Trek-wear: New skirts, scarves, hats, sportswear, bathrobes, and novelty T-shirts

Got your wardrobe ready for the winter? Well don't forget to add some Star Trek flare, with some of the latest releases - Although you might need to layer up (or enjoy summer in the southern hemisphere), as a lot of what's new is T-shirts! Continue below to check out all the latest Trek-wear, starting with something that definitely is ready for the cold:

New from ThinkGeek, Starfleet officers from both the 23rd and 24th centuries can keep warm with new Starfleet winter gear. Here's the TNG uniform styled hats and scarves:

Press-Out and Build USS Enterprise

There's a newly released Star Trek Haynes Manual, but this one is a bit different to the previous technical manuals. The Haynes USS Enterprise Press-Out and Build Manual, is part book, part model kit, including a cardboard kit that builds a fifty centimetre long model of the original USS Enterprise. Here's the official description:

Trivia manual and model kit for the USS Enterprise, the main starship featured in Star Trek (the original series). The front portion of the book is packed with information about the ship that served under the command of Captain James T. Kirk in the popular sci-fi TV series that started in 1966. The back portion of this Haynes manual features a series of press-out cardboard shapes that assemble to make a large (50 cm) model of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701.

I believe the book component of this is reusing content from the Haynes USS Enterprise Manual, presumably focusing on the Constitution class section of that book, which covered all the main prime-universe starships Enterprise. Continue after the jump for a look at how the model is built:

TOS, TNG, and Haynes Manual images on more awesome sublimation T-shirts

Remember last year, when I reported on some especially cool T-shirts, which featured full-bleed sublimation print designs? Well it would appear I wasn't the only person that though these were awesome, as there has evidently been sufficient demand to add another twelve designs to the range from Trevco. The first collection was all TOS inspired, including designs based on Gold Key Comics and the Haynes Manuals. This second wave is a little more diverse with more TOS designs joined by couple of TNG shirts, and a five captains design. There are also three new designs drawing on imagery from the Haynes Manuals! Here they all are, (continues after the jump, images via Amazon):

Latest Starships Collection details

A few bits of news from The Official Starships Collection: Starting with the latest previews from StarTrek.com, who have posted new images and descriptions of the models and magazines coming as issues twenty and twenty-one, the Klingon Vor'cha class, and the USS Enterprise-E:

The die-cast model is carefully based on the original studio model, and carries the original TNG paint scheme rather than the more colorful version that was used when the ship appeared on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The accompanying magazine looks at how Rick Sternbach redesigned the classic Klingon battle cruiser for the 1990s and explores the writing staff’s plan to reinvent the Klingons as a cross between Viking and Samurai warriors.

Pre-order: Things From Another World, Entertainment Earth.

Every time this Enterprise appeared there were subtle differences and the die-cast model is based on the CG version of the ship that was created for Star Trek: Insurrection. The accompanying magazine takes a look at John Eaves’ original design concepts and the complicated history of the physical and CG models that were used onscreen.

Pre-order: Things From Another World, Entertainment Earth, Forbidden Planet.

The Collection's website has also been updated recently, with a new images revealing the Vor'cha cover:

StarTrek.com also recently announced the next country The Collection will be launching in will be Japan, where it's set to start in May. The series will be distributed by Deagostini, and like the test run in Japan last year will feature more extravagant packaging than the rest of the world, with each magazine and modelling coming in a large box (see my previous report for a look at how those work).

The Japanese website is a different design to all the others, but offers the same basic subscription package with the same extra bits for subscribers. The Japanese site pictures a completely different design Borg Cube to that has been released to UK subscribers, or pictured on any of the other international sites, who knows if Japan will actually get a different model.

Finally, The Collection's Facebook page recently posted a survey for UK readers. They want to know how much interest there would be in a couple of extra product ranges they are thinking about creating. Specifically they have floated the idea of doing more dedication plaque replicas (following the Enterprise-D one offered to subscribers), suggesting doing the Enterprises, Voyager, Defiant, and Prometheus. The other idea floated is some sort of special edition of the Star Trek Haynes Manuals, which were written by The Collection's project manager, Ben Robinson. They don't specify what form this specialness will take; I guess we'll find out if the survey gets a positive response.

