Not quite sure what I was expecting, having never been along to anything like this before (Fanboy powers -4) but I think I was excited enough just to get close to all the authentic props and special effect models that had been promised -
- we payed a little extra in the entrance hall and loaded up with the audio commentary headsets (you type in the number next to the exhibit and it gives you a little bit of information about what you are looking at, which is quite cool) -
- gazed adoringly at the (suprisingly large) ships (if they were for use on the big screen then they were actually enormous and beautifully detailed) -
- (the Borg cube was 1.5 meters per side and looked like it was made from all the bits left over when you finish a model kit) -
- (this shuttle, from "The Motion Picture" was about 2 feet long) -
On to smaller props, all sorts of phasers -
- phaser rifles -
- a random "Orb of the prophets" (looking not quite so glittery as usual) -
- props from Picards desk in "Nemesis" -
- Padds through the ages ;) -
- Picard's flute from ""The Inner Light" -
- assorted Klingon weaponry (including this Bat'leth) -
- misc. tricorders and communicators -
- on through complete sets (which you could wander around) -
- like this reconstruction of the torpedo room -
- with Spock's funeral torpedo from "Wrath of Khan" -
- a recreation of Quarks bar, complete with Dabo table -
- and authentic Cardassian replicator, through *loads* of costumes, it's scary to see how *short* most of the actors actually are (7 of 9 for example) -
- a rather tattered Khan -
- a few Borg drones (regenerating quietly) -
- Spock's "Kolinar" robe -
- Commander Worfs rags and sash -
- ancient and modern engineering wear -
- and then some real suprises! There were actually rides to enjoy! These two Shuttle pod rides were highly agressive flight simulators, taking you from a calm trip around the solar system suddenly through a worm-hole to the middle of a Borg attack! Very cool, you came out legs like jelly and quite breathless -
- next the opportunity to be "transported", go and stand in a TNG style transporter room and be "beamed up" by special effects (you got a DVD afterwards) but it was a bit expensive to actually participate) -
- then into a very faithful reproduction of "Ten forward" (the event canteen, very clever) -
with a choice of various (fully alcoholic) themed drinks like Romulan ale or Klingon Export (I had one of each, they both tasted a bit like London Pride) -
- and just when you thought it couldn't get any better, we suddenly came upon a holding area where it became quite apparent that we had not yet even reached "The Adventure" itself(!), we queued with great anticipation until it was our turn, the doors slid open with a convincing hiss and we walked into Engineering (on the NCC-1701D)! It was perfect in every way -
- where we witnessed a warp core breach in progress (at this stage the whole floor vibrated like the deck plates were buckling, smoke poured out of the core, alarms sounded) everything was absolutely right, then suddenly, the doors to our left slid open and crew members were yelling "Quick this way, to the bridge!", so everyone hurried down the corridoor, past medical and into a turbo lift -
- "Quick this way!" -
- into a turbo lift up to the bridge (which is very convincing, apart from the total lack of crew, of course) -
- after fighting off (another) Borg attack, the whole affiar is finished off with a shop (selling all the episodes, toys and other merchandise you could imagine) right down to a super massive tribble (about 5 feet high) if you had a living room large enough to accomodate it!
Excellent show, excellent day... ;)
More pictures here (if you like this sort of thing)... ;)
1 comment:
Excellent post!
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