Building the AMT Refit Enterprise by Don Matthys part 2
Start with part 1
CORRECTING KIT AND PREPARING RESIN DETAIL PARTS
Kit Part #3 Bridge and Planetary Sensor:
Modifications to the kit provided Bridge can be made by lowering the dome with a side cut of an razor saw and then reattaching. I decided to go with the resin updated copy. As this is already done. Lighting provisions for this part will use thin strips of acrylic sheet to transmit light from a point light source mounted on top the hull. (Clear scrap from audio cassette storage boxes will do) Two .010 fiber optic will light the docking port lights and a .060 fiber optic will run up through the top to light the Navigation strobe.
Kit Part #1 Primary Hull: The area of the VIP Observation Lounge has an incorrect slope contour of 63 degrees. the correct contoure slope angle to achieve is 45 degrees. The plastic in this area is quite thick so you do have some lattitued to change the angle. Don’t get carreied away and file all the way through. Contuor again in the window area below the ‘lip’ and smooth out the changed angle. Small bastard grade files and wet/dry 180 grit sand paper where used as tools. Final smooth out was with 400 wet/dry sandpaper.
Next the lounge windows were enlarged and shaped to the info on the Pocket Book Enteprise plans. The three window colums was filed to a width of 1/32″or 1mm. The outside windows at a slight angle out from the bottom. The ideal file used was an Exacto jewlers flat. Provisions for lighting this area will be done by filling with a clear resin. With the enlargment of the windows I see a lot of interior space. I am inspired! This Lounge area featured in the film Star Trek V:The Final Frontier, the set was very different as used in ST:TMP. A mildly detailed interior is being considered. Some scrap photo-etched brass Ships Rudder Wheel lies in the parts box that could be used. More on that latter.
See Don’s article Revisiting the Refit Enterprise for more information on this section
Now onto the Impulse Deflection Crystal. In past movie era starship models I left the interior un-opaqed, that is the natural white kit syrene was translucent enough to pemit light from a lamp show throu. The clear resin part from the update DLM kit will be used in this intance. I cut the plastic on out and fit the resin clear blue one in place.
Finally on the Primary Hull, part# 1, locator holes were drilled for fiber optics and LEDs to run the navigation lights and thrusters. A #60 drill bit was used. Holes will be final sized to fit this stuff with a reamer kit later on.
Kit Part #2 Lower Main Hull:
After study of the Pocket Book ST:TMP plans the true location of hull access panels and saucer section landing pads can be determined on kit part #2. One landing pad was not even located at all on the Starboard front quarter. The incorrect panels and pads on the kit is puttied over with Dr. Microtools spot putty. Also puttied over the triangular locations of the thruster units at the hull edge
On the Saucer’s edge:
The DLM Movie Enterprise resin update kit provides for six Recreation Center Room square observation windows. The ports can be drilled into the kit plastic and the Main Gangway Hatch can be easily scratch built from thin sheet stock later on. With kit parts #6 in which one port of the lower two is off center, I filled in the one left lower deck ports and relocated it 1/8 inch (3mm) to the left.
I then cut away the saucer section where the Rec Room is located and fit the drop in resin section into place and the now corrected kit part #6 window sections. All where then puttied in with the red Microtool spot putty at the seams. Rec Room windows were superglued into place. Gaps are slight. Spot puttied in.
See Don’s article Revisiting the Refit Enterprise for more information on this section
After the puttied in areas dried I sanded it down to kit surface level with 3M 150 grit Wet/Dry Sandpaper. Spot filled the low spots and when dry wet sanded over again smooth with 400 wet/dry grit paper.
With a Squadron Shop Panel Scribing tool I etched in the grid panels, and landing pads. The best reference is the “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” blue prints. A draftsman bow compass drew in the lines to the appropriate locations. Then carfully scribed in the lines. The Scribing tool will also come in handy for panel lines on the Engineering Hull later.
Next is page 3
