Walter "Matt" Jeffries

[on:]

I wasn't sure were to put this at, but it sort of felt TV-related.  Walter "Matt" Jefferies, the artist who designed the U.S.S. Enterprise, Klingon battlecruiser, and other props for the Original Star Trek TV series has died.  I always thought that the Enterprise was as real a character from the show as the big seven, and almost cried when it fell in flames at the end of ST III.

 Mr. Jefferies was able to design a fictional ship that has become more recognizable than most real life ships today.  I wish that I'd had the chance to have been able to thank him personally, but didn't. 

I recognize that maybe only the older people on this board may know who he was, but if you ever want to become aqquainted with his work, all you have to do is sit back, and watch a classic ep. of Star Trek. 

The word is given Mr. Jefferies

Warp Speed.

[Reply #1 on:]

Didn't Walter Koenig harbour a grudge against the original Enterprise because it got more screen time than he did?

I heard the sad news about Matt Jeffries yesterday.  You're right on the mark when you say the Enterprise is more recognisable than most real ships.  And his Enterprise is the only one that didn't get destroyed or have huge chunks blasted out of it. (the Enterprise from ST III was Andrew Probert's refit model).

R.I.P. Mr. Jeffries 

[Reply #2 on:]

Awww, a great man has begun the his voyage to the undiscovered country... 

But his name will live on ... within every Federation Starship.

[Reply #3 on:]

I may not be a Star Trek fan (quite the opposite really), but I have to admit that the ship design is pretty cool. Although i've never heard if you until now Matt Jeffries, nice work. RIP.