Location of Operation: USS Corsair Shuttle Bay, Hammond, LA

Operation Objectives: Repair & repaint shuttlepod Beignet, returning her to a space-worthy state in preparation for a regional event in March, 2012

Summary of Operation Events: Structural repairs were made to the Beignet, including adding braces and re-nailing some panels. Discussions of the day included:
• Ways to improve structural integrity
• The intention to permanently mount the shuttlepod on a trailer in the future
• Possibility of placing casters on the nacelles themselves
• The next shuttle needs to be named Cafe’ au Lait
• How the letters, numbers, & pin-striping were originally created
• The original alignment along the front

Follow Up Actions Necessary:
• Several panels need to be repainted
• New lettering and numbers need to be purchased for application after painting

While there was quite a bit of work involved, great fun was had by all. Saints fans are always an engaged and enthusiastic group, but even more so when their team is winning. While working, one does not get to see much of the game, but it was possible to occasionally watch for a few moments. More importantly, $300 was raised to support GNO DCA’s programs. Along with an all-age parade group, GNO DCA supports a variety of youth programs for 8 – 21 year olds. They provide instruction in music and marching skills while also teaching concepts such as teamwork and self discipline.

Members of the 327th Starfleet Marines Strike Group and the USS Corsair will be doing “battle” with our friends from the USS New Orleans.

Adventure Quest Laser Tag
1200 S Clearview Pkwy # 1106
New Orleans, LA

Saturday, 23 June 2010
14:00 hours (2:00 p.m.)

SFMC Operators will be expected to wear their Class C uniforms.  Fleet members are encouraged to wear uniforms as well (because this will be a fun and great photo opportunity)

Manship Theatre at the Shaw Center for the Arts
100 Lafayette Street, Baton Rouge, LA
June 2, 2012
6:00 p.m. pre-show event with a 7:00 pm movie screening

Order your tickets now!

Come join us on June 2, 2012 to celebrate the wonderful world of science fiction. We will be having a pre-show event starting at 6:00 pm and everyone is welcome to come out in their best science fiction costume. Just remember you still need to be able to see the movie, so don’t wear anything that will prevent you or others from viewing the movie. During the pre-show we will have a Khan showdown. We will have judges to determine who can do their best rendition of Kirk’s famous Khan scream. We are celebrating science fiction in general but this screening is special as two days later, on June 4th, Star Trek II will be having its 30th anniversary. So, come out to support animals and celebrate the anniversary of one of science fiction’s most beloved films.

We are currently still seeking sponsorship. Please help us make this screening a huge success for the animals. All donors to the movie will be featured on this page! Please consider donating to this fun cause. Any funds in excess of what is needed to organize the movie will go straight to veterinary care for the animals of the group. APAWS is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization and all donations are tax-deductible.

Nothing like this series has ever been tried before in cinema history as we watched Daniel, Rupert and Emma age forcing the movies to confront J.K. Rowlings’s central themes, the transition from childhood to adulthood, the loss of parents and loved ones, and of personal mortality. The movie is impressively staged, the dialogue is done properly and not hurried, there are surprises and now possesses an end that befits the most profitable series in movie history.

After a decade of set-up and a preceding film that wasn’t much more than an overextended tease, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part2” is sending the beloved series out with a bang. The best Harry Potter film and at 130 minutes (2 hours 10 minutes) the shortest film. The good news is that Part 2 of this epic saga delivers its expected quota of spellbinding special effects and magical mayhem as it wraps up all the loose ends of the seven book series.

The danger is apparent as both sides battle between extravagant set pieces and eye-catching special effects. Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermoine Granger (Emma Watson) race to find the Horcruxes that can sap the Dark Lord of his undying strength. This leads them back to Hogwarts, where the climax, of course, pits Harry in direct confrontation against Voldemort and good and evil thrillingly face off and what a final showdown it is.
Harry, Ron and Hermoine have become powerful adult wizards, while the actors are now confident stars; like the children the films have also grown. Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) is as demonic as ever, an eternally iconic villain

There are reappearances from nearly all the greats who’ve walked Hogwart’s halls but only enough time to focus on a few and as a result many important moments do feel rushed. Maggie Smith (Professor Minerva McGonagall), Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange) and Michael Gambon (Professor Albus Dumbledore) are as charismatic as ever, Alan Rickman (Professor Severus Snape) is outstanding as the de facto headmaster and Julie Walters (Mrs. Weasley) is a powerhouse of a
woman. Two significant subplots feature prominently. The heroism of Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis) and the hidden motivations of Snape, whose performance is stellar, villainy take on a new light, given his past history. Every scene carries a heavy sense of importance, with some tears and terror and everyone has done a skillful job bringing this story to screen and eight films later the end comes to soon; confirmation to the series enduring magic.

Splitting the final Harry Potter book into two films was the right choice and to the advantage of Part 2, leaving Part 2 to deal with the final part of the book series. It enabled part 2 to avoid the teenage activities, stage setting and dramatic development and devote almost all its time to action and confrontation with the plot kicking in with a vengeance and climax worthy of the term. The final chapter is a bittersweet farewell and a fitting finale for the most
devoted Potter fans, but the phenomenal franchise will forever be remembered for its creativity, imagination and enchanting vision. All the loose ends come together and everything remaining unfinished saw its resolution. Like most important goodbyes it has been anticipated and dreaded and the end of an era. So many good films come to a bad end, but not Harry Potter. His journey which is the best possible end for the series that began 10 years ago is epic, thrilling,
heartbreaking and wonderful and is as grand as it should be. These films will be around for a long time.

Rated PG-13 (intense violence, scary images) End of an Era movie I give it an A+; because important moments seemed rush I give it a B+.

Chris Evans role as Captain America standing up for common decency is more endearing than his other roles he has portrayed. Almost half of the film is before Rogers gets his super-soldier powers but it’s the most involving part of the film because it takes advantage of Evans’ performance. These early-days sections are so old fashioned that watching Captain America feels like you are watching 1950’s television. Evans is fluid and instinctive in action, stammering and awkward in repose-an effective and endearing part of a great starring performance and a part of a terrific ensemble.

Watching the movie is like walking back in time with some original twists along the way. It has a pleasant and light-hearted tone. The lighting and production design is fantastic, the period setting and charm works and the costumes, even the perfect shade of red lipstick easily capture the look of WWII and all look just right tone of the retro era. The film combined real history and comic-book mythology that work well together. There’s something appealing about its old-fashioned approach with contemporary visual effects and CGI.

Chris Evans and Hugo Weaving as Johann Schmidt/Red Skull did a great job. Director Joe Johnston handles the inevitable battle scenes between the villainous evil genius Red Skull nemesis and patriotic Captain America in workmanlike fashion with a sense of fun and very entertaining. Johnston does a great job giving “Captain America” an American patriotism splendor and a retro spirit and feel with a lot of love, respect and lavish affection put into this film.

Captain America didn’t have a lot of special weapons but was a very interesting character with his trusty shield serving as a thrown deflective weapon. He makes the most of his fists and feet getting up close and personal with his muscles doing the rest of the work.

As Steve Rogers, Chris Evans is well cast in the leading role bringing charm, dignity and intelligence to all-American hero “Captain America”. Evans is likable in role and justice was done to Captain America character. They did a great job with the CGI when Rogers was young and scrawny; what a contrast! The way they made Evans a wimp is truly incredible. CGI is evolving quickly into something that helps the storytelling without getting in the way; very happy with the story and characters. In a digitally altered creepy but seamless special effect and body double work Evan’s head is placed on a skinny body and that deep, serious voice of his gives that character integrity and heart. Evans brings out the right amount of confidence and modesty to Rogers, from a 90lb. weakling to a well-muscled super-soldier whose heart still goes out to the little guy as he is fighting the enemies of freedom with extraordinary strength and speed.

The story is relatable and filled with emotion. If you’ve ever been bullied or belittled you’ll know exactly how tiny Steve feels when he’s pummeled by stronger arrogant men, gets rejected by the opposite sex, and teased about his size, and you’ll cheer on his determination. After he becomes Captain America he stays humble and remains an introvert, which gives us a real reason to root for him. Chris Evans plays out these emotions excellently, and I left the theater believing in the character, and believing in him. Captain America isn’t all about drama and feelings. Film veteran Tommy Lee Jones steals the spotlight in every scene he’s in and provides standout comic relief and nails the movie’s most amusing lines as the gruff and rough commanding officer Colonel Chester Philips with every cynical one-liner. Chris Evans and director Joe Johnston made Captain America a sleek, retro and inspired action film with a lot of heart for the little guy. You’ll leave the theater feeling uplifted and excited.

The perfect casting of Evans and some of the side characters and a mix of sci-fi-tinged wartime thrills and American Patriotism and Retro-Period of WWII makes this a worthwhile movie to see and our Childhood dreams brought to life on the big screen.

Rated PG-13 (for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action) As a superhero beginnings movie I give it an A+. Run time 2 hours and 5 minutes.

