That weird little metal tab on the ghost trap

[RoboTrap]

@Cyland Props

Yep, nothing wrong with that since they never really told us where engineering was until The Motion Picture. Besides the hallway leading up to it was curved, on the set, because it was right next to sick bay and a generic crew quarters usually dressed as Kirks quarters. Amazing how they made that little set look like a whole big space ship.

There was still a basic layout, though, even if it wasn’t communicated to us. Not that any of it was really consistent anyhow… the turbolift shaft is centered on the miniature, but offset on the actual set for aesthetic reasons.

I can internally console myself regarding little details like that, but it still irks me! Like the missing bar on the Millennium Falcon’s windshield, or RoboCop’s suit switching over to the Robo1-style each time there was a stunt in the sequels…

[Krenzy]

I think I figured it out! Just got back from the movie, and couldn’t help but try to notice all the scenes where the tab is sticking up, and there are quite a few. My best guess is that it is there to secure the trap pedal and keep it from bouncing around, or falling off.

If you mount the pedal with the base facing outward, and the stomp-pedal itself facing the trap doors, with the ribbon cable looped over the handle, the metal tab is right in line with the bottom of the base of the pedal.

[Cyland_Props]

@Krenzy

I think I figured it out! Just got back from the movie, and couldn’t help but try to notice all the scenes where the tab is sticking up, and there are quite a few. My best guess is that it is there to secure the trap pedal and keep it from bouncing around, or falling off.

If you mount the pedal with the base facing outward, and the stomp-pedal itself facing the trap doors, with the ribbon cable looped over the handle, the metal tab is right in line with the bottom of the base of the pedal.

Yep and the little ball valve on the pedal is to bleed the air out so the pedal lies flat on the trap.