Haynes Manual jigsaw puzzles

Haynes have released a series of jigsaw puzzles, utilising the cross-section images from their technical manuals, including both of the cover images from their Star Trek books, the USS Enterprise 1701 and Klingon Bird of Prey. As well as featuring the primary images from each book, the puzzles also appear to highlight details, blowing up sections of the images to scrutinise them in greater detail. Both puzzles are one-thousand pieces, and at the moment only seem to be distributed in the UK.

This isn't the first time new uses for the Haynes Manual images have been found, a whole range of merchandise has followed the books, including T-shirts, wallets, and posters. Rick Sternbach also has examples of his artwork from the book among his behind-the-scenes offers on eBay. Check out my Haynes label for a look back through my previous articles with Haynes products.

Rick Sternbach's ebay treasures

I rediscovered Rick Sternbach's ebay profile recently, and once more he is offering some really interesting bits and pieces from his long history of working on Star Trek. That includes books of production artwork, sets of blueprints, and prints of screen-graphics and artwork. I've ordered his booklet of preliminary artwork for the design of the USS Voyager, which he describes:

This is a copy of the original ten-page document given to the producers so that they could give us an idea of the basic direction they wanted for the ship design. The show bible talked about a leaner, meaner, smaller ship, and this first collection of sketches got the ball rolling. The sheets include a text discussion of the ship, various side, top, and perspective views, plus a look at the "Manta" shuttle that became the unused AeroShuttle. There are two additional sheets of Voyager art as it would eventually appear in the five foot miniature...

As you might have gathered from some of my other coverage, I'm somewhat enamoured by starship production art, so I'd say there's a good chance this wont be the last of these booklets Mr Sternbach tempts me with.

Below (and continuing after the jump) are a few of my favourite pieces from the booklets and prints currently on offer. These first three (and the image above) are from the booklets, the first two from the Voyager one described above, followed by a runabout concept, and plans for the damage to Voyager in Year of Hell, the latter from a three-book set of Voyager production information.

Here are a few of the blueprint sheets on offer. Here a cross-section of Deep Space 9, plus plans for the USS Equinox and Delta Flyer:

Latest Trek T-shirts

I think there are a sufficiently wide range of Star Trek T-shirts available, that if you were so inclined, you could probably wear a different design every day of the year. With so many about I don't even try to catalogue them all (especially as most of them are pretty unoriginal), but do like to pick out the best now and then, so here are my latest favourites:

Trevco have addressed something that often bothers me about T-shirts; they're basically plain aside from a rectangle of design on the front, essentially turning the shirt into a frame. Not so with these cool new full-bleed designs. All based on TOS, they take inspiration from multiple sources, including the ever popular retro look from Gold Key Comics, the latest use of the Haynes Manual Enterprise cross-section, and an effortless way to give yourself Khan's chest:



Continue after the jump for a few more recent highlights from the world of Trek-T's:

Star Trek Magazine previews

The latest issue of the Star Trek Magazine, US#46/UK#173 is out now! This issue is focused on childhood in Star Trek, but also covers a host of other topics, including reactions to Into Darkness, features and fiction from Star Trek Online, and some great articles on Bob Peak's Star Trek posters, behind the scenes at Diamond Select Toys, and a look at Into Darkness' props.

On top of the regular tongue-in-cheek Starships Trekkers comic strip, this issue also has a new Star Trek comic/elaborate advert featuring the Klingon Bird of Prey Haynes Manual. Haynes also posted that new comic online:

Here are a few other sample pages, you can see more on Titan Magazine's website:

Details of the next issue are also starting to appear; Things From Another World posted both the standard and Previews exclusive covers, as well as a description for this villain-focused issue, which is due in October:

Culture Clash Special! Humanity may have overcome its differences by the 23rd Century, but conflict still faces the Federation on various fronts. In the latest issue of the official Star Trek Magazine, we trace the history of antipathy between Cardassia and Bajor, while 'Time's Arrow' looks back at the threat posed by those ever aggressive, green-blooded terrors, the Romulans. We also explore the unique alien societies that evolved along similar lines to those on Earth, and discover how Starfleet's finest coped against a band of Space Hippies. All this, plus exclusive interviews, the latest Star Trek news, reviews, and competitions! Available in Newsstand and PREVIEWS Exclusive Cover Editions!

