Science Fiction

 

Travel Pod from "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (1979)

 

Star Trek Travel Pod - 1

Larson Designs Logo

SCALE: 1/32(?)

INITIAL RELEASE: 2005

MEDIUM: Resin

Rarity : (2)

 

Star Trek Travel Pod - 2

 

Star Trek Travel Pod - 3

Star Trek Travel Pod - 4

 

Star Trek Travel Pod - 5

 

ABOUT THE DESIGN

ABOUT THE KIT

Basically a space-going "dinghy," the Travel Pod was a small thruster-driven taxi designed to shuttle personnel between Star Fleet's orbital office complex and nearby starship drydocks.  The large ring on the pod's stern was designed to mate perfectly with starship airlock rings, thus permitting the smooth egress of passengers.

The Travel Pod was featured prominently in the first act of 1979's "Star Trek: The Motion Picture."  It was the craft that Capt. Scott used to give Admiral Kirk a 3-D tour of the refit "U.S.S. Enterprise."  The sequence was later re-used in the 1981 sequel, "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan."

This three-piece resin model was a 2005 release from Larson Designs, aka "Minimodel Madness."  It consisted of just three pieces: the upper half, the lower half and the rear docking ring.  Although well-detailed, the model was made from an odd, ribbed material (nylon?) that made painting difficult and sanding nearly impossible.  Although no scale is given, the model appears to be in 1/32 scale.  Decals are both custom-made and cribbed from the AMT/Ertl Enterprise-D kit.

This model was built from an original issue.  No box art is available.

 

Travel Pod Schematic

Schematic

 

Star Trek Travel Pod - 6

Travel Pod Approaches Enterprise

 

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