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Datin (l) takes delivery of the 11ft. studio model
Richard C. Datin, Jr. (10 October 1929 – 24 January 2011; age 81) was a professional model maker who built scale models for various Hollywood studios and TV commercials beginning in 1955. He was called in by the Howard Anderson Company to construct the three-foot USS Enterprise model designed by Matt Jefferies in 1964. He also worked on:
- Eleven-foot model of the Enterprise (subcontracted to Production Models Shop owned by Volmer Jensen due to space and time restraints) in 1964/1965
- Subsequent modifications on both models in 1965 and 1966
- Enterprise's shuttlebay in 1966
- Deep Space Station K-7 in 1967.
Almost forgotten as being the first model maker for Star Trek, Datin had an uphill struggle to regain recognition as such. However, with the assistance of Trek aficionado William S. McCullars, and a 1996 article by Dan Fiebiger in Cinefantastique Magazine (Vol. 27, No. 11/12, double issue), his work has become known. Interviews with him by McCullars have been published in Star Trek: Communicator numbers 132 and 133 (2001) in which he, due to his meticulous record-keeping, provided some insightful information into the art of model-making of the 1960s. He has also been acknowledged by Howard Anderson, Jr. in the TV series Movie Magic, Season 1, Episode 11: "Models and Miniatures: A Model of Perfection", in which Datin himself made a brief appearance. Pursuant the 2001 interview, McCullars sent a print of the photograph of Datin taking delivery of the 11-foot model, to the Smithonian's National Air and Space Museum, where it was added to the permanent display of the original studio model, finally giving Datin acknowledgment for his contribution, something he himself had vainly tried to get for years.
In 1979, Datin changed careers and became the founding curator of the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City. During this time and after his retirement in 1989 he has also written several history books about his hometown of Reno, Nevada.
Richard Datin passed away Jan 24, 2011 in Reno, Nevada.
External links
- The Enterprise in Simpler Times
- Template:IMDb-link
- Obituary and Career History of Richard Datin