Slicing up the Enterprise - Cutaway Models and Diagrams

Dragon Model's latest Project Cutaway model has just been released by Diamond Select Toys, as part of their Star Trek range-  It's the TOS USS Enterprise, with transparent panels giving us a look inside saucer, neck, engineering section and a nacelle.

You can see more images of the model in my previous report. DST posted this photo, showing the packaging for this model, which even partially assembled looks pretty impressive:

This isn't the first time we've been able to peek inside the Enterprise however, continue after the jump for a look back at other models and diagrams that reveal the Enterprise's innards:

Latest Star Trek Tees

There seem to be a never-ending supply of Star Trek T-shirts being produced by various licensees. Most of them are less than original prints of stock photos and emblems; but sometimes something more interesting gets printed on a shirt. This is a round-up of the latest of the latter category:

Junk Food have come up with a computer-game inspired shirt design featuring all the captains:

Hot Topic's latest Trek design appropriates the Haynes Manual USS Enterprise cutaway diagram to produce this new annotated T-shirt:

Trevco have gone a bit nineties with their bright "It's Just a Phase", and "Set Phasers to Stunning" shirts:

Trevco's "I love a Man in Uniform" is also full of hearts:

Plus there's always room for another red-shirt gag:

Trevco have also come up with these contrasty graphic designs, featuring "Good vs Evil", and a Balance of Terror design:

Inside the Haynes Klingon Manual

Out now, is the new Klingon Bird-of-Prey Haynes Manual. Mine arrived a couple of days ago, and from my first flip through it looks like a really interesting book, a big step up from Enterprises Manual. If you've not got your own copy yet StarTrek.com have posted interviews with the writers, Rick Sternbach, and Ben Robinson. Here are a few snipits to tempt you, with some samples pages from Hayne's promo website for the book.

Sternbach, speaking about the technical challenges of looking at Klingon design in detail:

It was a challenge, a fun technical challenge looking into the guts of a ship that you didn’t personally design. Not only was it a fun challenge from the standpoint of it being a ship, but a Klingon ship. I’ve had some experience with things like the Vor’cha, but mostly from the outside. With the Bird-of-Prey, I went crazy designing pieces and parts that nobody had ever seen, including the engine room.

We know what Starfleet equipment looks like. We know what some Klingon hardware looks like based on the things that were built for the Bird-of-Prey interior sets, from other Klingon hardware that’s been developed, especially the weapons. It came down to, how would the Klingons build an engine? How would they build an anti-matter pod? How would they construct a torpedo launcher?

Robinson on his goals for the book:

I think the Enterprise book had been very much a canter through these different ships, and nothing like as detailed as I knew some people would have liked it to have been. So I wanted to create a book that had a nice balance between more technical data, but was still a bit more approachable than some of the really tech-heavy publications there have been in the past.

Both authors mentioned the possibility of future projects. It sounds like Robinson is working on the Starship Collection magazine, and has in mind the possibility of turning that into a book:

I think the logical thing to do, and I haven’t even said this to Haynes, would be a Starfleet shipyard. I’m actually working on a collection of small model Star Trek ships. We’re collecting all the different CG models together as reference and then producing die-cast scale-model ships. These ships, like the Akira or… you can get much more obscure, like the Equinox or the Prometheus… they’re a big part of what makes the franchise cool for people, and there’s been remarkably little done about them. So if Haynes come back and say, “That went really well. What do we do next?” I think that’s what I would suggest to them.

The Haynes website also has some wallpapers featuring images from the book, including the centerpiece cutaway diagram. Or if you prefer it without embellishment, the Haynes Books twitter account also posted this version:

Also posted to twitter is this image, used as one of chapter openers. Here we get to see the whole image without the introductory text: