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I was out with friends last night and we went into a sci-fi bar where they have props and models all over the place. We had fun identifying all the ships, costumes and stuff, but one model had us stumped, and the person behind the bar wouldn't tell us, saying we'd have to find out by other means, and there would be a free drink in it for us if we could - apparently only one person has ever correctly guessed it in two years.

Unfortunately my mad Googling ran the battery down on my phone so I couldn't get a photo, but I quickly whipped this fairly close approximation of it on my iPad when I got home. I think the curved end is the front and I'm fairly certain it's not: a Cylon vessel, Dengar's ship, anything from Independence Day, Dune or StarGate, not Space 1999 or UFO, not any of the Aliens or Star Wars films, or Manta Force.

Drawing of the ship in question

I have found a photo of it online (someone asking the exact same question over 6 years ago - never got an answer). As you can see it's a lot more "blocky" than some of the other answers, which are close, but sadly not right...

Image of the actual ship on the ceiling

Looking on the virtual tour for the Manchester bar we can see a few other low quality images of the ship.

Side view of the ship Side view of the other side of the ship Front view of the ship

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  • 3
    Were any hints given as to what it could be? I.e. was it from a TV show or movie? Any hints on the year it would be from? etc.
    – TheLethalCarrot ♦
    Sep 18, 2019 at 9:25
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    The barmaid would give no clues at all - said it was more than her job's worth as there was a round of drinks in it! From the look of it, I think it was from a late 70s or early 80s film or show but I could be wrong. I just got that vibe from it. It had a very hand made feel about it with bits from model kits glues all over it to create detail - much like how they used to do the miniatures on Doctor Who or the original Star Wars films. The thing is like 4 feet across, I think it might actually have been a shooting model.
    – Paul Childs
    Sep 18, 2019 at 9:29
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    From the looks of it, my guess would be low budget 80s scifi.
    – Keith Morrison
    Sep 18, 2019 at 17:18
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    Google image search using the photograph just suggests "Ceiling" and shows other ceilings I may be interested in :(
    – Brian
    Sep 19, 2019 at 8:54
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    Of course its possible that it was just a model someone made, has never been on TV or film, and the round of drinks is impossible to get.
    – Paul Johnson
    Sep 21, 2019 at 18:07

2 Answers 2

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TL;DR It was made specifically for the Fab Cafe in Manchester.

A Google image search provided this link to reddit which someone had also inquired about the model. Two peoples' responses make these claims:

Person 1: 6 years ago

SOLVED: This model was specifically made for Fab Cafe and has been on exhibit since opening day. Source: Friend of one of the owners. I tried emailing the cafe, but got no reply. Posted the image in a Facebook forum of special effects artists, and voila!

Person 2: 6 years ago

This is correct. Source: Used to work there.

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  • Of course my answer is not definitive proof. Just passing on what I was able to find on my own.
    – user98163
    Apr 19, 2020 at 4:01
  • I found this reddit post initially and someone posted it as a comment as well. It's likely the best we'll get but as you say it's not necessarily true.
    – TheLethalCarrot ♦
    Apr 19, 2020 at 15:07
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    Ah, just came back to see if anyone found this ship. Glad that my mind can now rest in peace :D
    – RigaCrypto
    Jan 25, 2021 at 8:00
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    boo to the bar for such a scammy bit if true
    – NKCampbell
    May 18, 2021 at 19:03
-6

Could it be a D'Kora class Ferengi ship, from Star Trek?

D'Kora class Ferengi ship graphic

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    One of the guys with us thought Ferengi, but it's not that - it's a kind of pewter/grey color, whereas the Ferengi ship is orange. Thanks though :~)
    – Paul Childs
    Sep 18, 2019 at 9:10
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    Plus the rear is entirely wrong
    – Valorum
    Sep 18, 2019 at 16:01
  • @Valorum: Not to mention the bow, which isn't even there on the OP's sketch.
    – O. R. Mapper
    Sep 21, 2019 at 23:35
  • @O.R.Mapper - The model could be missing the front part. The images just aren't clear
    – Valorum
    Sep 21, 2019 at 23:38
  • Front curve of the hull is wrong though: the D'Kora comes to an edge in the concave curve, the ship in the photo is flat.
    – Keith Morrison
    Sep 22, 2019 at 18:10

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