Steampunk, you ask? Ever seen the Enterprise sporting propellers?
Taking a cue from Scaled Composites static display roll outs of its spaceships, Tyco rolled out full sized prototypes of the new remote controlled Star Trek spaceships today at New York’s Toy Fair.
Just as when I first saw SpaceShip One, my first thought when I caught a glimpse of the RC Enterprise was “I have to fly it!” Unfortunately, the models unveiled today, powered by two small propellers tucked into the saucer section of the Enterprise, weren’t ready for flight.
In the Gary Seven Assignment Earth Episode, the ship almost burned up when it flew through the Earth’s atmosphere. Tyco claims promises to have that problem licked by the time these ships launch in April, 2009.
The U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 and the Klingon Bird-of-Prey will be able to hit speeds of 20 mph and go over fifty feet in the air under rechargeable electric power. A less expensive model will be available without remote control features.
At the same show Mattel presented a preview of a new line die-cast models based on the original series and the new movie. Since I was at a preview, Mattel teased by pulling the curtain back on only the new space hanger for the Enterprise, pictured below.