Originally the crew had discussed that they wanted a “large show prop” for the movie. A large display always draws attention, not only from fans (who will possible be the Captains and Admirals of tomorrow) but also the media which, if presented correctly, will help promote a club better than a million flyers in the hands of a million fans.

The movie was going to be “classic” so the group had three years (four if you count the animated series) worth of material to come up with an idea. The first idea was to build a “Guardian of Forever” but the member who was in charge of the project slowly lost interested in the project and the club.

The chapter chairperson’s husband, Commodore Edward C. Tunis III, drew upon his past “command experience” while at the helm of Region Seven’s award winning chapter, the USS JUSTICE. When Star Trek Nemesis came out they build a 1:1 scale TOS cloaking device (the movie was about Romulans, of course) and later the USS JUSTICE went on to build a Helm/Nav console for their video projects, which doubled as a “recruiting prop”. The USS CORSAIR needed something just as cool, just as amazing, but different.

Edward surfed the net trying to come up with an idea. Suggestions where made at chapter meetings that the CORSAIR should simply “repeat” what was done already and make something simple like the Romulan Cloaking Device or have a large model made of the chapter.

Edward found a website that talked about people building minor set props out of cardboard. Samples ranged from a play castle for kids to a parade float that looked like a pirate ship. He ordered the special rivets used to make these creations and started looking at ideas. There were people on the Internet that made models out of paper. Why not convert those plans from paper models, enlarge them by 10 times (or greater) and convert to cardboard

Since the new film was going to be based in the “classic” years of Star Trek and no really good pictures of any of the key props were available, the thought was to go with a TOS style shuttle. After looking at all the rounded shapes it was quickly abandoned. The TNG Shuttlepod with it’s angular shape (and lack of rounded edges) became the model of choice to build off of.

Chapter Chairperson, Trisha Tunis, had already started a relationship with the local movie theater where the club would be set up at for the movie premiere weekend. She told them what the club’s plans were on a “prop showpiece” and requested if the club could use the old cardboard displays from the theater to help build the prop. Cardboard was collected and it was time to start drawing out the shuttle parts. The plan seemed sound. It would be light weight, and could break down for easy transport.

That plan lasted about a day. It was at that point it was obvious that this project would not be that impressive and would require more work then expected. It was at that time, Edward threw in the towel and listened to his father-in-law and started making new plans out of plywood.

A new blueprint was needed since the original plan was using paper model instructions. The club printed out a multi profile picture of the TNG Shuttlepod from a website called “Starship Schematics Database” ( http://www.shipschematics.net/). Not thinking about scale, Edward simply printed the graphics out as large as he could on 8 ½ by 11 paper and thought about making his life easy by calling the scale one inch equals one foot. This shortcut would bring much amusement later on.

The trips to Lowes began. Some two by fours here some plywood there. Working a couple hours a night in the garage, Trish’s Dad and husband, in the course of three months, some new tools and more lumber than previously planned gave creation to the USS CORSAIR’s eye catching showpiece, a TNG era Shuttlepod and because of the guesswork – only 2 inches off from actual scale!

There were many trials and tribulations in the construction progress. No one had an engineering degree, but the builders had heart and desire. Whole sides of construction fell apart when it was learned there were no nails in the nail gun. The old wood cutting rule is measure twice, cut one. The shuttllepod build team’s motto was measure twice, measure again, rough cut, measure, cut a little more, then sand to fit.

The most interesting parts, the rear engine vents, came from a pair of bi fold closet doors which were cut to fit. These doors came from a Habit for Humanity Restore store. Cheap supplies and monies go to a charitable origination. A win/win as far as the USS CORSAIR was concerned.

The shuttlepod was originally designed to be in five pieces – 2 engines, a pair of connecting cross beams for the engines, main body and the cockpit. It was decided to leave the cockpit secured to the body to make set up easier. With a trailer and a pick up truck the shuttlepod made it’s journey to the movie theater.

The level of accuracy backfired on the group when it learned that the width of the shuttle was a few inches too wide for the double doors of the theater. Thinking of anyone who has moved a sofa came into play as several members (assisted my theater employees) tilted the shuttlepod and moved it into the lobby and to its final resting place (at least for the next few months).

The shuttlepod was an instant attraction. The sister movie theater called to express their jealousy. Patrons came to CORSAIR members to say “I saw Star Trek yesterday, but I saw you guys on TV and had to see the movie again and see the shuttlecraft y’all built.”

It may have been an ambitious project but the rewards were well worth it and it is now a pride and joy of old members and new! Now, what should the CORSAIR build for the next Star Trek movie in mid-2013?