Date: Wed, 3 Apr 1996 14:58:28 -0800
From: Amardeep_Chana@xn.xerox4tag.com (Chana,Amardeep)
Subject: Model / Set inconsistencies

From watching "Black Sun" recently, I noticed some really bad spatial 
 inconsistencies in the eagle cockpit.  When they show an external view 
 looking at the ship from the nose, you see the pilots in the front 
 viewports.  It looks like there is maybe 6" or so from the top of 
 their helmets to the ceiling.  When they show an interior view looking 
 back at the two pilots, you see that the hatchway behind them, and 
 hence the ceiling, extends almost six *feet* above their heads.

Also, the passenger cabin seems to change as often as Madonna's hair.  
 Sometimes the seats are on the right with a big screen up front 
 (Breakaway), sometimes the seats are on the left (Mission of the 
 Darians), sometimes the seats are on both sides (Black Sun).  Other 
 times, there is a convenient barber's chair there (Guardian of Piri).  
 Sometimes the walls are bare.  Sometimes you have panels of computers 
 with CRT displays and tape printouts.

Have you ever noticed how bad the field of view would be out the 
 cockpit?  You could never see what you're landing on.  If you sat on 
 the left, you could never see what you are going to slam into if you 
 make a right turn.

That neat plane that Wonder Woman used to fly was the right way to go.  
 Although I think it was really designed to show off Lynda Carter's 
 curvy features. :)

Amardeep



Date: Wed, 3 Apr 1996 15:28:53 -0800
From: Sfcafeguy@aol4tag.com

Hi Amardeep:

I've noticed this as well and recently commented to Roberto Baldassari that
it just kills me whenever the actors crane their necks to look out the
windows of the command module.  The nose in front of the actual cabin is at
least two-thirds as long as the part they're sitting in and all they would be
looking at is a black "shelf" of metal which would obscure everything below.
 I also told Roberto that it would have made more sense to have windows under
the console as well, like in a helicopter, so they could see the terrain
below them.  When I mentioned to Roberto that I always imagine them to be
looking at video display screens (placed under the windows) to get their
visuals, he told me that he added these to his blueprints for just this
purpose.

Those shots with live actors viewed through the Eagle windows never really
bother me because they look so great, but another thing is that the "shelf"
isn't really flat, it's angled, and consequently so is the bottom of the
window they would be looking out of.  These would actually be just tiny, near
triangular portholes rather than the large windows we see on screen.

As for the passenger cabin changing, I think this adds to the realism since
they supposedly had lots of different types of passenger modules and they
were interchangeable.

Another thing to look for is the Eagle numbers on the interior doors.  I've
reviewed the first 12 episodes so far for bloopers and, I think, in every one
of them they will mention which Eagle they're in but the numbers in the doors
don't correspond (it's almost always Eagle 6 on the sets in the first
episodes), and then even within one single Eagle all the door numbers can be
different.  One time Alan was even in the SAME Eagle and the numbers changed
mid-flight!  Justification:  (And stretching it.)  Maybe those first Eagles
were all made out of spare parts from all the wrecked Eagles after
"Breakaway."

Robert



Date: Thu, 4 Apr 1996 01:56:25 -0800
From: phinds@vision4tag.net.au (Phillip Hinds)

You could also say that Eagle 'One' referred to the eagle that was first of the 
eagles rostered for standby duties.
ie. the 'One' refers to the position in the rotation of the eagles due to
manitainence schedules.
As it is usually this one that is used, it would certainly soon reach the
end of the design life if it was the only one used all the time. Plus I also
think the commander would not keep himself familiar with which particular
eagle was up at the moment, and we didn't
usually see him consulting with Technical Section to see which eagle was 
on standy-by at the time. The other numbers above this could refer to the
special purpose eagles. or eagle fitted out for particular mission profiles.
for example. eagle 4 is fitted out as a survey eagle ect.

Phill

(Otherwise known as Pete Garforth)



Date: Thu, 4 Apr 1996 04:04:28 -0800
From: Amardeep_Chana@xn.xerox4tag.com (Chana,Amardeep)

>As for the passenger cabin changing, I think this adds to the realism since
>they supposedly had lots of different types of passenger modules and they
>were interchangeable.

Yes, there must have been more than one type.  I was just being a 
 little tongue-in-cheek over than one.  In the same way that all 727's 
 don't have identical interiors, I'm sure eagles would be somewhat 
 specialized as well.

>Another thing to look for is the Eagle numbers on the interior doors.
[....]

Yeah, I noticed that also.  Have you ever wondered how they tell which 
 eagle it is from the outside?  I've never noticed any insignias or 
 other markings.  Of course, that might just be due to the limited 
 number of models they used.



Date: Thu, 4 Apr 1996 09:57:31 -0800
From: Sfcafeguy@aol4tag.com

I noticed this in "Missing Link" when Koenig was on the lunar surface and
trying to get the attention of the Eagle flying overhead.  He calls it by
name but how does he know which one it is?  Diehard Fan Justification:  Each
Eagle emits a unique identification signal that he picked up by way of his
commlock.

Robert