise for the original first year of effects tests and shooting.

The original Taylor concept for the Enterprise paint job was to keep the surface completely smooth and pristine.

to be continued…