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Observations in TNG: "Disaster"

A joint project with TrekCore, by Jörg Hillebrand and Bernd Schneider

Here are some observations about sets, props and visual effects in TNG: "Disaster" without a specific theme, and a comparison of the original TV release (TNG) with the remastered episode (TNG-R).

"Disaster" HD Screencaps @ TrekCore

Description TNG		Other caps	Comparison TNG to TNG-R	Description TNG-R
The cargo bay set originally did not feature the three rows of isolinear chips slots seen behind Geordi and Crusher. They were originally created for the bridge of the USS Sutherland as seen in "Redemption II". When they were re-used here, they were turned upside down.		"Redemption II"		A better look at the set in HD.
Crusher is seen holding a large PADD in this scene. These PADDs first appeared in the second season episode "Contagion" and were slowly replaced by other large PADDs in seasons 4 and 5. The same PADD was used by Picard in "The Vengeance Factor" and "The Best of Both Worlds I".		"The Vengeance Factor"		In HD, the number 40272 can be read on the back of Crusher's PADD, evidence that this PADD was created in the second season.
		"The Best of Both Worlds I"

We get our first look at a TNG-era turboshaft and the exterior of a turbolift in this scene. The shaft will be seen much better a little later in the episode.				No changes
The USS Enterprise-D has lost almost all of its power. The footage of the ship first appeared in "Night Terrors". For this episode, the various lighting passes were simply not added in.		"Night Terrors"		The unpowered ship in HD.
		"Night Terrors"
The interface to the left of the cargo bay doors was added for this episode. It is based on a small carrying case that was simply opened fully and attached to the wall. The same type of carrying case is used by La Forge as a tool case in several TNG episodes. The LCARS panel next to the door is similar to the panels behind the pilot's and co-pilot's seats in the Type-7 shuttlecraft in seasons 3 and 4.	"Night Terrors"	"Déjà Q"		The interface in HD.
This is the first time plasma fire is seen on Star Trek.				The plasma fire was redone for TNG-R.
Another shot of the USS Enterprise-D in space without power. This shot was originally created for "In Theory" where the ship was seen inside the Mar Oscura Nebula.		"In Theory"		The unpowered ship in HD.
This is the first time the large light indicator in the turbolift has been removed and the circuits behind it can be seen.		Earlier in this episode		The turbolift cab in HD.
Picard is stretching towards the turbolift ceiling. The round top of the cabin usually housed a light source in earlier episodes. Here, the hatch can be removed to get access to the turboshaft.		"Night Terrors"		No changes
Two holes can clearly be seen in Marissa Flores's collar even before Picard gives her the two rank pins.				The holes are even better visible in HD.
After "Galaxy's Child" and "The Nth Degree", this is the third time the narrow Jefferies tube sets are seen on TNG. The hatch at the end of the small horizontal tube is seen for the first time here, though. Apart from the subdued lighting, this part of the set was not modified in any way.		"The Nth Degree"		No changes

The large yellow cargo containers with red markings debut in this episode. Containers of this type were used on TNG until the end of the series and also appeared in "Star Trek Generations". Repainted containers of this type were also seen on Star Trek Voyager.	"Generations"	VOY: "Learning Curve"		The cargo containers in HD.
	"Generations"
A bridge monitor displays a graphic of the subspace distortion caused by the quantum filaments.				A look at the reconstructed graphic in HD.
The alcoves under the aft bridge stations were last seen in the second season episode "Contagion". The scanner Ro is using in this shot first appeared as a botanical tool in "Data's Day" and later appears as another engineering tool in "Realm of Fear". Behind Ro, a tool case, similar to the one used to make the cargo bay wall terminal seen earlier in the episode, can be seen.	"Pen Pals"	"Realm of Fear"		No changes
	"Data's Day"
A nice animated graphic of the warp propulsion systems is seen in this screenshot.				A look at the graphic in HD.
The same Jefferies tube access terminal was used by Geordi in "The Nth Degree". Here, it is seen from the other side, though, showing the isolinear circuits.		"The Nth Degree"		A better look at the terminal in HD.
The Jefferies tube junction makes its first appearance in this episode. It was expanded in later episodes and attached to the engineering sets. In the two screenshots, energy is crackling through the cramped set.				The effect needed to be redone for the remastered episode.

The ceiling hatch of the turbolift has been opened in the first screenshot and the circuits behind the normally lit movement/position indicator can be seen a little better in the second screenshot.				A look at the panel in HD.

A tape mark is seen on the turbolift floor in this shot.				The tape mark is just as visible in TNG-R.
One of the USS Enterprise-D's turboshafts is fully seen in this sequence of screenshots. The last time such a shaft was seen was in "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier". In "Disaster", a miniature was used to film these shots. The same footage was re-used several years later in the Voyager episode "Year of Hell I".		VOY: "Year of Hell I"		The turbolift shaft in HD.



This scene was also filmed using miniatures, miniature cargo containers in this case. Though the yellow cases closely match the large one seen in the episode, some of the red markings are missing.				The scene in HD.


Another animated graphic is seen in this close-up of the aft console. In the wider shot, where the console is not animated and partly blocked by O'Brien, the graphic appears slightly different.				A look at the graphic in HD.

Riker restores power to parts of main engineering in this shot. The animated circuits were added in post production while the tool Riker uses was previously seen in "Brothers" were Soong used it to wake up Lore.		"Brothers"		The graphic was recreated for TNG-R.
The two wall plugs, used to hide the corridors on both side of main engineering, are seen opened in this episode. One wall is partly opened, allowing Riker access to the circuits while the other holds Data's severed head. Screenshots from earlier episodes illustrate what the wall plugs look like when they are not partially opened.		"Remember Me"		A better look in HD.
		"Identity Crisis"
The outer main engineering sealing doors are only seen in a few TNG episodes, namely "The Best of Both Worlds I", "Violations", "Starship Mine" and in the film "Star Trek Generations".	"The Best of Both Worlds I"	"Starship Mine"		The door in HD.
	"Violations"	"Generations"
The "wall closet" in main engineering was first seen in "The Naked Now". It last appeared in "Yesterday's Enterprise". As can be seen, the white stripes and the tubing were modified slightly since that last appearance.		"Yesterday's Enterprise"		No changes


Main engineering appears eerily dark with the unlit warp core. The warp core was seen turned off twice in the previous season, in "Galaxy's Child" and "The Drumhead".	"Galaxy' Child"	"The Drumhead"		A better look at the set (and Data's head) in HD.
Another look at the animated warp propulsion systems graphic displayed on an aft bridge monitor.				The graphic in HD.
Baby Molly O'Brien's umbilical cord and the medical tricorder introduced in the second half of the third season are nicely seen in this screenshot.				In HD, it can be seen how the fake umbilical cord is attached to the baby's tummy.
The laser scalpel Worf uses to sever Molly O'Brien's umbilical cord is the same tool used by Dr. Crusher to operate on Riker and Odan in "The Host".		"The Host"		A better look at the tool in HD.
		"The Host"
The plaque given as a gift to Picard at the end of the episode is interesting: It seems two different props were used for the wide shot with actor Patrick Stewart and the close-up no doubt featuring the hands of a photo double. The prop in the close-up just (first two caps) features a simple smooth back with several large holes, while the back side of the prop in the shots with Patrick Stewart (second two caps) has a much more elaborate, colorful back side (explaining Patterson Supra's proud remark "I made the back piece").				The discrepancy is even more obvious in HD.

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