3D cutaway drawing of the interior of Captain Proton's rocketship:
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3D cutaway drawing of the interior of Captain Proton's rocketship Picture size 105Kb
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ENTRANCE - Of the two entrances, this one has a short corridor which leads into the central work area from the outer hatch door. (It is also the entrance into the holoprogram.)
WORKSTATION - Buster Kincaid normally works from the port control station. From that station he navigates the ship and monitors the engines. (I believe TOSTFF is mistaken in that it should read "starboard" if, as other TOSTFF text denotes, the imagizer is at the front of the ship.)
IMAGIZER - The imagizer provides visual contact with individuals. There is a large empty area in front of it which makes for an unobstructed view.
CONTROLS - Captain Proton usually works from the starboard-side workstation from where he can control the imagizer. (I believe TOSTFF is mistaken in that it should read "port" if, as other TOSTFF text denotes, the imagizer is at the front of the ship.)
MEETING AREA - the large area in the centre is often used as an impromptu meeting area for those acting as crew to our hero.
The rear section is occupied by a large cylindrical device of unknown purpose, but it certainly looks impressive.
Text below is adapted from TOSTFF.
The holographic representation designed by Tom Paris of early 20th-century science-fiction tv and film serials is meticulous in its detail, and faithfully reproduces technological and sociological levels of sophistication found in those low-budget action-adventure stories. Authentic characterisation and story lines are helped by Paris' research into the era. A vital setting for the continuing adventures of Captain Proton is the interior of his spaceship. The interfaces and control systems are of course a far cry from the LCARS of the 24th century, and in fact the interfaces depicted in this era's science-fiction stories inspired the Delta Flyer's helm controls, which were also designed by Tom Paris.
Rocketship interior looking towards the imagizer. [Night]
Rocketship interior, looking towards the imagizer. [Thirty Days]
The relatively spacious interior of Captain Proton's rocketship is constructed from heavy metallic plates held together by riveted beams, and a number of angled and vertical support buttresses. The inner hull is partially obscured by large illuminated vertical louvers and columns. Wall-mounted oval-shaped lights and bulkheads keep with the construction and styling employed within the 1930's serials, and are as impractical as they are ornate.
There are two main entrances to the interior of the vessel located to the rear of the port and starboard hull directly over the main wings, with the port exit operated from Proton's control workstation. The entrance hatches have no locking mechanisms apart from a manually controlled wheel, and the starboard hatch has a short corridor leading into the ship from the outer hull.
In the forward part of the ship within the nose section is the imagizer, an electronic audiovisual communications device of considerable range and power. A large white illuminated circular panel bisected by vertical and horizontal lines surrounds the smaller circular viewing screen in its center, and allows real-time communication and the playback of recorded material.
No self-respecting space hero of the time is without an identifying badge or logo, and the lightning strike motif proudly displayed on the outer hull of his ship is repeated within the center of the imagizer when it is not in use. The imagizer is a large piece of equipment covering a significant part of the main floor inside the control center, and is mounted into a black bulkhead around which are arranged smaller rectangular lights on the upper left and right surfaces. Larger illuminated panels provide further lighting while viewing the imagizer from the narrow raised platform directly in front of it, and the rest of the flight deck is reached by four metallic stairs descending to the floor plates of the ship's interior.
Most of the control interfaces used to operate the rocketship are built into two large workstations positioned to the left and right of the imagizer on the vessel's lower level, allowing both the captain and Buster Kincaid to see the communications device while they are operating the controls. The control stations are constructed from heavy-duty metallic plates, and are supported by curved beams that are riveted together for reinforced strength. Touch-sensitive control surfaces are decades in the future, and a series of manually operated analog controls ranging from small wheels, large levers, and toggle buttons effect changes to the ship's primary systems.
Captain Proton usually occupies the port-side control station while Buster Kincaid operates the systems on the starboard side. The starboard control station has a number of functions including a large analog altimeter and communication systems that can detect incoming transmissions from Dr. Chaotica, although the imagizer is controlled from Proton's station. Manipulation of push-button controls on the narrow curved bank located above the main control desk on Buster's side allows him to determine when Chaotica is charging his death ray. The stations are equipped with grab rails to brace for an impact, but there is very little protection for the crew during an assault on the vessel. The twin engines are controlled from the starboard workstation, with the status of the steering jets relayed to Captain Proton's position on the opposite side.
Buster Kincaid at the starboard controls. [Bride of Chaotica!]
Layout of the bridge of Captain Proton's rocketship. Source TOSTFF
The forward-mounted imagizer is not the only visual device available to Captain Proton within his ship. Located to the rear center of the interior is a basic periscope whose eyepiece is fixed to the main unit via a small horizontal tube. The periscope gives a forward view of the vessel's position, and in the case of a crash-landing it is only a few steps away from the landing gear controls on the port control desk. Access to the holosuite's operational systems are gained through a small panel to the right of the periscope, with a removable cover completing the illusion of the vessel once it is replaced. The space drive unit is mounted to the left of the periscope, and the destruct-o beam controls are built into freestanding units close to the optical instrument.
Positioned to the rear of the ship is a second, larger raised area incorporating a number of different systems, including the long-range sensors. A ticker-tape printing machine, which is Captain Proton's communications device linking him to Earth, is encased within a transparent blister, and it stands in close proximity to a much larger device which is positioned in the centre of the platform made up of a series of illuminated vertical columns attached to a cylindrical unit running up to a series of sectional panels in the ceiling. The panels flash in a pre-set pattern. Their exact function is unknown.
